Find root cause for drug overdoses
Regarding “Answers elusive as meth toll rises” (Page 1, Feb. 8): What we really need, as a nation supposedly dedicated to “the pursuit of happiness,” is some serious, collective self-reflection as to why there are so many unhappy people in this country.
Overdoses of methamphetamine, opioids, heroin and other addictive escape mechanisms are “only” some of the manifestations of that unhappiness. Others include mass shootings, teen suicides, domestic violence, etc.
We are a nation suffering perpetual PTSD — of both military and domestic origin. Much more than mental illness, such feelings of despair and estrangement are all symptoms of an epidemic of emotional and even spiritual emptiness, feelings of not belonging and not having meaning or a purpose in life. What does it say about us, about our culture, to have had a president who, as a palliative for our national trauma, grief and disorientation following 9/11, could only advise us to go shopping? The root cause lies somewhere deep within our cultural norms and values, and we will only find solutions through some serious national soul-searching and self-reflection. Cultures are supposed to be the mediums for growing things, for nurturing life. Ours clearly is falling short. Michael Abkin, Hillsborough
You can keep the hat on
I keep reading editorials about those Make America Great Again hats, and far too many of the writers have complained about people wearing hats in restaurants at all. I respect the right of the owner of a nice establishment to ask me to remove my hat, but I am tired of people who tell me what I should or should not wear in a restaurant. In more than a couple of these editorials, the writer refers to those wearing hats in restaurants as slobs. Does that include religious headwear? Give me a break! I wonder who made these rules up, and why people act as though, like with the rules of our Founding Fathers, they must be followed for an eternity. I do not wear my hats at fancy restaurants, and often I choose to remove them in lesser establishments, but it is my choice. If I have been outside doing physical work, or exercise, which might just have been the walk to the restaurant on a hot, humid day, I often choose to keep my hat on when I stop at a diner for lunch rather than expose my greasy hair. The real slobs are the judgmental people who feel a need to tell us what we should or shouldn’t wear and try to enforce their idea of respectable behavior upon us. It is a free world, sometimes.
Mitchell Goldman, Richmond
Shut off the gas
I’m confused about the length of time it took for Pacific Gas and Electric Co. to shut off the gas at Geary Boulevard in San Francisco. Are all gas valves for the city to be found way under layers of cement and asphalt? Are there really no shutoff valves in easy to reach but secure places? As a homeowner in suburbia, it is my responsibility to keep my shutoff valve in an accessible area, clear of brush and dirt, etc. Why would we not have the same standard in a big city?
And if they had to shut off the wrong one, does it really matter? Just do it! What would have happened if those flames caught another few buildings? Incredible.
Margaret Flaherty, Berkeley
Wrong priorities
Regarding “Trump puts U.S. on new foreign policy path” (Feb. 8): Andrew Malcolm praises the Trump administration’s recognition of Juan Guaido, Venezuela’s opposition leader and selfproclaimed interim president, as part of its new “muscular” foreign policy in Latin America. However, the president’s policy toward Central American countries like Honduras, Guatemala, and El Salvador — where violence and extreme poverty are causing citizens to flee and try to emigrate to the U.S. — is (to use one of his insults) “weak.” If President Trump truly believes there is a “caravan” of migrants “massing” at our southern border, he should be offering their home countries more financial aid and diplomatic solutions to reduce violence, not engaging in nation-building in Venezuela.
Herman Rivera, San Jose
Respond to attacks
According to “Branded socialists, Dems happily own it” (Feb. 8) by The Chronicle’s Joe Garofoli, President Trump’s response to Democrats who are calling for “Medicare-for-all,” tuition-free college and raising taxes on the wealthy, was to declare America will never be a socialist country?
Well, I hope that the 2020 Democratic presidential nominee will respond to Trump’s attacks on our free press, slander of judges who rule against him and disregard of our nation’s Constitution by declaring America will never be a fascist country.
Julian Grant, Pacifica
Coequal partners
Concerning “Trump should be ‘harassed’ ” (Editorial, Feb. 8): Thank you for pointing out that Congress, as part of the legislative branch, does not exist to simply defer to executive branch actions. Rather, it is a coequal partner in our government whose committees have an obligation to conduct investigations of public concern — including presidential misconduct.
For President Trump, who regularly insults and attacks his critics, to call such investigations presidential harassment is a prime example of the pot calling the kettle black.
Jennifer Erickson-James, San Francisco