Penguin Poser
For a minute, when I read in Tom Tomorrow’s This Modern World in the April 20 issue—”Declarative: Your emotional attachment and/or loyalty to the nation-state in which you reside is HIGHLY SUSPECT”—I thought the Conservabot was suspicious that the penguin was so “attach[ed] and/or loyal.” After all, what could be more patriotic than wanting our government to thrive and flourish? What could be more patriotic than supporting programs which protect and serve our citizens? I just thought I’d share. This Modern World usually makes me laugh and/or think, and this time it did both in an interesting way.
Shawna R. Nixon | San Jose
Trump’s a Card
Here’s why the Donald, his trophy wife and robotic children could be our next “first family”? Time magazine (a magazine for the masses?) just nominated the World’s 100 most influential people. There are nearly 7 billion people in the world. Included in Time’s top 100 are: Justin Bieber, Amy Poehler, a chef, a cricket player, Mark Wahlberg, Matt Damon, John Boehner and Chris (who?) Colfer. Therein lies the mentality that ranks influential people. And that “pop culture” mentality would vote for “road kill” and/or the Donald, if it was packaged for the masses. Influential indeed.
Neil Davis | Sebastopool
Dead Center
I think this article is well presented and hits the target dead center (“Uncle Sam’s Pension Plan,” Norman Kline, SanJoseInside, April 27). The other question I would ask is what was happening politically when these deals were put into action. Always suspicious, I question was it the act of good negotiating by the unions or was there a self-serving benefit to those in office when these programs were designed.
John Armando | San Jose
