Fresno Bee letters: On Trump and Putin, Russia’s war in Ukraine, oil drilling

Ukraine, Putin and Trump’s demise

President Trump refused to shake hands with Germany’s Angela Merkel, mocked British Prime Minister Theresa May, and called Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau a weak leader and a liar.

One world leader, however, was never criticized, only praised — Russian Dictator Vladimir Putin.

The greatest outrage occurred in Oslo on July 18, 2018, with the world watching, when President Trump said he did not believe Russia had interfered in our 2016 election, as our 17 intelligence agencies had concluded, because Putin had personally assured him that there had been no Russian involvement.

The praise continues: When Putin recently declared two regions of Ukraine to be independent, Trump responded, “A very savvy move ... genius.”

Now the world is watching again, as war crimes are being committed daily in Ukraine by the Russians while a courageous nation fights to defend its sovereignty.

I don’t believe Trump will run for president in 2024. His longtime admiration and affection for Putin will not play well when his political opposition continues to highlight visually Putin’s brutality in Ukraine. The ignominy of Jan. 6th may become a distant memory, but not Ukraine.

Imagine the irony of Trump’s hero playing a key role in bringing his political career to an end.

We are enabling a psychopath

For the first time, I am ashamed of my country. We are standing around watching a psychopath murder innocent children, old people, civilians, as well as insuring survivors will suffer unbelievably because their entire country has been destroyed.

And why is this happening? Well, instead of making sure our military had a sufficient nuclear deterrent, we were cutting our military budget and spending our time changing the weather on planet Earth. Change the weather?

By manipulating a country of 350 million people? On a planet of over 6 billion? Do you really believe India, just starting to industrialize, is going to cripple that process by putting into action climate-change technology? That’s not perfected yet? Not to mention Southeast Asia and Africa, which are just starting to modernize to raise their living standards out of incredible poverty.

And you are going to trust China? Have you heard how bad pollution can be in China?

At some point, the consequences of deficient ideology, disconnected from reality, has to be faced. Because now, we have a psychopath with the largest nuclear arsenal and hypersonic rockets for delivery, holding a gun to our heads. After our president embarrassed himself saying, “Putin wouldn’t dare!”

Supes vote on oil was ignorant

Thank you, Marek Warszawski, for your thoughtful, provocative column of March 25 about our supervisors’ choice to ignore climate change and opt for more oil digging to deal with increased gas prices.

As suggested, what can explain their position but money. With so many alternatives, why choose the one that is most harmful to our Valley that already suffers from the worst air pollution in the country? Their position will lead to a more difficult world to live in and certainly a much harder one to stop the horrific, costly climate-related weather episodes we are having.

What about more money for solar rebates and other green energy? Make green energy readily accessible to all. Put a price on carbon at the source so that those who pollute are those that pay. Scientists agree this will help us reach our Net Zero emission goals. Return the money to the public as dividends to absorb increased costs. Citizens’ Climate Lobby, a non-partisan, national grassroots organization, suggests just that and fights to save our planet from the terrible destruction that awaits us without any action. Perhaps our supervisors should research these alternatives and take their hands out of their pockets.

In praise of Dr. Salk and his vaccine

On March 26, 1953, American medical researcher Dr. Jonas Salk announced that he had successfully tested a vaccine against the virus that causes the crippling disease of polio. In 1952 there were 58,000 new cases reported in the United States, and more than 3,000 died from the disease. For his work in helping to eradicate the disease, which mainly affects children, Dr. Salk was celebrated as the great doctor-benefactor of his time.

Today, there are just a handful of polio cases in the United States every year. Among other honors, Jonas Salk was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1977. He died in La Jolla in 1995.

I wonder what Dr. Salk would say about people’s refusal to be vaccinated against COVID.

Time to get out and see things

As someone who lives in Clovis and in California, it amazes me that many people have never left the state except to go to Las Vegas. This country has many amazing places to see. This planet also have many beautiful places to experience.

It is important to understand the United States and its people as well as globally. We have a great airport here that has destinations to many places and can take you to airports that can take you globally.

Our lives are short, and when we have the opportunity to see places and people, we need to do so.

Many people in Clovis and Fresno refuse to go south of Shaw Avenue. Now is the time to do so, and take a bus or plane to a place where one can experience an opportunity of a lifetime.

His first house cost a mere $13,500

Housing costs have certainly gone up. In 1974, we started new jobs, with combined earnings of $2,000 a month. We were able to buy a 1,000-square-foot “fixer upper” for $13,500! Impossible now!

State programs have not kept up with rising costs. Welfare and SSISSP are not much more than they were 20 years ago. An unemployed adult could receive $250 monthly plus food stamps, and could rent a room for that.

Suggestions for low-income households:

1. Check with the Housing Authority Office for Section 8 apartments/houses (rent at 30% of income). Sign up on waiting lists. There are housing units for aged and handicappped. Also, the Salvation Army has “Silvercrest” apartment buildings for low-income seniors. Finally, check with United Way for possible help.

2. Farm workers can check Proteus or other organizations for migrant worker housing.

3. In the old days one could go into the woods with an axe and build a cabin. One can still do this in a way, by going to Habitats For Humanity or Self Help Enterprises. Families do what they can to help build, and loans are very low cost.

Teacher article biased, propaganda

Regarding “Teacher Pay Lagging Behind Inflation and Rising Cost Of Homes in Fresno County.” Fresno Unified teacher salary is $82,567; the median Fresno PD median income is $59,900; median auto mechanic, ac/heating tech, overall median income in Fresno $41,455. Median Social Security income $19,896.

Was this Fresno Bee article paid by teachers union? Can there be any more blatant example of biased propaganda?

Use a gun, do the time in prison

Seems to me, our lawmakers are missing the point. The point of prison, that is.

If lawmakers were actually serious about keeping friends, neighbors, and constituents safe from gun crimes, they would act to get those who commit gun crimes off our streets and keep them off our streets! Every day, Americans hear about a shooting that just took place. Then we hear the suspects just got out of prison after serving less than half their sentence. Are you kidding me?

Anyone convicted of a crime where a firearm is involved in any way should upon entering prison lose any and all ability to acquire, obtain, or accumulate “good time” of any type. Possession of a firearm should be a highly “toxic” crime.

Criminals should fear conviction for a gun crime, period. Knowing that a gun crime will cost them any and all “good time” they once were able to acquire, will at the very least keep them off our streets until their full sentence is served. Rehabilitation for gun crimes should not be an option.

Gun crime sentences should be viewed totally and completely as punishment. Total and complete, as in sentence!

This story was originally published April 24, 2022 at 6:00 AM with the headline "Fresno Bee letters: On Trump and Putin, Russia’s war in Ukraine, oil drilling."