LETTERS: NCT, Jan. 5, 2009

By Readers of the North County Times | Monday, January 5, 2009 12:10 AM PST ∞

Justice demands a portion

No one can accuse developer Mick Pattinson of lacking a sense of irony. According to the story ("Major local builder files for bankruptcy," Dec. 30), Pattinson has formed a lobbying organization to expose the bad behavior of the banking industry for failing to loan money to build new homes that no one's buying. For nearly a half-century, developers like Pattinson's Barratt American have set the standard for bad behavior by wooing municipalities with promises of tax revenues, funding local campaigns of developer-friendly candidates, cultivating personal relationships with local land-use officials and then lobbying them to keep development impact fees low and encouraging membership in local community planning boards by architects, civil engineers, vendors and employees in the expectation of winning approval for their projects.

Pattinson says he's lost Round One because of the foreclosure of four of his properties and his subsequent bankruptcy, but that "there's 14 more rounds to go." Justice dictates that in one of those rounds, a judge orders him to pay his creditors and vendors in full with proceeds from the sale of the planned Fanita Ranch development to a nonprofit foundation or conservancy with a public –– not private –– interest.

Doug Bell

Rancho Penasquitos

U.S. has ugly history

I guess that Jim Mosher (Letters, Dec. 10) didn't want to mention that we were violating our neutrality in World War I by shipping munitions to England and hiding them behind women's skirts (Lusitania). The Zimmerman telegram stated that Germany wanted to keep the U.S. neutral and, if that didn't work, then they suggested that Mexico could attack the U.S. and take back some of their land.

We also coerce counties to help us against neighbors. The rest of Mosher's letter on Midway and us rebuilding Japan and Germany is rubbish. As the war in Vietnam was ending, the U.S. decided to trash democracy in Chile by supporting a coup in 1973.

Then, of course in 1979, we sanctimonious Americans are outraged by the Iranians ousting the Shah who helped us plunder Iran and the taking Americans as hostage. Then there is Ronald Reagan, who decided to bring back the dictator in Nicaragua through use of our terrorists, the Contras.

Also, we encouraged Saddam Hussein to attack Iran and we gave him chemical weapons to help him do it. A million people died in that war. We have a history of supporting people that later we attack when they stop being our lap dogs.

Chris Pulse

Vista

Global warming debate is more about politics

There's an adage that says, "You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make it drink." Similarly, we can lead people to the truth but can't always make them believe. For example, over the years, I have been submitting common-sense information about global warming in an effort to illustrate how the real threat over this question is not the alleged disease (climate change); rather, it's the proposed cure (government control). Because of my extensive research into this subject, I am convinced that the global warming debate is more about politics than about science; therefore I have concluded that the perception of global warming is a colossal hoax meant to control people, not the climate. As a result, I am regularly heckled by several critics who disagree.

For instance, Douglas Dunn (Letters, Dec. 25) not only claims I'm not qualified to present my argument, he then imprudently accuses the editor of "irresponsible journalism" for publishing my commentary wherein I point out the unquestionable fact that climate is controlled by nature, not by man. However, my advice is not directed at folks wearing blinders; it's for those who can recognize the truth when it's right under their nose.

Darrell Beck

Ramona

Wealthy should pay more in taxes

Myths stay with us long after they cease to be true. The myth that the wealthy pay an unfair share of taxes allows them to argue for tax cuts and the flat tax. Never mind that corporations pay almost nothing in taxes by the time they take advantage of loopholes their lobbyists put in place for them. Ignore the fact that those with T bills in their portfolios receive a rebate in the form of interest on the national debt (thanks to deficit spending). In spite of this, the rich constantly whine about their unfair share of the tax burden.

The wealthy should pay more in taxes, even a higher percentage, because they get more for their tax dollars. The main job of government is to protect persons and their property, and that costs money. If you have more property, it costs more to protect it, in terms of the military, police, and fire protection. A stable currency, transportation infrastructure, and the legal system also benefit the wealthy more. They gain from public education and health as well, providing them with quality workers and consumers.

When it comes to taxes, you get what you pay for. The rich want more.

Paul Cavanaugh

Ramona

Americans, stand up against activist groups

Re: "Most breeze through checkpoint," Dec. 31: To the civil rights groups and the Latino activists who object to driver's license checks: What part of the English word "illegal" do you not understand? America is a country of laws. These laws protect all citizens of the United States and visitors that comply with our laws and are in our country legally.

Just who do you think you are that you feel that you can break our laws and live in this country illegally, and then complain when our police do the job we citizens pay them for with the taxes we pay and you don't? How dare you tell us we are wrong? You need to learn we are right and you are wrong. Americans, stand up and stop taking this from these activists groups.

Larry Ciuffo

Escondido