While reading the Aug. 23 front-page article “Billionaire propels a crusade against homelessness” about tech billionaire Joe Lonsdale and the Cicero Institute, a quote from Herman Melville came to mind. Melville wrote: “Of all the preposterous assumptions of humanity over humanity, nothing exceeds most of the criticisms made on the habits of the poor by the well-housed, well-warmed, and well-fed.”
Lonsdale’s motivation for advocating drastic revisions to policy programs targeted at homelessness, addiction, mental illness and related problems seems to be eradicating the unsightliness of individuals experiencing those problems from public spaces.
If Lonsdale truly wished to intervene in society’s myriad shortcomings in a humane and thorough way, he might call for a comprehensive system that addresses the need for adequate and affordable housing coupled with necessary treatment, training, education and supervision. Such a system would be costly. Increasing taxes on Lonsdale and his billionaire peers would be one way to fund such a project.
Joe Martin, Seattle
White House spokesman Davis Ingle almost said the quiet part out loud concerning the policy preferences of Joe Lonsdale, Donald Trump and their allies when he declared, “President Trump has taken historic action to clean up America’s cities.” In this view, the primary victims of homelessness are the housed people who are forced to encounter unhoused people, so the latter must be cleaned up as if they were litter.
According to the article, Lonsdale likes the term “boldness.” So here’s a bold suggestion for him: Recognize that a person doesn’t lose their humanity when they lose their home.
Daniel Horner, Washington
A one-time tax is only a Band-Aid
Regarding the Aug. 23 letter from Rep. Ro Khanna (D-California): “A one-time wealth tax is progressive and patriotic”:
The problem in California is not undertaxation. It is overspending. Between 2015 and 2025, California’s population grew by about 1 percent, inflation over these 10 years was 36 percent and the state’s spending went up by a whopping 100 percent.
I am a successful entrepreneur, and over the years I have paid millions of dollars in taxes. I am all for a fair tax system in which everyone pays their share. But a one-time taxation of California’s billionaires is not the right answer. If the congressman is serious about addressing fairness, he should focus on fixing the loopholes in the tax system, not a one-time Band-Aid.
Rak Kumar, Pebble Beach, California
For iron, beans and greens beat beef
In the Aug. 27 online Food article “Iron deficiency is surprisingly common. Here’s how to boost your intake,” I am glad to see the long list of fruits, vegetables, grains and beans recommended for people to meet their iron needs. As a physician, I would urge people to opt for these instead of beef, poultry and seafood.
Heme iron, the kind found in animal products, is associated with an increased risk of colorectal cancer, which is concerning as rates rise in younger Americans. One meta-analysis showed that each additional one milligram of heme iron per day, the approximate amount found in two ounces of beef, was associated with an 11 percent higher risk of colorectal cancer. Another found an 18 percent greater colon cancer risk in the highest versus lowest heme iron intake groups.
Cardiovascular disease is another concern. A meta-analysis looking at six studies found that an increase of one milligram of heme iron intake per day was associated with a 27 percent higher heart disease risk. Other research has also found an increased risk, while non-heme iron, found in plant-based foods, was not associated with increased risk.
So if you are looking to boost your iron intake, choose beans, not beef. Plant-based sources of iron are also rich in fiber, a nutrient that most Americans do not get enough of, which is beneficial for fighting both colorectal cancer and heart disease.
James F. Loomis, Washington
The writer is the medical director of Barnard Medical Center.
What Iran war critics have to contend with
Regarding Marc Thiessen’s Aug. 28 opinion piece, “What the disloyal leaks about Iran prove about Trump”:
As Americans debate the wisdom of Trump’s war on Iran, they should take into account the following points.
From 1979 to 1981, for a total of 444 days, Iran kept 52 Americans hostage. The United States was humiliated when President Jimmy Carter’s attempt to rescue the hostages failed due to an aircraft accident and mechanical failures in the desert. Eight U.S. servicemen died.
In 1983, Iran was behind two bombings in Beirut that killed 241 U.S. service members and 58 French soldiers, who were there as a peacekeeping force. Since then, the U.S. has been unwilling to deploy troops as peacekeepers. Lebanon continues to be war-torn to this day.
In January 2026, the Iranian regime killed thousands of its citizens to stop peaceful protests against the regime. A few days before the slaughter, videos showed mass protests on the streets of multiple Iranian cities. A few days later, the streets were virtually empty.
Opponents of the war should explain why they believe that the Iranian regime should have gotten away with these despicable crimes against humanity.
Nelson F. Crouch, Washington
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