US requires new policies as fresh challenges arise

The U.S. has de-industrialized, driven by large corporations shipping much of our industry to low-wage countries. The result is an enormous concentration of wealth in our upper class.

China has been the greatest beneficiary and has become the world’s dominant manufacturer, even of components vital to our national defense.

That an apparent majority of our working class has turned against the Democrats is due to a concentration by party members on social issues that are lesser in scale than those affecting the working class.

Since the end of the Cold War, we have subsidized the defense of our NATO allies. I think those allies diverted funds they would have otherwise spent on their own defense to social welfare.

The greatest challenge we face is China’s determination to replace us as the world’s dominant military, economic and scientific power.

It has consistently focused national resources on the most important technologies of the future, and the growth of their scientific establishment and military/civilian technology merger.

U.S. strength has been based on our alliances with other democracies and our scientific dominance where the world’s best scientific talent worked at U.S. universities.

Given that China has four times our population, it is absolutely necessary that we leverage our democratic alliances and democratic/liberal culture to maintain our advantages.

I think President Donald Trump is destroying these alliances and cultural attractions and is replacing them with a know-nothing nationalism — even to the extent of furthering the divide in America itself.

Different policies are needed to equip America for the future challenges. We cannot look to Trump for those policies.

— Chet Seligman, Point Reyes Station

Melvin needs to know when to call for a bunt

In general, I do not like the way Bob Melvin manages the San Francisco Giants. During a recent bad stretch I saw him repeat a bad decision that I consider evidence of why I think he is failing this year.

In a game they were trailing, the Giants had golden opportunities to score in the last two innings. Twice, Melvin passed on opportunities to call for the batter to bunt with a man on first and nobody out. Both times, the Giants failed to score.

Those are glaring errors on his part.

— Joel Schwartz, San Rafael

Donald Trump should let the press do its job

Reich Minister of Propaganda Joseph Goebbels, a famed member of the German Nazis, used his position to control information and shape public opinion.

It is through that lens that I ask everyone to consider today’s “Make America Great Again” platform and the cult-like following it engenders.

I think MAGA leaders have undertaken unbelievable measures to try to control the message about what the government is up to. They appear to be trying to create a favorable narrative. Some demonize journalists who counter its daily lies with the truth.

The president of the United States appears obsessed with punishing everyone critical in the press. His actions at the beginning of his second presidential term are concerning. How far will he go to muzzle the free press?

The Nazis held the “Reich Press Conference,” which was run by Goebbels’ Ministry for Public Enlightenment and Propaganda. The Nazis’ idea of “public enlightenment” was issuing orders to journalists about what they could report on and what they’d better not report on.

Thankfully, a federal judge recently agreed to block the administration’s dismantling of Voice of America, the 83-year-old international radio news service created by Congress.

U.S. District Judge Royce Lamberth ruled that the current administration illegally required Voice of America to cease operations for the first time since its World War II-era beginning.

Acts like these coming from the White House are not “making America great again,” but in fact continue to create chaos and polarization.

— Dennis Kostecki, Sausalito

Column raises questions about our national pride

I am writing in response to a recent commentary by IJ political columnist Dick Spotswood (“Tam District’s ethnic studies curriculum riddled with identity politics,” May 14). Spotswood is correct in bringing our attention to the ethnic studies curriculum at the Tamalpais Union High School District. I agree that it is a thoroughly political document.

A recent poll by the Institute of Politics at Harvard University found that just 24% of young Democrats are proud to be American and 54% said they are actually embarrassed to be American. Young Republicans felt otherwise.

I think we should be telling these young people how fortunate they are to be living in the United States.

— Bill Brennan, Novato