Flawed candidates, Clinton and science, millennials, great America | The Sacramento Bee

This is a troublesome election

Re “Protest splash bigger for Dems than GOP” (Insight, July 29): This election is particularly troublesome. From the perspective of candidate motivation, one is fulfilling an irresistible perception of entitlement; the other is expanding his realm of influence.

If character matters, one will say anything, including lies, to avoid responsibility for blunders; the other acknowledges public concerns and basis for anger, but is undiplomatic to the point of blunders.

It is difficult to imagine the impact of either attaining the presidency.

Clinton is a vote for science

Re “Clinton: We rise together” (Page 1A, July 29): In Hillary Clinton’s acceptance speech, one of her biggest applause lines was “I believe in science.” It’s a sad reflection that this needs to be said, but her opponent doesn’t, and many leaders of the opposing party don’t believe in science.

Donald Trump has repeatedly called climate change a hoax, while we’re in the midst of the unprecedented third consecutive hottest year on record. Our choice of presidential candidates is between one who accepts science and has a plan to preserve a livable climate for future generations, and one who treats science as a punch line. It shouldn’t be a difficult choice.

Women never doubted ability

Re “A moment for different ages” (Insight, July 28): I was astonished to read Aly Pachter’s response to the possibility of a woman being nominated president of the United States. It appears that she doesn’t understand women’s position in the past when she wrote, “I’ve never doubted my own ability based on my gender.”

That was not the issue as women were excluded from meaningful and adequate employment. I know my mother never doubted her own ability based on her gender when she viewed the possibilities for employment in a man’s world. Rather the doubt was whether or not she could get a job in a man’s field or even in a woman’s field that paid enough to live on, or would she be locked out because of her gender.

Yes, America is already great

Re “Obama stands with Clinton” (Page 1A, July 28): “America is already great,” the president of the United States said at the Democratic National Convention when endorsing Hillary Clinton.

The president echoes my sentiments, which I have expressed repeatedly. This nation’s political and moral culture are the envy of every other nation, and the United States’ influence has the penultimate impact upon the human race and has throughout the country’s history.