Marin IJ Readers’ Forum for Nov. 16, 2023

State officials working to reduce air pollution

When I put a gallon of gas in my car and drive around, my car exhaust pipe emits over 5 pounds of carbon dioxide. It is warming the Earth, melting the ice caps, raising sea levels and creating weather extremes. Undeniably, I have some responsibility for this massive problem, and I need to shoulder some of the cost. The price tag for fixing problems on this global scale is much more than I can pay.

What I really hope is that our leaders in Sacramento will do something to get us out of this dilemma. What are all those taxes and fees on my gallon of gas doing to fight climate change? The truth is, quite a lot.

The California Energy Commission is working on solutions that include using technology to increase efficiency and reduce demand, increasing battery storage and electrifying mass transportation with clean, renewable sources. The California Air Resources Board has set policy that will force auto and truck makers to make cleaner vehicles. The state Legislature has passed — and Gov. Gavin Newsom has signed — dozens of bills supporting greenhouse gas reduction and a clean energy transition.

The climate problem is massive and hard to grapple with, but Sacramento is trying. Let’s support the best option we have for succeeding.

— Mary Fitzpatrick, San Rafael

‘It Can’t Happen Here’ worth remembering today

In the mid-1930s, Nobel Prize-winning author Sinclair Lewis, in addressing the rise of fascism in Europe, wrote “It Can’t Happen Here.”

It is a frightening story of Buzz Windrip, a bullying presidential candidate whose nonstop lying, uber-nationalism and pseudo-populism finds himself improbably elected president. Overnight, the character transforms America into a violent, authoritarian nation. Using racism, bigotry and xenophobia he cleverly polarizes the country and eventually betrays his loyal supportive base by never achieving his blustery campaign promises.

At a campaign rally, the character asks his audience to cheer and jeer on cue as he lambastes “the so-called journalists” with promises that he and his supporters will “march straight into the blessed light” of victory.

“It Can’t Happen Here” is a testimonial of how easily the rise of fascism can take place in the United States by appealing to the dark side of human nature, especially in precarious, inflationary, economic times that exist for so many.

— Dennis Kostecki, Sausalito

2024 a choice between autocracy and democracy

A recently published letter by Alice Liddell suggests that some are unfairly picking on former President Donald Trump, who has been indicted on 91 charges. As Liddell points out, our laws provide Trump the right to be presumed innocent until proven guilty.

However, I think there is a much larger question here. Some believe in the democracy on which our constitutional government was founded. Some may believe in autocracy.

Autocracy is a system of government by one person with absolute power. I think this is Trump’s vision. I suspect he believes his cabinet members should do whatever he directs — advice or permission not needed.

Democracy is a system of government by the entire population through elected representatives. It is a multiparty system. Democracy is what our forefathers envisioned. There are three branches of government. Two branches are elected by the citizens: each state has two senators and members of the House of Representatives are elected based on the population of each state (California has 52 members). In the executive branch, we all vote for president. The Supreme Court is the third branch of government. Judges are appointed, rather than elected.

The way I see it, our 2024 vote will determine whether we wish to remain a democracy or become an autocracy. At this point, there seem to be two GOPs. Sen. Mitch McConnell represents the old Republican Party, which believes in democracy. Trump represents the “Trump Party” flying under the GOP flag. They seem to believe in autocracy as envisioned by Trump.

In 2024, we are choosing under which of these political forms of government we want to live. Your one vote is extremely important. We all need to think carefully before we vote, whether it be for school board or president of the United States.

— Gladys C. Gilliland, San Rafael