Stop whining at $276 million

Re “California’s recall folly,” Opinion, Sept. 15

Some columnists at The Times are upset because we had a recall election driven by real voters and not the political elite. Surely, we should depend on big media columnists and political consultants to tell us when we can have an election.

They ask about the estimated $276 million needed to put on this election. Liberals who decry our lack of spending on issue after issue are now outraged over the cost of a votermandated recall election.

The target of the recall oversees a government responsible for at least $11 billion in fraudulent unemployment benefits being distributed. If we could just get back the $1 billion that Gov. Gavin Newsom’s administration sent to incarcerated people, we could pay for three recalls.

Scott Macdonald West Hollywood

As with the 2020 election, this recall victory leaves me feeling relieved and resentful. Before 2020, I volunteered with Moms Demand Action to reduce gun violence only to have one man, then-Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), prevent any national legislation from passing. So I stopped advocating for Moms Demand Action and started working to “ditch Mitch.”

Now with the filibuster, Republicans are blocking the will of the people in the Senate; in various states, they are passing anti-democratic legislation. So, back to the trenches I go, spending my precious time getting out the vote to get them out of office.

The recall failure was a victory for democracy in California, but we have a lot of work to do across the country. I look forward to a future where my volunteer hours can go back to saving lives instead of saving democracy.

Fiona Carroll Mission Viejo