Readers’ comments: February 21, 2025

Council’s rental registry vote is embarrassing
Dear editor:
The words which came to me when I read the following caption for the city news item [“City Council rejects rental registry proposal”] on page 3 of the Courier edition dated Friday, February, 14 were: “As the haves retain their control over the have nots.”
I am compelled to report that, as a resident of this usually wonderful city for almost 50 years, this embarrasses me.
Don Fisher
Claremont

A little kindness goes a long way, indeed
Dear editor:
Kudos to Daniel Han Tae Choi for his Viewpoint [“Be decent and respect laborers,” February 14] on being decent to laborers. A little kindness goes a long way, and respect even further. We are all a part of humanity, and no one person is “better” than another based on some criteria. As the author so aptly states, “We’ve built a social credit system in which we treat essential workers as expendable while depending on them completely.” It takes a village.
Betsy MacLaren
Claremont

Suggestions for broadening Claremont Interfaith Council
Dear editor:
Cantor Paul Buch’s article, “Interfaithfully Speaking: A call for fresh perspectives,” [February 14], pleaded for new ways of looking at faith-based belief systems to “strengthen the fabric of our diverse city.” I applaud the efforts of cantor Paul and the Claremont Interfaith Council to peacefully reconcile group differences. Unfortunately, that quest will likely be less than successful because the core requirement underlying the phrase “faith-based” is to unthinkingly and without doubt, accept religious doctrine as irrefutable truth. To question doctrine with logic or reason, is blasphemy.
Perhaps that discrepancy could be avoided if one only focused on the common human decencies found in most religions such as compassion, altruism, responsibility, and honesty. But those common decencies are not exclusive to religion, so you risk giving up the various beliefs that makes your particular faith special.
Belief systems are essential to human existence. We create mental models of the world in order to make predictions and function adaptively. I offer to cantor Paul’s request this perspective: First, suggest each religious representative reevaluate beliefs that rely on some sort of unverifiable supernaturalism. Second, focus on humanitarian efforts in the here and now, not on some fantasy afterlife or reincarnation. Third, encourage curiosity, skepticism, and learning in the place of rigid doctrinal loyalty.
Followers of religions are searching for meaningfulness and belonging. Give that to them without demanding allegiance to faith-based non-reasoning. If the groups you have reached out to were to adopt these practices you might have less trouble trying to bring people together. Otherwise, you will continue to be stuck with the mentally crippling processes of “necessary” self-deception and denial that sabotage communication and cooperation.
John Roseman
Claremont

Jury out on so-called DOGE’s ‘chainsaw’ approach
Dear editor:
Before we give Elon Musk’s unsubtle chainsaw approach to the federal government a rave review, or treat this as if it were the second coming, let’s ask one important question: What’s in it for him? (This is a question we should ask about every high-octane crusader, no matter which party.)
We know Musk didn’t become the richest man in the world using Mother Teresa as a role model. He spent roughly $270 million backing President Trump and Republican candidates and will expect a return on his investment.
Republicans love tax cuts for the super-rich and for corporations, national debt be damned, which would benefit Elon and Tesla. An inside track for various lucrative government contracts for his products and services? More frosting on the cake, conflicts-of-interest be damned. Also, a weakened (I mean, more efficient!) IRS and Consumer Financial Protection Bureau might help his goal to start a kind of PayPal money transfer service on X and get him further into crypto world. There’s money to be made, especially in weakened oversight environments.
So before we give Musk another Time Magazine cover, let’s wait and see if the potential efficiencies are more than smoke and mirrors with darker undertones. Let’s see if we the people benefit and not just the rich and special interests.
And speaking of Time Magazine, the president was its Person of the Year in December 2024. This February, Musk made the cover sitting behind the Resolute Desk. When asked during a press conference if he had a reaction to this, President Trump responded softly, “No,” and then followed with, “Is Time Magazine still in business? I didn’t even know that.” Hopefully this was an attempt at humor. If not, the answer is: Yes, sir, Time is still in business, and you were on its cover in December.
Don Linde
La Verne

Musk, et al, are not interested in government efficiency
Dear editor:
Kris Meyer’s comments [“Trump’s, Musk’s leadership will bring prosperity,” February 14] are unfounded, and misleading. It is simple to say the federal government is bloated and inefficient, but this breaks down when you focus on what the government does and provides. The federal government is not a business and shouldn’t be run like one. The government prevents and fixes problems the private sector can’t solve.
Specifically, eliminate what? FEMA? Any natural disaster shows the need for this department, which accounts for only 0.5% of the total budget. FAA? Save 0.3% of the budget and add risk to flying. Education (4%)? Not important if you don’t have a child with special needs, believe education adds no value to society, or can afford private schools. Let’s cut the 1.8% that goes toward food stamps and watch children and seniors in our country become malnourished.
The problem isn’t bloat. The federal workforce as a share of American workers remains at a historic low, making up only 2% of the total workforce. Sounds efficient to me.
What we should be discussing is removing tax breaks for the wealthy. Removing the cap on Social Security (fixed forever). Reducing defense spending (there are 23 aircraft carriers in the world and the U.S. has 11 of them). Getting back to a balanced budget can’t happen without these changes.
Watch what will happen with this corrupt administration. Now that Musk has our personal data he will use this for his company X. They will know every donor to the Democratic Party. Amazon, the largest U.S. Postal Service customer, will take over that service in the name of bloat. If you think Trump, Musk, Thiel, and the rest of the American oligarchy are going to dismantle the government for the good of the people and not to enrich themselves you are just naive.
Sidney Pollard
Claremont