Pelosi shouldn’t ignore younger base
In my opinion, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi would do well to handle disagreements with more progressive Democrats in a less public, less mean, less divisive fashion than our president tends to do with everyone he disagrees with. The more recently elected Democrats were elected by their constituents because they are progressive and not afraid to take on the status quo, even within their own party. I think we need more of that.
They are expressing opinions they were elected for having. That’s how our democracy should work. Perhaps more importantly, I believe moves by Pelosi to isolate more progressive Democratic Congresswomen, such as Rep. Alexandria OcasioCortez, will alienate young, progressive voters from the Democratic Party. It’s not something we need if beating President Trump in 2020 is a goal.
Pelosi seems to be focused on mollifying her party’s moderate representatives in Washington. But she risks ignoring the younger base of Democratic voters — many of whom respect the politics of OcasioCortez and her congressional allies — who will be needed to win next year’s election.
Ed Kinchley, San Francisco
Hasta la vista, jobs
So according to “Robots, AI killing jobs — but it’s not all bad” (Business, July 12), over 900,000 jobs could be lost to robots and artificial intelligence in San Francisco and San Jose by 2030. If the future world is one of robotic baristas, selfdriving cars, delivery bots and other automatons, will we soon see a reallife Terminator (like the 1984 movie cyborg assassin sent to kill a woman whose unborn son would lead the human race to victory in a bitter future war with a race of machines) appear? After all, we’ve already had a governor who played this part.
Eleanor Fischbein, Alameda
Replaced by robots
Robots take jobs, replacing people, especially those who are low income, low skilled and older. I wonder if the caring left will do something to ease the pain or continue to ignore this unlucky lot and add to the President Trump’s base? Aubrey Copeland, Moraga
Privileged individuals
It’s outrageous that wealthy financier and registered sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, accused of sex trafficking and in possession of child pornography, is offering his $77 million Manhattan mansion and private jet as collateral so that he can be released from jail while awaiting trial. Given the seriousness of these charges involving underage girls, why should Epstein be allowed to use his wealth and connection to other privileged individuals (like President Trump) to stay out of jail? There shouldn’t be two systems of justice in this country: one for the rich, and one for everyone else.
Elliot Branca, San Francisco
Technical solutions
Regarding “BART's new gates open to jeers, cheers” (Page 1, July 10): Why is it that we always seek technical solutions to what are really human behavior issues?
Actually, we know the answer to that: changing human behavior is difficult. But to the extent that was achieved, think of all those intrusive and expensive technical solutions that wouldn’t be needed. Difficult for sure. But worth some effort.
Jay Wiedwald, Oakland
Deserved compensation
Regarding “No need to pay” (Letters, July 11): May I direct the letter writer to read Andre Iguodala’s memoir, “The Sixth Man,” specifically pages 8288. Iguodala presents a fine argument as to why gifted college athletes should be paid. The writer states that the function of colleges is to educate, but let’s be realistic. Most of the athletes are not recruited for their academics. It’s not about education; it’s about multimilliondollar sports programs. Iguodala points out that sports like tennis, golf and even hockey allow kids to go pro whenever they want. Also, comparing the work of student musicians and actors (which also brings money for their institutions) is like comparing apples to oranges.
Colleges don’t actively recruit musicians/actors. The athletic programs generate a hell of a lot more money, and more importantly, the college athlete constantly risks fatigue and injury to stay on top of his or her game. How many student musicians/actors see their future go down the drain because of an injury? NCAA athletes deserve to be compensated.
Rosa Carrillo, San Francisco
Trump’s labeling
In accepting the resignation of Secretary of Labor Alexander Acosta, whose handling of a sex crimes case involving the financier Jeffrey Epstein when Acosta was a federal prosecutor in Florida was heavily criticized, why did President Trump, in addition to calling Acosta a great guy, also find it necessary to label him as a Hispanic man? This labeling makes it seem like Acosta was a token appointment, chosen partly because of his ethnicity.
This remark is also, quite unfortunately, reminiscent of when Trump (while campaigning for president in 2016) called a black man in an audience “my African American.” None of these labels will ever convince the minority groups they represent to give their support to this selfdescribed nationalist leader, admired by white supremacists across America.
Terrence Williams, Oakland