Letters to the editor - 9/7/03

By: Readers of the North County Times | Saturday, September 6, 2003 9:41 PM PDT ∞

Stealing another election

Democrats tried to fix the Florida election by counting votes that did not exist. When that failed, they tried to get the courts involved. Their plan backfired and the courts said what they were doing was not constitutional.

The only public official who is still whining about what he calls an "illegal election" is our esteemed governor, Gray Davis, and we all know he has a great credibility rating ---- right?

It is time for the illegal election people to realize that they are members of a very tiny minority of voters who refuse to accept that this was the will of the people.

People say the current recall is not democratic; sure it is. It is the majority of the people of the state who signed a piece of paper saying they had had enough. That includes large numbers of Democrats who are smart enough to see that what Davis says and what he does are nowhere near close.

For the first time in history, more people left California last year than moved here.

Who left? Businesses, retirees and high-income people (those who pay high taxes to the state).

Who came here? People with little or no job skills (those who pay little or no taxes). If needy people outnumber those who pay taxes, where will the money come from to support them? From the working poor, who already can't pay their outrageously high rent, water and utility bills.

CAROL CULP

Escondido

Spanish or English?

Yes, "Spanish is all around us" (Community Forum, Aug. 23), and living here is a wonderful learning experience. But for those of you who speak only Spanish and choose to work/live/study north of the border, it does not open the door to all that is offered here. Not learning English is unfair and denies you the many opportunities afforded those who become fluent. Advancement and increased earning is deterred when one does not speak English. Being accused of being anti-Hispanic because you want Spanish-speaking friends to learn English is wrong and must be recognized as untrue. Not knowing English is an impediment and must be looked at that way. Everyone, especially parents of the many in our schools, should be encouraged to learn and to teach English and not to leave it up to our schools to do it alone. Yes, Spanish is all around us, and I am learning more and more every day. What are you doing when English is all around you?

HOWARD SHARPELL

San Marcos

The proof of what is wrong with our education system

Michael Huspek's Aug. 27 commentary, "My class with George W. Bush," explains why so much of our educational system continues to poison the minds of college students. Huspek is an associate professor of communications at Cal State San Marcos. He writes derisively about President Bush, who graduated from Yale University and received a master's of business administration from Harvard Business School. Huspek snobbishly asks, "Why strive for excellence when our president's own stint of underwhelming academic performance was good enough to earn him a stay in the White House?" Does that mean we ignore the contributions of Henry Ford, Mark Twain, Thomas Edison, Ansel Adams, Lucille Ball, Freddy Laker, Jack London and Horace Greeley? All of them were either elementary or high school dropouts.

In his commentary, Huspek asks why President Bush was unwilling to "negotiate with Saddam Hussein, to argue his case with real give-and-take dialogue at the United Nations." Right. The United Nations gave Saddam Hussein years of "give" dialogue. The talks were an abject failure. All Saddam Hussein did was take more lives and provide the means and support that ended the lives of more than 3,000 people on Sept. 11.

JOAN WONSLEY

San Diego

Proof that Iraq had ties to al-Qaida

Kris D. Esslinger suggested in his Aug. 23 letter that I should receive the $25 million on Saddam's head if one original source connects the Hussein regime with 9-11. Osama and Saddam aren't available, so let's start with network news.

On the Oct. 6, 2002, edition of ABC's "This Week," House Minority Leader Dick Gephardt (D-Mo.) said the following: "There's lots of intelligence and it's additive as you go along, of meetings between Iraqi military and intelligence officials and members of al-Qaida."

In a lawsuit brought by the families of World Trade Center victims against Iraq and Saudi Arabia, Manhattan U.S. District Judge Harold Baer ruled on May 7, 2003, that enough evidence had been presented to "convince a reasonable jury" that Baghdad had played a material role in 9-11 (NewsMax.com, July 28). During the trial former Clinton administration CIA Director James Woolsey testified he had interviewed terrorist defectors from Salman Pak, Iraq, who had trained radical Islamists to hijack airplanes in small groups with short knives.

When Saddam is finally taken out, the GIs who squeeze the triggers can split the take.

JIM MOSHER

Encinitas

Minorities must work their way up the power structure

Re: the Aug. 30 story, "Latinos largely absent in North County power structure" by Edward Sifuentes. There is no free lunch and good citizenship is not a spectator sport are two lessons that everyone needs to learn, including minorities who complain that they are underrepresented in local government.

It can be boring as anything attending school board, planning commission and city council meetings to learn the ropes. But just showing up and saying "there are a lot of us out here, and you must make room in the halls of power and responsibility for us or you are a racist" simply doesn't cut the mustard.

Oh yes, learning to speak English is a prerequisite, as is gaining an education commensurate with the responsibility of school board member, city councilman or commissioner. If the immigrant community is lacking these skills, then they must work their way up the ladder as have all immigrants through the years, and sometimes this takes generations and self-sacrifice.

BARBARA VICKROY

Escondido

Republicans created the budget mess

Let's see ---- the Bush administration increased spending and turned surpluses into deficits, lied to get us into a budget-busting invasion, hung California out to dry while their energy-company cronies manipulated us into a crisis, and then rewarded those cronies with tax cuts for the wealthiest elites and no-compete sweetheart-deal contracts in Iraq.

The Pete Wilson administration blocked construction of power plants that would compete with their utility baron buddies and presided over the passage of the utility deregulation that triggered the California budget meltdown that hit on Davis' watch. They gamed the energy systems for obscene profits and manipulated us into the very budget crisis they now use as an excuse to void an election they lost.

Now tell me again why I'm supposed to consider voting for pals or puppets of these guys to clean up a mess created and exacerbated by Republicans.

DOUGLAS DUNN

Oceanside

T-shirt messages worth reading

I couldn't help but chuckle while reading the article about the students of Poway wearing shirts that say "Please" and "Thank You." I was thinking, would anyone dare read the shirts of the students walking on campus in Oceanside or Vista?

CURTIS DANIELS

Oceanside

Bush's assault on the environment

On Sept. 2, G.W. Bush, dressed as a laborer, mislabeled his payback to his corporate masters an "economic stimulus." In L.A., he dressed up as an environmentalist. This masquerade was even harder to swallow than his swaggering on the deck of an aircraft carrier in a flight suit. The Toxic Texan has well earned this sobriquet.

Bush's cabal assaults the environment daily. Last week it decreed that power companies no longer had to refurbish with equipment that met the Clean Air Act standards. On Aug. 29 the EPA ruled that it had no authority to regulate CO2 emission because it did not harm human welfare ---- this in the face of incontrovertible evidence that our increase of CO2 in the atmosphere has caused global warming.

In Africa, Bush put on his humanitarian costume and promised $15 billion to fight AIDS. This week his administration cut off funds to a major AIDS program because the program included Marie Stopes, a family planning provider that also serves in China. Marie Stopes in no way abets China's coercive one-child policy. Once more Bush has kowtowed to the radical anti-choice zealots.

Time to replace this corporate puppet with someone who doesn't have to dress up to play the part.

MARGARET MCCOWN LILES

Escondido

Arnold's education

Just when you thought this recall and the American dream couldn't get any better, the Los Angeles Times prints an article revealing one of the leading candidate's educational background. Be still my heart.

The article written Aug. 10 titled, "Schwarzenegger built a vast business empire," went on to quote Beth George, a spokeswoman for the University of Wisconsin, Superior, saying, "The star graduated through the school's extended degree program in which he completed correspondence courses and some on-campus work in what she identified as tailor-made major ---international marketing of fitness and business administration. Under the program's rules, he was given credit for prior life experience."

And that's not all. Also in the article was a mention of one of Schwarzenegger's significant ownership stakes in Dimensional Fund Advisors, a Santa Monica-based mutual fund company that manages about $40 billion, but this isn't the best part, no, it gets better. The majority of Dimensional's clients are corporate pension plans, state and local governments, universities and charitable organizations including the California Public Employees Retirement System.

Is this a great country, or what?

PAM BLAND

Escondido

Building a healthier world for our kids

What are we doing? I got a six-page ad today from a local pharmacy. In it is a photo of a boy around 8 to 10 years old using an inhaler. The ad offers "Inhalers ---- Buy One, Get One Free." Following two pages areÝads totally for prescription drugs. What are we doing to our air, water, etc.? Is this really how we want our kids to grow up ---- with inhalers stuck up their noses? I'm mailing this to my congressman, Duke Cunningham, and thanking him for the future generations. This is the Bush health plan, bought and paid for by your local friendly pharmaceutical company. Escondido's council is doing its part by building dirty utility plants and rock-crushing plants within city limits. Too bad our mayor's plan for an asphalt-making plant failed, by one vote. We get the type of government we deserve when we vote or, worse, when we do not vote.

GERALD LENHARD

Escondido

Column was right on

Regarding Kimberley Oakley's right-on column on Sept. 3 ("Anti-white bias has got to end"): I am eagerly awaiting the howls of outrage of our larger minorities and the sorrowful murmurings of the liberal pale part of society.

The column has more truth than we normally expect and should be read thoughtfully by those of all skin colors or other persuasions.

GEORGE CAGLE

Escondido

Moneyed Republicans want us to pay for recall

Have you received your ballot yet? What a hoot. In a state where we already have dollar difficulties at every turn, the moneyed Republicans who started this three-ring circus want us, the taxpayers, to foot the millions of dollars it's going to take for this election.

They should foot the entire bill. The governor did not start the problems in this state (many other states are experiencing similar difficulties); they started long before Davis through policies of other governors. Proposition 13, Enron and others of their ilk, and Mr. Bush's economic policies all contributed to the mess. Davis, in hindsight, may not have done the right things to help the situation, but he did what he thought was best at the time.

If you haven't read it yet, pick up a copy of "Shrub, The Short But Happy Political Life of George W. Bush" by Molly Ivins and Lou Dubose (at the library). Do your homework ---- find out who and what the moneyed Republicans value. It's not me and it's not you.

I don't support Mr. Bush or the ideals of the moneyed Republicans. I do, however, support our troops and pray for them daily. The two are not synonymous.

BARBARA J. MITCHELL

Oceanside

California is being ripped off by everyone

During the past three weeks the gas prices in California have risen, higher than in other states. Ask my sister who lives in Goldboro, Ark. ---- gas there on Sept. 3 was $1.56 per gallon for regular. Ask my uncle who lives in Rockford, Ill. ---- gas there on Sept. 3 was $1.58. Ask my other sister who lives in Quantico, Va. ---- gas there was $1.55 per gallon

And our government in California says that the gas companies are not price-gouging us.

Why such disparity? Here's why: Gov. Davis does not want gas to go down because that would be less money coming in taxes. The more we pay for gas, the more tax dollars the state gets. Let's stop the lies ---- we are being taken to the cleaners.

Just like the Vista water district. We used to pay $25 for water for two months, we now have to pay $32 a month before we use one drop of water, then we have to pay the San Diego water district double the price of what our water bill is. My point is we are getting ripped off by everyone ---- the utilities, the water district and the oil companies. Call your representative and complain. I'm looking for a new home in another state.

EUGENE NORTHRUP

Vista

When voters don't vote

We have yet to have an organization come up with a figure the illegal immigrants are costing the U.S.A. We have a figure of some $2 billion to $5 billion it costs California alone, but no known national figure. A ballpark figure would be $50 billion, and that is probably conservative. Yet when any politician is questioned on the subject of when the borders will be sealed, they tap dance and sing like a cheap vaudeville act. Where are the statesmen? Locally, focus can be centered on the need for an international airport in San Diego County. For some 25 to 40 years the elected officials have danced around this subject and always passed it off to additional studies.

The local officials must have blown at least $100 million of our tax dollars on studies and delays that have cost San Diego County billions in trade. Guess none of the studies came up with answers the powers that be liked.

Where are the statesmen? The elected show little interest in the financial welfare of the people. Special interests always come first. "The penalty that good men pay for not being interested in politics is to be governed by people worse than themselves," Plato.

Let's make our wishes known by voting.

DICK SMITH

San Marcos

Anti-white bias truly exists

This letter is to applaud Ms. Kimberley Oakley on a well-written article on how there exists an anti-white bias in our society today (Sept. 3). A blatant example of this is the so-called Latin Grammy Awards and several other events that preclude anybody of Caucasian origin. While these events don't bother me in the least, I have often wondered what kind of uproar would erupt if someone were to host a function such as the Caucasian Grammy Awards or form an organization such as the National Association for the Advancement of White People. I just don't believe it would be tolerated. I bet you can think of many more examples. Why can't we all just stop using race as a factor altogether and start thinking of ourselves as one united people? This country would be a much better place to live.

BRIAN SCHULTZ

Oceanside

Illegal immigrants circumvent the law

Illegal immigrants are criminals and should be treated as such, not rewarded. If you have ever gotten angry when someone tried to cut in a line ahead of those already waiting, it is the same thing to circumvent our laws and enter the country ahead of those who are acting legally. Granting the right to a driver's license will not guarantee that that person will understand and obey the laws. As for insurance, nothing prevents a person from buying insurance and canceling it as soon as the registration is mailed in. In some states when insurance is canceled, the DMV is notified and proper action taken. As for all the other benefits our society provides, illegals who take advantage of these are stealing. Except for Native Americans, we are all immigrants or descended from immigrants in this country, so I say yes to immigration, but a resounding no to subverting the law by illegally entering and residing in this country.

ROBERT G. HARRELL

Escondido

Keep religion out of the public square

Dan Noval (Letters, Sept. 2) asks why the expression of Christian faith elicits controversy. The problem is not with expressing faith. We can worship or not worship as we see fit. The problem is when an elected official (Judge Moore) uses his power to proselytize in a government building. Moore's hunk of granite goes beyond an expression of faith. It is government endorsement of a religion, which is prohibited under the Constitution.

This nation was not founded on Christian beliefs, it was founded on keeping personal spiritual beliefs out of government. While some of the founders held these personal beliefs, they knew that government endorsement of a religion would lead only to the same tyranny they fled in Europe.

And regarding Aaron Smith's Community Forum ("Alabama judge did the right thing," Aug. 26): To equate Judge Moore's defiance with the American Revolution and the struggle against slavery is ridiculous and insulting. Judge Moore's rock has nothing to do with freedom, fairness or equality; it is simply his delusional, egomaniacal and illegal attempt to force his superstition on others.

Smith's twisted logic would be laughable if he were not a law student himself.

If your faith is dependent upon a rock, it must not be much of a faith.

BRUCE WILLBRANT

Oceanside

You can't script democracy

California gubernatorial candidate Arnold Schwarzenegger will agree to enter a debate only if he can read the questions in advance. Or rather, only if his team of consultants gains access to the questions in advance and can tell him what to say to appeal to the largest number of likely voters. This is not debate and it is not democracy.

Unfortunately, Schwarzenegger is copying a tactic of George W. Bush, one directly from the playbook of the nefarious Karl Rove. Dubya has dumbed down the presidential press conference by scripting the entire affair in advance, taking only preassigned questions that Rove wants him to answer.

This nation's press is too complacent of propaganda dressed up as news.

The scheduled California recall candidates' debate of Sept. 24, the one with Arnold in it, thus the likeliest to gain popular viewing, should not be scripted in advance. Yet unless there is relentless backlash from the public, this pseudo debate will go forward and Schwarzenegger's responses will be nothing but canned Spam.

Contact the media now and demand democratic debate.

TERRY L. ALLISON

San Marcos

Liberal's daydream

Joe Martin's make-believe world shows how out of touch liberals are with reality (Letters, Sept. 2). Conservatives have the intelligence to figure out problems, liberals just throw more money at it. Just look at our public school farce.

Conservatives would have real schools teaching reading, writing and math, which are the keys to success in the real world; liberals would teach how to be politically correct and use condoms. Conservatives would become financially stable due to the virtues of hard work; liberals would collect welfare. Conservatives would not have unions, as all workers would be fairly compensated based on what the job was worth; union compensation packages in liberal land would be so high the factories would go elsewhere.

Conservatives would have the finest medical care available, as the doctors know they will be paid for services; liberals would go to the free clinic and wait in line forever. Conservatives would have virtually no crime, as the police would be able to do their job, borders would be secure, no illegal immigration. Conservatives would have a reasonable tax structure to pay for infrastructure; liberals would be overtaxed to pay for all the progressive programs.

Keep dreaming, Joe.

DON DALPHIN JR

Oceanside

Money for memorial should go to living vets

I am a veteran and resident of Temecula for 20 years. I am speaking for most of the living veterans of the organizations that are meeting wherever they can. We do not even have a roof over our heads to call our own to be able to meet and share our lives with fellow veterans. Even though the wars may be over years ago, the memories are very much alive as well as the scars we live with.

We remember our fallen heroes at every meeting. We have a black-draped empty chair and part of every opening ceremony is a tribute to all the POW, MIA and fallen veterans.

I am saddened that (Mayor) Jeff Stone would choose to make a big show of a memorial to one veteran and ignore those of us who are still alive. $200,000 would make all the difference to us. Instead we are doing as many fund-raisers as we can just to keep going. Considering many of us are seniors, this is a very hard job.

We are saddened by the loss of Capt. Aaron Contreras as well as all the young men who are dying daily for our country. The rest of us who are still here will remember them forever.

Thank you, Sam Pratt, for your support.

CLIFF LARSON

Temecula

Freedom to criticize is one to hold dear

Some people would have us believe that "liberal" is a dirty word. Others speak as if "conservative" is obscene. Both simply describe a different philosophical or political belief. It never fails. When a political leader makes a decision that violates someone's political philosophy, they begin ranting about impeachment or yell about how an election was "stolen."

President Bush is neither better nor worse than many other presidents we have had, yet some letter writers would have us believe that he is Hitler reincarnated. He's not. Being president of the United States is probably the most difficult job in the world. Very few people could handle it. I don't agree with every decision that he makes, but I don't envy him his job.

It's unfortunate that people can't disagree without name-calling. What is fortunate is that people are allowed to call our leader names and do so without fear of retaliation. We should remember what we seem to take for granted. We have freedoms that no other country enjoys. We shouldn't abuse them.

RANDY FREEMAN

Menifee

Writer wrong about Skin Industries

Robert Allen's misinformed comments about the origin of the "Skin" logo in the Saturday, August 30th edition of The Californian was cheap shot.

Initially, "Tank Skin" (from which "Skin" is a derivative) made graphics (decals) for dirt bike gasoline tanks. Skin Industries still makes graphics and has also grown to provide clothing, safety and related products targeted at the off-road recreational biker and quad crowd. The garments and other goods are excellent products for these sand dune-bound weekend warriors.

Mr. Allen intimates that Al Borda is some sort of a freak. I don't know Al Borda well (we were neighbors for a short while), but the Al Borda that I do know is a hard-working entrepreneur who provides legitimate business opportunities and gainful employment for a growing number of people. Al Borda is also a devoted and loving husband, and father to a lovely child.

JIM HORN

Temecula

Our definition of heroes has changed

I am very proud of every man and woman serving in our military today. They are willing to put themselves in harm's way for our country and everyone living here.

But there is something I don't understand. Are there no more true heroes for the media to tell us about? A few years ago, a young Air Force fighter pilot was shot down over Bosnia.

He was shot down. He did not shoot anyone down. He was able to escape capture a couple of days before he was rescued by a team of Marines. The Marines that went in to get him by helicopter dodged missiles and rifle fire, but were able to locate him and bring him back to safety.

He was made a hero, while no one knows who the Marines were that got him out. He was shot down and lived. Great, but a hero?

Now we have Jessica Lynch, made a hero and about to be made a millionaire for a book deal. She was captured after the truck she was in overturned. This made her a hero? What about the men that went in and got her out and back to safety? They weren't heroes? Want to know about heroes? Look up Gunnery Sgt. John Basilone or Gunnery Sgt. Carlos Hathcock. They were heroes.

BILL HOOVER

Sun City

What jobs do we think we're saving?

In response to Frits Rosenveldt's letter regarding illegals (Aug. 29), I was appalled at his idea of "rounding up" illegals after they applied for their "special licenses." Is this America or Nazi Germany?

What jobs were you thinking of? There are few jobs our soft, spoiled "legal citizens" would even take once vacated.

I do agree that laws must be obeyed. Our current laws need to be revised. Maybe we should go back to the way my grandfather legally immigrated from the Azore Islands. He had a sponsor and a job waiting for him in the States. I'm not saying we need to allow people to break laws and get free handouts thanks to our tax dollars. I am saying things need to change and we need to be more gracious and compassionate to all people.

We recently purchased a home that needed to be gutted inside and out. The "legal citizen" neglected it and was not a good steward with the blessing of home ownership in America. Who do you think worked alongside us 12 to 15 hours a day without complaint? Let me tell you it was not a "legal" contractor or laborer.

Maybe Mr. Rosenveldt would like to go with us on our next missionary trip to Mexico. It might help him get a new perspective. There are many legal citizens who do horrific things. Do we round up these people next? Where should we ship them off to?

SEANA AGUIRRE

Temecula

4-year-olds not ready for kindergarten

I am a kindergarten teacher and we have started the year again with many 4-year-olds that need to spend another year at home or in preschool. Kindergarten is not what it used to be. Because of new state standard, rushing children into reading and writing, few 4-year-olds are ready to do what we are asking.

We have children, little boys especially, who cannot physically hold a pencil or crayon, write their name, and have never colored or used scissors. Maybe no one has spent time with them, but often it is because they are too young and not ready.

For years, the Legislature and educators have talked about changing the cutoff date of Dec. 2 to September, so most children will be 5 when they start. The teachers union has resisted because, obviously they care more about teachers jobs than what's good for children.

This change could have been made when there was a teacher shortage, but with the current state budget crisis, much could be saved by doing this now. This has been suggested by the only candidate for governor with an actual plan, Tom McClintock.

Parents, you can choose to wait a year before sending your 4-year-olds to kindergarten. Chances are they will be much more successful throughout school if they are a year older.

Legislators need to do what is right for children and help solve our financial crisis by changing the cutoff date for kindergarten to September as in other states.

ADELE HARRISON

Temecula