Park ranchers are losing livelihood, not getting rich

I think Thomas Kucera’s recently published letter (“Pt. Reyes ranchers got another sweetheart deal,” Jan. 18) is an example of how political discourse has degenerated at all levels.

It is bad enough that ranches existing in Marin County for more than 100 years will be removed from their current locations. On top of that, ranch workers and their families appear to have been given no voice in life-impacting details of the decision. They will be displaced at a time when agricultural jobs are shrinking in our region and affordable housing is impossible to find.

The agreement for the removal of all but two ranches in the Point Reyes National Seashore will reduce Marin’s agricultural production by 25% and Marin’s dairies by one-third.

Despite all that, Kucera appears to portray ranch families as greedy takers who should be “held financially responsible” for their use of the land. Kucera, who (it should be noted) is on the winners’ side in this long debate, nonetheless seems to be demanding some sort of retribution or revenge.

This has been an emotional discussion for our community. The environmental organizations waging this fight won permanent protection for the park, but even their leaders have not used such charged and unfair rhetoric about the ranching families.

Whatever side one finds themselves on, it is important to understand that this historic economic, cultural and social shift is eliminating a way of life that has existed for well over a century. It will have profound impacts on West Marin and the greater Marin and North Bay area.

— Ken Lippi, Novato

Pardons for Jan. 6 should raise red flags for all of us

President Donald Trump has described Jan. 6, 2021 as a “day of love.” However, it is a moment in time that will forever be remembered in American history as the day a riotous mob — likely instigated by the vengeful rhetoric of the once and future president — attacked the United States Capitol in an effort to prevent the constitutionally mandated peaceful transference of power to the elected president, Joe Biden.

It’s apparent that Trump wants to be remembered as a seriously consequential president. However, the consequences of his immediate quest to be consequential are being felt by Americans immediately and with drastic consequences.

With swiftness via executive decree, Trump pardoned more than 1,500 people who were involved in the siege, some of whom were found to be guilty of inciting the attack and others for their violence. The violence included the death of U.S. Capitol Police Officer Brian Sicknick, who was assaulted during the riot and died of multiple strokes the next day.

Trump’s pardons included more than 600 who had been charged with assaulting or resisting law enforcement officers. More than 170 were charged with using a dangerous weapon or seriously injuring an officer.

This is a travesty of justice. I think it sends a message about the vulnerability of our democracy. It reveals a potential for abuse of our institutions from within that should be chilling to this and every generation that follows.

— Bruce Farrell Rosen, San Francisco

Joe Biden’s energy policy didn’t ruin US economy

I am writing to strongly object to the editorial cartoon by Lisa Benson of Counterpoint Syndication published on the Opinion page Jan. 23. Benson’s cartoon appears to blame the Biden administration’s energy policy for people’s economic pain. I strongly disagree with that premise.

Under President Joe Biden, there was more oil produced than ever before and the U.S. has been a net energy exporter. We actually must drastically reduce our use of fossil fuels to ensure the future livability of the planet.

The reason we are in trouble now is that the wealthiest among us control a greater share of the wealth of our nation. The rich are too rich and the poor are too poor. Tax rates have gone down drastically for the wealthy and corporations. Meanwhile, the minimum wage stagnates.

Historically, societies become unstable when the gap between the rich and the poor is extreme and the middle class is being hollowed out. We should correctly blame the oligarchs and the politicians who profit from their association with it.

We need to rebalance our society with progressive tax policies and a restructuring of the corporate model to include requirements for corporations to benefit not only their shareholders but also to be responsible to the public good and the health of the environment.

— Anne McClain, Forest Knolls