Replace the GOP in midterm elections
Every time I see a picture of Republicans meeting to discuss their tax bill, my blood begins to boil. This Grand Old Party is composed of mostly rich white men who have little concern or understanding about the everyday problems and struggles of women, the poor and minorities in this country. Their tax cuts will mostly reward their rich corporate donors, increase the national debt, and eventually lead to more cuts in social safety net programs.
I urge the Democrats in Washington, D.C., to speak out against these injustices, and mobilize voters to replace these Republican scoundrels with more women and minorities in the 2018 midterm elections.
Hortensia Delarosa, San Francisco
Thank the supervisors
Regarding “S.F. supervisors nullify tax sale of private street” (Nov. 29): Thank you to the majority of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors that saw through this scam to buy up San Francisco streets due to Treasurer José Cisneros not doing his diligence in sending the tax bill to the right address. Some may say that although nobody would tolerate this for a homeowner in the Bayview, it’s OK since they were rich in Presidio Heights. Sorry, nice try having different standards of decent conduct according to income.
Thank God some savvy supervisors stood up for San Francisco property owners and against incompetence in the treasurer’s office.
John Dillon, San Bruno
Ready for Martian beer
Regarding “Mars needs Clydesdales” (Daily Briefing, Nov. 29): I’ve enjoyed many craft beers in my time, but news that Anheuser-Busch is sending barley seeds into space to see if they might sprout takes this concept to a whole new level. Will future interplanetary travelers be able to enjoy a “Budweiser — Mars Edition” in the coming decades? Perhaps this company’s Red Planet mascot will feature little green men on their galloping horses.
Esteban Hernandez, South San Francisco
No laughing matter
Regarding “Buyers beware” (Editorial, Nov. 28): By appointing Mick Mulvaney to head the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, President Trump is continuing his bizarre habit of choosing people to lead agencies whose existence or purpose they oppose.
He chose Betsy DeVos, who is against public schools, to be secretary of education. Scott Pruitt, selected to head the Environmental Protection Agency, routinely sued it as Oklahoma’s attorney general. And Rick Perry was selected as secretary of energy, even though he wants to eliminate the Department of Energy. Upon beginning his new position, Mulvaney “joked” that “Rumors that I’m going to set the place on fire or blow it up or lock the doors are completely false.” Consumers who want protection from predatory lenders or dangerous products are not laughing. Xavier Betancourt, San Francisco
Trump’s offensive slur
The question is not whether Pocahontas is a racial slur; the question is whether President Trump intended it to be. And he did. When Trump started referring to Sen. Elizabeth Warren that way, he meant it as an insult (he certainly did not mean to honor her). And he still meant it as an insult to demean her when he used it at the ceremony this week.
So, whether or not it is a racial slur, it was a racist comment, just as it would be racist to refer to a Chinese American as Chairman Mao over there or to a random South African as Bishop Tutu. The real problem seems to be not just that Trump is racist, but that he is proud of it. Clyde Leland, Berkeley
Attitudes must change
Regarding “NAACP’s call to end learning gap in S.F.” (Nov. 26): Several comments were made about the “gap” suggesting black students’ achievements fall behind their peers because the district, the school board, the government and professionals have “failed.” In addition, alleged “discriminatory practices,” “systemic barriers to equity,” “unconscious stereotypes” and a lack of “changing the culture at campuses” are said to be factors. All this despite the fact that over the past 25 years, “scores across all ethnic subgroups have risen.” In other words, “It’s everybody else’s fault.” How about this novel approach: Sit the students down and tell them, “By law you have to go to school to prepare you for your future life. While you are in school, you have to behave and perform. There are standards that all students have to meet. If those standards aren’t met, you will be at a distinct disadvantage later. You have to adapt.”
Sitting right next to the students should be their parents. All of this falls under the category of personal responsibility. You can move the deck chairs around all you want, but nothing will change until parent/student attitudes change. Hal Pike, San Francisco
Sinking ‘Trumptanic’
“Making tax moves this year” (Business, Nov. 26). Laugh all you want, House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy and House Republicans. With your votes for your hideous tax giveaway to billionaires and corporations, you’ve just bought one-way tickets on the “Trumptanic.”
David Schmidt, San Francisco