‘Call to sedition’: A response to July 4 column

Joe Mathews’ penchant for hyperbole reached a new apex of absurdity in his July 4 Commentary titled “A (Churchillian) speech a California leader should give.”

His claim “the U.S. Regime has declared war against California” is ludicrous as is his claim California is a “sovereign entity.”

Under the Constitution states possess limited sovereignty and retain significant powers, but they are not equivalent to sovereign nations. In the United States, the powers of government are divided and shared between the federal and state governments. This is federalism, the essence of which is dual sovereignty — shared responsibility between the states and the federal government. The 10th Amendment reads: “The Powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the states, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.”

Mathews’ suggestion California send emissaries abroad to ask other countries exert economic, diplomatic and military pressure until “the (Federal) secret police and troops are withdrawn from California” is malodorous and could be reasonably read as a call to sedition.

— Dario Caloss, Santa Cruz

Deportations to Sudan ‘beyond comprehension’

If you are not convinced Trump’s America has entered the “Twilight Zone” look no further than deporting illegal immigrants to South Sudan. The U.S. warns Americans not to travel there because of its dangerous conditions as a war-torn country. Trump is using a 1849 statute that all of sudden makes immigrants who came here illegally invaders, requiring a declaration of war to deal with them.

Sounds nuts. Not to the Supreme Court, the arbiter of all rights, without an understandable rationale, gave him the green light to send these human beings to certain peril.

Cruel and unusual punishment seems like a slam dunk here. Isn’t that in the Constitution? As Trump slashes and burns through the law, norms and the Constitution like a fire-breathing dragon there is no knight to stop the carnage.

The courts, Congress, corporate America, all bend to his will. His MAGA base cheer with gusto. It seems like sci-fi on steroids. Beyond comprehension.

— Christine DeLapp, Aptos

Texas floods fulfilling climate change predictions

The flooding in Texas is horrific. Wildfires have destroyed homes in many places. Hurricanes, tornadoes, rain storms occur more often and are more severe.

This was predicted by climate scientists as far back as the 1980s. First, they pointed out that our carbon emissions were creating a “greenhouse effect,” but that didn’t get enough traction; so, they called it “global warming.” Now we name it “climate change,” which everyone can see.

How do we make the changes necessary to improve the environment? We won’t improve our climate disaster by drilling for more oil and reducing incentives for climate control initiatives.

What are people thinking?

— Mike Melville, Santa Cruz

Driscoll’s berry fields still using toxic pesticides

As long-time supporters and champions for local organic agriculture, we thought it important to note that the beautiful full-page Driscoll’s ad in the main section of the Sunday, June 29 Sentinel was appealing and misleading.

According to industry experts approximately 20% of the berries Driscoll’s grows in Santa Cruz County, are grown certified organic. The USDA ORGANIC logo in the ad gives the false impression that all of Driscoll’s berries are organic.

Driscoll’s leaders have expressed their interest to transition more berry fields to organic, but this has not yet happened. Their conventional berry fields use toxic pesticides, some of which cause cancer and learning disabilities.

The Campaign for Organic and Regenerative Agriculture (CORA), has been in conversation with Driscoll’s, regarding transitioning to organic, away from toxic chemicals, near schools and in neighborhoods in Watsonville and Pajaro Valley. Driscoll’s has the technology and financial means to accomplish this transition.

Now is the time for action!

— Carolyn Rudolph, Ellen Farmer, Santa Cruz