‘Holiday’ tree, Social Security, GOP ultimatums

It’s Christmas tree, not a ‘holiday’ tree

Re “Gallery: Christmas tree arrives at the Capitol” (sacbee.com, Nov. 4): Were my eyes deceiving me or did I actually see the words “Christmas tree” in the headline for a picture posted online? Could this be a misprint, an unedited post or just an unpolitically incorrect error?

Don’t get me wrong. I am not offended.

In fact, I am excited that, for once, my Christian holiday was not being attacked or minimized for the sake of those who do not share the same beliefs. In a country where we were once permitted to express our faith openly, say “Merry Christmas” without retaliation and pray publicly without being penalized, the good ol’ USA has slowly taken this right from us as it wholeheartedly supports progressive actions to accommodate those who disagree with Christian religious practices.

So I’d like to say thanks for calling the tree what it is. A Christmas tree!

Keep hands off Social Security

Re “Entitlement overhaul fractures the GOP field” (Page 4B, Nov. 5): Once again the Republican Party is on the verge of gaining the presidency while holding the House and Senate. The last time they did this, we had the housing crisis caused by a decline in oversight of the banking industry.

Now they’re focusing on cutting or eliminating Social Security and Medicare. I paid into this system my whole life. I deserve it. I count on it. You take it away from me and you are going to find out what breach of contract really means.

Go ahead America. Vote Republican and shoot yourself in the foot.

Try living, working like a voter for year

It is my humble opinion that anyone, Republican or Democrat, who is running for office should have to live for one year on the salary of their constituents.

Only then will they truly understand the impact of the outlandish reforms they want to make to health care, Social Security and taxes. These things have no effect on them because of their wealth but greatly affect us, the little people.

I would have more respect for someone who has walked in the shoes of the people they want to govern. I would like to see one of these people wanting to be elected live on $80,000 a year.

Don’t confuse rules with ‘ultimatums’

Re “Ultimatums no way to fix GOP debates” (Editorials, Nov. 4): Again, The Bee’s editorial board shows its bias against Republicans. The “ultimatums” the editorial board perceives seem to me to be more like trying to set ground rules. Doesn’t this happen for all debates? Just curious, but would perspective have been the same if Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders were making these “demands”?

Bad choice is using violence on a kid

Re “Take responsibility for bad choices” (Letters, Nov. 4): Nowhere in Dawn Wolfson’s letter were there any excuses or rationalization for the girl’s bad behavior. For those of us who regularly experience these types of situations, the question is: How should an adult confront a stubborn, recalcitrant child who is challenging and testing authority?

Fortunately, mature and thoughtful adults succeed by means other than through anger and violence, opting for calmer outcomes that always provide better lessons for the child. The good thing here is that mature adults made someone “take responsibility for bad choices.” The police officer was fired.

Lies equal anger, anger equals action

Re “N.Y. suggests oil giant concealed climate risks” (Page 1A, Nov. 6): Anger is an empowering emotion. Reading this article raises a fierce desire to protect our world for our families and the next generation.

Do the oil and coal companies own us to the point of us allowing them to continue to make money off fossil fuels while lying to us about the devastation this path will cause? Will we just move on to the next article, our next project, while shaking our heads at the lies and betrayals?

Or will we productively respond to our anger and take positive actions to deal with climate change.

This story was originally published November 8, 2015 at 10:00 PM with the headline "‘Holiday’ tree, Social Security, GOP ultimatums."