Letters: The president should not be an enemy to half the nation

"A sign at the Walnut Creek No Kings protest said, America shouldn't have to protect democracy from the President. Because what Donald Trump wants is not a democratic system, but one in which he always wins. The idea of winning every time is the antithesis of democracy. We must all understand that sometimes the Democrats win and sometimes the Republicans do. Each side gets its chance to be in charge until the people decide they want change."

"The thousands of people who went to the streets to vent their anger at Trump and his followers did so out of fear. The horrors of the past, when tyrants brutalized people to retain power, are all too real. The president should be our ally. We may not always agree with his policies, but we should never have to fear that he'll destroy the very democracy that gave him power in the first place."

"Public transportation is supposed to help make life easier, but for residents in the Bay Area, BART has become an unreliable mode of transportation. BART is a vital part of the Bay Area; it reduces traffic, lowers emissions, and connects people to work and school. However, the BART system is flawed with many concerns about safety, cleanliness and delays. Many stations are poorly maintained, leaving people feeling uneasy with the lack of security and cleanliness."

"This discourages people from using public transportation, pushing them back toward driving, worsening traffic. Delays also create major issues for commuters and can often cause them to be late while on their way to work. While many delays are caused by the weather, plenty of delays are caused by BART's computer system. Improving security, updating equipment and ensuring more consistent service would restore the public's trust in BART, a s"

Many protestors fear that Donald Trump seeks a system in which he always wins, which contradicts democratic principles that alternate power between parties. Some citizens believe the president should be an ally who preserves the democracy that enabled his election. Thousands protested out of fear of tyrannical tendencies and historical abuses of power. In the Bay Area, BART faces safety, cleanliness and delay problems that undermine its role reducing traffic and emissions. Poor station maintenance and security deter riders and push commuters back to driving. Technical and weather-related delays create commute problems. Upgrading security, equipment, and service consistency would restore rider trust.

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