Trump, Clinton, Sanders, none of the above

Beware those who support racism

Re “Donald Trump hits a despicable new low” (Editorials, June 8): I emigrated with my nuclear family in the ’70s from South Africa, a country practicing full-throttle racism under the guise of apartheid. It was the whites discriminating against the blacks. During World War II, this same nationalist government supported Hitler and did not want Jewish refugees fleeing from Nazism to come to “their” country.

Although there were dissidents and activists against this racist and bigoted government, it took years and many lives to make any changes. Those who supported the racist government were racist themselves, yet they offered rationalizations for their support and used rhetoric to deny that they were actually racist.

Beware of people who support racists, as birds of a feather stick together.

Democrats are wearing blinders

Re “A milestone” (Page 1A, June 8): It seems Democrats have their blinders on as they support someone who has an aversion to the truth, is under FBI investigation for her emails, and runs a questionable foundation with her philandering husband. Hillary Clinton will lead America down the road of continuing decline.

I would rather hold my nose and vote for Donald Trump than Clinton.

It’s important to vote anyway

Re “Clinton news spoiled my vote” and “Trying to ruin voter turnout” (Letters, June 8): As a Hillary Clinton supporter, my first reaction on learning Monday night that The Associated Press had declared Clinton to have secured the Democratic presidential nomination was to wonder if Bernie Sanders supporters would be discouraged and not vote. But then I thought: How would I react if I my candidate had lost? I realized I would not only have reacted with anger and disappointment, but also with a greater determination to vote for my candidate in a show of support and even defiance.

Any Sanders supporters who did not vote not only failed to support their candidate, they sacrificed their voice on other issues on the ballot. There was more than the presidential nominee at stake. As citizens it is our duty and privilege to make our voices heard on the issues. Shame on all who did not vote; they have lost their right to complain.

We need choice of ‘none of the above’

After more than 40 years of almost always being forced to choose between the lesser of two evils, I strongly advocate that primaries include an official “none-of-the-above” choice.

I cannot bear the thought of choosing either Donald Trump, whose inventory of poor judgment and character flaws appears boundless, and Hillary Clinton, whose lack of trustworthiness, poor judgment and desire for military adventures is similarly deep and broad.

How unsatisfying it is to think of the importance of democracy and the right to vote when the quality of our elected officials is so frequently poor.

Crook gets paid more than Brown

Re “Ex-CalPERS chief in bribery case still will get part of state pension in prison” (Page 1A, June 2) and “Panel approves raise for Brown, lawmakers” (Capitol & California, June 2): I see that the Legislature raised Gov. Jerry Brown’s salary to $190,102. This is only fitting for the No. 1 state in the union to pay its governor a decent salary. He is doing a good job and deserves the raise.

I also see that the ex-CalPERS chief, who is in prison, will collect his $201,600 retirement benefit. That means that Fred Buenrostro makes more while in prison than our governor?

I think the state needs to re-evaluate CalPERS salaries and benefits. Only in America do convicts get retirement. I resent our tax money going for this crook. We need to change the law.

This story was originally published June 9, 2016 at 12:00 AM with the headline "Trump, Clinton, Sanders, none of the above."