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Finance continues
to run U.S. health care

Re: “Federal vaccine funding is axed” (Page A1, May 19).

I want to assume that cost analysis compared continued support of public health programs in Santa Clara County aimed at preventing diseases, versus the cost of medical care for those who become ill without vaccines. It is short-sighted and cruel to underfund programs designed to keep people healthy.

Contrast how medical care is funded here in the U.S. with other countries like France. My husband had a medical emergency while we were there recently. Not being citizens and part of their wide-ranging health coverage, we had to pay. The total cost of an ER visit and an appointment with a specialist — about $75.

It makes me think the French have an interest in taking care of sick people, which also includes preventative care like vaccines, available to everyone at little or no cost. Sadly, our government seems to regard health care as purely a monetary issue, to our detriment.

Teri Shikany
Danville

Paper needs more
columns by Dan Walters

Re: “Walters columns make monotonous placeholder” (Page A6, May 14).

Dan Walters’ columns are a greatly needed breath of fresh air in the opinion section of this newspaper.

His unbiased views and factual writing help to balance the exaggerated views from the left that quite frankly get far too much space. Walter’s views are spot on and they are exactly what our once beautiful state needs to come back to common sense; safe, secure and lawful cities; low taxes; and a balanced budget.

Please increase the number of times per week for Dan Walters’ CalMatters columns.

David Ott
Pleasanton

Legislative decisions
have consequences

Back in the 1990s, the Midwest and Northeast were manufacturing centers, but that is not at all the case anymore.

Using Bureau of Labor Statistics data, a recent study of manufacturing jobs for 2019-23 showed big differences on a state level.

Manufacturing jobs grew the most in Texas, Florida, Georgia, Arizona and Utah, and actually shrank in Michigan, Ohio, Wisconsin, New York and Washington (fumbles by Boeing).

As another state example, in 1992, there were zero auto manufacturing plants in Alabama, while today, there are plants making Hondas, Toyotas, Mercedes, Hyundais and Mazdas — in all, over a million vehicles a year. These plants provide more than 50,000 well-paying jobs.

Coincidence? Probably not. The manufacturing growth states feature low taxes, fast permitting, right-to-work laws, cheap energy and affordable housing, while the opposite is true in the second list of states.

Elections have consequences, but so do decisions by state legislators.

Mike Heller
Walnut Creek

Take the stigma from
therapy for therapists

When thinking of therapists, you may think of someone knowledgeable, empathetic and calming, an emotional vault for others. What happens when that vault overflows? Who helps the helper?

It’s evident: other therapists.

Therapy is challenging to discuss, with emphasis that mental health professionals are excluded. Therapists are “superheroes,” yet human, absorbing daily traumas (grief and abuse) from others, while navigating their own life challenges, leading to burnout and compassion fatigue.

In fact, the American Psychological Association highlights the impact of self-care on these professions. Many licensing boards recommend or require seeking personal therapy. Still, stigma remains.

In recent years, more therapists are openly talking about their own therapy journeys in professional communities. Let’s humanize our “superheroes” by highlighting therapy being for anyone, including therapists. Maybe, it is increasingly needed for them.

Sheri Roberson
Oakland

Hatred of Trump is
unhealthy for U.S.

Re: “We should name polluted Tijuana River for Trump” (Page A6, May 16).

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Joe Mathews’ column, though somewhat cheeky, still contributes to the daily, but unhealthy hate fest on these pages against our duly elected president. Such hatred is always destructive, never constructive

Mathews must know that the Tijuana River pollution problem goes back at least 50 years. The problem is mainly due to conditions and the lack of environmental controls on the Mexican side.

Haters of Trump take him too literally and not seriously enough. But those who understand him often don’t take him literally in what he says, as he often says things to rile people up (whether wisely or not). But we take him seriously in what he does, which is generally consistent with Reagan conservatism.

Christopher Andrus
Dublin