LETTERS Obesity, anti-gay initiative, aid in dying, voter registration, Cruz

A need for healthy food

Re “No silver bullet for obesity epidemic” (Editorials, March 27): I live in south Sacramento in an area where I would venture to say that most of the residents do not have much money for healthy food. It’s an area where healthy food is not even that readily available, so I was elated when I heard that some of the dollar stores around here were going to sell produce.

However, when I went to check out the produce, most of it was rotten and covered with flies. I would have been fearful to eat it. Also, if a person has just a few dollars and hasn’t eaten all day, eating a dollar burger is going to be a lot more satiating than eating an apple, no matter how cheap the apple may be. Lastly, in some of the poor neighborhoods where walking is the only exercise available, a person would have to be a fool to go for a walk. These factors contribute to the obesity levels as well, especially in the poorer neighborhoods.

Censoring evil idea is right

Re “Censorship of evil idea is wrong” (Dan Walters, March 27): Walters points out that blocking the “Sodomite Suppression Act” is wrong. If the proposition is meant to be ironic, as was Swift’s “Modest Proposal,” there are two problems with this position. First, today’s biased and/or noncritically thinking public simply won’t get the irony. Second, why waste taxpayer dollars simply to express irony?

Of greater concern is legalized murder. If an unconstitutional proposition becomes law, a small window of time will exist before it can be removed from the books. During that time, bigots might commit murder. Logic, not censorship, would prevent this heinous and bigoted act from ever reaching the ballot. We must not defend free speech at the potential expense of human life.

Really, Dan

So Dan Walters thinks free speech should allow one to advocate the murder of someone in the LGBT community but not to yell fire in a theater. Is this because Dan might be in that theater but is not part of the LGBT community? The fact is, it is still acceptable by some in our culture to demonize the LGBT community. Would Dan be as tolerant if the initiative targeted blacks, Jews, Hispanics or overweight white guys? I don’t think so.

Bill gives hope to suffering

Re “Panel OKs aid-in-dying bill” (Capitol & California, March 26): At the state Senate hearing last week, I sat next to a man who said he hoped the bill for “assisted dying,” SB 128, would kick the bucket. The bill survived, but five other bills have failed in the past 15 years in California.

I have been in favor of physician assistance in dying since 2012 when I lost a good friend to ALS, Lou Gehrig’s disease. I had just retired from medicine after 38 years of practice. During all these years, not one person had asked me to help him die. I watched my friend wither away, and I had to tell him that I couldn’t write the prescription. It was against the law. He chose to end his life by starving himself.

Three years ago, I had no idea there were organizations like Compassion & Choices working on this. I also didn’t know that the majority of physicians and the people of California favor this kind of bill. Palliative care and hospice care will remain the option that most people will take. But for the few whose suffering cannot be eased, there will be, I am hoping, an option someday.

No on automatic registration

Re “Automatic voter registration sought in California,” (Capitol & California Bill Watch, March 25): Secretary of State Alex Padilla is exploring automatic voter registration in California. I am opposed to this. You have many people going to DMV who are not eligible to vote.

One way to increase voter turnout would be to give a $50 tax credit for each time the person votes. People don’t like giving money to the government; this would motivate them. Vote in the primary and general and you’d get a $100 credit. A couple filing joint, there’s $200. I think this would “Motivate the Vote”.

Ted Cruz is a joke

Re “Green eggs and ham are not bad for Cruz” (Editorial, March 26): Ted Cruz reminds me of a kid who proposes eliminating weekdays and having weekends all the time.

He wants to abolish the IRS. Don’t we all? But it’s maybe not practical. He proposes a flat tax. Sounds great until you realize to collect the same revenue, it would mean a dramatic hike on the middle class and a huge cut to the wealthy. He bitterly opposes the Affordable Care Act, but might sign uphis family under Obamacare. Just a bit hypocritical, don’t you think?

Sports editors need adjustment

Re “Bruised but proud: Hustling defense leaves McClatchy players black, blue” (Sports, March 26): I’m always thrilled to see women’s sports in your pages, and even more so to see it on the front of the sports section. However, your article regarding the McClatchy Lions’ girls team propagates stereotypes by saying that they “don’t compare stylish sneakers, nail polish or ponytail scrunchies.” Last month, you started an article about another girls’ team by noting that the girls weren’t “giddy.” Check your stereotypes, guys. Athletes are athletes, so stop referencing what they don’t do, and write what they do accomplish, as students, as jocks.

This story was originally published March 29, 2015 at 5:01 PM with the headline "LETTERS Obesity, anti-gay initiative, aid in dying, voter registration, Cruz."