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Venezuela incursion is
Trump smokescreen
Re: “Trump says U.S. will ‘run’ Venezuela after swift strike” (Page A1, Jan. 4).
Does the president really think we are falling for his smokescreen outrage over drugs coming to the U.S. from Venezuela? The people of Venezuela are not forcing Americans to buy illegal drugs from them. Stupid Americans are buying dangerous illegal drugs from a lot of sources. The U.S. has open borders, and drugs flow in from many places.
This “war” the president has started is about oil. Full stop. We all know it. Venezuela has the type of oil America needs. All the killing and pretend outrage about drugs is really about getting their oil.
For this, we are bombing boats and killing people illegally. The whole world hates us for this president’s cruel cuts that have killed hundreds of thousands already. This just adds more fuel to that fire.
Kit Miller
Walnut Creek
Trump’s actions turn
the world against us
Re: “Trump says U.S. will ‘run’ Venezuela after swift strike” (Page A1, Jan. 4).
With the U.S. military strikes and capture of President Maduro on Saturday, President Trump and his administration continue their assault on the U.S. Constitution and reinforce their belief that laws, as well as checks and balances, no longer apply.
This is not about drugs. Trump has recently pardoned some of the largest drug importers in U.S. history. This is about oil and the “taking back what is ours,” per Trump. The U.S. has invaded a sovereign nation and seized control of its oil infrastructure. The GOP-controlled Congress has abdicated more power, the power only they have to declare war, to Trump.
America First? A cute slogan only. We are looking and behaving more like America The Despicable and Russia every day.
Barry Brynjulson
Pleasanton
GOP sabotages ACA
then complains about it
Re: “Failed Obamacare faces a reckoning” (Page A8, Jan. 4).
The disingenuousness of Republican attacks on the ACA is breathtaking. It’s the Republicans who have insisted on insurance-based health care throughout history. In fact, the ACA is really a Republican-hatched plan originating in Massachusetts by Mitt Romney. Because of Republican opposition to any non-insurance-based plan, the ACA was the only politically viable plan in 2010 and may still be the only federal plan politically viable today. No? OK, just where is the Republican plan? Nothing for all of Donald Trump’s two terms in office.
Here is the Republican health care “plan“: Offer no meaningful health care plan while fighting tooth and nail to tear down any existing plan we do have. Then complain about the effectiveness of plans they make worse.
Want to cut insurance companies from our health care? It’s called Medicare For All. Don’t like that? Then propose something else, or stop voting for Republicans.
Steve Reynolds
Danville
GOP can gripe about
ACA after offering plan
Re: “Failed Obamacare faces a reckoning” (Page A8, Jan. 4).
Conservative commentators like John Rego rant about the horrors of Barack Obama and Obamacare, using incorrect and incomplete data. Let’s correct the record.
Between 2010, when Obamacare was enacted, and 2025, the average rate of U.S. inflation for all goods and services was 2.6% per year. The U.S. health care inflation rate during that time was a little over 2.7% a year. In other words, health care inflation was essentially equal to general inflation. Furthermore, health care inflation before Obamacare from 1970-2010, increased more than 6% a year versus almost 4.5% for overall inflation. Conclusion: Obamacare greatly reduced health care inflation.
An essential point is that congressional Republicans have not offered a health care program that curbs expenses and covers economically challenged Americans. Legislation backed by Donald Trump and passed by Republicans will lead to over 10 million Americans losing health care access, while premiums increase dramatically for all others.
When Republicans introduce viable health care legislation, conservatives will gain the right to complain about the shortcomings of the ACA.
Jim Boots
Danville
Ending lives should be
option for the elderly
Re: “Remembering Papa: Rural elderly face a gun suicide epidemic” (Page B1, Jan. 4).
The article about elders committing suicide called it an epidemic. I disagree. As an elder, I call it a choice. My friends and I are getting older. Two died in November — one by refusing food, which required taking days to die. When visiting peers who end up in care homes, my friends and I see the poor condition of other residents and don’t want the same for ourselves.
We believe there is a difference between living and existing. Once we are unable to live our lives, those who want to should have the option to end their life quickly.
The article states: “Experts say these deaths may get little attention because society empathizes with struggling older adults who want to control how their lives end.” Elder suicide does not need to be “fixed”; it needs to be allowed.
Susan O’Sullivan
Richmond
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