GOP brought us close to Putin’s wildest dream

Republican positions are not generally popular. Who’d vote, after all, for more tax cuts for billionaires, more pollution, banking deregulation, gutting Medicare, privatizing Social Security, shipping jobs overseas, keeping drug prices high, voter suppression, preventing workers from forming unions, undermining international cooperation on climate change and withdrawing from NATO?

Republicans also voted no on capping out-of-pocket health care costs for seniors, lowering health insurance costs for 13 million Americans, creating millions of clean-energy jobs, making large corporations pay more of their fair share in taxes, making tax cheats pay, lowering the costs of child care and education.

If things had gone the other way on Jan. 6, it would have been a victory beyond Vladimir Putin’s wildest dream: an authoritarian United States that breaks away from democracy, ditches NATO and embraces an isolationist, White nationalist leader.

— Frank Grygus, San Ramon

Musk’s comments point at path toward peace

Elon Musk has proposed an end to the Ukraine war by an agreement to make Ukraine a neutral country. That would mean ending NATO’s push to extend its reach to Ukraine’s border with Russia. It is only reasonable; our country would never allow an adversary to station troops and war material, including nuclear-capable missiles, anywhere near our borders.

Musk’s proposal was met with a chorus of outrage — that’s how rare it is that a prominent voice for peace is able to break through in a tightly controlled media landscape.

You are to be commended for running “Stop fanning the flames of war. Seek a ceasefire in Ukraine” (Page A6, Sept. 29). I can only hope that you will continue to allow the expression of voices that oppose the predominant reporting and opinion on this war.

— Mark Demming, Oakland

Much must change to slow Oakland violence

Re: “Oakland must confront surge in gun violence” (Page A6, Sept. 30):

My answer to your editorial on school shootings:

• It’s garbage that “the vast majority of officers are trying to do their jobs professionally” when they defend every colleague that commits murder.

• U.S. police spending is more than most countries have for the military. Cops need to do a better job, prioritizing the right types of crime.

• When do we start blaming school administrators? Is it possible that criminals always enter through open doors? We should use technology to prevent people from entering with guns.

• The concept of policing as having cops in the right place at the right time is medieval. Let’s use cameras and drones to record crimes and where the perpetrators go.

• Gun laws are useless without enforcement: Instead of the war on drugs, let’s use the same approach to catch who sells/buys guns illegally before crimes are committed.

— Roberto Garuti Walnut Creek

Yes to Walnut Creek’s Measure O sales tax

Measure O’s half-cent sales tax increase supports smart investments in youth and senior services, extended library hours, parks and recreation, the arts and public safety. These community benefits give residents the opportunity to stay safe, healthy and active.

Walnut Creek is fiscally sound. However, public safety, aging infrastructure and outdated recreational/community facilities require renewed investment to meet community needs.

Business and community leaders support Measure O because Walnut Creek would remain one of the lowest-taxed regional cities. Necessities like groceries, housing and prescriptions are exempt. More than half of the proceeds would be contributed by visitors shopping here.

Walnut Creek is a beautiful place to live, with abundant parks, safe neighborhoods, a family-friendly library, arts, recreation, and youth and senior activities. Let’s do our part to ensure Walnut Creek continues to offer this quality of life for future generations. Vote yes on Measure O.

— Kathy Hicks, Walnut Creek

Yes on Proposition 31 to save lives

Would you mind if my company sells addictive drugs in flavors that appeal to children? Annually, the drugs would painfully kill tens of thousands in California and nearly half a million nationwide, and not just the users, but those trying to breathe around them too.

No reasonable person would support that, but that’s the tobacco business model. For decades, the industry has turned misery into profit, even spiking nicotine to make products more addictive.

California banned sales of menthol cigarettes. Using money swindled from its victims, the tobacco industry challenged the law, requiring voters to consider Proposition 31.

Proposition 31 will reduce addiction, cancer and premature death. Rarely do we get the opportunity to improve the public’s health so easily. This lifelong Californian encourages you to vote yes.

— Matt Johanson, Castro Valley