Birthright citizenship

I totally disagree with AG Bonta’s decision to join the other states in their lawsuit opposing changing birth citizenship. The state of California does not grant citizenship to anyone; it does set regulations for residency. A person who may be affected by President Trump’s executive order may wish to file a lawsuit, but a state does not have a legal standing to bring a lawsuit on behalf of an individual, because a state does not grant U. S. citizenship. Taxpayers’ monies should be used to assist with a personal endeavor. If Bonta wants to file a lawsuit on behalf of any individual he can, but as a private citizen. Birthright citizenship is not a California issue. The state administration needs to focus its attention on state problems, housing, safety, education and other needs of all California residents, not just a chosen few.

— Patrick Moore, Redlands

Promises kept?

As an incoming president who will sign scores of executive orders, Trump can carry out a number of promises. He can work to get rid of the fraudulent DEI apparatus that has permeated government agencies. DEI punishes merit and rewards the indigent. Trump can help to restore greater energy autonomy for the country, which can drive economic growth and in turn generate government efficiency. Perhaps he can push for less federal intervention in education in favor of local and state control of education programs. Trump can enhance border sovereignty by completing the border wall, restore the stay-in-Mexico policy, beef up the Border Patrol and expedite the process of legal immigration for folks who respect the law. He can also encourage foreign nations to develop so that lawless migration can be reduced. He can also decouple from any trade with China that jeopardizes our national security. Trump can cut regulations and taxes to trigger economic growth, which can benefit businesses and families across the board. People will have more money to invest, save or spend as they choose. That might also initiate an inflationary downturn.

— Christian Milord, Fullerton

Biden vs. Trump pardons

Several of your recent editorials vilify Joe Biden’s “norm-shattering” pardons before leaving office. Then, on Day One, Donald Trump pardons all either convicted or still facing charges for their roles in the Jan. 6, attempts to overturn the will of the voters and to kill VP Mike Pence along with numerous Capitol police officers. The clear implication of Trump’s pardon is that since their violence has already been officially deemed permissible, they’re now on the loose on our streets with the president’s consent to continue their mayhem on all suspected infidels. This means that violent criminals are now among us, without restrictions, able to dispose of anyone considered “the enemy” by any means necessary as long as it’s on behalf of President Donald J. Trump. On Day One, then, our 47th president turns our form of government from a democracy.

— Robert Archerd, Rancho Palos Verdes

Trump takes office

Re “President rips into past leaders, makes sweeping promises in inaugural address” (Jan. 21):

Instead of congratulating President Trump, this paper chose to print a piece by the AP reprimanding him for making his agenda clear to the American people. He inherited a broken country and with the help of God and Congress, they will fix it. An overwhelming majority of American citizens voted for Donald Trump because they trust that he can restore safety and security to this beautiful country. Try raising him up instead of bringing him down.

— Deborah Otterson, Long Beach

Freedom of speech

Re “Trump restores freedom of speech in America” (Jan. 23):

Trump‘s executive order concerning some Americans who were censored and deplatformed on social media contains the statement, “Government censorship of speech is intolerable in a free society.” Does this apply also to Trump’s often stated plans to prosecute his opponents, denying their right of dissent in a democracy, or does Trump believe that all Americans are equal, but some are more equal than others?

— Richie Locasso, Hemet