Sanders campaign, key stands, sentencing reform, open containers | The Sacramento Bee

Imaginary violence at Nevada convention

Re “Bernie’s bid to play the victim won’t help anyone but Donald” (Insight, May 24): In throwing her own shade on the Bernie Sanders campaign, Erika Smith repeats the bogus claim that “violence” occurred at the Democratic convention in Nevada. It must have been quite a melee, considering that there were no arrests, no reported injuries, no footage of actual violence. Boisterous and unruly behavior should not be equated with the clear instances of assault that have taken place at Donald Trump’s events.

These denunciations of imaginary violence are irresponsible and will make it more difficult to bring Sanders’ camp over to Hillary Clinton’s side, if she is the nominee. Combined with the refusal of the press to examine voting irregularities that have plagued the Democratic primary process from New York to Arizona and the institutional barriers erected by the Democratic Party that have hindered Sanders’ campaign from the beginning, it is apparent why he and his supporters feel that the electoral system is rigged.

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Revisiting Clintons’ policy choices

A discussion of the plight of many Americans is incomplete without revisiting the public policy choices of President Bill Clinton and Hillary Clinton. Sen. Bernie Sanders has forced issues onto the American consciousness with the uncomfortable truth that the Clintons’ policy choices bear some blame.

Bill Clinton’s administration enacted NAFTA without the necessary supports for displaced workers. Since Clinton-era financial deregulation, America endured two financial crises. Under Bill Clinton’s welfare reform, states have turned their backs on the poorest, while making it hard for them to access job training and needed counseling services. There are Clinton-era federal sentencing rules which disproportionately affect people of color. There’s Hillary Clinton’s support for an Iraq War that resulted in 3,500 American deaths and a failing state in Iraq.

Democrats must decide between acting with condescension toward Sanders’ supporters or engaging in fruitful discussions that will force reflection upon past, present and future policy choices.

Sanders’ key stands missed

Re “Where they stand” (Insight, May 23): The sidebar comparing Bernie Sanders’ and Hillary Clinton’s platforms failed to mention two key points: Campaign finance reform, and wealth and income inequality in the United States.

To his credit, from the very beginning, Sanders hammered on these issues as extremely important in his campaign and called for immediate measures to correct the disparities.

It is hard to believe that most informed citizens would argue against the necessity of campaign finance reform and the need to overturn the Supreme Court’s ruling in Citizens United.

However, I’m not sure many have seen the data and statistics on wealth and income disparities in the U.S. One can find that information on the Web from a reputable source, inequality.org.

All I can say is that the statistics are mind-boggling. Americans need to check the facts and wake up to the immediate need for political changes to correct the injustices.

Join the political revolution

Re “Jerry Brown warns against ‘scorched earth’ presidential primary” (sacbee.com, May 21): Like the Arab Spring which preceded it, the Democratic Spring of 2016 was sparked by the Nevada Democratic Party protests against a brutal, corrupt and unbelievably scandal-ridden Democratic Party establishment and their preferred candidate, Hillary Clinton.

The political revolution is here and to avoid a scorched-earth primary, I would encourage Gov. Jerry Brown as well as all Democratic voters in California to face reality, join the revolution, clean house and support Sen. Bernie Sanders.

Hung out to dry in Hangtown

I was attending the annual Hangtown Motocross Classic at Prairie City SVRA. I have been going to the park since 1970. As I was walking back to the campground from the race track during an intermission between races I was asked by a shuttle driver in a golf cart if I would like a ride. I hopped in with my $6 beer I had just bought and 30 seconds later we were pulled over by two park law enforcement vehicles.

I was surrounded by cops, thoroughly checked out, then received an open container citation. Others were targeted too. Is this the proper use of taxpayer dollars?