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A wealth tax is another word for expropriation
Re: “Higher wealth tax proposal benefits uber” (Page A1, Jan. 25).
A wealth tax on billionaires is a bad idea. It’s unconstitutional: wealth tax, not income.
It’s not enough. Taxpayers will soon return with a lower price and a higher price. Consider the income tax and the Alternative Minimum Tax, originally thought to affect only the very wealthy at a low rate. Today?
Subsidizing health care creates excessive demand, which can only be solved by price increases or shortages. Darien Schanske says “this (100 billion dollars) is not a huge amount of money that we are asking for.” It’s great of him to say, “It’s not a lot of money for people in this class,” proof of a progressive mindset: You’ve got it. You don’t need it. I will take it by force.
This is simply a loss of hope for a team that is threatened with losing its gravy train.
Kenneth Imboden
San Jose
Both sides of the isle must throw a low pitch
Re: “Lawmaker laments Trump’s ‘hate speech’ after attack” (Page A3, Jan. 29).
I agree with Ilhan Omar that President Trump should not “use hate speech” to talk about himself and other politicians he disagrees with. It’s wrong, it looks really bad, and it puts people at risk.
But unfortunately it is a two-way street. I hope those in his party and those on both sides of the aisle can learn that while spreading the word by including and calling the police, Border Patrol and Homeland Security officials Nazis or fascists and urging their followers to resist and attack, it may make them political points and headlines, just inflame the crowd and put both officials and protesters in danger. Hopefully, he can see himself and others through this.
We can dream of a day when politicians on both sides of the aisle behave with dignity and respect for the thoughts and safety of others.
Dan Clevenger
Residences in Los Altos Hills
Jayapal discovers how ICE is mistreated
Re: “Lawmaker laments Trump’s ‘hate speech’ after attack” (Page A3, Jan. 29).
I had to laugh at Rep. Pramila Jayapal in the article. After the recent attack on Rep. Ilhan Omar, referred to the 2022 incident of being threatened by someone from his home. He says “it has to stop, we are trying to do our jobs.”
Maybe you have an idea of how ICE agents in Minneapolis feel. It’s funny when the shoe is on the other foot.
Peggy Richardson
Santa Clara
State gun laws can be strict
Did you know that in the United States, by 2023, someone would be killed by gun violence every 11 minutes, according to John Hopkins?
According to the same source, in 2023, 46,728 people died from gun violence: 27,300 died by suicide with firearms, 17,927 were killed by firearms, 463 died by accidental shootings and 604 were killed by firearms by law enforcement. Rates of gun violence are lower in areas with strict gun laws. This points to a clear solution to the problem of gun violence: control of gun ownership.
According to Everytown, California is ranked No. 1 in the nation for gun laws. This is great, but we can do better. According to this same source, we should screen students who are at risk of gun violence and allow officials to refuse sales to dangerous buyers.
Hannah Pham
Saratoga
Depopulation is essential to saving the world
Re: “The nation’s growth is slowing down” (Page A1, Jan. 28).
It is good news that US population growth is slowing. Depopulation is necessary for a sustainable planet in the future.
No more borders, no more open space – adding more people means draining rivers and forests full of bulls. It means habitat destruction, pollution, lack of resources, overcrowded roads and cities, climate change and the killing of wild mammals, birds, amphibians, reptiles and fish. It is the cause of all major environmental problems.
Demographers seem to have little understanding of global ecology. They are very concerned about maintaining a Ponzi scheme where new workers pay for retirees, but it doesn’t seem to matter that over 8 billion people are destroying life on Earth.
Future generations may forgive humanity for our long history of wars, inequality and neglect of certain sections of society, but it is doubtful that they will forgive us for destroying so much of life on Earth when it affects everyone on earth.
Tina Peak
Palo Alto
