Trump offers chaos, not peace. Hopefully America can survive the next four years | Opinion

Trump offers an empty peace

A well-written essay by Dr. Andrew Fiala on this post-election Thanksgiving.

Everyone needs to seek peace. Only through peace and ritual is there progress after conflict.

Trump offered peace once he won. His peaceful presentation is empty.

Biden offered peace on the behalf of America and all Americans. His peaceful behavior was authentic and full of hope that Trump will not destroy America and the inherent political rituals and norms that have made America great.

The raging fire behind these two seated men is hopefully not a harbinger of a failed and chaotic America under a Trump administration and the related racist and xenophobic philosophy of Trumpism.

Hopefully, the fire is a harbinger that after four years of Trump’s anti-Americanism, that a new America will be reborn from the ashes of Trump and Trumpism — an America that will continue on the progressive path toward a further evolution towards a multicultural, multiethnic and multigender America.

Homer Gee Greene Jr., Fresno

Deporting farm workers bad idea

Gosh, ain’t it great when you may get what you voted for?

Everyone is upset about the price of gas and eggs and illegal immigrants, but when they voted for Trump they seem to have forgotten that mass deportation of “illegals” might just send the price of domestically grown produce through the roof.

Legal Americans aren’t going to be willing to go out in the fields and pick fruit for 12 hours a day for minimum wage. I’m not. You’re not.

So, who will? No one. Which means that the farmers will have to pay significantly more to gather willing workers. Which means your cost for fresh food will skyrocket. 50 cents a pound for ripe oranges? Try $2.50 for one orange. Try $5 a pound for corn. Or peaches. Or, well, you get the idea.

And don’t wait on imports, because we will have massive tariffs on all things foreign. Mexico provides a lot of produce (as does the rest of Central and South America).

I guess when you “mess around” you get to find out.

Joel S. Dyer, Fresno

‘Low income’ housing too expensive

I just read an article concerning the stalled low-income housing project, Libre Commons. It as a projected cost of $56 millionfor a four story, 86-unit complex. That comes to over $650,000 per unit and that amount is insane. Is it really not possible to spend less than a half million dollars per unit?

At $100,000 per unit that would be 560 units of badly needed housing instead of 86. Surely, we can come up with a better solution and maybe meet in the middle at $200,000 per unit and come up with 280 units.

We’ve got to use more common sense even in the post-Covid era. Such unrealistic expense for so few units is the reason the project stalled, and meanwhile people are still sleeping on the street.

Joe Messer, Fresno

Recent storm raises valley fever scare

Valley fever, a fungal infection caused by inhaling soil-borne spores, is rising in California’s San Joaquin Valley. The Nov. 11 “haboob” — a rare dust storm that swept through Fresno, Kings, Madera, and Tulare counties — has raised concerns about increased exposure.

The storm’s massive dust clouds and near-zero visibility prompted weather warnings, but the long-term health risks are equally alarming.

Valley fever, or coccidioidomycosis, occurs when Coccidioides spores are released into the air by soil disturbances like dust storms or construction. The Central Valley’s dry conditions make it a hot spot for this infection. Those most at risk include agricultural workers, construction crews, and migrant laborers due to frequent dust exposure. Others, such as individuals with weakened immune systems, pregnant women, and people of African or Filipino descent, are also more vulnerable.

Symptoms often appear one to three weeks after exposure and mimic the flu, including cough, fever, and fatigue. Without treatment, the infection can cause chronic respiratory issues or spread to other organs, leading to serious complications.

Preventive measures include limiting outdoor activities during windy conditions, wearing N95 masks in dusty areas, and controlling dust by wetting soil. Raising public awareness is critical to protecting community health.

Dr. Ikken Aisin, Clovis