Instead of attacking Venezuela, Trump should prioritize health care, housing | Opinion

Prioritize domestic concerns

“Republicans Move to Block Effort to Check Trump’s Power in Venezuela,” (fresnobee.com, Feb. 14)

Instead of attacking Venezuela, President Donald Trump should prioritize U.S. interests.

Let’s start by reducing healthcare costs, making housing more affordable and addressing our homelessness crisis.

If we reduced our military budget, we could utilize that money for our own good.

Ken Cemo

Orangevale

Investing in nursing programs

“In California, America’s most trusted profession is in deep trouble | Opinion,” (fresnobee.com, Dec. 26, 2025)

Nursing programs across the state turn away thousands of qualified applicants, not because students lack interest, but because schools lack enough faculty to teach them. Faculty salaries lag far behind clinical pay — often by tens of thousands of dollars annually, despite high educational requirements and extensive unpaid teaching, advising and service work.

If California wants real solutions, it must invest in competitive faculty pay, loan-repayment incentives, faculty diversity initiatives and thoughtful regulatory reform.

Sharon Goldfarb

Berkeley

Leading by example

“In California, America’s most trusted profession is in deep trouble | Opinion,” (fresnobee.com, Dec. 26, 2025)

California’s nursing shortage is here, quietly worsening and unevenly felt — especially in rural and northern regions. By 2033, the state will need 61,000 additional registered nurses. Short-term fixes will not solve the problem.

California’s health care challenges are complex, and universities must build systems that meet workforce needs, anticipate gaps and lower barriers for those willing to serve.

Heather Brown

Dean, College of Health Sciences, California Northstate University

Strengthening child care

“California faces $3 billion deficit in Gov. Gavin Newsom’s final state budget plan,” (fresnobee.com, Jan. 9)

Gov. Gavin Newsom’s decision to protect child care is an important signal of leadership, especially as federal child care funding grows more uncertain.

In Sacramento County alone, more than $1 billion in economic activity is lost each year because parents cannot access reliable care. When care is unavailable, parents reduce work hours or leave the workforce, and employers feel the impact.

Thousands of children remain on waiting lists, and providers are still not paid the true cost of care. As budget negotiations continue, strengthening child care is compassionate and economically smart.

Adonai Mack

CEO, Child Action

America’s empathy

“President Trump’s immigrant detention plan is pure evil,” (fresnobee.com, Jan. 7)

What has become of America’s empathy, humanity and morality? This column — a stark revelation of the immense cruelty against immigrants in detention centers — uncovers the truth of how the Trump administration is destroying the essence of what has made us a compassionate country.

Peaceful demonstrations and continued pressure on lawmakers to limit President Donald Trump’s power can be effective and need to be sustained.

Alvin Vopata

Antelope

Corporate interests prevail

“Republicans Move to Block Effort to Check Trump’s Power in Venezuela,” (fresnobee.com, Feb. 14)

American professor Noam Chomsky was once asked if the United States acts in the national interest and replied that nations act in the interests of powerful internal groups that control policy.

Nowhere is this more evident than in the Trump administration’s efforts to take control over Venezuelan oil and President Donald Trump’s recent meeting with major oil executives at the White House.

When fossil fuel profits define both foreign and domestic policy, it’s ordinary people — and the planet — who pay the price.

Terry Hansen

Grafton, Wis.