Letters to the editor | Sunday, Dec. 1, 2019: Video games, transgender flag, Prop. 13, impeachment

Gaming addiction lets youth check out

As the husband of a fourth-grade teacher, I hear almost nightly complaints about boys disrupting class, unable to focus, often sleep deprived, and — not coincidentally — obsessed with video games. Why are we not seeing public health warnings about the dangers of gaming addiction, which appears to be epidemic?

This warning should be placed on every video game and virtual reality product:

Warning: This is an addictive product. It is not a substitute for real-life risk and experience which children and young adults need for psychological health and well-being. Regular and prolonged use of this product and resulting underexposure to healthy real-life activities is known to result in depression, social anxiety, low testosterone, suicidal thoughts or actions, early onset of osteoporosis (from long periods of bad sitting posture in growing kids), poor educational behavior and performance, and a general lack of desire to fully engage in real-life endeavors. Note: Finding happiness and full functionality in the realm of Reality is profoundly difficult, requiring near 24-7 immersion, particularly in the very young. Use this product with extreme caution. If you notice or experience one or more of these symptoms, stop using the product immediately and consider counseling or spiritual guidance.

Transgender flag isn’t helping

Our governor is flying the transgender flag below the American and California flags over the Capitol. Twenty-two people who identified as transgender were killed this year. However, few were specifically related to gender issues; most are related to domestic violence or other typical murder causes. Only a few represent terrible random killings based on hate or ignorance.

I am sure I will be called transphobic for my thoughts. Not true; why would I fear people who bear this challenge?

My issue is that the governor takes actions that seem contrary to the voting public. Because of him, the killer of Polly Klaas gets free room and board and medical benefits for life rather than the death he deserves, along with many other murderers.

This flag issue is another poke in the eye. The American and California flags stand for something. Choosing any special interest flag to put under them is silly and disrespectful.

More money won’t fix schools ...

Re “Letters to the editor? Yes. Manipulating public? No” (Page 1B, Nov. 24): (Garth) Stapley’s article is on the money. As is the case with polls, reviews, etc. one should follow the money to learn who funded the project before accepting it as gospel. As far as the tax issue is concerned, our public servants want to wipe out Jarvis-Gann and this proposition would be the first step.

Even if more money went to schools, we have seen proof that the end product — educated children — would not improve. That answer lies in the ability to get rid of underperforming instructors and administrators. By the way, other than perhaps more (disability) money coming in, how did the car giveaway for attendance work out? How much were test scores improved? Has truancy been reduced and attendance improved? If so, why not continue the program?

... While raising our cost of living

Closing the loophole in Prop. 13 will be a mistake.

California has a proven track record of mismanagement of school money, whether by bonds or taxes. Since 2001, California has spent $172 billion on schools through local or state bond measures for K-12. All that money has only gotten us to a 21 national ranking. Most of that bond money was supposed to be spent fixing old schools and removing lead, mold, asbestos, etc. Local districts spend the money on new school construction for new subdivisions or paying down interest from previous bonds. Almost none is used for teacher supplies and equipment. Now, there is a new school bond for $9 billion for K-12 on the ballot which will likely pass and the same thing will happen.

Closing the Prop. 13 loophole will do nothing but make it more expensive to live here as costs will simply be passed on to the consumer. It will not reduce class size or buy more pencils. You need to look no further than who is funding this: construction unions. The fix is a change in leadership in Sacramento, nothing else.

His worst weakness: foreign affairs

President Trump’s many failures are no more glaringly apparent than in foreign affairs. He pulled out of the global climate accord, denies climate change, and supports the greater use of fossil fuels, such as coal, together with lower fuel requirements for cars and trucks. He pulled out of the agreement with Iran to reduce their production of weapons-grade uranium. He failed to achieve a reduction in weapons development by North Korea.

Instead of being a peacemaker with Israel and Palestinians, he supports Israel moving its capitol to Jerusalem, a holy site for Muslims as well as for Jews. Instead of being a peacemaker between Saudi Arabia and Iran, he supports the Saudis. More recently he has sought to achieve personal benefit from the United States’ policies toward Ukraine.

In his years as president, the world has become more dangerous and more unstable. One must wonder if the president has an instinct for making destructive decisions in foreign affairs.

Military supports commander in chief

Re “Administration dishonors U.S. vets” (Letters, Nov. 10): The leftist writer demonstrates ignorance and cluelessness by attacking the Trump administration and demonizing his fellow Americans simply for supporting the president. President Trump has not dishonored our veterans. That 60% of current and former military personnel support him is proof that the letter is just mindless blather aimed at attacking the president.

Readers don’t have to take the word of Fox News or the Wall Street Journal to learn about what this administration has done for our vets. They can read about many of President Trumps accomplishments for our heroic men and women in uniform.

The writer concludes his letter by say he is glad that America’s WWII vets are not around to witness the doings of the Trump Presidency. Reality Check: There are over 388,000 U.S. WWII vets alive today and members of their generation are more than twice as likely to support President Trump as millennials.

After reading his letter, I have to ask: What isolated cave has the writer been living in for the past three years?

When will they drain the swamp?

The impeachment inquiry by the House seems to be finished. What have we learned?

During the proceedings, there was high drama offered by patriotic administration officials like Taylor, Hill and Holmes, confirmation that the president had attempted to bribe the Ukranian president. This had been evidenced at the outset by Trump’s own words in the telephone transcript that the White House provided, saying, “do us a favor,” “Biden” and Burisma. Then we had comic relief as Nunes and his RINO amigos scuttled about, searching desperately for rebuttal evidence. Finding none, they settled on attacking the messengers, using words like “hearsay,” “no direct connection” and “unfair process.”

At the end, the herd of RINOs were frustrated. The rest of us were left with what we already knew. Far from draining the swamp, Trump has increased its size to find room for even more snakes and alligators: Giuliani, the “three amigos,” Pompeo, Mulvaney, Pence, Sondland and a host of lesser reptiles. Sadly, the president continues to be a serial liar, and we have the most corrupt White House in our nation’s history.

Ode to a bad egg

Humpty Trumpty sat on a wall;

Humpty Trumpty will have a great fall.

All of his horses and all of his men

Will never put Trumpty together again.

Who is the hypocrite?

Senator (Rand) Paul, when asked about wild claims he made at a Trump rally in Kentucky on the eve of that state’s election, said, “The Sixth Amendment gives any person the right to face their accuser in a criminal trial,” referring to the whistle blower’s identity being kept secret, as the House moves forward with the impeachment inquiry.

The Sixth amendment gives a person that right — in a criminal trial. The senator is being disingenuous, or plain ignorant. President Trump is not in court, or charged with a crime.

The Constitution gives sole power over impeachment to the House. Impeachment is not a trial.

Paul, an eye doctor prior to riding his father’s coat tails into the Senate, routinely complains about the son of former Vice President Biden using his father’s name for financial gain.

This story was originally published November 29, 2019 at 12:37 PM with the headline "Letters to the editor | Sunday, Dec. 1, 2019: Video games, transgender flag, Prop. 13, impeachment."