America’s government shutdown? President Donald Trump is the problem | Opinion

Mostly Trump is to blame

The problem with the government shutdown is Congress and President Donald Trump .

The Democrats are also the problem with the shutdown of the federal government, in that they have no leader to guide them.

But the Republicans have a Trump problem, and that may not help them at all. The public approval of Congress is at an all-time low. Same thing for the Republican congressional leadership. Same thing with our Democratic House leadership.

But the biggest problem is President Trump; who is why we have a recession, and why he is not popular.

John Huerta, Merced

Need openness to police reform

Marek Warszawski’s article in The Bee, “Fresno’s police reform commission takes first steps. But it must be more transparent,” is a significant issue that affects not just Fresno but other places across the country, especially in today’s political climate.

When police reform attempts lack clarity, they may exacerbate the distrust they aim to address. People only trust the police more when they can witness, understand, and be involved during the process of transformation.

According to sociologist Tom R. Tyler (2004), people trust police when they are perceived as equitable, unbiased, and respectful. These ideas form the basis of procedural justice, which holds that people in a society judge the legitimacy of police by how they are treated, rather than results of their activities.

The Fresno Police Reform Commission can demonstrate its responsibility by holding open hearings, making decisions public, and speaking directly with people from diverse backgrounds.

When communities are divided, openness and honesty help bring law enforcement and the public together. Fresno needs to make its reform process open, honest, and inclusive if it really wants to build trust. We can only start to trust those who are supposed to safeguard us against them if they are open.

Ashton Elenes, Fresno

Time for universal basic income is now

The cost of living in Fresno continues to rise, many families continue to struggle to barely get by, even while working full-time. At Fresno State, I am currently working on a research paper about low-income families who are often forced to pay more for basic needs like housing, utilities, and food than wealthier families.

I understand how much of a stress it can be to live in financial poverty, especially in a region where anti-poverty helps often lack.

A universal basic income program could definitely help families stay on their feet by covering their monthly essential costs without them constantly struggling. This opportunity can definitely allow low-income families to finally put a focus on important parts of life, instead of worrying about barely getting by with basic needs.

Some people think that a UBI program in Fresno might make families take advantage of the program, but research shows otherwise. Matthew Desmond, author of “Poverty, by America,” discusses how poverty continues to be present in today’s society because the structure of our economy benefits from keeping people poor and making the rich richer. This directly connects to the need of programs like UBI, which looks forward to making the Fresno community stronger and fairer.

Susan Rivas, Mendota

For Tom McClintock

I write to inform you of my displeasure of the cancellation of my zoom appointment with my health provider. It is my understanding that this is due to your failure to be in Congress to represent those who you have been elected to serve.

Living in a rural location with virtually no access to a doctor, telehealth appointments are the difference between getting or not getting medical cover.

I assume that you are aware that regular checkups not only save lives and reduce the need for inpatient hospital stays, but they are also required in order to receive medications on a regular basis.

I am now faced with a 160-mile round trip in order to show that I still need my regular drugs each day. This not only seems a waste of my doctor’s time and his staff but also a very costly endeavor and financial waste for Medicare. One that would be far more sensible with the use of a five-minute visit over Zoom meeting. I’m also sure that if it was, you and your colleagues would not be sitting around taking an unproductive paid vacation. John M. Coombs, Oakhurst