Attacks on democracy

Amidst the continued reign of chaos perpetrated by the Republican Administration, it is difficult to keep up with the damage being wrought on our Constitution, our institutions, and our democracy.

The war on immigrants that the President suggested would target “murderers, rapists, and criminals” has now spread to target hard-working day laborers, farmworkers, construction workers, students, and children.

While the assaults on basic constitutional rights must be challenged, they mask the systematic assaults on higher education, science, health care, environmental protections, and life-saving foreign aid programs.

Recently, Japan and the EU announced plans to establish funds to hire displaced U.S. scientists. What is it that Japan and the EU see in the rich resource of our scientists that the current Administration doesn’t?

And, how did a drug-addled billionaire get appointed to dismantle the world’s leading research, science, and other institutions?

The stakes have never been higher. Now is the time for all good people to stand up and demand accountability and come to the aid of our nation.

Far too many made the ultimate sacrifice to protect our republic to allow the greed of self-interested billionaires destroy us.

— State Sen. Bill Monning (retired), Carmel

ICE raids

For years, San Francisco and Los Angeles have deteriorated with massive homelessness, dirtiness and crime. The Democrats, who control those cities, have been missing in action for decades. Now, President Trump and brave ICE agents, in raids, in Los Angeles, have been arresting criminal illegal immigrant gang members who have committed crimes like murder, rape, assaults robberies, drug trafficking, and other felonies! Those rioters are trying to cause massive damage to that city, now.

Gov. Newsom has criticized Trump for defending the safety of ICE agents, who risk their lives to protect our society. The rioters are throwing bottles and cement blocks at the police and are spitting in the faces of the officers, too. And the leftists are burning several cars and blocking freeways. Can you imagine, Americans in the central square of Mexico City, burning the Mexican flags as they wave the American flag? They would not last, one minute there.

— Ronald Lomanto, Monterey

President Trump sent National Guard troops to Los Angeles to maintain law and order. If he’s such a “law and order” President, why didn’t he do anything Jan. 6 to quell the attack on the Capitol?

— Dan Presser, Carmel

Preventing pollution

In addition to educating people to stop actions that put pollutants in the streets to get washed into our oceans, it needs to be pointed out that the more water can seep into the soil, there will be less pollutants to run off into the bay. Another action people can take is to minimize concrete and hardscape in their yards and driveways and use porous materials instead. It would be so great if cities would use pervious concrete to form gutters.

— Rebecca Lee, Pacific Grove

Big Beautiful Bill

Did you know that the Harvard Medical School and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) are considered the epicenter of medical research, globally? They have improved the success of childhood cancer surgery; they have developed an annual vaccine to prevent the spread of HIV/AIDs; they are finding new meds to prevent and control Alzheimer’s disease? But this research is being cut.

Did you know that hundreds of thousands of children are dying today because of the USAID withdrawal around the world?

Did you know that all of these programs will be cut even further and/or permanently, if the ‘Big (BAD) Bill’ Trump is pushing through Congress passes?

Did you know that these cuts are ‘needed’ according to Trump to continue his tax cuts for the rich (which add trillions to the deficit)? This bill also increases the estate tax deduction for the very rich from $7 million (without this bill) to $15 million.

Whether you are concerned about our health, safety nets, education, and our image in the world, or whether you care about our growing deficit, please tell Congress to oppose this big bad wolf in disguise.

— Susan C. Morse, Carmel