Who's in our kids' corner?

Dan Scott (Community Voices, Aug. 21) is critical of Dr. Daniel Robbins' assertion (Aug. 11) that 100 local doctors have registered their opposition to the proposed Liberty Quarry. His "research" revealed that some of those doctors are not local. It isn't clear whether this means they live in outlying areas, but practice in our locality, or that their practice is located in those communities. It's no mystery that some of our doctors commute.

The physicians he refers to in Murrieta and Fallbrook are within the locality to be affected. If practicing doctors in Sun City and Hemet are worried about the quarry's impacts, on the other hand, my goodness — that only confirms our worst fears about the quarry's deadly reach.

I wonder whether Dan Scott would undertake to present 100 signatures from doctors in this locality that would pledge their support for the Liberty Quarry and its benefits to our community's health.

Who's in our kids' corner, Dr. Robbins or Dan Scott?

Kenneth Johnson

Temecula

Support Prop. 22

Re: Steven Greenhut's column, "Prop. 22 would protect corporate welfare," Aug. 22: Proposition 22 on the November ballot would stop state legislators from raiding local government funds. In doing so, Prop. 22 will protect local taxpayers by keeping our tax dollars in our communities to fund vital local services like police, fire, emergency response, parks, libraries and more.

When the state borrows local funds, it creates mass uncertainty for cities, counties and transportation agencies in planning their budgets. How can we plan ahead if we're not sure of what revenues we will receive?

Prop. 22 would prevent the legislature from raiding local redevelopment funds used to enhance economic revitalization and job creation in rundown, blighted communities. These funds come from property taxes paid in the same community where they are to be used.

Last year, the state raided $2 billion in these local government redevelopment funds, which will lead to the loss of tens of thousands of jobs and will stall economic growth. Prop. 22 has broad-based support from police and fire chiefs, small businesses, community, taxpayer, local government and transportation groups.

I am strongly supportive of Prop. 22 and I urge readers to support the measure in November.

Mary Craton

Council member

Canyon Lake

Think when you vote

No vacations, no sick leave and no medical. Well, if you think back, the unions, like or dislike them, were formed to improve the quality of life and standards for the working families. Yes, some are bad, but all in all, whether you like them or not, you now have better working conditions than at any other time.

Those who dislike the unions still take and reap the benefits, and if you say to these people, "Have you ever belonged to any association or union?" they say, "Well, no." But they know all about labor and the working class, and want to go back to sweatshops.

Then who will they knock? Walmart, Target, or the big fat cats on Wall Street? After all, these companies pay well (minimum wage). The rich get richer. The politicians could not care less about the middle class or management. It's not money, it's about power and fewer unions or no unions. We will still pay for our inflated goods — bread, milk, food — and be controlled by so-called managers, newspapers and political parties.

Think when you vote.

Marshall Berman

Murrieta

Learn from history

If we look back at the history of different civilizations, there's an interesting pattern. Historians such as Arnold Toynbee have noted that if a culture begins to allow for the breakdown of families, it's only three to four generations, about 150 to 200 years, before that culture falls.

America, like Greece and Rome before her, has come to a crossroads. If we allow for gay marriage and free sex, then we create a culture that is ill-equipped to raise strong kids to become noble and uplifted citizens. It's amazing that politicians know so little about history and have such a shortsighted view of things.

We are at such a dangerous crossroads. If California judges and politicians continue to support gay "rights," she will decline and fall and never recover, no matter how much money she may have at this moment.

God's highest ideal is the family. Religion is just a means to help us come into this ideal of true love within the family.

Erling Lea

Temecula

Vote on fact, not emotion

I read with interest the letter from Edward Gersich (Aug. 25). His statistics were quite impressive. I had to wonder though — does he understand that voting is not a requirement? It is a privilege and a right.

We as Americans are lazy when it comes to the voting process. We don't have to walk miles or stand in long lines — in fact, we can vote absentee by way of the U.S. Postal Service. But to not count the votes of those who did exercise their right and took the elections seriously — no matter what the issue or who the candidate — would be criminal.

We can't say, "because so few people voted ... the election is not valid." And we sure don't need the "government," as honest and respectable as it is, to change the way elections are run.

My plea to all: Exercise your right to vote and make decisions based on fact, not emotion. Our country is in a mess and we are to blame. Apathy and immorality are destroying us.

And by the way, I have been happily married to my husband for 32 years and have many friends who have been married that long and longer.

Patty Eamon

Murrieta

City council stipend or salary?

There was a Temecula City Council forum the other day and no one brought up their $600-a-month council salaries. Councilpersons, in general, are very clever these days in calling it a salary rather than a stipend. There is a difference. A stipend is made to pay for any incidentals such as parking and travel that occur while volunteering time, as is the case for a city councilperson.

A salary is meant for a job with benefits, such as health care. With a salary, all parking and incidentals are paid for by the company and in this case, by the city. The city councils of most cities now feel entitled to the paid position rather than the volunteer position that it used to be and still should be.

In the case of Temecula, the current budget gives the city council $2,109 a month, which includes benefits such as health care and pensions (see Temecula's budget online, http://www.cityoftemecula.org/NR/rdonlyres/DBC1E0A2-D947-4565-8A46-96BE84863AC7/0/REVISEDFINALAOBFY0910.pdf, page 48).

On top of that, the City Council costs $5,009 a month in expenses, such as travel and other incidentals.

Patrice Lynes is running for City Council in November on limiting these expenses, as well as implementing term limits.

Bob Kowell

Murrieta

He fails to see the logic

I fail to see the logic in the Schleys' letter (Aug. 21) questioning why noncitizens shouldn't have to carry their identification papers at all times. Like them, I have traveled extensively to foreign countries. I kept my passport in the hotel safe, lest it get lost or stolen.

But that aside, if you carry their "logic" further, even those born in the U.S. should need to carry their birth certificates at all times. After all, if it is not racial profiling to ask for proof of citizenship, I should be subject to the same law. I could be here illegally from Canada, England, etc.

If a white person gets stopped by the police, do you believe they are going to be asked for proof of citizenship? But if "Jose" is stopped, he has to prove he is a citizen, even if he is a second- or third-generation American?

If I am out walking my dog or just strolling the neighborhood, I don't carry my ID. But according to their logic, since it is not racial profiling, I would be subject to verifying citizenship.

I have several friends of Latin heritage who are as much citizens as myself, but according to the Arizona law, they would have to prove they are citizens. Think the same would be asked of me? Don't think so.

With that line of thinking, you are guilty until proven innocent. Seems a little un-American, don't you think?

Arlene Christensen

Murrieta

Medicine heading in wrong direction

You don't have to be as old as I am to remember when your doctor sat on his little roll-around stool and looked directly at you while you would tell him your problem. Doc was not admiring your new earrings or tattoo, he was evaluating all your tics, squints, blushes and blemishes, looking for clues to your real ailment, as they are still taught to do.

I first noticed the change about 12 years ago at the VA clinic when my doc started typing on a computer as he and I talked. I asked him, "What's up, doc?" He said the VA decided to go "paperless." They were forbidden to write anything down during patient visits. In a top-down-controlled outfit like the VA, an order is obeyed without question.

Now I see our family doc and specialists doing the same thing. Their questions don't follow what the patient is saying. Patient questions are ignored or the answer is not on point. This "paperless" office is going to cause health problems and soaring costs for misdiagnoses.

The next step is probably e-mailed symptoms and diagnoses with prescriptions attached.

Jim Tierney

Murrieta

Comments on commission

In light of my recent resignation and subsequent trial in the press, there are those who say the city should not have a developer on the Planning Commission. This is in spite of well-documented prior service from citizens like Steve Rawlings.

What was stated in the press was that I asked for something that someone else normally would not get. What I asked for was something that any Murrieta citizen should get, namely, a reasonable amount of street improvements in exchange for permission to renovate an existing building. Street improvements should not even be required to renovate an existing building. If anything, our project has received tougher treatment because I was a commissioner, not special treatment.

The Murrieta City Council should continue its direction of seeking input from citizens who work in real estate development. The expertise of architects, engineers, contractors and developers can be invaluable to the city. They know what is feasible and what is not — and that is necessary for informed and effective decision making.

That does not mean that the commission or council will necessarily follow their advice. My experience is that they are all fiercely independent and will make up their own minds.

Glen Daigle

Murrieta

A Marine response to the mosque

The writer can speak only for oneself. When a man or woman takes an oath to military service and wears the uniform, representing our great republic, it symbolizes what we believe in and are willing to die for, which is freedom and security. Protesters, your Constitution allows one to contest and picket the mosque issue. But not so in other countries like China and Thailand.

But know your actions are against what we American citizens, including yourself, stand for as a great nation and beacon to the world. As a suggestion ... you need to read, assimilate and comprehend "The American's Creed." ... The American's Creed expounds on our God-given entitlements. Men and women who now serve in our military forces will be "nunquam non paratus" ("never unprepared") to defend your rights of citizenship.

In conclusion, I hope every school district, organization, place of worship and parent will teach the profound words of the creed to our young future leaders who will succeed us. It's our way of life. ... Let us all be bearers of encouragement and hope (helping other people excel). ...

We are a nation of faith and hope. God bless America.

Don Krampe

Murrieta

Fix budgets now

Our representatives let us get into this terrible, devastating mess that we are in today. We hired all of the representatives to put everything in order and make this a successful and powerful nation again. We need a fix now, not in two years or more.

If all representatives, state legislators, governors, members of Congress, senators and state officials would work for 50 cents or zero pay for two months, I believe it would turn this country around and put us back on our feet again.

I sent this to President Obama and his reply was, "It will take two years or more." My reply to him is, "Simply answer my question: Will you all work for 50 cents or zero pay for two months, or do you want to keep all of your money?"

James Wingrove

Quail Valley