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Fossil fuels needed
to bear energy load

We have screwed up. In our rush to save the planet, we have lost sight of our need to protect our aged and infirm from power shut off in high temperatures.

PG&E has contributed to another catastrophe. The scientists at PG&E likely realized that wind and solar could not handle demand when calm and/or with diminished sunlight. If they told management, it was ignored. Might have affected the bonus plan.

Two obvious answers to this problem are adequate power storage or backup generating. Storage looks expensive. Gas generators are already available. We have messed up the generating option by requiring the elimination of all fossil fuels in the future. This should be reconsidered to allow back up with fossil fuels.

It may be time to consider putting our power system in the hands of an organization with the objective of satisfying the system needs rather than the bottom line.

Al Spencer
Cupertino

Facebook board must
promote responsibility

Jesse Lehrich is right that turning off Facebook’s algorithmic news feed and recommendation engines would be good steps toward mitigating its spread of hate, divisiveness, and disinformation. (“Facebook is a hate-for-profit machine. Here’s a quick fix,” Aug. 16 )

We are disturbed that Facebook’s board of directors has remained silent. Mr. Zuckerberg’s position as controlling shareholder does not relieve the board of its legal and ethical responsibilities. The consensus now is that corporations have broader citizenship responsibilities, rather than just delivering maximum profit to their shareholders. Oil companies are held responsible for addressing global warming, rather than for maximizing hydro-carbon output, and Facebook should be responsible for operating its service in a manner that doesn’t promote evil.

Facebook now reaches one-third of the world’s population, and its directors need to declare their position on its corporate responsibility, in light of its role in influencing world events.

Abraham Foxman
Bergen County, New Jersey
and Art Reidel
San Martin

Santa Clara County, let’s
keep death rate down

It is worth noting that of the 16 California counties having at least 100 cumulative COVID-19 deaths, Santa Clara County has the lowest cumulative per-capita fatality rate (deaths per 100,000 residents):

Highest five: Imperial (138.3), Los Angeles (52), Tulare (42.5), Riverside (37), Stanislaus (36.1).

Middle six: San Joaquin (35.8), San Bernadino (27.8), Orange (25.2), Kern (23.3), Fresno (19.9), San Diego (18.8).

Lowest five: San Mateo (16.3), Sacramento (14), Contra Costa (13.5), Alameda (13.3), Santa Clara (10.8).

Thank you to SCC Public Health Director Dr. Sara Cody, and let’s keep doing what we can to keep ourselves as safe as possible from COVID-19.

Jonathan Starr
Santa Clara

Trump puts democracy
itself on Nov. 3 ballot

I’m hoping the overwhelming majority of eligible voters who will actually have the chance to vote by mail reject this president’s bid for re-election.

President Trump’s narcissism and absolute incompetence, his ongoing attacks on our democratic institutions and norms, and his outrageous, continuous violations of the public trust, have actually put patriotism and democracy itself on the ballot Nov. 3rd.

Hopefully, we can peacefully rid ourselves of this toxic buffoon, once and for all. Vote the blue wave, and vote as early as possible. Don’t screw this up, America – we may not get another chance.

Steve Wright
San Jose


Calls to defund police
boost Trump’s chances

Those calling for defunding the police in the face of demonstrations marred by violence and theft in some areas, other forms of escalating crime in others, and the release of thousands from prisons due to COVID, are playing right into the hands of the current administration and its exploitation of the fear of anarchy in those who would otherwise vote to rid the country of Trumpian incompetence and bigotry.

Gun sales in July increased compared to the previous year directly related to these fears. The Republican party’s first commercial exploiting these fears is out with endlessly more to come. Chiefs of police and good cops who support genuine police cultural change and reform, feeling unsupported by their local governments, are resigning while both politicians and criminals continue to exploit the call to “defund the police.”

This is how Democrats blow elections the nation needs us to win.

Steve Baron
Cupertino

It’s critical that Congress
puts price on pollution

Alas, poor regulations, we hardly knew thee. Reporting indicates the Environmental Protection Agency is in the process of rolling back regulations covering methane leaks from the oil and natural gas industry. Not even the oil and gas industry wants this (Shell, BP, and ExxonMobil support current rules).

Methane leaks are not small. Four years ago, 100,000 metric tons of natural gas (primarily methane) billowed forth from the Aliso Canyon leak near Los Angeles. Nearby residents experienced severe nosebleeds, skin rashes, nausea and headaches. Over 10,000 people had to be relocated. Overall, leaks amount to about 2-2.5% of gas flowing through pipes. Pipelines need to be safe. Companies need to be motivated not to pollute. Fleeting regulations are not enough.

Bipartisan legislation putting a price on oil and gas pollution, like HR 763, would reduce air pollution, increase safety, and protect the economy.

Joe Collett
Sunnyvale