Letters for June 14, 2018

We need more parties

Re “Non-voters: Shame on you.” by Eric Johnson (Editor’s Note, May 31):

Okay, Mr. Johnson, let me see if I’ve got this straight: You don’t blame people who voted for Donald Trump in 2016, because after all, at least they voted, and they voted their convictions, even if you disagree profoundly with their views. On the other hand, you do blame those of us who voted our convictions in 2000 by voting for Ralph Nader, even though your disagreements with our views are presumably a lot less profound.

In attacking Nader voters you, seem to be advocating against third-party voting. What you don’t seem to recognize is that the Trump presidency is, at least in part, the product of the two-party system. We keep voting for the lesser of two evils, and the evils keep getting worse and worse. What we need is to break the stranglehold that the Democratic/Republican duopoly has on our body politic.

David Urman

Sacramento

via newsreview.com

Repubs have rights, too

Re “10 good reasons to vote” by Eric Johnson (Endorsements, May 31):

I find this to be one of the most disgusting articles printed in this paper. While I have no problem with the author endorsing Mr. Villaraigosa for governor, I do take offense with the reason given. For a publication that seems to pain itself to be inclusive and diverse, it is the height of hypocrisy to scheme, openly and proudly, in an attempt to discourage and disenfranchise a specific segment of voters. This is simply abhorrent.

I have no doubt that this publication would take offense if there was an organized effort to reduce voter participation of the young, the homeless, black, Latino, LGBTQ and/or any of a number of other groups. Yet, the mere fact that one is a Republican makes them go from a person worthy of a vote and say for how our state is run to an entity worthy of exclusion? This is disgusting, and it is yet another symptom of a sickness of a single viewpoint heavily slanting local and national media. For a time, the SN&R was above this type of garbage news, but I guess that time is over.

Spencer Bogan

Davis

via sactoletters@newsreview.com