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Prop. 22 is case of
voters not being proper
Re: “Authorized assault on gig measure threatens direct democracy” (Web page A12, Might 7).
Dan Schnur lists a number of California propositions in his Proposition 22 op-ed and calls the court docket case looking for to overturn the proposition an “assault” on direct democracy. Apparently, Mr. Schnur thinks voters are infallible. He conveniently left Proposition 8 off his checklist.
Proposition 8 was an try and ban same-sex marriage; it handed within the November 2008 California state elections and was later overturned in court docket. Was the try and ban same-sex marriage an assault on democracy, or simply the court docket case(s) making an attempt to overturn the proposition?
Voters typically get issues incorrect, particularly about esoteric points like employment legislation, or the Due Course of and Equal Safety Clauses of the Fourteenth Modification.
Thomas Grey
Livermore
Reparations will
worsen racism
Re: “Reparations panel approves state apology, funds” (Web page A11, Might 7).
Reparations will do nothing to stem the pure habit to stereotyping primarily based on pores and skin coloration (the logical definition of “racism”). Sunday morning moralists will develop into complacent and cease the exhausting work of combating it, and White supremacists will focus their anger extra.
Worse, as a result of political cash is concerned, just like the Catholic indulgences that led to the Reformation, reparations will develop into fertile floor for corruption.
Howard Winet
Berkeley
AI is proscribed by
rubbish in, rubbish out
ChatGPT and its cousins accumulate monumental quantities of information (which appears to incorporate massive and nonetheless bigger quantities of virtually something their minders can get their fingers on) and use that knowledge to provide you with articles, insights, predictions and whatnot. And the ensuing deluge of articles, insights and whatnot are what? Extra knowledge. Information which, in flip, turns into fodder for them to feed on. Solely this time round they've begun feeding on themselves. And so forth, and on.
Appears to me to make for a complete lot of self-reinforcement and undesirable homogeneity. And consider the enjoyable legal professionals and publishers can have as ChatGPT, et al. start to plagiarize one another.
Jim Wolpman
Walnut Creek
‘Manufactured variety’
no reply to racism
Re: “Some school campuses are turning variety right into a vice” (Web page A7, Might 3).
Opposite to what Maureen Downey writes, we conservatives don't have any downside with variety.
What we do oppose is manufactured variety. It seeks to disregard advantage in pursuit of proportionality and seeks to ignore competence in favor of fairness. And that, Ms. Downey, meets the very definition of a vice.
Invoice McGregor
Berkeley
Events are taking part in
video games with debt
Re: “Elevating debt restrict is a no brainer for U.S.” (Web page A12, Might 7).
Whereas I agree, I might counsel that each events are responsible of an identical type of political gamesmanship.
Negotiation over the debt restrict is nothing new. In 1917, the U.S. authorities required Congress and the president to periodically carry the debt restrict because it deemed obligatory. Since then, regardless of both social gathering having full management of the federal government, the legislation has remained on the books. Each events have used it as a device to acquire concessions from the opposite. President Biden now says that he adamantly opposes negotiating with the debt restrict, though he has argued to restrict it up to now.
This specific downside is advanced, doubtlessly disastrous, and cries out for severe debate. Calling anyone answer a “no-brainer” can solely assist politicians have interaction in additional demagoguery relatively than remedy the issue.
Daniel Mauthe
Livermore
US ought to reduce
protection spending
President Joe Biden and Home Speaker Kevin McCarthy don't but agree if the debt ceiling must be raised in order that the US won't default on paying its obligations. Moreover, Speaker McCarthy advocates cuts within the federal funds.
A method out of this dilemma is to chop the protection funds, now greater than the mixed protection spending of China, Russia, India, Saudi Arabia, the UK, Germany, France, South Korea and Japan.
Completely the very best merchandise within the protection funds to chop is spending on nuclear weapons. They can't be used, for his or her use will end result within the elimination of all of humanity (and all different species). Sufficient cash might be saved to pay for the retirement of all employees concerned of their growth and storage. Maybe these employees might be re-employed to combat local weather change or serve humanity in another method. It beats loss of life.
Larry Dorshkind
Redwood Metropolis