Opinion: Non-whites are not the cause of Trump voters’ economic hardship

To the editor: In this article, laid-off gearbox inspector Ryan Germonto says: “More people are hating on white Americans than any other race or any other walk of life. I think white America is fed up with that.” (“Why Trump — or any other politician — can’t do much to bring back manual labor jobs,” Nov. 15)

As a white American myself, I feel no such hate, and I worry that the same old voices of divisiveness have wormed their way into Germonto’s ear. For centuries the rich an powerful have tried to divide and conquer the working class, and it has worked.

Surely Germonto knows the company that laid him off is a German-owned business with no reason other than economics to send jobs to China. And what could the fictional notion of “white America” have to do with his case?

The real threat to the livelihoods of people like Germonto is globalization. Money equals power, and if he and others like him want to solve the problems of economic injustice, they need to forget about race and instead follow the money.

Garry Eister, Arroyo Grande

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To the editor: Nobody is talking about an easy way bring tens of thousands of jobs back to middle America. It’s a disgrace to call a customer service department and realize you’re talking to someone in India or the Philippines.

Let’s give companies incentives to open up call centers throughout middle and rural America. Pay workers at least $12 an hour for an annual salary of around $25,000. For a couple, that’s $50,000, which goes pretty far in a small town.

Better yet, the workers get their dignity and hope back.

Robert Bubnovich, Irvine

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