Millennials are in debt
Regarding “An unceasing housing crisis” (Editorial, June 20): As a member of the Millennial generation, I’m surprised and dismayed by economist David Shulman’s statement that housing activity is being depressed by our “delay in making commitments.”
Many Millennials would love to buy a first home but are saddled with significant debt from their college education. Others (aside from certain technology workers) don’t earn enough to even contemplate home ownership, especially here in California. The statement in this editorial I most agree with is that there is “a housing crisis shouldered disproportionately by young people seeking to buy their first home.”
Lisa Wang, Mountain View
Name calling won’t help
Regarding “America the Broken” ( June 20): After columnist Ruben Navarrette Jr. states that he is politically “center-right” and has a “low opinion of the GOP,” he proceeds to excoriate Democrats as “lefties” who are “sanctimonious bullies” and “coastal elites.”
He then dismisses the issue of guns and mental illness as contributing factors in the shooting of Congressman Steve Scalise, preferring to focus on the gunman as being a “left-wing extremist.” How does all this name-calling and finger-pointing help to promote civil discourse or decrease the political polarization gripping our country? America is indeed broken, but Navarrette’s words are simply more hammer blows to it.
Barbara Sandstrom, San Francisco
Limited choice of treatment
Regarding “On having coverage for everyone” (Open Forum, June 19): RoseAnn DeMoro’s piece did a great job explaining why singlepayer health care is likely to be more efficient than the current system. However, she does not address how the system will allocate the limited doctors, hospital space and choice of treatments. Most “universal” systems like Kaiser Permanente, health maintenance organizations, national health, etc. limit the choice of treatments and allocate access by the length of time to wait for an appointment.
I wonder what she would propose since everyone cannot have everything they want. Markets limit by pricing with governments providing support for low income people.
Nick Clark, San Rafael
Impose harsh sanctions
Regarding “Student released by North Korea dies” ( June 20): I wanted to express condolences to the family of Otto Warmbier, the 22-year-old American college student who died shortly after his release from a North Korean prison.
The fact that Warmbier was sentenced to 15 years of hard labor for trying to steal a propaganda banner and likely did not receive adequate medical treatment during his captivity is a tragedy. Democracies around the world must continue to advocate for civil rights in totalitarian societies like North Korea and China, and impose harsh sanctions upon them until they treat their citizens — and prisoners — more humanely. Henrik Gunderson, Tiburon
Robot cars will cause issues
Regarding “Drivers dread letting go to robots” (Business, June 19): My fears of the technology that is creating self-driving cars is no greater than the fear I experience when driving down the highways with other drivers who are checking their smart devices to see if they have a new text.
My fear of this technology is that when these self-driving cars start to become the norm, the loss of jobs in which the main task is driving will be in the millions. What will all these people do when their jobs disappear? I hope that the tech companies that are working to put these cars on the road and the government organizations that regulate them are giving some thought to those consequences.
Charlotte Seekamp, San Francisco
Condolences for the family
The retribution for the egregious death of Otto Warmbier must be swift and sure. This horrible tragedy resulted from no more than a college prank, leading to the death of a vibrant, loving and intelligent young man. I can only imagine the suffering endured by his family and was brought to tears by their description of the peace that had come over his face, even in a coma, as he realized that at last, he was at home.
As a nation, we really need to put the screws to North Korea with every imaginable sanction worthy of how you would treat a bunch of psychotic despots at the head of any government. In the meantime, we send our prayers and our deepest condolences to his grieving family, wishing it had turned out otherwise.
Stephen Fox, Santa Fe, N.M.
Adopt a progressive platform
Regarding “Pelosi: ‘History is on our side’ ” (June 19): House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi’s prediction of success in the 2018 midterm elections would sound a lot more plausible if it was coupled with a positive, progressive platform. She and other party leaders should embrace the populist agenda promoted by Rep. Ro Khanna, including single-payer health care, progressive tax rates and taxpayer-funded vocational training. Simply relying on antipathy to President Trump and his ilk is insufficient to swing his supporters to the Democrats.
Pete Mastromonaco, San Francisco
Boorish behavior
Regarding “Arrogant senator” (Letters, June 19): I am no Attorney General Jeff Sessions or President Trump fan, by any stretch of the imagination, but I agree wholeheartedly with the writer for criticizing The Chronicle for its editorial commending Sen. Kamala Harris on her ridiculously rude interrogation of Sessions. It was downright dumb and embarrassing. Just because Trump behaves in an arrogant, boorish manner is no reason for his critics to do likewise. Harris would be wise to shape up and conduct herself in a dignified, professional manner, a la Sen. Dianne Feinstein.
Daniel Woodhead, San Francisco
Harris did a great job
Regarding “Arrogant senator” (Letters, June 19): The author’s comments on Sen. Kamala Harris questioning of Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein and Attorney General Jeff Sessions is one of the problems in our government right now. As a 62-year-old professional woman, I am personally offended by the statements. If any male member of the Senate had questioned these two, I believe your remarks would be to praise hisr strong presence. If Harris was your daughter or your wife, would you be so quick to negatively portray the questioner? I doubt it. A job well done, regardless of gender, should be applauded.
Terrie Miller, San Francisco