Keep the celebrities out of politics
After watching her Cecil B. DeMille Award acceptance speech, Oprah Winfrey’s role as a household name became amplified immensely. Soon after the dust of the Golden Globes had settled, we were greeted with #Oprah2020, considering her as our next president. While she did display passion and advocated for change in her empowering speech, it’s due time to stop looking up at billionaires and A-listers for political leadership and moral direction. These practical demigods can band viewers together through speech and poise, make donations, and provide a voice using their status.
None of these include running a country, handling foreign affairs, nor providing a stable feeling of political and economic security. Celebrities are celebrities for a reason — their cunning ability to appeal to and charm the masses. A figure we can nod our heads at collectively is just not fit for the office. Sofia Paborji, Los Gatos
Voter turnout impacted
Regarding “Voters to blame” (Letters, Jan. 18): While I agree with the opinions of the letter writer, I believe that in addition to the voters who elected President Trump, some fault lies with the eligible voters who decided not to cast a ballot. CNN reported that national election turnout to be the lowest in 20 years. With the administration’s goals of alienation and “undoing,” it may be understood that Americans also feel that their votes won’t matter against it. In addition to the guy in the Oval Office, there are many of his protectors and handlers building their intentions. The disposition of Trump may even become their campaign show. Now more than ever, we all need to vote in November 2018.
Merrily Satterstrom, Larkspur
High-calorie burger
Regarding “Battle of the quarterpound bulge” (Daily Briefing, Business, Jan. 19): Thanks (and no thanks) for the business news item. Burger King’s new Double Quarter Pound King burger has 54 grams of fat and 900 calories — almost half of an adult male’s average daily recommended caloric intake. Only someone who likes to binge on fast food, doesn’t watch their weight and yet still gets an excellent bill of health from his doctor would be a customer for this high-fat/high-calorie food. Wait a second, I just thought of someone in the White House who fits this description. Ronald Bautista, Daly City
Stop the age criticism
Regarding “Mounting GOP retirements may be trouble for Trump” (Jan. 19): It’s offensive that columnist Andrew Malcolm characterizes House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi as “confused” and describes her team, “all of which are over three-quarters of a century old,” as being “aged.”
What about the fact that the Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell is 75 years old, and that the president is (at least in chronological terms) almost 72 years old? Malcolm should reserve his criticism of Democrats (and Republicans) based upon their policies, not their ages. Arthur Leibowitz, San Francisco
Gala coverage
Regarding “Picture-perfect Ballet gala” (Page One, Jan. 19): I wish The Chronicle would stop giving prominent coverage to the fashion aspect of the Opening Night Gala of the San Francisco Ballet.
During this era of #MeToo and women’s marches that highlight the issues of sexual harassment and gender pay inequality, showing women posing in expensive designer gowns and jewelry merely objectifies them. And at a time when our city has a large homeless population and growing tenant evictions, any coverage of this annual event should be relegated to Catherine Bigelow’s society column, not the front page of this newspaper.
Jennifer Erickson-James, San Francisco
‘Crumbs’ from Apple
I read “Apple plans site outside Bay Area” (Business, Jan. 18). However, as usual with anything related to President Trump or Republicans, you accented the negative and almost ignored the positive.
Almost at the very end of the article, Wendy Lee mentioned Apple increasing their investments in small creative manufacturing companies from $1 billion to $5 billion and also rewarding all employees with $2,500 stock-based bonuses. This is called “trickle-down economics” or “crumbs.” Just like me, I’m sure most of your readers would like to have these “crumbs” on their table and many other companies have already done the same!
Randy Leathers, Tiburon
Slippery slope
Allowing medical practitioners to refuse their services on religious grounds starts down a slippery slope. Treatment can be refused because someone is a different religion, eugenicists can refuse to treat someone with Down syndrome, white supremacists can refuse to treat “inferior” races, etc. Our country was founded on pluralism, not the elitism that this new Trump administration rule promulgates. Sue Kayton, Menlo Park