Failure to govern

EDITOR: I don’t believe that Donald Trump was elected because the majority of our states (read electoral votes) liked him better than they liked Hillary Clinton. I believe he was elected because people are sick of business as usual with our elected officials. The Democrats lost their majorities in the House and Senate for the same reason.

I use the term “officials” rather than “representatives” because they fall far short of the mark when it comes to representing any of us.

Now it starts again. The newly elected chairman of the Democratic National Committee, Tom Perez, has said the party’s focus should be on limiting Trump to one term. The Republicans said the same thing during Bill Clinton and Barack Obama’s first terms.

If both parties focused solely on governing every four-year cycle and less on making the other party look bad, perhaps our elected officials could be re-elected based upon their performance rather than how successful they are at making their opponents look bad in the eyes of their constituents.

Governing is all about compromise. Both sides of the aisle get a grade of F in this regard. Shame on all of them.

RICH SIMMONS

Petaluma

Time to secede?

EDITOR: When Barack Obama was elected in 2008, Texas talked of secession. Most people laughed. And Texas did nothing. But I thought it was a good idea. Why should the blue states and the red states, purveyors of two diametrically opposed and incompatible cultures, remain together and continue to fight this cold civil war when each of us could peacefully go our own way with malice toward none and charity for all?

Now Donald Trump has been elected. California, Oregon and Washington are talking of secession. Some people in California are actually trying to do something about it. I looked at their website, yescalifornia.org and liked what I saw. I have become a signature gatherer. I want it on the ballot.

Meanwhile I have phoned The Press Democrat news desk to check on the facts presented on the yescalifornia.org site. We need a real discussion of the issues at hand in order to make an informed choice, including a non-biased examination of the facts.

EDWARD MEISSE

Santa Rosa

Running red lights

EDITOR: I was shocked to discover that it isn’t illegal to run a red light in Santa Rosa. In other places in California, the fine is $490. This conclusion came after witnessing repeated red-light runners at every major intersection in Santa Rosa and never seeing a ticket issued.

It’s my understanding that police blame the vehicle, not the driver: “It’s the car’s AI (alternative intelligence) that is fouled up. And we can’t write up the car.” Of course, if police were to institute a campaign to issue tickets for 30 days, the violations would be reduced substantially.

ED DECHANT

Santa Rosa

Mutual respect

EDITOR: The term “politically correct,” along with a number of other words and phrases (such as entitlement) was coined by the right to fire up their troops to righteous. Like Pavlov’s dogs salivating in response to a bell for dinner, these demonized terms trigger automatic responses.

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