Note: The letter titled "Care Not Cash -- for the rich" has been altered to remove the name of someone who was erroneously cited as a signatory.

Care Not Cash – for the rich

Gavin Newsom's compassionate approach to the homeless problem (Care Not Cash) makes too much sense to apply only to the indigent. His argument – that giving homeless people money only hurts them by enabling their addictions – applies even more aptly to those among us who are hurt the most by money: the rich.

Didn't someone once say that a camel can pass through the eye of a needle more easily than a rich man can enter the kingdom of heaven? Look deeply into the eyes of any rich person and you will see the damage, the terrible ache of spiritual emptiness brought on by the addiction to property, power, material goods, and shopping. No addiction is more corrosive to the human soul than this "mother of all addictions" – and we, as taxpayers and consumers, are paying for it!

Is it "progressive" to pay for people to harm themselves? We're with Gavin: we say No! So, rather than feed the addictions of rich property owners by paying them inflated rents, rather than subsidize personal and corporate tax cuts for the rich (and, indirectly, their outrageous salaries, bonuses, and golden parachutes) with huge cuts in social services, let's instead cut the cash supply that enables this tragic addiction to wealth.

The next time you see a rich person, ask him to step out from behind the tinted windows of his Hummer, relieve him of his vehicle and his wallet, and give him a hug. Tell him it's because you care. Take a benign, paternal approach; involve yourself in his life; deprive him of his income and/or the freedom to decide what to do with it (since, as an addict, he forfeits that basic human dignity). Let him reacquaint himself with the feel of the pavement hard under his feet, the wind and rain on his face. It will help him to grow as a person, and to overcome his self-destructive and unsightly habits. "Care Not Cash for the Rich" could do us all a world of good.

Frank Stauf

San Francisco

A rare candidate

It's true that Matt Gonzalez appealed to a young, often first-time activist group. He also attracted seasoned voters like myself in their late thirties and beyond, who usually find themselves voting and campaigning defensively rather than affirmatively. Part of the surge of energy and creativity behind the campaign is attributable to the youth of its supporters, but in my case, the reason that I stood out in the rain with the "kids" waving signs maniacally was that Gonzalez is a rare candidate with integrity and wisdom. I believed that if I did not get involved this time, it may be a while before another candidate comes along who inspires the same level of dedication.

Annabelle Ison
San Francisco

Thanks, Matt

This election was so close. Never before in the history of any city has a Green Party candidate (a minority) gotten so much support from Democrats and Republicans, breaking all the rules, every real person was supporting Matt Gonzalez, no matter what their background. History was made.

I had the most fortunate experience to speak to Gonzalez himself after the Election Day party was over. He still was outside, answering questions and, with a small glimmer in his eye, looking very exhausted.

I said to him, "You've won! And do you know why? You've turned 30,000 slackers into voters. I am 34 years old. I couldn't care less about politics. Until you outlined your visionary policies on your Web site, I cared not. I think for the first time, people my age, the musicians, the artists (and we do, sort of, know each other) finally have an understanding of what a true politician is. What I mean by that is not a politician that is full of rhetoric but one that believes in what he stands for.

This is why you have the support of all of us. You are real. Not only have you been real, but you've resisted in mudslinging against your opponent, no matter what he's thrown at you. You've won this election."

Thanks to Matt for giving us the chance to speak and reminding us that we do have a voice with the rest of the politicians less qualified!

DJ Goldilox
San Francisco

For the record