The depressing state of American politics
I am tired of and depressed by the state of our American politics and the hate fomented on both sides of the aisle; and the cable news and social media that exacerbate it. I am surprised to be quoting Rodney King (“Can’t we all just get along”) alongside the great Martin Luther King Jr: (“We must learn to live together as brothers or perish together as fools.”)
Since our Republican and Democratic leaders won’t even try, it is up to us.
Robert Moore, Danville
Social Darwinism
This 68yearold is perfectly willing to go along with the Trump administration’s herd immunity scheme for managing the pandemic as long as it comes with a guarantee that I will receive the same high level of cuttingedge care as the president did when I contract COVID19. Otherwise, this notion is nothing more than a culltheherd exercise in social Darwinism.
I can, however, see how it would appeal to the GOP; unable to repeal Medicare or Social Security, they now seem ready to just kill off most of the beneficiaries.
William Raffetto , Moraga
Census shenanigans
Concerning “Court lets census count us out” ( Editorial, Oct. 15): This year, the coronavirus pandemic has kept many businesses and schools shuttered for months, and has postponed or canceled many events. Thus it’s incomprehensible that the U. S. Supreme Court would enable the Commerce Department to discontinue its onceadecade census count of our country’s population to be continued weeks ahead of schedule.
Even if President Trump is defeated next month, his ability to adversely affect each state’s federal funding and number of congressional seats will be felt for years to come.
Gloria Curazon, Daly City
Chance at redemption
I am a bit disappointed in the lengthy expose of the Vallejo mayoral candidate Hakeem Brown ( front page, Oct. 15). While he definitely sounds like someone women should steer clear of dating, I am not sure why his stint in jail almost 20 year ago and his more recent spousal issues, eight years ago, of which he was not ultimately charged, should be gossip fodder for the Bay Area.
What are his positions? Has he been embroiled in any city scandals by being paid off by contractors, etc.? This paper spends so much energy discussing the merits of drug addicts shooting up on the city’s sidewalks, you would think they could have some empathy toward a man who seems to be trying to change.
Margaret Flaherty, Berkeley
No country club
I’d like to know what country club Jill Tucker belongs to? In “Anger over proposed Lowell lottery,” Oct. 13, she describes an “exclusive country club environment” at the school. One that runs out of toilet paper by 2 p. m. on a typical school day? One that can’t afford to replace asbestos ceilings in the gym?
Instead of tearing down a highperforming gem so its politically ambitious members can score social justice points, can we have a school board that improves the quality of public education in our city by the bay?
Amy Bach, San Francisco
Equal playing field
If Lowell High School admission is changed to a lottery system, will admission to playing on San Francisco’s high school football and basketball teams also go to a lottery system? Why is academic achievement always dismissed when athletic achievement is not?
Deborah Burstyn, Walnut Creek
Elevate all schools
What is particularly offensive about the proposed change in the admissions policy at Lowell is the notion that it is the only San Francisco high school in which a student can get a quality education. This is patently untrue, but even if it were so, the only really effective solution to the problem of inequality starts at the level of preschool. We citizens will have to be willing to expend the funds necessary to bring every school in the system up to the highest standard; every other attempt at a solution will be, at best, an ineffective bandage, or a cure worse than the disease.
Dorothy Auerbach, San Francisco
Promises, promises
During a campaign stop in Iowa, President Trump vowed that if he loses in that state, then he’ll never visit it again. Is his strategy meant to turn out or turn away Republican voters?
Nigel Llewlyn, South San Francisco
Precious right to vote
My wife and I voted today with absentee ballots and took them to a local post office. What a blessing to live in a city and state where we vote with confidence that our ballot will be counted.
No long lines, no shortages of mailboxes and most importantly no intimidation to casting our ballot. What a blight on states and partisans that threaten and hinder our right to vote as citizens of the United States of America.
Robert Cromey, San Francisco
The long audit
President Trump has claimed for four years that he can’t release his taxes because he is under audit by the IRS. Can someone explain why it is taking the IRS four years and counting to conclude their audit?
Keith Wardell, San Francisco
Stacking the box
Donald Trump has finally mentioned something that may actually be true and that is that the election will be filled with fraud. The GOP has placed illegal ballot drop boxes throughout California.
Richard Rydelius, Moraga
The surreal year
How weird is 2020? Last month we had a day that never began. And now we have a summer that is never ending. Wondering what 2021 will bring us.
David Kurrent, Pinole