Immigration, Cal Fire, inequality, etc.

Don’t reward breaking law

Re “Health services urged for undocumented residents” (Page A1, March 21): The effort to provide health care to undocumented immigrants sounds laudable but neglects the cost to the legal residents and the effect on future illegal immigration. While I am sympathetic to those who do not have access to health care, I do not believe we should reward those who violate our laws by providing benefits at taxpayer expense.

We either have borders or we do not. We either have a civil society based on the rule of law or we do not. Providing benefits to those who violate our immigration laws only encourages more illegal immigration. We need a rational immigration policy that secures our borders and allows immigration from all nations in numbers we can comfortably absorb on an annual basis.

Citizens first

“Undocumented resident” is a term that dilutes the truth. These individuals are really illegal aliens who have broken the law. Why should the hardworking, taxpaying citizens of California assume the burden for their medical care? Let’s take care of our citizens first. If you are a citizen of another country, you should obtain your medical care in that country.

Collapsing Cal Fire

Re “Cal Fire officials cheated on test for jobs” (Page A1, March 21): The revelation that some Cal Fire employees cheated on a promotional examination is further evidence of a dysfunctional department. That the employees involved in misconduct ranging from drinking on duty, misuse of state property and dishonesty are still employed is the most troubling aspect of this sordid affair.

California’s civil service system, bolstered by a permissive department, makes employees nearly immune from being fired. Even the employees who cheated on the promotional exam were allowed to promote again because of their “honesty during the investigation.” This preposterous decision defies logic. It is tantamount to giving a thief the item he took because he admitted to being a thief.

Suspensions and demotions of a group of miscreants assigned to the academy are like painting a surface without removing the corrosion. The personnel actions do not repair the problems endemic in the department. This behavior occurred in the academy where new employees’ behavior is molded and the department’s culture demonstrated. The cadets were welcomed to the “Club Cal Fire,” and we can only wonder what antics continue to unfold at every station.

Cure income inequality

Re “San Francisco leads in income inequality” (Numbers Crunch, March 21): From 1945 to 1979, when working together to win World War II was fresh in the collective U.S. memory, the middle class thrived, and the top marginal federal tax rate was 71 percent for individual income over $400,000.

Why is no one suggesting correcting income inequality by raising the top marginal tax rate? With more tax revenue, the country could afford to rebuild our crumbling infrastructure and reinvigorate our educational system (both of which are used to create wealth). This would result in middle-class job creation in the U.S. (not China, Mexico, etc.) paying good middle-class incomes, which would stimulate middle-class spending, which would in turn stimulate our economy, thereby benefiting everyone: poor, middle class and wealthy.

Raising taxes on high incomes would also discourage excessive executive compensation, because such excess would be taxed away to pay for important patriotic U.S. causes rather than used for personal excessive consumption. Raising the minimum wage is a bandage on a gaping wound.

Centers not all the same

Re “‘Full’ abortion story misinforms” (Letters, March 20): After reading Ms. Daugherty’s letter, I want to clarify three points about my article. I was accusing the study of bias, not Ms. Everitt, since the study was conducted by an abortion rights advocacy organization. I was unable to address all of Everitt’s claims, including that which Daugherty refers to as “most damning,” linking abortion to breast cancer and infertility. We agree that it is irresponsible to tell women that abortion causes breast cancer until studies show a link. At the Sacramento Life Center, we never mention a link to breast cancer and infertility. We also do not mislead in advertising. We do not advertise abortion services. We advertise abortion information because we do provide women with medical information about abortion. My point was that not all pregnancy centers conduct themselves in the manner Everitt discussed. It was inaccurate to conclude we are all a threat to public health.

Vaccination is simple

Re “Vaccination choice not so simple” (Letters, March 21): The letter from “Dr.” Raymond Mikelionis shows a lack of understanding of the issue and its underlying science. “If vaccines work as well as touted, those choosing vaccination should be protected. If the belief is the unvaccinated still pose a risk to those vaccinated, that is more a comment on vaccine efficacy,” he says.

Nothing is absolute, as a scientist would know. Ninety-eight percent are in fact protected; thus vaccines are effective. That leaves this 2 percent, plus 100 percent of infants who are too young, plus all those children who are too ill to be involuntarily unvaccinated.

The mindless voluntarily unvaccinated thus pose a significant threat to the infants and the ill children just to indulge their flibbertigibbet contrariness. Such people just argue to hear the echo. They are oblivious to the consequences, especially for their own unvaccinated children.

Build Roseville houses first

Re “First railyard housing on tap” (Our Region, March 21): Why isn’t “USA Properties Inc., a Roseville developer of affordable housing” building affordable housing in Roseville? Every week I read of new businesses coming to Roseville and Folsom. They have the most jobs and have greater need for affordable housing for low wage workers who must commute from Sacramento, polluting the air in old cars and making the reverse-commute traffic as congested as the commute traffic.

Aren’t builders supposed to provide affordable housing for the workers who build those homes?

A good example

Re “Raley’s adopts greener cleaning” (Business, March 21): Kudos to Raley’s for voluntarily switching to a new water-efficient cleaning system. This is the type of proactive behavior we all need to emulate if we are going to survive a prolonged drought.

This story was originally published March 24, 2015 at 5:01 PM with the headline "Immigration, Cal Fire, inequality, etc.."