Letters: Hypocrisy of MAGA repudiates principles of the US

Submit your letter to the editor via this form. Read more Letters to the Editor.

MAGA’s hypocrisy repudiates US principles

Re: “Vigil laments tactics by ICE” (Page A1, Jan. 28).

Not long ago, Donald Trump and his supporters exalted Kyle Rittenhouse for going to a protest in a state he didn’t live in and killing two protesters with the assault rifle he brought. We can note their hypocrisy as they now maintain that ER nurse Alex Pretti got what he deserved for legally carrying a handgun at the protest where he was killed by ICE agents, despite never brandishing it or acting with menace.

However, I feel that mere hypocrisy, “the compliment that vice pays to virtue,” doesn’t capture the deliberate bad faith of Donald Trump’s world. This administration wants to preempt any acknowledgement that what they’re doing is wrong; their hypocrisy insists that logical consistency and reality itself must yield to their almighty power. It’s a repudiation of every tenet of our country’s founding documents and a slap in the face of every patriotic American that should infuriate us all.

Robert Green
Cupertino

We must support more health care staffing

Re: “Latest Kaiser strike could be crippling” (Page A1, Jan. 27).

The latest Kaiser strike is another example of exactly what is wrong with the health system in the United States. Whether or not we agree with the labor unions that they deserve more pay, we should all support their demands for an increase in staffing.

As someone who depends on Kaiser for my health issues, I can say that the striking employees are speaking the truth when they point out that the patients are suffering from long wait times. Usually, by the time I get to see my doctor, most of my symptoms have already disappeared on their own or have become serious enough for me to end up in the ER. Health workers are rarely valued and are among the most overworked and underpaid employees in the nation.

The fact that Kaiser must do the right thing for the health of its patients is not something anyone can choose to negotiate.

Myokyaw Myint
San Jose

With funds restored, state must push for EVs

Hurrah for California Attorney General Rob Bonta, who celebrated a victory for clean energy.

The U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington state ruled against the Trump administration in multistate litigation challenging the illegal withholding of funding for electric vehicle charging infrastructure. The current administration is doing all it can to block funding for electric vehicle charging at a time when we desperately need to fight air pollution and climate change, as well as protect innovation and our environment.

I’m proud that our state has been a leader in promoting the adoption of clean energy and moving away from the burning of fossil fuels. We need to make clean cars and charging infrastructure more accessible to more consumers, not just in California, but throughout the country.

Diana Moss
San José

Calming climate would help insurance markets

As insurers raise premiums or leave California altogether, it’s impossible to ignore the role climate change plays in this growing crisis. Wildfires driven by hotter, drier conditions are no longer rare disasters — they are a predictable and recurring risk.

Too often, the insurance fallout is treated as a market failure rather than a warning. When insurers can no longer affordably price risk, homeowners are pushed into last-resort coverage or left uninsured entirely. That instability affects not just rural fire zones but entire regions, including the Bay Area, through smoke damage, power shutoffs and rising shared risk.

California cannot insure its way out of a climate crisis. Stronger wildfire mitigation, smarter land-use planning and aggressive emissions reductions are essential to stabilizing insurance markets and protecting communities.

Ignoring the climate roots of this problem will only mean higher costs and fewer options for everyone.

Siddhartha Daswani
San Jose

Visitors will find more than tech in the Valley

Silicon Valley is more than the epicenter of technology innovation — it is a vibrant cultural mosaic that has inspired generations of visionaries. Diversity here is not a slogan; it is the foundation that allows bold ideas to emerge and thrive.

As we welcome the World Cup and the Super Bowl, we have an extraordinary opportunity to show what truly defines us. Silicon Valley has flourished through the coexistence of many cultures and languages, beginning with our native peoples and continuing with generations of immigrants. Our food, festivals, music and dances fuel creativity in every field.

We invite visitors to discover more than technology — to explore our redwoods and welcoming downtowns, and to connect through family-owned businesses and local eateries. Silicon Valley is where innovation meets humanity, and where diversity drives a better future.

Welcome to a region where technology and multiculturalism go hand in hand.

Olga Enciso Smith
Los Gatos

Cellphones ruining connections for students

Cellphone use is becoming an epidemic on the college campus.

I attend San Jose State University, which is known for being a top-tier commuter school. However, most students are constantly walking around with their heads buried in their phones and with headphones on. This makes it very difficult to get to know people on campus because it deters the very first interaction of just saying hi to your fellow students. The atmosphere is different because of this; it almost feels uninviting to me.

If cellphones were to be used less, it would bring back something my professor calls “bringing back the nod.” This is where people used to give each other a slight nod to say hello, or how’s it going, and it was the start of many friendships.

William Sidford
Santa Clara