Letters: Bidens achievements | Forest management | Spring surge? | Tied to coal | Modern Know Nothings | Death penalty – The Mercury News

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In his rambling (Trumpism without Trump? Whats next for the GOP? Page A7, March 5), Victor Davis Hanson refers to President Bidens ineptitude. Check the record.

Biden has set up a task force, working to reunite families separated by Donald Trumps cruel immigration policy. Over 500 families have been located. Trump, the ultimate science denier, withdrew from the Paris Accord, stating climate change is a hoax. The United States has rejoined, working to address this issue.

Trump also pulled us out of the WHO, the organization working on health issues (think COVID). We have now rejoined. Praising Putin and world dictators, Trump denigrated our allies. Biden received congratulatory calls from world leaders and restored respect for the United States.

Trump repeatedly called COVID a hoax, claiming it would disappear, and did virtually nothing, ignoring the danger. Over 500,000 Americans have died. Biden has taken more action in two months than Trump did in a year, purchasing vaccines and getting them into arms.

Caroline RackowskiMorgan Hill

Re. Wildfire smoke especially harmful, Page A1, March 6:

Past fire suppression and unnaturally thick forests are not to blame for our current wildfire problem. This simplistic timber industry propaganda is used to justify aggressive thinning that, by decreasing needed sequestered carbon, causes more harm than good.

True poorly managed forests are those that have been clear-cut and replanted with same-age, same-species trees. Unlike lower intensity fire behavior observed in biodiverse, natural forests, fire in monoculture plantation farms is explosive and highly destructive. The Camp Fire is a good example.

Flammable timber-industry-created unnatural forests coupled with higher temperatures, decreased rainfall, and stronger winds due to anthropogenic climate change have resulted in our out-of-control wildfires. To think we can prevent them with massive $1 billion thinning projects is absurd and ignoring the role of clearcutting is even more absurd. Lets not let big timber blow this harmful smoke anymore.

Jennifer NormoyleHillsborough

If anyones thinking about going maskless, Id keep mine on a bit longer if I were you.

Why? Well, youve got Easter and churches full of singing and energetically participating people. Youve got Texas and Mississippi and the like encouraging risky behavior. Youve got bars open and crowded. And youve got a growing cast of virus variants, trying to mutate into something scary our vaccines cant stop.

Just saying, dont bet against a resurgence in April/May.

Monte LorenzetCupertino

Re. How private equity squeezes cash from U.S. coal, Page C8, March 8:

The article on private equity and U.S. coal raises two important points:

1. Coal is still filling an important niche; standby power for periods of peak demand like we just witnessed in the February cold snap. Renewables and storage still have a ways to go.

2. Billions of dollars are still being invested and healthy returns are being realized in this dirty technology.

We should pursue the opposite:

End the Trump administration coal plant incentives.

Implement a carbon tax on fossil fuels to cover the costs of the pollutants they generate and accelerate the transition to renewables.

Our energy mix is complex and evolving and we as consumers need to be educated. Thanks for highlighting an important facet.

Tom CalderwoodLos Gatos

If you thought Millard Fillmores 19th century Know Nothing Party was a historical anomaly, think again.

Its hard to believe that so many today are anti-vaxxers, anti-maskers, climate change deniers who still believe that Donald Trump somehow won the election. I fear that this way of thinking is not just a temporary blip in U.S. history. I think its always been there lurking under societys radar.

This large swath of the American public who Richard Nixon deemed the Silent Majority was given a voice by Newt Gingrichs Tea Party and by radio personalities like Rush Limbaugh. But it was Donald Trump who handed these millions a megaphone to espouse their anti-science views and permission to act out their antiquated thinking even resorting to violence.

Now that the know-nothings have reared their ugly head, how will a more enlightened America emerge?

Bob ParkerSan Jose

I am writing in hopes of raising awareness and emphasizing the importance of abolishing capital punishment. The United States is still one of the countries using capital punishment. As of now, the death penalty is still legal in 28 U.S. states. This practice is an irreversible and irreparable act, which does not advance public safety, nor does it work as a deterrent.

In January, three offenders were executed by the use of lethal injection. There are currently seven more offendersscheduled to be executed this year.

Capital punishment is an immoral practice that allows the state to choose who deserves death and does so lawfully as a means of obtaining justice. The death penalty is discriminatory and violates fundamental human rights. Its important to bring more awareness to this topic and advocate for the abolition of capital punishment.

Abbyana SifuentesSan Jose

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Letters: Bidens achievements | Forest management | Spring surge? | Tied to coal | Modern Know Nothings | Death penalty - The Mercury News