We have now viewed first-hand how fascism rises to power in our own backyard | Opinion

This is how fascism rises to power

“Trumpism is the most powerful force in American politics, and it’s not going away | Opinion,” (sacbee.com, Nov. 6)

When I was in high school, I first learned the history of the German Nazi party and the atrocities they committed: How the Nazis killed those who opposed them, blamed their own failings on individuals with different heritages and served as merchants of hatred.

Germany was and still is socially and economically similar to the U.S., so it astounded me that such disreputable individuals were able to be voted into office in 1932. I believed in my heart that could never happen here due to our strong principals based upon freedom and equality for all. The results of this week’s election, however, proved that my belief in American voters was misguided.

We have now viewed first-hand how fascism rises to power in our own backyard.

David Mitchell

Sacramento

Election reform

“Improving U.S. elections while keeping Electoral College,” (sacbee.com, Oct. 31)

UC Berkeley Law School Dean Erwin Chemerinsky’s article on the Electoral College was right on: We must pivot to a direct election of the presidential electors. California has 54 electors — two senators plus 52 congressional seats.

What would change? Purple congressional districts, like Rep. Ami Bera’s District 6, would attract lots of campaign attention. It would also mean that voters would feel that their votes really count.

Now, why would a Republican vote if it’s pre-ordained that California’s 54 electors will go Democratic? Campaign strategies would also change, as the focus would go to individual congressional districts. It would mean a national campaign — not just a focus on seven critical, undecided states.

Joe Dobrowolski

Fair Oaks

A very real health risk

“Cannabis lounges in Sacramento? City council doesn’t seem too high on that idea | Opinion,” (sacbee.com, Nov. 2)

I am disappointed to see this attack on public health. California leads the U.S. in tobacco control, including banning second-hand smoking in indoor workplaces. Yet, in his opinion column, writer LeBron Hill attacks public health experts raising the very real danger of second-hand smoke exposure of cannabis lounge workers as “nuts.”

“Those public health nuts” are the reason California ranks in the top ten states for life expectancy. Tobacco and cannabis produce many of the same toxins when smoked. Anyone who has walked by a smoking lounge smells the smoke outside, and cannabis lounge workers will be exposed to toxins maintaining and cleaning these spaces.

Let’s not allow second-hand smoke to return to Sacramento.

Richard Pan, MD, MPH

Sacramento

City council should reject cannabis proposal

“Cannabis lounges in Sacramento? City council doesn’t seem too high on that idea | Opinion,” (sacbee.com, Nov. 2)

The Sacramento City Council shouldn’t turn back time on Nov. 12 by approving smoking inside cannabis cafes. Smoke-free workplace policies, including bars, have protected the health of workers and patrons since the ’90s. Ventilation and masks are not safe solutions for the fine particulates, gasses and vapors of secondhand smoke. Cleaning up indoor toxic residue of thirdhand smoke is very expensive. And asking people to move to a “no smoking” section is like asking people to move to a “no peeing” section of a swimming pool.

The city council needs to engage with the local health community about the growing health risks and burden of inhaled cannabis. More studies show that cannabis-related disorders have mental and physical health risks, including significant risks for cancer.

Let’s continue fostering healthy environments for the people of Sacramento.

David Tom Cooke, MD

Elisa Tong, MD

Elk Grove

Return to office failure

“California state workers return to office, but business lags,” (sacbee.com, Oct. 28)

It should come as no surprise that the return-to-office experiment for state workers has failed to “revitalize” Downtown Sacramento. When state workers were forced back into the office this past summer, rising costs for food, parking and fuel effectively amounted to a new tax on incomes. It was foolish to predict that state workers — aggrieved about these new expenditures — would happily plunk down $20 for lunch after being treated like a captive audience.

Traffic is worse, with pointless commutes fueling the climate crisis in the form of unnecessary carbon, fine particulate matter, black carbon and microplastic pollution.

End the flip-flop: Let’s cut our losses and go back to maximizing telework when feasible, allowing workers to spend their dollars locally.

Steven Sander

Sacramento

EPA must act

“Invasive species posing ‘immediate threat’ found in California, a first in North America,” (sacbee.com, Oct. 31)

Halloween brought news of a scary new alien invasion: the discovery of Golden Mussels in the California Delta. This harmful invasive species almost certainly arrived in a ship’s ballast water.

That needn’t have happened: If the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency had only done what the Clean Water Act required it to do and implemented effective regulations to control ballast water discharges, the mussel would never have reached U.S. waters. In 2022, 34 members of Congress and 180 environmental, fishing and public health organizations and Native American tribes begged the EPA to establish effective ballast water rules, but the agency never responded.

Now, water supply systems and freshwater ecosystems throughout California — and potentially throughout much of North America — are at risk. This invasion was both predictable and predicted, and fully preventable.

There will be more — and possibly more harmful — invasions if the EPA doesn’t act now.

Andrew Cohen

Richmond