Letters to editor: Act now to save the planet

Act to save planet

I am astounded that many people in the United States still do not believe that the work scientists have done to identify and understand global warming is correct or truthful. A 1986 issue of Discover magazine warned that action was needed then. The scientists warned us, but our leaders dismissed global warming as a hoax.

We cannot wait for personal experiences to persuade the skeptics. As a nation we must drastically reduce the carbon dioxide emissions of our transportation system. The fairest way is by limiting the amount of fuel available per vehicle. We must phase out the coal- and natural gas-fired power plants and replace them with nuclear, hydroelectric, solar or wind. We need to plant trees in every wildfire burn area, city park, yard or farm.

Life on this planet is at stake. There is much more that can be done if our leaders just had the guts.

Trump mini-me

Brett Kavanaugh: arrogant, bullying and the epitome of white privilege. It’s like Donald Trump nominated himself, or a twin brother, to fill the vacancy on the Supreme Court.

No one is safe

The accuser sincerely believes, the judge believes deep in his soul and the community has heartfelt belief in the accuser. This is the spirit of Salem, so go set the post, cut the firewood and gather the rope. All believe, so it is time to light the torches.

What happened to facts based on who, what, when, where and how? No facts at all and no witnesses — who cares? Just believe sincerely from your heart and it will be true.

History is repeating, so forward again to Salem — scary stuff, and no one is safe. Just believe.

Time to speak out

We have entered an age when a nation can be invaded, disrupted and maybe subjugated by information technology rather than armies. We are clearly being invaded, and these attacks are aimed at disrupting our sovereignty, sowing discord, damaging our infrastructure and interfering with our election processes.

The U.S. Constitution states “The United States shall guarantee every state in this Union a republican form of government (and) protect each of them from invasion…” The oath of office for appointed and elected officials requires them to defend the Constitution “against all enemies foreign and domestic.”

So what do we see? The president, his allies and a Republican Party too cowardly to protest and a political constituency blind to being used refusing to acknowledge the invasions underway against us.

As a former Army officer, I swore that same oath. I have passed through surprise to dismay to anger now rage. It is our duty to oppose this betrayal by our leaders.

Vote them out

A recent letter writer said “old white men have run this country into the ground,” listing the ways, concluding: “Vote them out now.”

Yep. The spectacle of 11 GOP white male Judiciary Committee senators during the Kavanaugh hearing was so demographically damning that Sen. Mitch McConnell hired a woman to front for them.

The fitness of yet another Federalist Society-picked male conservative justice begs the same question of senators who cannot appropriately question a female witness but have no problem discarding the “female assistant” to rant and rave about their nominee.

Instead of talking about his financial special-interests voting record, Congressman Andy Barr approves TV ads to demonize a national Democratic female, attempting to cast Amy McGrath as guilty by superimposed, dark association.

Yep, vote them out, including legislators like the nursing homes industry’s Ralph Alvarado. Challenger Denise Gray and a multitude of progressive women of all hues are on the ballot.