Readers’ comments: August 8, 2025

Big Bird, Orwell, and creeping authoritarianism
Dear editor:
Big Bird fricasseed, Oscar the Grouch parboiled and the Cookie Monster sent to the gallows. Yes, there’s been a bit of gallows humor out of this recent storm of awful news. But, folks, this is serious.
Welcome to our Orwellian future. Any student of history would recognize the signs of creeping authoritarianism. History is rife with such instances. The first move by any would-be dictator is to gain control of the information systems of a nation. Shut down independent media. Gain absolute control of the political levers of power.
The purge of Erika McEntarfer, the former commissioner of the bureau of labor statistics, because the numbers were not to the orange felon’s liking, is only a symptom of the autocratic control of this man. Who needs facts anyway?
The extortion of Harvard, Columbia and other institutions of higher education is another step on the road to dictatorship.
The attempt to regulate and control programing on ABC, CBS, NBC and Public Television only heightens the alarm. Sir, you already have three propaganda networks: Fox, Newsmax, and One America Network. They have an abundance of right wing stuff (for lack of a better word). Don’t mess with PBS NewsHour and the six-o’clock news.
It’s more than just Big Bird. In Anchorage, Alaska, after the first tremors of the 9.2 magnitude Good Friday earthquake had subsided in 1964, the only station on the air for a number of days was public radio KSKA. An intrepid reporter, Genie Chance, with little sleep over the next three days provided the reassurance to her audience that, together, they would get through this.
It’s about far more than Big Bird fricasseed. It’s about the road to the dissolution of this free republic.
John C. Forney
Claremont

MAGA suffering ‘brain derangement syndrome’?
Dear editor:
There have been numerous letters in the last few issues of the Courier expressing puzzlement, dismay, and anger around MAGA Republican positions and actions. The most recent from Sydney Pollard, “When will MAGA wake up?” [August 1] and Karen Lull’s, “Trump’s immigration policies are inhumane” [August 1]. I would like to offer a concept that avoids the misdirected generalization of “they’re dumb” or “stupid,” and would help explain the puzzling irrationality of the MAGA Republican population. I call it “brain derangement syndrome.”
Brain derangement syndrome consists of two parts: (1) the robust capacity humans have for self-deception and denial when faced with unpalatable truths and contradictions to their belief system, and, more troubling, (2) an actual neurological handicapping or crippling of the brain’s natural ability to reason objectively. Research evidence to confirm the latter aspect is abundant in neurological studies. Quite literally, the ability to reason has been short-circuited in a large proportion of the MAGA population. Empirical reality disappears and is replaced with collective delusion, self-deception and denial.
Unfortunately, brain derangement syndrome is not only confined to MAGA Republicans. It is a cognitive affliction lurking in all societies where critical thinking is discouraged and adherence to ideological beliefs is an enforced norm — a decided characteristic of the fascism and authoritarianism that seems to be more and more prevalent, not only in our country, but other countries around the world.
John Roseman
Claremont

Palestinians must break free of Hamas
Dear editor:
For too long, the people of Gaza have lived under the iron grip of Hamas — a regime more interested in terror than in the well-being of its own citizens. Since seizing power in 2007, Hamas has diverted billions in foreign aid away from hospitals, schools, and infrastructure, using instead to build tunnels, amass rockets, and wage war against Israel. The result? Repeated wars, staggering poverty, and international isolation for the average Gazan.
Now, Hamas holds dozens of hostages — including women, children, and the elderly — innocents abducted during the brutal October 7, 2023 attacks that killed over 1,200 Israelis. This barbarism sparked a devastating conflict, bringing further destruction to Gaza’s cities and families. Yet Hamas refuses to release the hostages or surrender. Why? Because they do not represent the Palestinian people: they represent their own power, fueled by chaos and foreign backers like Iran.
If Gaza is ever to see peace, prosperity, and dignity, it must begin with its people. It is time for the Palestinians in Gaza to rise up, not in violence, but in courage. Courage to reject Hamas. Courage to demand freedom — for themselves and for the hostages. The world watches and many stand ready to support a new beginning in Gaza, one led by Palestinians who value peace, coexistence with Israel, and life over death.
A future without Hamas is a future where Gaza can thrive, build, and breathe free. But it begins with a choice: to break the chains of terror, and to choose humanity. The hostages must be released. Gaza must be liberated from within.
Kris M. Meyer
Claremont

Saving energy to help seniors and disabled people
Dear editor:
As the summer heat intensifies, our energy grid works overtime, particularly in the late afternoon and early evening when Flex Alerts are sometimes issued. That’s when demand peaks, and the grid needs a little help to stay balanced.
I am the executive director of the nonprofit Service Center for Independent Life. We work with senior and disabled communities in Claremont. When a Flex Alert is in effect, we need to save energy for the things that matter most, including for our consumers who rely on having electricity to power life-saving devices, such as oxygen generators, CPAP machines, and others. It’s incredibly important to maintain constant access to power for the most vulnerable members of our community.
We’ve partnered with Power Saver Rewards, a free program from the California Public Utilities Commission that incentivizes households to reduce their electricity use during summer heatwaves when a Flex Alert is issued, typically between 4 and 9 p.m.
Small steps, like turning off unused lights or waiting to run large appliances like the dishwasher, can make a significant difference during a Flex Alert and help reduce strain on the grid. If you’re signed up for Power Saver Rewards, you can earn a credit on your utility bill for reducing your energy use during a Flex Alert. You can sign up at powersaverrewards.org.
Next time a Flex Alert is issued, think of it as our collective opportunity to help our senior and disabled neighbors.
Larry Grable
Rancho Cucamonga