President Trump’s lack of accomplishments not worthy of a Nobel Prize | Opinion

No Nobel for Trump

Donald Trump has been nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize. This is ludicrous. His stance on climate change alone is endangering the earth and should disqualify him. Trump is not only a climate change denier, he makes climate change worse by promoting fossil fuels, deregulation and removal of climate change information form government documents.

Trump has 34 felony convictions and is guilty of defaming and abusing a woman. Peace involves more than the absence of conflicts between nations. Peace is a state of mind and Americans do not have peace of mind. Trump uses the technique of conquering by dividing.

As a direct result of Trump’s approach, the divisions in the U.S. are bigger than ever with partisan politics determining votes at all levels. Preventing peace of mind are high inflation, tariffs, an attempt by Trump to convert the U.S. into an autocracy, distressing levels of racism with Trump empowering white power supporters, loss of life-giving services and the threat of climate change.

Finally, Trump rules by using fear and threats to literally blackmail colleges, law firms, companies and even countries to succumb to his often-illicit demands. Trump seeks retribution against and rudely bullies his critics.

Steven Murov, Hughson

Supes need to settle with SEIU

Stanislaus County’s behavioral health system is running on heroics instead of design. At the next Board of Supervisors meeting, clinicians, clients, and families will call for four straightforward fixes: settle a fair SEIU 521 contract to stabilize retention; set acuity-based caseload caps with automatic relief; publish a monthly “Minutes of Care” dashboard so the public can see direct-care time, administrative load, and wait-time bands; and execute a 60-day plan to get stalled housing vouchers into keys and occupied units. These are the levers the Board controls.

Last month, supervisors approved an 11% raise for themselves over three years while frontline staff were offered 2%. Signals matter; the workforce hears them. Keep Juneteenth in the ordinance and add Cesar Chavez Day so our calendar matches the people we serve and the values we claim.

Telepsychiatry is a tool, not a default option, for high-acuity clients who lack access to a phone, privacy, or trust. Overflowing caseloads pose a safety risk; turnover resets treatment, and families pay the price in our hospital and jail.

Christina M. Guevara Rodriguez, Hickman

Teaching is a challenge

What has made teaching challenging, causing teachers to consider retirement and new teachers to leave?

Could it be that disruptive students know there is no accountability for destroying a teacher’s lesson? Teachers are blamed for not developing a positive relationship with each student, which would mitigate such behavior. Administrators have always told teachers to create engaging lessons to keep students interested.

Could it be that the school district purchased an expensive program that has lessons produced without regard to student abilities or interests? One-size-fits-all lessons would leave the advanced and lower-level students bored. A few of these students may become disruptive, knowing there is no consequence for this behavior.

Could it be that administrators have weaponized teacher evaluation to enforce compliance with keeping disruptive students in class and teaching from commercially produced lessons? An unsatisfactory in any area can cost a teacher to be branded as “a project” for the principal. Evaluators want to see every student engaged in the lesson 100% of the time with perfect behavior.

Could it be that our school administrators have forgotten what it is like in today’s classroom? Perhaps administrators should be required to spend time in the classroom before renewing their credentials.

Gordon Chan, Modesto

What about the children?

Our community show great kindness towards children by volunteering and contributing to organizations, schools, and churches. Do you know what is happening to children now?

Devastating cuts to grant funding for pediatric cancer research and other life-saving treatments were made by congress. Decreased funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Head Start, the Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), and school meals will increase child hunger and health care costs. Decreased funding for Covered California and Medi-Cal will lead to children losing access to health care. Packed emergency rooms may make it harder for all of us to receive care.

Vaccine recommendations from the CDC now differ from those of the American Academy of Pediatrics and other medical groups. Millions of dollars have been cut from vaccine research. Measles cases surged this year with 3 deaths.

Closing the Department of Education will have devastating effects on local schools. Shutting down the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) is projected to cause more than 4.5 million child deaths by 2030.

You can help stop this assault on children by speaking up and voting in the midterm elections.

Carolyn Waggoner, Modesto