Windfall tax will pump up gas price

So our beloved state leaders are thinking about levying a windfall tax on oil companies (“California might levy a new tax on oil companies. Here’s what to know,” Page B1, Nov. 9). Who do they think will actually be paying this windfall tax?

Yes, the oil companies will write the check, however just like the current carbon tax already being paid by the oil companies that translates to approximately $0.20 per gallon, the consumer pays this tax with every gallon of fuel we purchase. This proposed windfall tax will just add to the cost of fuel that we all pay.

— Conrad Schapira, Milpitas

Signature validation is meant to limit vote

The idea that signature validation is a credible measure to prevent voter fraud is in itself a fraud. Whose signature looks like the one they provided on the day they registered to vote? My signature 50 years ago looks nothing like it does today. Add to it circumstances like injury, disease and natural changes due to age, who is to say it is not lawful?

The validation of signatures is a solution looking for a problem. It is a conspiracy promoted by the worst of those seeking to serve. Their purpose is to spread distrust and fear. I hope we can see through this vile effort as the most egregious violation of our constitutional right — our precious freedom to vote.

— Mark Grzan, Morgan Hill

Better management key to improving police

If police were a private business, the frequency of costly injuries to the public would be viewed as a management problem, not an employee problem.

As Randy Cruz points out in his Nov. 13 letter (“Real reform needed to weed out bad cops,” Page A16), police need better training. Management also needs to improve hiring and performance management practices. Requiring college degrees would also facilitate the skills needed to deal with today’s complex policing needs. We should all be willing to pay more for this improved critical resource.

— Jeffrey Watt, San Jose

Schools shouldn’t fear teaching hard truths

Remembering my own experience growing up here, I feel that adults failed to teach us enough about morality during our most malleable years.

There’s so much proof of schools failing to be safe spaces, where kids learn to understand others and themselves. We’re afraid to talk about racism with children, wanting to keep them innocent or denying their capability, but this tradition of hiding ugly truths is what molds them into adults who are afraid to discuss real issues. Curriculums need to include the difficult aspects of our prejudiced history so that kids can understand the impact of their words on others. Introducing such topics will create adults that don’t shy away from those we normally keep quiet, allowing us to solve systemic problems that we’ve kept under the rug.

I hope that parents can take the very first step in developing this air of openness and understanding at home.

— Corina Pham, San Jose

Celebrate recent Election Day as a new start

We have had two days in this century that brought us sadness, anger and fear: 9/11 and Jan. 6.

Finally, we have a day to celebrate — Nov. 8.

On that Election Day, the American voting public turned its back on political extremism and the negativism that was dragging us down. We cast our ballots for thoughtful moderation, civil discourse and our belief in democracy. The act of voting was a reaffirmation of our trust in our system of selecting those who will carry out the will of the people.

This is not a proposal to declare Nov. 8 as a federal holiday. It is, however, a request that we pause, think and recommit ourselves to working together to resolve our differences. We now have a departure date to show when we turned it around and began to create a better world for ourselves and our posterity.

— John Cormode Mountain View

College graduates rely on loan forgiveness

Re: “Appeals court pauses Biden’s plan to forgive student loans” (Oct. 21):

I am frustrated to hear that the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has placed a hold on the president’s loan forgiveness program.

The three-year pause that was placed on loans during the pandemic was a great relief to me and many other students, but the constant legal battles for this program leave me worried. I do remain hopeful though, as President Biden continues to gain small wins throughout his fight for students. Campaigning to cancel a country’s collective debt is no small feat, so I will continue to support and stay patient throughout.

President Biden and his administration need to assure students that their debt will be canceled. They need to guarantee that the promise they made on their loan forgiveness will be accomplished.

— Xitlali Garcia, San Jose