By admin 
Recommit to voting rights
“Governor candidate Xavier Becerra: California must ‘fight,’ pass election bills,” (sacbee.com, Aug. 5)
Read more Newsom announces two nominations for appeals court based in Sacramento
August marks the 61st anniversary of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, a monumental law built on the patriotic principle that every American citizen deserves an unhindered voice in our democracy. Yet, some politicians are supporting the SAVE Act, a federal bill in the House of Representatives that would change how we vote.
The act purports to “save” us from a threat that is almost entirely mythical.
Proponents insist that the act stops noncitizens from casting ballots. But even the conservative Heritage Foundation’s own voter fraud database found fewer than 100 cases of noncitizens voting out of well over a billion votes cast over several decades.
Our problem isn’t noncitizens voting; it’s that roughly 35% to 40% of eligible American citizens don’t vote. Instead of making voting easier, the SAVE Act requires documents — like original birth certificates or passports — that millions of ordinary Americans simply do not have.
Disenfranchising legitimate American voters over a nonexistent problem isn’t voter security, it is un-American, unpatriotic and an insult to our intelligence. Let’s honor the Voting Rights Act by opening the doors to voters and encouraging them to reject the SAVE Act and all of its supporters.
Eric Peterson
Santa Rosa
Blaming ratepayers
“PG&E reaches 1 million rooftop solar customers as debate over incentives continues,” (sacbee.com, July 27)
More than half of all California solar users are middle and working class. Utility rates are going up because of utility overspending. Ratepayers are responding logically by reducing how much electricity they buy. Utilities and regulators should respond by reducing utility spending — but, instead, they are blaming ratepayers.
George Clatterbuck
Vacaville
Richer or poorer
“Allison Schrager: Americans are richer than ever. Why are they so angry?” (sacbee.com, July 29)
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More Americans are not “richer” than ever. The percentage of Americans with pensions has dropped dramatically, and social security benefits have not kept pace with inflation and are facing a serious financial shortfall.
Moreover, an increasing percentage of Americans are not homeowners. A large and growing percentage of Americans will be renting for life. They won’t be “upper class” when they retire.
Craig Chaffee
Sacramento
Weak argument
“Mamdani’s city-owned grocery stores are a socialist trap | Opinion,” (sacbee.com, Aug. 3)
I get the attack on New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s grocery stores: taxpayers will subsidize them, starting with $70 million to build them. But grocery prices are up 33% in seven years.
Recently, another opinion column published in The Bee pondered why Americans are richer but less happy. It pointed out that some costs — including housing, childcare, education and medicine — “are still very expensive.” From Social Security to public education, our most popular government programs are, at least, quasi-socialist.
I’m moderate and a capitalist, but stop trying to use the word “socialism” as a scare tactic. We the people need help.
Read more Newsom announces two nominations for appeals court based in Sacramento
Chris Reynolds
Sacramento