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Support state’s counter
to Texas power grab
Re: “State’s redistricting plan is a necessary antidote” (Page A8, Aug. 24).
Michelle Obama’s famous statement, “When they go low, we go high,” was applicable back in the days when there was still some measurement of decorum and decency left in politics. We now live in a world where turning the other cheek only gains you another slap in the face.
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The Trump administration has demonstrated their commitment to inventing “new lows.” Unfortunately, the only way to win back this country and rebuild our democracy is to fight on the same level.
I agree with Madge Strong’s assessment. Vote yes on Proposition 50.
David Wilkins
San Jose
Real point of Prop. 50
is to oppose Trump
Are groups such as “Protect Fair Elections.org” (Right Path California) and “Protect Voters First” sponsored by “Hold Politicians Accountable” with top funder Charles Munger, Jr., also against anti-gerrymandering, such as in Texas?
They proclaim, “Say no to Partisan Gerrymandering by joining us now.” At least in California, this mid-decade redistricting would sunset and return to the authority of the Citizens Redistricting Commission for the 2030 census. And, unlike Texas, California voters will decide to allow this mid-decade redistricting to stop Donald Trump from continuing his unchallenged reign after the 2026 midterm elections for the House and Senate.
Trump is promoting the Texas changes to gain “just 5 more GOP representatives,” just as he wanted the state of Georgia to find “just 11,780 votes” to overturn the 2020 election. He must be stopped.
Nancy Vanclef
Palo Alto
Latest high-speed plan
no faster than a car
Re: “Train agency looks at Gilroy” (Page A1, Aug. 23).
The original goal for the California high-speed rail was to be able to travel nonstop from San Francisco to Los Angeles in 2 hours 40 minutes.
The CEO of CAHSR has suggested extending the Central Valley portion to the north to Gilroy and connecting with Caltrain to San Francisco, and extending to the south to Palmdale and connecting with MetroLink to Los Angeles. This is no longer high-speed rail. Looking at the current Caltrain schedule, the fastest it can go from San Francisco to Gilroy is 1 hour 51 minutes. The fastest MetroLink from Palmdale to L.A. Union Station is 2 hours.
If HSR could go between Gilroy and Palmdale with a few stops in 2 hours and add in some connection time, the total is not that much different than driving.
John Adams
San Jose
Trump continues history
of bashing migrants
Re: “Bashing migrants’ bloodlines an ugly presidential pastime” (Page A6, Aug. 26).
Immigrants helped to build America to become the most prosperous nation in the world. The phrase “a nation of immigrants’’ is a common description for the United States, and the country has been associated with welcoming immigrants. John Kennedy used the phrase in his book, “A Nation of Immigrants.”
However, the reality is more complex, with the U.S. by turns welcoming and restricting immigration. Immigrants have historically and continue to contribute significantly to the U.S. labor force, start businesses and enrich American communities with their cuisine and cultures.
The country also has a history of restricting immigration, such as the Alien and Sedition Acts, the Chinese Exclusion Act and the McCarran-Walter Act, which favored Europeans and contradicted the idea of an open door.
Donald Trump has used anti-immigrant fervor as a theme to win his second term. He is also working on eliminating birthright citizenship and foreign student admission to universities.
Mohan Raj
San Jose
US, Israel share shame
of denying famine
Re: “US, Israel shrug at famine report” (Page A1, Aug. 24).
At times, it is hard to tell whether what’s reported is right or wrong.
In the case of famine in Gaza, both Israel and the United States are wrong. “Shrugging” off the deplorable evidence of suffering by thousands from famine, while openly proven by the international press as inhumane, is truly wrong. Hundreds of children are dying daily from starvation and malnutrition while Israeli soldiers murder adults as they advance in despair toward aid stations for food.
These are suffering people needing recognition and compassion, not death and denial.
Susan Dillon
Morgan Hill
General strike would
slow Trump’s takeover
The time has come. The Trump race to autocracy has gone on too long. We need to stop it now. The majority of Americans object to what is going on, but we have not exercised the power we have to stop this race to ruin.
It is time to strike. We don’t work, we don’t buy, we just protest. If enough of us do it, we can get the attention of those enabling this craziness, and we can get it stopped. We should buy from our local businesses, owned by our neighbors, but we pay in cash. Money is going back to us, but no money is going to the corporate finance system. If we can grind the economic engine to a stop for a day, with the threat of weeks, our voices will be heard.
I support Thursday, September 11 for the strike. Join together. Together, we can do this.
Kevin Goodwin
Santa Cruz
