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Federal law would
help state fire safety
Re: “Group seeks grant for prescribed burn entity” (Page B1, Oct. 6).
Every time I visit my family near Yosemite, it’s sad to see acres of dead trees from recent fires. In the U.S., the annual area burned by wildfires has more than doubled over the past 20 years. In addition to the lost carbon storage, wildfires cost lives, create harmful smoke pollution, and make it more expensive to insure and rebuild our communities.
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We need to take action to reduce these threats, so forests can keep doing their important work. The bipartisan Fix Our Forests Act (HR 471) can help. The bill includes provisions to increase resiliency to catastrophic wildfires, restore forest health and build fire-safety defenses for communities in high-risk areas. It passed the House and could soon be marked up in the Senate Agriculture Committee.
Sen. Adam Schiff is a member of the committee and a strong advocate for climate change solutions. Urge Senator Schiff to support the Fix Our Forests Act.
Virginia Tincher
Palo Alto
Under Trump, what
does the law mean?
“This is a government of laws, not of men.” — John Adams
Not any more. What does “the law” mean if there is no one willing to enforce it? Does it have any meaning at all?
Every day we see Donald Trump and his underlings violate federal laws — the Emoluments Clause, the Hatch Act and numerous others, but the public agencies charged with enforcing federal law, primarily DOJ and FBI, are all headed by servile minions of Trump who will take no action against his wishes. Trump does not wish to be bound by the law.
Laws that no one enforces effectively cease to exist. Currently, federal law enforcement enforces the will of one man completely, irrespective of what the law says. Not the system we thought we had.
Robert Mitchell
San Jose
Greene has taken
mantle of responsibility
How much trouble are we in when Marjorie Taylor Greene is the voice of reason in the Republican Party? As a Reagan Republican, I am appalled by Republicans in Congress quietly yielding to everything on Donald Trump’s agenda.
Mike Johnson has abused his authority as Speaker and is boldly going wherever the president commands, discouraging any opposition from fellow Republicans, and is now wearing an extra-long red tie.
The national mood is ugly, rapidly getting worse. Trump is enjoying the shutdown more than a president should. He can only do what he is doing as long as he controls both houses of Congress, the Supreme Court and the White House. Losing the House or the Senate would cripple him. Facing diminishing poll numbers, how far will he go to keep this from happening?
I applaud Greene for speaking out. Hopefully, other Republicans will wake up as well.
Dave Riggs
Aptos
Trump’s damage will
stretch into the future
I just had my first great-grandchild, Dylan, and I’m concerned about his future. I’m sure many of you have children and want the best future for them also.
Since our democracy allows me a say in who will shape Dylan’s world, I have three simple criteria for my vote:
1. Someone who tells the truth.
2. Someone who believes in science.
3. Someone who supports the Constitution.
On point one, Donald Trump told more than 30,000 documented lies during his first term, and has recently claimed that food prices are down, that he has cut prescription drug prices by 1,500%, and that inflation has been defeated.
On point two, Trump cast doubt on vaccinations and does not believe in climate change, two things that will dramatically affect Dylan’s life.
On point three, Trump has repeatedly said that he doesn’t know if he has to uphold the Constitution.
Don Eggleston
Aptos
Trump’s abuses tear at
economy’s foundation
When historians look back on Donald Trump’s presidency, they might decide to call him the “Chicken Little” president. He’s threatened another tariff on China so many times it’s impossible to believe him anymore.
What’s even worse is the way the stock market behaves like a toy train set in his hands, like it did on Friday, with a box car thrown off his desk.
If Congress ever gets the backbone to call for another impeachment, it should be because of his misuse of power with these outrageous tariffs to blackmail our most important trading partners and to manipulate free market international trade, which is one of the foundations of our economy.
Bill Graham
Salinas
Trump undeserving
of Nobel Peace Prize
Re: “Venezuelan opposition leader Machado — not Trump — is awarded Nobel Peace Prize” (Page A3, Oct. 11).
I have a simple question:
How can the president, who invented a war on “the enemy within,” sending the U.S. military into U.S. cities, possibly believe he deserves the Nobel Peace Prize?
David Wilkins
San Jose