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Feeling Betrayed
EDITOR: I’m left feeling utterly betrayed by my country, a sentiment that echoes the sentiments of many veterans who served selflessly, believing that their sacrifices would prevent war from reaching our continent. My own experiences during Desert Storm, serving overseas in Germany and Spain, representing the most envied country in the world, now seem hollow. The recent election has left me feeling like the people of the U.S. have disrespected the hundreds of thousands of veterans who fought in every conflict. The newly elected leader’s lack of honor, duty, and respect for the well-being of others is a stark reminder that we don’t have long before the damage is irreparable.
Megan Hope
Guerneville
Democracy’s Death Sentence
EDITOR: It appears that our democracy has been given a death sentence, with the recent election marking a disturbing trend. Supporters of the newly elected leader often tout themselves as more patriotic than others, while many evangelicals believe that he was sent by God. This scenario eerily echoes a quote often attributed to Sinclair Lewis, "When fascism comes to America, it will be wrapped in a flag and carrying a cross." The dangers of such rhetoric should not be taken lightly, as it threatens the very fabric of our democracy.
Paul Schumacher
Santa Rosa
Blame COVID
EDITOR: In the aftermath of the recent election, many reasons have been cited for the defeat of Kamala Harris. However, I firmly believe that the underlying factor that determined the outcome of the last two presidential elections was the COVID-19 pandemic. Donald Trump’s presidency was marred by his mishandling of the crisis, resulting in thousands of extra American deaths. The global economic repercussions of the pandemic, including widespread unemployment and inflation, ultimately led to his downfall. Similarly, Harris’s failure to overcome the lingering economic headwinds, exacerbated by the pandemic, sealed her fate.
Sherman Schapiro
Eureka
Liberalism is Dead
EDITOR: The recent election has left many wondering if liberalism is dead. The Democratic party’s reliance on a 40-year-old centrist game plan has failed to deliver results. The tired formula of offering bland promises, acknowledging the concerns of various constituent groups, and virtue-signaling their credentials as friends of the worker and protectors of minority rights is no longer effective. It’s time to acknowledge that this approach has been unable to pass essential social democratic reforms, such as a living wage, paid sick leave, and robust union protections.
Ben Boyce
Sonoma
Democracy is in Danger
EDITOR: Mariann Weber’s recent letter to the editor, in which she expressed her support for Donald Trump, is a stark reminder of the dangers facing our democracy. Weber’s claims that immigrants are violent criminals are simply unfounded, and it’s alarming that such lies can be peddled to unsuspecting citizens. Trump’s entire campaign was built on such falsehoods, a tactic commonly employed by dictators to make people afraid of a scapegoat group. When millions of people believe such lies, democracy is indeed in danger.
John Mason
Santa Rosa
