President Donald Trump speaks during a Cabinet meeting in the White House on Friday. A letter writer contends candidates for governor should focus more on solving California problems instead of on how to deal with Trump.
Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images
Anyone paying attention to things in California knows that we have high levels of homelessness, cost of living, cost of energy, poverty, along with arguably the worst business climate in the United States. Education and violent crime are also major problems.
But, according to the Berkeley IGS poll, 70% of Democrats say their top priority is either to “aggressively fight Trump administration policies” or “being progressive in politics.” How these priorities relate to solving the problems above is beyond me.
In fact, should their candidate win, and that new governor follows these priorities, it would seem that California will continue on the Gavin Newsom glide path of making these problems even worse.
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These voters seem more interested in affirming their ideology and the righteousness of their anti-Trumpism than they are in pragmatic problem solving, and so the exodus of businesses and the middle class will continue.
Charles Hummer, El Dorado Hills, El Dorado County
Expand ‘Top 2’
Regarding Jack Ohman’s Sunday cartoon about “Who will drop out?” (Insight, San Francisco Chronicle, March 22): Jack’s comic strip highlights the need for Californian’s to improve our elections.
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Here is one way: Change the current top two primary to a top four or five primary, and implement instant runoff voting in the general election.
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This would ensure the favorites of each party would make it to the general election and give a good chance for an independent to make it as well.
The general election would not be complicated. We are used to seeing gold, silver and bronze medalists in the Olympics. Similarly, it is not unreasonable to rank our 1st, 2nd and 3rd choice out of just four or five candidates.
This also encourages candidates in the general election to be nicer to each other in the campaign, as they try to persuade voters to make them the voters’ 2nd choice, when they perceive voters are leaning to another candidate as their 1st choice.
I hope all the current governor candidates will come out in favor of this type of election reform. Those who do may get my vote.
Eric Fieberling, Oakland
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Field too crowded
Regarding “California voters show ‘historically high’ disinterest in governor’s race. That could hurt Democrats,” (Politics, Joe Garofoli, SFChronicle.com, March 24): I am disgusted and terrified by the Democratic candidates for governor. This is SO important. Put your egos aside. Ask for help, agree on a poll or something, anything.
I have little faith in any of these people being tactical, smart and brave enough to be the governor that we need. Be a hero, step out of the race. Come on, Democratic Party, grow up! No wonder we are in trouble.
Take a longer view
Rather than focusing on any single outrage perpetrated by President Donald Trump and his minions (an admittedly target rich environment), I would like to zoom out and consider what will be left when the Trump fever dream finally breaks:
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Government institutions degraded and decimated.
A national and worldwide economy in shock.
Any illusions of moral or ethical leadership destroyed.
A toll in lives and human misery that will last for generations.
I will not be around to see the worst of it but the thought of how this will affect my children and grandchildren haunts me.
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I encourage every American to think beyond the next news cycle and consider how every action we take from now on can help ease the pain and build something we can all be proud of from what is left of our country.
Controversial candidate
Regarding “A California sheriff seized 650,000 ballots. Election experts say it’s a big deal” (U.S. & World/California, SFChronicle.com, March 22): I hope all California voters are looking at the actions of election denier Chad Bianco, sheriff of Riverside County, knowing that this person has no respect for democracy, election security or the correct means for disputing election results.
Guest opinions in Open Forum and Insight are produced by writers with expertise, personal experience or original insights on a subject of interest to our readers. Their views do not necessarily reflect the opinion of The Chronicle editorial board, which is committed to providing a diversity of ideas to our readership.
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And this man is running for governor.
These actions should require his dismissal as sheriff, let alone holding a state office.
Charlotte Seekamp, South San Francisco