Marin IJ Readers’ Fourm for Sept. 1, 2024

Nonpolluting production processes are needed

I am writing in response to the recent article by the New York Times republished in the Marin IJ on Aug. 26 with the headline, “Housing crisis, soaring insurance costs could ‘end’ affordable housing, developers warn.”

Who imagined that climate change could “end” affordable housing? But 20 or 30 years ago, when the climate change crisis was more commonly called “global warming,” we didn’t imagine the many changes that we now take for granted. A short list includes more severe hurricanes, wildfires, floods and windstorms (which account for the “soaring insurance costs” mentioned in the article). Climate change has also led to sea level rise; vanishing coral reefs (as well as glaciers and polar ice caps); desertification; surging heat-related deaths; mass migrations of people and other species; and trillions of dollars of “cleanup costs.”

Climate change is the immediate consequence of pollution, the dumping of waste gases and other chemicals by manufacturing processes and their products. Dumping, rather than cleaning up at the source, is pure profit for corporations. For many companies, the avoided cost of cleanup is their major profit source.

The volume of pollution was multiplied by the ballooning global population of the last 80 years. But today’s rapidly declining birth rate, which is projected to bring a precipitous global population drop starting around 2060, won’t solve the underlying pollution problem. Because polluting is so profitable for companies, moving our civilization to nonpolluting, sustainable production processes and products will require coordinated government intervention.

Until that happens, these “surprising” new consequences of climate change will continue making headlines. And we citizens will pay increasing trillions in cleanup costs.

It’s time we ended these climate change “surprises.” We can, and we should.

— Barry Phegan, Greenbrae

High hopes for more dedicated geriatric doctors

I am writing in response to the recently published How It Is column by Gloria Dunn-Violin (“All I want for Christmas is a gerontologist,” Aug. 27). I really connect. In fact, Dunn-Violin’s experiences are so familiar, I could have written that commentary.

At 89, I too have had experiences from doctors saying you’re “healthy as a horse” and have left their offices feeling so alone. I do all the healthy things, including playing tennis three times a week.

In July, I finally reached out to Kaiser Permanente, my health provider, and asked for a geriatrics department since Marin has so many seniors. The next day, a Kaiser official responded that my doctor has knowledge to address this and that I would be contacted to arrange a visit to a geriatric consult.

Subsequently, my concerns were sent to the manager of the Adult and Family Medicine Department and to a decision-making committee for review. I am hopeful it leads to new sources of help for seniors. I would like to see workshops, classes and individual time spent with an experienced and dedicated geriatric doctor.

— Helen Hayes, Ross

Some of JD Vance’s ideas don’t make sense

Ohio Sen. JD Vance, former President Donald Trump’s running mate in the 2024 presidential campaign, has a lengthy record of condemning Americans without children. I don’t think Vance is considering that, in many ways, humanity would be better off if people who don’t want children didn’t have them. A lower population could partially offset global warming.

From my perspective, plummeting birth rates are mostly of concern to corporations, which rely completely on growth as their lifeblood. Social Security will need adjusting regardless of how many children are born.

I found it completely disgusting when Vance used twisted logic to imply that people without children are sociopaths (calling some of them “childless cat ladies”). His idea that people without children should pay higher taxes is wacky. In fact, they already do by not getting the deductions families get.

I’m guessing he’s pretty impressed with his credential from Yale Law School. But he only practiced law for about two years before chasing money as a venture capitalist in Silicon Valley. I think he comes off as self-centered. I think many of his wacky ideas are meant to boost his standing in the “make America great again” world of Trump followers.

— Diane Lynch, Tiburon