No plans with repeal

Regarding “Repeal ... and then what?” (Editorial, Jan. 6): The answer to “then what” is “nothing.” The Republicans want only to get rid of the Affordable Care Act. They’ll make a token effort to replace the ACA, but then they’ll devise some lame excuse as to why they can’t do it, probably laying blame on President Obama for their inability to develop an alternative plan. In reality, they don’t want a replacement because they simply don’t care about the needs of others.

To them, health care should be available only for those who can afford it. If you can’t, tough. This is a prime example of social Darwinism and another example of how defiled our society has become. How sad.

George Cleveland, El Sobrante

Ways to brief Trump

Donald Trump insists he does not need to listen to daily intelligence briefings. But anyone knowledgeable about foreign affairs knows that he puts our country at risk by not doing so. Therefore, we offer five ways to help Trump get over his briefing aversion: Videotape the briefings as if they were news talk shows with “Hail to the Chief ” playing in the background. Arrange to have them read by CIA agents dressed up as beauty contestants in swimsuits.

Make a deal that if he reads the briefings, Gov. Chris Christie will drop to the ground and give him 10 push-ups. Send the briefings to President Vladimir Putin so he can read them to Trump. Tweet them to him at 3 a.m. From Katherine Liepe-Levinson and Martin Levinson.

Martin Levinson, Forest Hills, N.Y.

California values still work

2017 dawns with good news for Californians who adhere to the “lead, not secede” movement. Assembly Bill 1887, which went into effect on Jan. 1, prohibits California State University from requiring employees to travel to states where discrimination is protected by law.

In addition, Sonoma State University will prohibit reimbursed travel to four states including Kansas, Mississippi, North Carolina and Tennessee, regardless of funding sources. Our much-scorned “California values” once again are poised to take a beating in much of the country. We should relish yet another opportunity to be exemplars for progressive thought and actions.

Mark Wardlaw, Santa Rosa

Unethical transparency

In their very first day in session, the Republicans in the House have made it clear that they wish to act unethically and do not wish to be held accountable. I suppose we should thank them for being so transparent.

Andrew Bernhard, Stockton

Media’s faulty hacking focus

In the wake of unanimous intelligence agency conclusions that President Vladimir Putin-directed operatives hacked American information sources in a deliberate attempt to undermine American democracy, why is our national media unanimously focused on the need to defend the intelligence community from Donald Trump?

Shouldn’t they be equally focused on identifying Trump’s motives for debunking their conclusions? Shouldn’t they be calling for full investigations to determine whether or how Russian influence may have affected actual vote tallies in the 2016 presidential election?

Patricia Gelb, Oakland

What is point of provocateur?

Regarding “UC Berkeley braces for provocateur” (Jan. 4): I would ask the Berkeley College Republicans if Milo Yiannopoulos and Breitbart really represent their best hopes and desires. Are they looking to alarm or engage the university community?

If they don’t just want to outrage, titillate and upset people instead of finding a thoughtful conservative to foster communication and understanding, then they should choose on their own to cancel the event and replace him with someone else. I couldn’t tell from the article if they were approached or if the administration alone was appealed to to step in.

Jim Haber, San Francisco

Sea Ranch’s architecture

Regarding “Sea Ranch tributes aren’t stuck in past” ( Jan. 3): Yes, the visual power of the place is undeniable. The architecture and the landscape design, however, must be seen in their wider context.

And that context is exclusivity. The original plan was to keep the public entirely away from miles of shoreline, except at Gualala Point Regional Park. Lengthy battles between the property owners, land use regulators and vocal members of the community led to opening a handful of public paths to the beach.

And a public oceanfront trail extends perhaps a third of the length of the Sea Ranch. There’s not even safe pedestrian access along shoulder-free Highway One. A triumph matching the peerless architecture would have been creation of a key link in the California Coastal Trail along six miles of spectacularly scenic cliffs south of Walk on Beach, now off-limits to all but residents and their guests.

Steven Scholl, Berkeley

Weigh consequences on care

Regarding the Republican Congress’ urgency to repeal the Affordable Care Act, we have two choices: either they are blinded by ideological dogma, or they just don’t care about the consequences to the millions who will lose their coverage. You choose.

Shorey Chapman, San Francisco

Belaboring technology

Regarding “Wearable sensor to ease worries for mothers-to-be” ( Jan. 4): I was inspired by Trisha Thadani’s article about Bloomlife, wearable sensors easing worries for pregnant women, by letting them know when they are having contractions, their strength, their duration and their frequency.

It is amazing that women, who have been going “through so much of this so blindly” for the past 200,000 years without this startup device and its corresponding phone app, have done as well as they have (billions babies of various ages and counting, as I write).

One can only hope that updated versions will be able to reduce the discomfort of labor by displaying fewer contractions at lower intensities, with less frequency. You could call it “ToTi-a-Do,” meaning “Turn on, Tune in, and Drop out.”

Barbara Monnette, Saint Helena