Letters: ‘No Kings’ real success was in energizing resistance

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‘No Kings’ real success:
energizing resistance

Re: “‘No Kings’ rallies galvanize region” (Page A1, Oct. 19).

Before the most recent “No Kings” rally on Oct. 18, Republican leaders attempted to dissuade and even denigrate the event and its participants, calling them anti-American.

Yet the event produced the biggest civil rallies in the history of this country.

Trump’s response was “Who cares?” Perhaps the recent election results answer that. The American people do. It is a rule of thumb that for every person who marches, there are 10 to 20 who sympathize. That would equate to 70 million to 140 million people, as a record 7 million participated. While some complain that these rallies don’t do anything, they are an essential demonstration of the depth and breadth of popular sentiment and resistance, and they serve to hearten and motivate people to engage.

Phil Rapier
Oakland

Let’s have the courage
to rethink how we move

Every morning on my way to school, I watch cars inch along the freeway, engines humming, exhaust drifting into the air we all breathe. It’s not anyone’s fault — it’s just how our cities were built. But it doesn’t have to stay this way.

Transportation is one of the largest sources of emissions in California, and we feel it in every asthma attack, every hazy sunset and every heat wave that keeps us indoors. Yet buses are late, trains are crowded and biking still feels unsafe. If we want people to choose cleaner ways to get around, we need to make them reliable, affordable and safe, rather than just idealistic.

Clean air shouldn’t be a luxury. It should be the baseline for living here. The Bay Area has the talent and creativity to lead the nation in climate solutions. We just need the courage to rethink how we move.

Mira Shah
Dublin

Administration keeps
chipping away at rights

Re: “Trump administration speeds up new rules that would make it easier to charge some protesters” (Nov. 6).

My blood is boiling after having read the article reporting Donald Trump’s administration once again attacking our rights, speeding up laws and rules that make it easier for federal officers to arrest protesters who are near immigration facilities.

This is something that should alarm not only Californians but Americans as a whole. Peaceful protest is a core First Amendment right, but now we have rules targeting those who wear masks or cause “obstruction.” We cannot accept a system that is attacking our constitutional rights and freedom of speech. The Trump administration has time and time again abused its power, and it keeps getting worse. Voices are being silenced at a time when we need our voices to be heard more than ever.

I urge everyone who reads this to oppose these rules and contact their federal representatives and demand they block them.

Andres Espinoza
Union City

Apathetic, ignorant
voters rewarded Trump

Donald Trump can thank digital sources and television for his second election. Americans get their news primarily from TV, social networks and digital sources. They don’t read. If Americans still read, no doubt they would have stumbled across Project 2025 and learned what the Republicans’ plans were for the country.

Instead, Americans watch sound bites on TV, believe inaccurate social posts and vote for personalities. Given that, you would think they would have known what to expect from a person who relished saying “you’re fired.”

Now polls show more than 12% higher disapproval than approval of Trump’s actions. We have the lazy, uninformed American voters to thank for the demise of our democracy. We brought this upon ourselves.

Kit Miller
Walnut Creek

Shutdowns a destructive
way to negotiate budget

Re: “Passengers facing delays, frustration” (Page A1, Nov. 8).

The shutdown of important parts of the U.S. government when allocated funds exceed funds available is a bipartisan problem. We witnessed that solving the problem with a government shutdown was extortionate in President Trump’s first term, and we again witnessed that itwas extortionate over the last month.

This problem needs to be fixed permanently. Congress needs to come together and re-legislate the process, since having necessary government programs cease is a very destructive way to handle budgetary shortfalls. And an available alternative, increasing the national debt, is already available and a well-used procedure.

True, this debt does cause a problem over the long term. A large part of our current spending is paying off the current deficit. But this problem should be handled at allocation, not when the funds become due.

In short, the current process enables societal pain and policy-making extortion at public expense. It should be changed.

Wallace Clark
Concord

Investigation won’t
find the beef

Re: “Trump calls for investigation of rising beef prices” (Page A4, Nov. 8).

Rising beef prices have been a reality in this country for years. During the Bush administration, Brazilian meat packers acquired American meat processing companies. Through greed-based consolidation and globalization, the U.S. lost control of its ability to regulate beef prices via a competitive market.

Neither beef ranchers nor the American public have benefited from this short-sighted error. Having the DOJ “investigate” this fact will be relatively meaningless, as globalization presents meat buyers with a “take it or leave it” option in a non-competitive marketplace.

As is typical, it provides a convenient presidential talking point distraction, but, as usual, nothing of substance.

Jon James
Pleasanton