Why tax returns matter to voters

Re “No need to see tax returns” (Letters, Sept. 7): The letter writer claims Donald Trump’s tax returns are “of no concern to the public.” Here are five reasons why they matter. 1. They’d reveal if he pays taxes at all. That would give a voter insight about Trump’s commitment to the U.S. and his appreciation of the burdens of the average American. 2. Trump brags of his huge deals with Russian oligarchs. His returns would show his dealings and whether they might impact his policies toward Russia. 3. His returns would reflect the alleged $350 million he owes Deutsche Bank, which is under investigation for its role in the 2008 economic collapse. Can a president bring a bank to justice if he’s indebted to it? 4. Trump’s returns would prove his alleged $100 million debt to the national bank of China. How would this debt affect his policy toward China? 5. Releasing his returns would demonstrate that he is willing to be open with us and give us a clue how transparent his administration would be.

Aren’t we all entitled to know that our president is making decisions to benefit us and not to further a deal that only benefits him?

Dog whistle blows loud and clear

Re “Clinton, Trump stress their security credentials” (Page 1A, Sept. 8): Donald Trump’s claim that Russian President Vladimir Putin is a better leader that President Barack Obama or Hillary Clinton has not drawn outrage from patriots on the right because they hear the dog whistle meaning behind Trump’s claim: that any white man is better than a black man or a woman.

Racism and sexism are alive and well in the land of the free and the home of the brave.

Law should help families cope

Re “Is deadly force the only treatment left?” (Insight, Sept. 9): This article covered another tragic event involving a mentally ill person and his death. However, as is often the case in such articles, it did not to mention any recommendations from psychiatrists, the mental illness experts.

And it did not mention efforts to obtain involuntary psychiatric treatment for an obviously mentally ill individual. Shouldn’t our legislators make an effort to provide families with the means to deal with mentally ill relatives before it becomes a safety and a police issue?

It should be called ‘Mistletoe Village’

Re “McKinley Village set for big ‘reveal’ in weekend unveiling” (Local, Sept. 9): I take issue with Councilman Jeff Harris’ statement that this project will be part of East Sacramento and eventually will be embraced by residents of East Sacramento. For the residents and homeowners who will be impacted by the building of McKinley Village, this project is a disaster and will never be embraced by us. This project is a parasite on East Sacramento and should more appropriately named “Mistletoe Village.”

When I read Harris’ comment that the residents of East Sac will eventually embrace Mistletoe Village because it has a lot of “neat stuff,” I have to wonder: Exactly what is the “neat stuff” that this parasitic project brings to the residents who will be impacted by it?

Schlafly, growing world population

Re “Political activist, author and ‘first lady of anti-feminism’ led fight to kill ERA” (Page 1A, Sept. 6): Phyllis Schlafly has always fit well into patriarchal, theocratic cultures with their domestication of woman, such as Saudi Arabia, Iran and to a lesser degree the United States.

While relegating women to child bearing she effectively removes their much-needed voice from public discourse. The world faces an unheralded population explosion. It took 10,000 years for population to reach 1 billion in 1800. It took 123 years to reach 2 billion. In my 90 years we have added 5 billion for a total of 7.4 billion. We are destroying all life on the planet to sustain this insane growth.

When Dr. Gregory Pincus and Dr. John Rock gave women effective birth control in 1960, world population was 3 billion. At that time Schlafly left her six children at home and fought valiantly alongside all male Republicans in the House and Senate to deny women worldwide “the pill.”