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Only pro-spenders
would bury bill’s cost
Re: “Unlike GOP, Dems aren’t suppressing vote” (Page A6, Aug. 14).
Eugene Ely sides with those not wanting a full disclosure of the lifetime cost of all spending measures. Daniel Borenstein upheld every journalistic standard by arguing for an up-front “lifetime cost” disclosure of all spending measures in the 75-word summary for each measure.
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Obviously, it’s only in the interest of those advocating such spending measures to have the cost buried in other voluminous voting materials.
Ed Kahl
Woodside
Column sheds light
on obfuscating costs
Re: “Unlike GOP, Dems aren’t suppressing vote” (Page A6, Aug. 14).
It’s always interesting to read how people interpret articles differently.
To illustrate, unlike another reader, I was most appreciative of Daniel Borenstein’s example of how voter ballots can indeed provide voters with pertinent information they need to make decisions on how their hard-earned money is collected and spent, all within the ballot’s 75-word constraint and without sending a voter to a voluminous Voter Guide. Especially important since, as Borenstein pointed out, when price tags are immediately available, there are fewer voters (5-15%) likely to vote in favor of the measure.
So why would Democrats move ahead to pass AB 699, which basically says that the ballot language doesn’t have to include such costs and can instead refer voters to the hefty, verbose Voter Guide, all under the guise of “helping voters navigate their ballots.” Thank you, Daniel Borenstein, for shedding light and truth on this issue.
Tina Morrill
San Jose
Cooking maps won’t
help Democrats
Re: “Dems voice concern on plan” (Page A1, Aug. 13).
Gov. Gavin Newsom’s gerrymandering plan is disgraceful. He was once my candidate. However, his political ambitions and controversial attacks on our democracy— just so he can have an excuse to run for president — is not what I expected from him.
The Democratic Party has lost its direction and continues to lose. They may regain the leadership but not on this issue.
Jeff Staben
Santa Cruz
Texas GOP continues
tradition of cheating
Re: “Newsom reveals mapping gambit” (Page A1, Aug. 15).
It should come as no surprise that the state of Texas is planning to redistrict Democrats out of their congressional seats.
Some people might claim that changing the rules in the middle of the game is a form of cheating, but it seems Texans don’t consider cheating a sin. Take Ken Paxton, accused of cheating on his wife, , Texans made him their attorney general, the state’s top law enforcer. If the top guy can cheat, it must be OK for everyone else.
Texans proclaim their state is “great,” but being great at breaking rules and lacking integrity hardly seems something to boast about.
Doug Edwards
Los Altos
Redistricting is a step
toward authoritarianism
I have started this letter at least a dozen times in response to Donald Trump’s gratuitously cruel measures. And then, something even worse happens.
His orders to “red state” leaders to massage census numbers and redraw congressional districts to ensure Republican victories make clear his ultimate goals … to lock in a MAGA majority and to guarantee his continuation as leader. This is not only a power grab but also strikes at the heart of our democracy — free and fair elections that reflect the will of the people. If you can’t win by following the rules, cheat or change the rules. Say “goodbye” to our democracy and welcome a totalitarian regime.
As John Lewis said, “You must be bold, brave and courageous and find a way to get in the way.”
Bruce Berwald
Los Gatos
Arrest of protester
is over the line
We are disgusted with the conduct of Pam Bondi, U.S. attorney general.
The man who was arrested and fired for throwing a sandwich at an officer in Washington, D.C., should not be fired or arrested but chided. He was expressing his dislike of Donald Trump’s National Guard patrols of Washington, D.C.
We have First Amendment rights, the last time I checked. We are entitled to our opinions, Trump or not. We don’t have to like him. Get it?
Carolyn Straub
San Jose
Trump administration
is extorting tech firms
Re: “U.S. will get 15% share of chip sales” (Page C7, Aug. 12).
Our government is offering concessions to private companies (Nvidia) in exchange for a percentage of their profits. “I won’t burn your business down if you pay me for protection.”
Ring a bell? Sounds like the mafia is loose in the White House. Is this really where we want to be?
Barden Asquith
Campbell
There is no alternative
medicine, just medicine
With Robert F. Kennedy, Jr now heading up Health and Human Services, there is ever more talk about alternative medicine.
In science and medicine, we have ideas, theories, for causes and effects, and we do experiments to find out about them. We test and see what works, and pass the knowledge to others to replicate, to test and see the results.
And if others test and find the same results, it’s not called alternative medicine; it’s called medicine.
Jean Ricket
Saratoga