Our increasingly uncivil discourse
Editor: The growing coarseness of language and behavior commented on by Justice Anthony Kennedy portends a new, unimaginable way of expression, replacing the old one (“Retired Justice Kennedy laments coarse discourse, effects on court,” Oct. 9). It’s enough to give one the gosh-darn willies! Adams, Jefferson and Monroe must be tossing in their graves. Wouldn’t it be grand to have an expletive editor in the brain ready to do its job before we speak?
— Robert Gerber, Bodega Bay
Democrats can’t fight with one hand tied
Editor: Most arguments against Proposition 50 are conjured up by supporters of Donald Trump in hopes fooling the undecided. The few sincere arguments against Prop. 50 come from a naïve belief that Democrats must stay on the moral high ground. In other words, to voluntarily fight with one hand tied behind our backs. All these arguments should be disregarded. Trump and conservatives have declared war on our democratic institutions and want us ruled by a “strong man” beholden to the wealthy elite. If we want the country we love to survive, we must fight with both hands, and that includes voting for Prop. 50.
— Hugh Helm, Santa Rosa
Seeking common ground with fellow Americans
Editor: With aspirations for upcoming generations of Americans, I pray we can find common ground — not in lambasting each other for our differences, but rather agreeing on where we do not want our great country to go. U.S. armed forces directed by an out-of-control president to patrol American cities he falsely deems to be at war? I believe the citizens of America support the Constitution over a power-hungry leader.
Donald Trump was elected foremost to promote the general welfare of all Americans by getting inflation under control. Instead, he focuses on persecuting anyone who disagrees with him. It poses a real danger to all of us, regardless of political party. This un-American president apparently believes he has combined powers of all three branches of government, power of the purse and war declaration appropriated from Congress, power to supersede the nation’s judiciary and power to strip all independence from executive functions, making them subservient only to his whims.
We the people have the power to vote Trump out of office and the power of free speech to voice dissent. It’s American as apple pie. Please join me in seeking our common ground.
— David Moore, Petaluma
Santa Rosa could have kept our city manager
Editor: Back in May, I wrote to The Press Democrat about the Santa Rosa city budget, urging the City Council to heed City Manager Maraskeshia Smith’s warnings, which she raised as far back as August 2023, about the growing deficit. I pointed to Sparks, Nevada, where city leaders faced an $18 million shortfall by freezing hiring, laying off staff and strategically closing fire stations. Santa Rosa’s council chose not to follow that example and warnings. Instead, they made only small adjustments, and now the city still faces a significant structural deficit for fiscal year 2026-27.
When services get cut, the public gets angry. And when the public gets angry, the leader at the top usually loses their job. We saw this recently with Santa Rosa school Superintendent Daisy Morales. She didn’t create the circumstances that required merging schools and reassigning principals, but once parents grew upset, the board fired her. The same fate likely awaited Smith. The city could have kept her, but they didn’t allow her to do what she was hired to do: run the city.
It makes me wonder what we would we learn if there were a community exit interview.
— Gary Thomas, Santa Rosa
It’s time for a new generation to serve in Congress
Editor: Mike Thompson has served the nation and the North Bay well, first in the U.S. Army in Vietnam, more recently as a representative in Congress. He has worked hard on issues important to Californians, like gun safety, affordability and health care. Nevertheless, I was disappointed when Thompson announced his intention to run for reelection in 2026. At a time when many Americans view the Democratic Party unfavorably, it’s essential that Democrats field candidates who can connect with younger and swing voters who decide elections.
First elected in 1998, Thompson would be almost 76 on Election Day. Since there is a strong bench of talented, young leaders in the North Bay, this would be a great time for Thompson to step aside.
Attention is the most important currency in today’s political climate. As the executive branch veers toward authoritarianism, it is crucial that Democrats advance candidates skilled in this new attention economy. It’s one thing to fight the opposition; it’s quite another to do so in a way that gains voters’ attention. To do that we need young, energetic leaders who can fight hard — and loudly — against this dangerous trend.
— Bill Carroll, Santa Rosa
Turning the U.S. military on our own people
Editor: When a government starts using the military on its own people, that’s a line we should all pay attention to. It changes something fundamental about who we are. The rule has always been clear: the U.S. military doesn’t operate on domestic soil unless there’s a true emergency. Lately, it looks like that principle is being bent to fit political aims rather than real crises.
When an administration tries to label ordinary street crime (or worse yet peaceful protest) as “terrorism” or “insurrection,” that’s not just tough talk — it’s a dangerous reframing of what democracy means. Once you start justifying military involvement against communities at home, you risk turning public order into government intimidation. We’ve seen what happens in countries that go down that path, and we shouldn’t accept it here.
— Marla Charbonneau, Cotati
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