Letters: Let’s hold the government accountable for SNAP fiasco

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Hold the government
accountable on SNAP

Our government is starting to reflect “The Hunger Games.” While the wealthy are having balls, citizens are going hungry.

The recent shutdown of the government has prevented many SNAP recipients from receiving their funds, which allow them to purchase food. Approximately 42 million families are expected to experience food insecurity in November. Additionally, government employees aren’t getting paid, so they may face food insecurity and many other problems. While the president is throwing lavish parties for the rich with your tax money, our local communities are working hard to make sure their citizens don’t go hungry.

We need to hold the government accountable for its actions, as once again, the poor are the ones who suffer from the decisions made by the wealthy. This is not the first government shutdown, and people need to realize who is at the root of this.

Jackie Zuniga
Pittsburg

Sadly, our leaders
reflect nation’s values

Our collective decisions, choices, behaviors and the conditions we accept reveal the character and values of this nation more than words.

On the same day that New Yorker Magazine reported that the shutdown of USAID has resulted in the deaths of approximately 600,000 people, one-third of them children, the shareholders of Tesla awarded the architect of that carnage, already the wealthiest person on Earth, a compensation package that could make him the world’s first trillionaire. Also on the same day SNAP benefits expired, creating food insecurity for 42 million Americans, the leader of this nation hosted a Great Gatsby-themed party, celebrating an era of ostentatious materialism and self-indulgence.

The actions and behaviors of the leaders chosen by the people are a reflection of our collective values.

Barry Gardin
Hayward

‘Mallard,’ ‘Doonesbury’
share a similar spirit

Regarding recent letters objecting to the “Mallard Fillmore” comic strip, although I strongly disagree with the strip’s political viewpoint, I have to admit being amused occasionally by Mallard’s over-the-top criticisms of liberal positions and his occasional mild skewering of what I see as the more blatant untruths and hypocrisy peddled by the current administration and its congressional allies.

I don’t often find it funny or ironic, but I understand that some of our neighbors actually agree with the strip’s take on current events … and that many of them might object to the “Doonesbury” strip on similar grounds. I try to use it as a lens to better understand those perspectives. I would be disappointed if you discontinued it.

If you ever consider canceling it, please poll your readers about discontinuing both the “Mallard Fillmore” and “Doonesbury” strips. I suspect the vote to continue both would be overwhelming.

Glenn Evans
Pleasanton

Letter’s shots at Trump
were nonsensical

Re: “Let’s rid White House of worst tenant ever” (Page A12, Nov. 2).

I expected to read “Bazinga” at the end of this letter.

Every sentence in this letter reeks of hate toward President Trump. Every statement is full of hypocrisy and untruth. A few examples: “He doesn’t pay rent.” What rental agreement is Nancy Thornton referring to? Please write which president has paid rent? On the contrary, President Trump has donated his presidential salary.

Another example, “He uses the courts to his advantage.” Wow — the Democrats do not use courts against Trump to their advantage? More hypocrisy.

I think I have pointed out enough of the hypocrisy and untruth in Thornton’s letter.

EBT seems to display mediocre journalistic practice, manifested by printing such a “Banzinga” letter. Maybe free speech is a false justification for printing such a misinformed and intellectually defective letter.

Kirit Shah
Fremont

Donald Trump prepping
for unelected third term

It should not have been a surprise that Donald Trump hurried to get the East Wing of the White House demolished. And though tearing down can be fast, construction takes time, and almost always longer than forecast.

But Trump has a deadline. He needs the Trump Throne Room to be ready for his coronation on Jan. 20, 2029.

You may say that the 22nd Amendment precludes a third term as president, but that is the beauty of his scheme. He won’t be taking power as an elected president. He will declare his continuing rule a necessity because of a great emergency that he will have created.

Is this too outlandish an idea? Maybe not. Both Trump and Steve Bannon seem to have inferred the same thing, and Trump continues to act as if unrestrained by law.

Maya Angelou warned: “When someone shows you who they are, believe them the first time.”

Ed Green
Oakland