Sacramento area voters weigh in on Prop. 50 ahead of Nov. 4 special election | Opinion

The old system no longer workers

“Arnold Schwarzenegger calls Prop. 50 ‘insane’ during USC forum,” (sacbee.com, Sept. 16)

The old system no longer offers any protection. That lock has been picked.

Yes, we need equitable districting methods in place in all 50 states. But the first step toward that is to stop pretending that the old systems still work. The second step is to stop cooperating with those who want us to believe they still do.

Lawrence Roszkowiak

Santa Rosa

Prop. 50 is critical to protect rights

“Fair election advocates unite against California’s Prop 50,” (sacbee.com, Sept. 30)

Proposition 50 gives California the power to update our congressional districts now, ensuring fairer representation and a stronger say in Washington, D.C. It’s a democratic response to undemocratic attacks.

Anthony Gutierrez

Brentwood

Gerrymandering is always wrong

“Fair election advocates unite against California’s Prop 50,” (sacbee.com, Sept. 30)

Proposition 50 is an immoral attempt by politicians to cement their powers over people using the evils of gerrymandering, taking away peoples’ meaningful vote.

Don’t fall for the politicians’ lies. Gerrymandering is always wrong, no matter who does it.

Bill Jurkovich

Citrus Heights

Trump’s destruction is terrifying

“UC Berkeley dean warns of democracy’s peril under Trump,” (sacbee.com, Sept. 30)

President Donald Trump is carrying out his retribution and claiming he has the right to do anything he wants, with Congress and the Supreme Court backing him.

While trampling our legal and moral safeguards, Trump is doing great damage to us and to our country. Many of us are afraid because the expanding course of destruction is terrifying.

Alvin Vopata

Antelope

Dangerous directives

“Trump tells military leaders that U.S. cities could be used as ‘training grounds’,” (sacbee.com, Sept. 30)

I can’t believe this has to be said, but American citizens should not be used for target practice by our military. Yet President Donald Trump just told an assembly of generals that “we should use some of these dangerous cities as training grounds for our military.”

Now would be a good time to speak up.

Jim Meyer

El Dorado Hills

Frustrations with Aftershock

“Deftones play Aftershock music festival in Sacramento,” (sacbee.com, Oct. 4)

Another year of Aftershock has passed, and it has been as abrasive and inconvenient as ever for those who live in the area. Traffic and noise issues are just a few of the reasons Aftershock does not belong at Discovery Park.

Jeff Baldwin

Sacramento

Climate law overlooks Bezos, Musk

“Pope Leo XIV calls for ‘ecological conversion’ to face climate change,” (sacbee.com, Oct. 1)

As a Catholic, I believe caring for creation is a duty, not an option. Pope Francis has called ignoring climate change a moral failure, and he is right. That’s why it is outrageous that California’s new climate disclosure law leaves Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin and Elon Musk’s SpaceX off its preliminary compliance list.

These are not startups. They are colossal corporations with factories, global supply chains and rockets that spew soot into the stratosphere. One launch can emit as much carbon dioxide in minutes as an average person does in years. Yet billionaires are handed a free pass.

If oil companies and airlines must disclose emissions, so should the space barons. Letting them dodge accountability insults Californians living with fire and drought. It proves extreme wealth still buys immunity. This is not innovation. It is climate vandalism.

Bill Andrews

Sacramento

Goodall’s legacy

“Conservationist Jane Goodall Dead at Age 91 Amid Speaking Tour,” (sacbee.com, Oct. 1)

Dr. Jane Goodall broke barriers and inspired generations of girls to become scientists. Goodall is an icon who spent her entire life learning more about the world around her and fighting to protect it.

She brought all of us along on her quest to learn more about chimpanzees, animals of all kinds, and our environment. Goodall’s advocacy has made a difference and inspired countless others to follow in her footsteps.

Paul Bacon

Hallandale Beach, Fla.