Why the trade tariffs are unnecessary
Concerning “Trade beats aid any day” (Editorial, Aug. 1): What this newspaper calls “aid” to U.S. farmers being negatively impacted by President Trump’s trade tariffs is, to be more truthful, a “bribe.”
The reason why so many American businesses want an exemption from these tariffs is because they are unnecessary and reduce trade and profits. Unfortunately, the 45th president views everything from tariffs to treaties as being transactional rather than transnational. And by always trying to put “America First,” this “I alone can fix it” tweeter-in-chief will end up making us “America Last” in the global community. Sasha Englander, San Rafael
Too much credit given
Regarding “Somehow, Trump’s policies working” (Open Forum, Aug. 1): Grady Means gives President Trump way too much credit for “somehow” positive results in the economy. Even with his recognition of how dysfunctional this president is, to state “unquestionably” that this dysfunction is getting “good results” is at best myopic, and disregards his trail of lies, broken promises and shaky alliances.
John Hopper, Walnut Creek
Not beneficial
The writer of this article argues, incredibly, that President Trump’s policies are “benefiting all Americans.” The current low unemployment rate, which Trump inherited from his predecessor, belies the fact that wages have remained stagnant, along with the minimum wage. More Americans are deeper in debt, and Trump’s secretary of education, Betsy DeVos, wants to make it harder for those unable to repay student loans to obtain debt forgiveness. Also, Trump’s tariffs are beginning to negatively affect our agricultural and steel industries, as evidenced by the president’s $12 billion aid package to farmers.
Finally, this president’s “zero tolerance” immigration policy has resulted in hundreds of children remaining, perhaps indefinitely, separated from their asylum-seeking parents. And law-abiding undocumented immigrants with strong community ties are being deported, with devastating consequences for their family members who remain in this country. A better title for this Open Forum piece would be “Somehow, Trump’s policies always hurt unless you’re a rich citizen.”
Herman Rivera, San Jose
Vulnerable population
Regarding “BART’s devastating tragedy” (Letters, July 30): In response to Nia Wilson’s murder on a BART platform, the letter writer states that we need to dedicate more resources toward vulnerable populations, “particularly the homeless.” Recently, motherof-three Crystle Galloway died in Florida, days after 911 responders did not take her vital signs, argued about transporting her, and then falsified their paperwork. In Minnesota, Diamond Reynolds was handcuffed after her boyfriend was killed when a police officer shot into a car where they were sitting with her 4-year-old daughter. In Texas, a police officer kneeled on 14year-old bikini-clad Dajerria Becton as he was breaking up a pool party. Also in Texas, Sandra Bland was found dead in a cell after she was jailed for failing to signal a lane change.
Studies have found that African American girls are disciplined more harshly at school and suspended/expelled at a far higher rate than white girls. African American women are three to four times more likely to die in childbirth and are more likely to die from breast cancer even though they are diagnosed at a lower rate. The vulnerable population I see here is African American girls and women.
Elisabeth Ochs, San Francisco
Act on climate change
Regarding “California burning” (Editorial, July 31): Your editorial pulled no punches in connecting the increasing ferocity of California wildfires to climate change. And, it is true that we, in California, need to keep moving ahead in legislating for and executing policies that help mitigate the threats of climate change. A good example is SB100, which will hopefully pass the Legislature this month. However, California accounts for less than 1 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions and, while we are a model for other states and nations to follow, we desperately need federal action. If you care about the climate, get involved in electing congressional candidates who are on the record for acting on climate. The non-partisan Environmental Voter Project is an effective grassroots effort that ensures all environmental voters vote. Marti Roach, Moraga
Zero-emission parking
San Francisco could make a major contribution to reducing its contribution to carbon emissions by committing to squeezing out the internal combustion engine from downtown San Francisco.
It could do this in two ways. Initially, the city should install zero-emissiononly parking spots on every city block and then gradually expand the number until no street parking for internal combustion vehicles existed. The second approach is to eliminate diesel and gasoline from the city of San Francisco’s fleet of official vehicles.
John Forsayeth, San Francisco
Pathetic reasoning
Regarding “Mileage freeze to be proposed” (Business, Aug. 1): According to an article in The Chronicle, the Trump administration is opposing an increase in car gas mileage because it would cause people to drive more and be exposed to increased risk. The “genius” of this argument shouldn’t stop there. We should oppose better medical care because people will only then be out and about more and put a drain on recreational resources.
We should lower wages because people only buy things that they don’t need and waste money. And we should foster wars in other parts of the world so we don’t have population pressures and other countries that can compete with the United States. As the president would say, if he actually understood this, “pathetic.”
Michael Fischer, El Cerrito