Democratic vice president: Letters to the editor, April 8, 2020
Names for female Democratic VP
Vice President Joe Biden in his debate with Sen. Sanders said that he would select a women as his vice president. I’d like to be the first person to recommend one of the following three:
1. Dr. Jill Biden
2. Michelle Obama
3. Most obviously, Sen. Kamala Harris
John Jahad, Clovis
Don’t forget to help Vietnam vets
I’m not unsympathetic to the pain and suffering of those who have lost loved ones to the coronavirus. It must be horrible to watch someone you love, vibrant and alive one day, fail a little more each day until they are gone.
That said, I don’t see anyone wringing their hands over the 22 American veterans who commit suicide each day. Twenty-two a day.
No one wails about the suffering of tens of thousands of Vietnam veterans poisoned by their own government with Agent Orange known to be contaminated with dioxin.
The media doesn’t run dawn-to-dusk stories about the life-altering diseases caused by exposure to Agent Orange. No 72-point headlines calling attention to the suffering of the children and grandchildren of those same Vietnam veterans, victims of genetic transmission of a staggering list of birth defects and diseases.
No one is talking about the fact that last year Congress passed, and the president signed into law, benefits for U.S. Navy “Blue Water” sailors who were exposed to Agent Orange. No one is talking about how that same administration is building roadblocks intended to prevent implementation.
Everyone is talking about coronavirus and the people who have died because of it.
The only people talking about the Vietnam veterans who have been dying of Agent Orange exposure for nearly 50 years are their families, at the graveside.
There is a forest out there, just beyond the trees.
Jim Doyle, Fresno
Request to reopen Bullard High track
Please Bullard High, re-open the pedestrian gate on Browning Avenue and the gate to the track. The neighborhood is increasingly frustrated by the track’s erratic closures over the last two years. Previously, it was generally open 24 hours a day on weekends, holidays and the summer break. The track was also available when school was not in session Monday-Friday.
When allowed, families are out there with their children, adults teach kids track and field skills, and women and older folks too use the track at night under the safety of the lights. Without enough parks and athletic facilities, Fresnans depend on local schools to provide positive recreational opportunities that are located nearby. Rain or shine, people use the track often late at night. It is consistently a safe and friendly atmosphere.
Especially now, jogging is a safe way to exercise while maintaining social distance. The regular presence of families and athletes keeps mischief-makers away. I vote for every school bond. Be kind and keep the track open all year round.
Carol J. Eliason, Fresno
Little people supporting big biz
Voters need to remember that red senators (right wing or anti-compassion) think that corporations that are already not paying taxes should get most of the money “we” paid to the federal government for relief. Relief from what? Is your family (managment) starving? Did they lose their corona bonuses on stocks? They are already getting our tax money (not their money) for nationwide economic relief. How greedy can senators & corporations be? They didn’t lose any money like the “little” people did because most of them were insider training. The leaders we elected are not representing us and are using our taxes to improve the lives of the new nationwide, conservative crime organization known as MAGA.
We pay the taxes. They get the returns.
All the big corporations use “our” infrastructure to make money for themselves. We, the “little people,” use “our” infrastructure to pay “almost all” the federal, state and local taxes and for our infrastructure. After this the little people don’t have enough money left to live comfortably on but will never qualify for assistance. Heaven forbid some one actually do something that would benefit the working people that “keep” this country great. KTCG!
Gary Harti, Shaver Lake
This story was originally published April 8, 2020 at 6:00 AM with the headline "Democratic vice president: Letters to the editor, April 8, 2020."