Letters for November 28, 2019

Four on impeachment

Re “Blind eyes” (Second & Flume, by Melissa Daugherty, Nov. 21):

Polls don’t matter. It is not OK. It’s no longer arguable. If you are not angry at Trump, you are no longer in touch with reality. You have no respect for truth. It is that simple now. In 1938, 99.5 percent of Germans turned out to vote 98.8 percent in favor of Hitler and Nazi principles. In the slave-owning South, before the Civil War, polls of eligible voters would doubtless have shown near-universal support for continued slavery of African-Americans.

At some point rational people have to recognize something’s awry. A large segment of the populace is not just espousing contrasting views, it is just dead wrong. With a president even many staunch conservatives and lifelong Republicans concede lies like breathing, we need to stand firm and defend our democracy. Trump’s lies and crimes not only cost lives, they also devastate every American principle. Regardless of poll percentages, he must be removed.

Norman Beecher

Chico

Recently Lindsey Graham advised Trump to handle the impeachment like Bill Clinton did and keep his gnat-like attention on the job.

Clinton was impeached for using the power of his office to make an intern fellate him in the White House and lying about it. Instead of the irrefutable evidence that Trump used the power of his office and taxpayer money to force Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky to meddle in our election for Trump’s benefit (which hasn’t shaken any Republican support), the House needs to prove that Trump tried to force Zelensky to fellate him in the White House and lied about it, and it’s a done deal.

Shouldn’t be hard. Sounds just like something Trump would think of, considering he has lied about 13,000 times since he took office, and Zelensky “loves his ass” and “will do anything” Trump wants, according to Ambassador Gordon Sondland’s testimony.

Rich Meyers

Oroville

“In my windshield I see fear and faith. Rich and poor from town to town. One owns a Bible, one owns a safe. Neither walks on common ground. Tonight, I drive across America. Mister, can I talk with you. Tonight I drive across America. Oh say, can you see what I see through.”

Words from a song written by Mark Germino for his 1995 CD, Rank and File, hit the mark today, as they did nearly a quarter of a century ago. We are living at a crossroads. The plain and simple choice is either to allow the current electoral and Russian-assisted president to be immune from law, or—forget it. The impeachment inquiry is showing that trying to run this country of checks, balances and laws cannot be overthrown by an immature, wannabe mafia New York autocrat, aka DJT.

We can see what needs to be seen through.

Danny Wilson

Oroville

Post-impeachment inquiry, I see the news media going off the pier. “It is a blowtorch,” “it is the end of Donald Trump,” etc. Really? Not from what I listened to the last two weeks. Most was hearsay, and gee, even one Democrat tried his best to say that was OK to use. Wow. Rep. Adam Schiff tried all he could to sink the Trump ship, but to no avail.

The drama will continue no doubt with articles of impeachment; however, even Nancy Pelosi said you “need bipartisan support.” That won’t even come close in the Senate if it gets that far. In fact, they may lose some Democrat congressional support. Don’t you think after three years of trying, they should just give up and start working with the GOP to make America great again? All they seem to be doing is tearing our country apart. Time to stop this madness.

Zane Libert

Palermo

Oh, cynicism

Re “Oh, Democrats” (Letters, by Ray Estes, Nov. 14):

Ray Estes’ recent letter highlights a corrosive, misguided mindset that has permeated our national discourse for years. He describes the current slate of Democratic candidates as “nightmarish,” and sure to fail against Trump in 2020. At the same time, he laments the current administration’s inevitable slide into “dictatorship,” all while offering exactly zero solutions for success or change. He fails to see the tremendous opportunity for systemic change to a government that has drifted away from true representation of the people.

Two of the leading candidates, Sens. Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren, are true progressives who have spent much of their lives battling the oligarchs of American society on behalf of the rest of us.

Mr. Estes disparages Sanders as an independent who is “four years older and unhealthy.” Bernie has been fighting for the poor and working class of this country for half a century. The integrity he has shown throughout his career is stunning, especially when compared to the craven party leadership of Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer. While others are content to line their pockets with lobbyist cash from massive companies, Bernie is intent on building a movement of actual human beings to turn things around.

Patrick Spielman

Chico

Bernie Sanders won the Michigan and Wisconsin 2016 primaries, winning a total of 23 primaries.

Obama campaigned on hope and change, but he shortchanged ordinary Americans on change, so they lost hope and over 9 percent of them voted for Trump. Those voters are likely to vote for Sanders, being enthused by his integrity, authenticity and courage to deliver real change to make the lives of all working families better.

Your beloved status quo has created obscene, colossal and growing income/wealth inequality where the richest .1 percent take in over 188 times the income of the bottom 90 percent.

Change is coming and is very necessary.

For those immersed in the impeachment, I suggest you read “The Brennan Dossier: All About a Prime Mover of Russiagate,” by Aaron Maté of RealClearInvestigations. The article links to sources, Maté is a credible journalist and RealClearInvestigations is a worthwhile site launched by Tom Kuntz, after 28 years as a New York Times editor.

The recommended article shows that Trump/Russiagate was initiated by the CIA, and there may be serious mendacity involved that undermines U.S. democracy more than anything Trump has done.

Lucy Cooke

Butte Valley

Orwellian times

Eric A. Blair possessed supernatural ability. His remarkable perception of the world we currently live in was faultlessly predicted in his book written in 1947. Blair warned of a world in which democracy failed and totalitarianism took control. A world not interested in the good of others, but interested only in power. His book, Nineteen Eighty-Four, should send chills down the spine of anyone watching the Trump impeachment inquiry hearings this past week.

He warned “the party told you to reject the evidence of your eyes and ears.” Sound familiar? Is it any wonder that Trump is so enamored by ruthless dictators like Vladimir Putin, Bashar al-Assad, Kim Jong Un, etc.?

Former news commentator Bill Moyers said he fears for the nation’s survival for the first time in his life. Hear, hear. Eric A. Blair, who used the pen name George Orwell, warned people like Trump’s emblazoned “poorly educated” supporters that they are “perfectly ready for dictatorial methods and systematic falsification of history, so long as they feel it is on their side.” If you want a picture of Trump’s future, imagine a boot stomping on a human face—forever.

Ray Estes

Redding

On the editor, recallers

Re “An easy out” (Second & Flume, by Melissa Daugherty, Nov. 14):

Nice editorial by Melissa Daugherty about the failed effort to recall two city councilmen. I would like to comment on the last two paragraphs of the article. Referring to our progressive council members as “lefties” strikes me as denigrating. I know each one personally and would certainly not describe any one of them as a “leftie” or left-wing. All are moderate in their approach to government and do their jobs with a degree of humility. Their rejection of Assemblyman James Gallagher’s anti-environment bill was an act of courage, not arrogance.

Too much credit was given to the recall instigators. The failure of their recall was due to its lack of merit, not to the inexperience of its promoters. Their arrogance was apparent from the start, with their finger-snapping and bluster. They should be called on it.

Robert Woods

Forest Ranch

Theater critic

Well, it seems you now must have a willingness to be tracked, a smartphone and a credit card to go to the movies. I’m talking about a new reserved-seating system that you must use to purchase a ticket. It’s a people-unfriendly system that does not take into account the needs of the elderly and disabled, but does encourage you to buy your ticket in advance over the internet.

This has been building for a while—since they stopped printing their listings, started a members-only club and a game app to further track their customers (brag to your friends!). Now they are not even bothering to print legible listings for the ticket booth. Additionally, the lights they put in so you can see your seat number ruin the movie experience and shine into the corners of your eyes. People will start coming in at the last minute so they don’t have to watch those ads.

Allowing a company a monopoly in your community means that you will trust them to serve that community, and at the old location Cinemark did. I remember one woman’s grateful letter to the editor explaining how their low-cost matinees helped her through a loss. Now they are getting bossy.

Robert Andersen

Chico

Lamenting drug prices

As an older American, I know that ever-rising costs for life-saving and life-enhancing medications are endangering older Americans. And younger folk often have to choose between medicines and putting food on the table as well.

This is a travesty, especially when there are bipartisan proposals in Congress right now, today, that could help fix this. Now is the time for our representatives to enact legislation to help us.

Now is the time for members of Congress to vote yes on bills that lower drug prices.

Laurie McBride

Magalia

Lose the gun ads

Regarding the Sportsman’s Warehouse ad for its “Pre-Black Friday Sale,” I ask you to institute a policy of nonviolence in advertising.

In August, data came out about mass shooters. They had early childhood trauma and violence, had an identifiable crisis point in their lives, studied other shooters to seek validation and they had the means. In regard to school shootings, 80 percent obtained guns from family; in workplace shootings the perpetrators were legal gun owners.

We have not had a mass shooting in Chico, but each week the middle of the CN&R invites us to purchase a gun. To the deeply traumatized individual who has hit the wall with his stressors isn’t that a reminder and invitation?

We should be doing all we can to prevent gun violence. Getting that advertising out of the CN&R would be one small step. Despite all of California’s vigorous gun laws we lead the nation with more mass shootings in which four or more people were killed or injured in 2019 (Gun Violence Archive.) We must do better to intervene. This is just one needed step. I would be grateful if you would take it.

Chris Nelson

Chico