GOP governors refuse U.S. Supreme Court and show disdain for Constitution | Opinion
GOP’s refusal of Supreme Court
Recently 25 Republican governors supported, in writing, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott in his refusal to obey a Supreme Court order to allow federal authorities to cut down the razor wire along the Texas border.
I guess the Republican party no longer feels it has to obey the highest court in the land. They justify their actions by saying the Constitution gives them the right to protect their borders.
However, from what I remember in my civics classes it’s the SupremeCourt that has the final say as to what is constitutional in our great land.
It will be interesting to see what the Democrats do. In democratic states they can now reinstate Roe vs. Wade. Further, they will be able to ban private ownership of assault-style rifles and other weapons. I mean, who cares what the Supreme Court says anyway, right?
This is just more chaos and lawlessness compliments of Trump and the Republican party. They are disobeying one of the most conservative Supreme Courts in decades, one-third of which were hand-picked by Trump.
Trump and the Republicans have shown that they will do whatever they want, the Constitution be damned.
Brian Johnson, Fresno
Magsig is an AT&T lobbyist
It’s nice to know that Supervisor (Nathan) Magsig is concerned about the lack of internet access suffered by his rural constituents, something that was not apparent from anything he’s done during his several years on the board.
His support of AT&T’s application to the California Public Utilities Commission is an interesting way of addressing that concern; there is nothing in that application that would require AT&T to improve service. The purpose of the application is, in fact, to relieve AT&T of the obligation to provide and maintain rural land lines.
Opinion
This is supposed to free up AT&T to invest in better wireless service, but there will be no more incentive for AT&T to do that than there is now.
The real issue is the economics of providing service to rural, sparsely populated areas, something that is unlikely to be improved merely by the relaxation of existing regulations.
Magsig’s article could have been written by an AT&T lobbyist. He is up for re-election. I’m going to vote for his opponent, Jennifer Cruz, a proven problem solver. I expect that she will do more for us than write an op-ed now and then.
Pat Cassen, Miramonte
More coaching on green waste needed
Fresno’s new composting initiatives are worthy community goals. Brenda Markham is correct on the requirements for composting: decaying organic matter includes both green and brown waste, including food scraps, for optimum success.
However, in re-training recycling habits, adding cardboard to the green bins limits the green waste that can be deposited each week. The exploding consumer use of cardboard delivery boxes creates a green-waste container space problem. The blue bin is now more limited in use, only for bottles, metals and plastic. Only non-compostable or non-recyclables go in the grey bin as “trash.” Also nearly empty each week.
There are a few more problems with the practical and successful application of this ambitious city compost plan. More than half of my neighbors don’t take in their empty city bins on a weekly basis — the eyesore collection bins “live on the street.” Are these already feckless citizens really going to regularly clean the green compost bins with water and vinegar? Freeze their food scraps (in plastic bags?). Close the lids from rats and urban scavengers? Compost cardboard boxes?
Excellent composting goals, Fresno, but the specific user-friendly applications — the how-to and what if questions — need more critical thought to reach practical and workable solutions for everyone to follow.
Suzanne Watkins, Fresno
Hit pieces against EVs
I’d stopped counting (and reading) hit pieces published by (sometimes reputable) news organizations and online magazines et al on how EVs are somehow so much more polluting than gas/diesel powered vehicles; especially when that for each one published, there are several times more studies undertaken which debunk the notion posited by fossil fuel industries and their acolytes — but that’s not why I’m writing.
Instead, since there’s no place for readers to comment on The Bee’s latest guest opinion parroting the awful misrepresentation of EVs, I’m compelled to take issue with the Bee’s disappearance of its own space for comments by readers, adding to (or challenging) what gets posted on the Bee’s online-for-subscribers edition.
If we’re to only consume content and not have a forum to respond to what is presented, then that only means we have no voice, indicating readers aren’t really stakeholders in this endeavor (The Bee’s mission to inform, be a space for discourse).
I could add, too, that it would be nice if The Bee (or any local news organization for that matter) could create some content that would properly inform the public on actual ownership of EVs, but I digress.
Stephen Tarr, Hanford
Garvey might win dubious title
It has been said by those with more insight than I have accumulated t hat Tommy Tuberville (R-Alabama) is the dumbest man in the U.S. Senate.
After listening to the debate between the four candidates for Senate from California, if the voters choose Steve Garvey, Tuberville’s title is in serious jeopardy.
Garvey is representative of the “celebrity politician” we have become overrun with in the last several election cycles. His campaign relies on talking points and click-bait sound bites.
Jim Doyle, Fresno
