Readers’ Comments: November 7, 2025

The views expressed in Readers’ Comments are the authors’ alone, and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Claremont Courier, its employees, financial supporters, or advertisers.

This old chestnut

Dear editor:

“Those who live in glass houses should not throw stones.” (An English proverb.)

Opanyi Nasiali 

Claremont

On Nazis, red herrings, etc.

Dear editor:

I’m so glad to read that you left Claremont to travel with your wife through Central California [“The California Wander,” October 31]. I’m wondering when you went into a restaurant and ordered red herring, did the waitress look at you suspiciously and then run off to make a phone call? Or when you check into the hotel or motel did the Nielsen TV rating company flag you to the authorities because you’re watching reruns of Red Skelton? Or, while driving down the highway listening to the music of Red Nichols and His Five Pennies, did the radio station suddenly turn silent only to be restored listening to the sounds of Wagner? Or was there a dictator telling you which route to take?

I doubt if you encountered any Nazis, or thought California had become a fascist state, or had a dictator telling you where you could go, when you could go, and how you could go.

It must’ve been nice coming back to Claremont, driving past those people on the corner holding signs, and realizing what a great country we live in.

Like you I have traveled both domestically and internationally; and probably like you, when I return home, I thank God I’m an American.

To the youth of Claremont, I say don’t be taken in by all the signs you see on the street corner. Ever since our first election, no matter what political party was in power there has always been people expressing their right to protest. Many protesters exhibited their frustration with the governing party by stating lies and falsehoods instead of facts. Learn for yourself what a Nazi is, what a fascist state is, and what a dictator is.

God gave you a brain, use it. Support the Claremont Courier.

David Stedman

Claremont

Protest in a language billionaires will understand

Dear editor:

It was encouraging to see so many people protesting on the recent “No Kings Day” demonstration. Especially promising was seeing so many younger people and even families with young children.

We have an incredibly corrupt administration that cares nothing about its citizens and all about greed and benefiting the uber-rich class. Did you see Trump’s own post depicting himself as a king flying a jet that dumps fecal matter onto peaceful protestors? This is what he really thinks about us! The only thing he and his billionaire class care about is more money and power for themselves. There is a valid and real concern that Trump is going to do everything with the power he can grab, and that SCOTUS gives him, to either stop or in some way interfere with the elections.

We have to all come together for the “buy nothing week” protest from 11/25 through 12/2. Only make what purchases you absolutely have to from local businesses, and make corporate America and the billionaires realize they have gone too far. Look what happened to Disney when they were involved with taking Kimmel off the air. People cancelled their subscriptions! Money talks and no money coming in during a critical sales week will “speak” even louder. We turned out for “No Kings” day. We have to make “buy nothing week” bigger. Tell your family and friends of the protest and get involved to save our democratic republic.

This Christmas for an even more impactful protest, speak out to the corporations and billionaires with your most powerful protesting tool: the mighty dollar. Give a gift card from a local business as an alternative. Give kids cash wrapped in boxes so that they can buy what they want after Christmas when the sales are on but will still see presents under the tree.

Ron Jones

Claremont

California’s ‘one-sided’ politics are bad for everyone

Dear editor:

Congratulation on the success of those marching for “No Kings.” It worked!

But to ensure that your efforts weren’t wasted, please protect our constitutional republic from the despotic political power of one party rule. California’s current one party rule is a great example of how chaotic and anti-freedom government can become.

Selling the promise that the “temporary” redrawing of voting districts will only be used to “stop Trump,” wise people know that “temporary” can be made permanent with the stroke of a pen. With our state government in mind, are you cocksure that the Democrat Party will not become absolutely corrupt while being in total control? Are you confident that “next time” there will be water for putting out fires in our cities?

Instead of a shoulder shrug, how about an actual accounting for the $37 billion spent on our homeless problem? What about anything being completed on the bullet train after 16 years and roughly $15 billion? Will you be glad you moved to Claremont to witness how its fast-tracked high-density housing with limited parking will affect your property value? Have you realized yet that you are being “guided” out of your car towards public transit through higher costs?

Certainly you’ve noticed the constant drumbeat to water down our parental and civil rights (the Second Amendment among others) while felonies get redefined as misdemeanors, or Newsom signing California Assembly Bill 2098, which tried to chill the free speech of doctors during the COVID-19 pandemic if they proffered any information other than (politically correct) contemporary scientific consensus.

Our state’s one party rule allowed all of these to happen without fanfare, which is exactly how democracy dies.

Do you really think our country will be better off if it becomes as one-sided as California?

Leslie Watkins
Claremont

Will California Democrats be fair?

Dear editor:

This is a very sad and pathetic day for California. According to the California Secretary of State’s website, Proposition 50 has passed. This now effectively does away with our remarkable independent Citizens Redistricting Commission that voters themselves wisely established 15 years ago, precisely to remove partisan motives from the process.

It now appears that many voters were bamboozled by what I feel were Governor Newsom’s outright and nonstop lies about the redistricting process, and in a pique of partisan rage, handed redistricting power back to corrupt Democrat politicians in our Sacramento legislature.

How can I call them corrupt? Well, it was their corruption 15 years ago which motivated Californians to establish an independent redistricting commission in the first place. Now we’ll observe what these Sacramento Democrats do with their mendaciously acquired power.

In the 2024 election, President Trump got 38% of the vote in California. So, will Republicans now get to represent 38% of California’s Congressional districts? That would be 20 out of California’s 52 Congressional districts. What do you think?

That would be only fair, though, wouldn’t it? Will Sacramento Democrats do what’s fair? What do you think?

Douglas Lyon

Claremont

Trump is a bad fable come to life

Dear editor:

Watching Trump is like reading a bad fable where a mad king terrorizes the village for his pleasure.

Trump has never had to pay more than a stiff fine for his pre-presidency crimes: running a fraudulent foundation ($2 million), a fraudulent university ($25 million), and yes, defamation ($83 million) after being found liable for sexual abuse. His crimes for his first presidency cost him two impeachments.

Getting reelected gave him a get out of jail free card and with MAGA’s help he now has ultimate power. He is now seeking revenge on all perceived enemies and anyone that dares to stand up to him. The kraken has been unleashed on America as many people are now beginning to realize. Trump is a wannabe dictator (for now) like Hitler, Stalin, Mussolini, and his personal favorite, Putin.

Cannot wait to see what he does in his third term, in his dreams!

Sydney Pollard

Claremont