Letter writer contradicts himself

Greg Force is all for a Chargers stadium in the heart of the San Luis Rey river valley in Oceanside (Letters, June 24). On one hand, Greg dismisses thousands of residents in the vicinity as "the usual suspects" whose lives would be harmed by this monstrosity, let alone the arrogance of Chargers officials to publicize this nightmare.

Force concludes it's OK "if it can be worked out among all the parties." Kind of a contradiction, as that will never happen. Wonder if Greg is a season-ticket holder.

Joseph Worth

Oceanside

Ban guns before alcohol

Alcohol is no longer permitted on the beach in Solana Beach. Permanently. It is one of the last San Diego beach towns to impose this law. Just another law nailed into the coffin of caution. So absurd!

I think all the cities should lift the alcohol ban. You want to attract tourism? Then make it fun for the people who visit our beaches. How delightful to have a nice cold beer or glass of wine on the beach with a picnic when you are visiting from North Dakota!

Think about this from an ideological standpoint. In 2006, there were approximately 30,900 gun-related deaths in the United States. Think about the tragic incident in 2006 when police officer Dan Bessant was shot to death by a teenager. Advocates for gun control are repeatedly knocked down. I can't stand to see the billboards for the gun show at the Del Mar Fairgrounds. It is sickening.

Our civic-minded society will do backflips to ban alcohol, but not guns. I don't get it.

Michele Arnesen

Solana Beach

Come back to earth

What planet does Richard Crews live on (Letters, June 22)? To propose government as the solution to economic problems defies history.

All the world's prosperous countries encourage entrepreneurship with free markets, recognizing there are varying degrees of "free markets."

The most notable recent examples are China and India, which had strict government control of the economy until a few years ago. When government restraints were removed and markets were allowed to function with relative freedom, the economies boomed and the people prospered.

Granted, these markets are not as free as they could be, but they are sufficiently free to achieve the benefits of entrepreneurial enterprise.

This country achieved its greatness because of capitalism. The problems we are facing now are more the result of government meddling rather than capitalism's failure. So the solution is less, not more, government in our daily lives. …

What both GM and Chrysler need to survive is a leader with the knowledge of the automobile business and the energy of a Lee Iacocca, and for the government to get out of the way.

Glen Holzhausen

Fallbrook

Oceanside does not value pedestrians

Why do cars in Oceanside have priority over people? The city closed the beachfront road from Breakwater Way to Wisconsin Avenue for the day on Saturday, June 20, so the community could enjoy a car-free environment for couples riding bicycles, babies in strollers, parents walking with their small children, joggers, seniors strolling and dog walkers. It was nice for a change to hear the waves and children laughing instead of the usual loud music and smell of exhaust from the usual parade of cars cruising.

We love to walk, but we place our life in our own hands to cross Coast Highway, even at a green light. In nearby Carlsbad, a speeding ticket is guaranteed if a car goes beyond 30 mph. No doubt this helps the Carlsbad economy as well.

Every morning on my way to work, I see motorcycle police sitting and waiting. Why does Carlsbad value its pedestrians and tourists more than Oceanside does? It would be so nice for so many reasons to make our beach area more pedestrian-friendly and safer.

Ann Marshall

Oceanside

Boxer disrespects a military general

It is always interesting to hear another foolish statement from Barbara Boxer. Boxer, who has worked so hard to become a senator that she is now entitled to disrespect a brigadier general (for not calling her senator) on national television! This just shows how isolated from the real world some of our elected officials are.

Maybe it is time for Barbara to become "resident Boxer, former senator." No one should respect our military leaders more than elected officials.

Gary Munck

Fallbrook

Need to study to understand their votes

I, like many North County Times readers, read the section on how our senators and representatives voted on specific bills. I will admit I also questioned why a certain legislator voted a particular way, when in my opinion, they should have voted just the opposite. My mistake is forming an opinion solely based on the bill's title and not knowing the full contents of the bill as presented.

Curious as to what prompted a particular vote, I went the respective Web sites for the House and Senate, and though not easy to find or wade through, I often find clauses or wording that could alter the way I might have voted. The title alone can be misleading and may sound good on the surface, but may also have some negative content that is not appropriate.

I urge those who want to make a difference to take the time to read pending legislation and contact your legislator with your opinion before a vote. That applies to both federal and state. Remember, we vote them in to represent us, so voice your opinion to those who represent you before a vote.

David Lumpkin

Vista

Appalled by raspberry to volunteer fire crews

Re: "The 'Time to Hang It Up' Award," Roses and Raspberries, June 22: Some people are old at 55 or 60, others are not even slowing down at 70 or 75. Every case should be individually evaluated. Seems like I can remember a county volunteer chief who remained in service very effectively until he was in his 80s.

I am appalled by your award, but the crews at the station are not. They send their thanks and say they will eat those raspberries on their cereal.

Maybe it is time for younger, fitter neighbors to step up and protect their community. Those who do are the greatest, but they are few and far between in the distant backcountry. Our generation was taught to give, theirs to take!

You might check your facts on the San Pasqual Fire Department chief. Restrictions are being lifted on the 50 pounds and the breathing apparatus. Oversight was the reason the restrictions were still there.

Kay Ward

Escondido

Socialistic health plan will be damaging

Americans love our independence and have always resisted any governmental attempt to take it away and subject us to being incapable of making our own decisions and choices for better things! That's why we should realize how damaging the Obama administration's socialistic health care plan would be if they manage to convince us that it is a good thing!

This plan would defeat the purpose of good health care in many ways because it would reduce benefits, be inferior, inefficient and unreliable. …

Obama's plan to reduce Medicare … will result in less coverage for seniors (and) cause long waiting periods for medical care, even for emergencies. …

For those on private care, Medicare and Medicaid, care would have to be rationed and costs contained, according to predetermined budgets. State health care programs and facilities cover those without insurance now, except illegal immigrants (who can get emergency care).

Paying for a plan run by a fiscally irresponsible government would further bankrupt us and our future generations and be a disaster for all of us.

Republicans have a much better plan, if they can get this Congress to consider it!

Marcy Young

Oceanside

Enter 'Obamacare'

And so it begins! Millions of senior Americans who paid into Medicare will now face rationing. The Wall Street Journal reported a National Institutes of Health study stating that Americans don't deserve breakthrough diabetic oral medications, but could revert to injecting insulin. And we don't need stents to hold heart arteries open, as medications may suffice (http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124441644145192397.html). Tell that to someone that just suffered a heart attack!

Enter "Obamacare." Americans should be deprived of medical advances and step back to mediocrity.

We're blitzed by government-dominated media attempting to haunt us with 45 million uninsured. … If we provide government-funded health care to illegal immigrants, millions more will flood across our borders, crushing our medical system and pushing taxes to unbearable levels.

Are there American citizens who require help? Certainly.

Is "Obamacare" their answer? Absolutely not!

The answer? Send illegal immigrants home. Their native countries should provide for them.

This would free up funds to cover American citizens who are truly uninsurable by expanding Medicaid.

Problem solved! Bombard your congressmen. We can do this!

Bradley Kaskin

Escondido

Nuclear power still fiscally sound answer

In response to the Community Forum by Mary Oren ("Solar power clean, affordable energy source"), June 23, I would like to point out that the only reason Mary's "real financial solar facts" work for her is:

1. Solar panel costs are heavily subsidized by other ratepayers and taxpayers, and 2. The cost of electric power from SDG&E is ridiculously high (around 15 cents per kilowatt).

The real solution to clean energy and low costs is building more nuclear power plants, which have a record of being safer and cleaner than any other form of energy production. They have the potential to produce electricity at close to 6 cents per kilowatt.

I object to taking money from the less fortunate and giving it in the form of subsidies to those who are well off. Every year, some Americans die because they can't afford to cool or heat their homes. We can do better than 15 cents per kilowatt.

I believe we should be building a system that benefits all citizens. Do you?

Lowell Dunn

Fallbrook

Hospice works, saves health care dollars

With Congress pushing to have health care reform legislation finalized by the end of July, it seems appropriate to highlight the part of the health care sector that works, namely hospice. Hospice is part of the solution for patients and their families, as well as a model of cost-efficiency and high quality health care. Hospice is a Medicare saver.

An independent study done by Duke University in 2007 found that hospice reduced Medicare costs by $2,300 per patient, which is a savings of $2 billion a year.

Hospice, a well-established approach to comfort care, has enabled countless people worldwide to die with dignity. However, there is a misconception that hospice is only for the last few days of life. The hospice benefit covered by Medicare, Medi-Cal and many private health insurances, provides coverage for no less than six months, allowing patients to remain at home and receive maximum comfort and care when diagnosed with a terminal illness. …

If patients are able to receive timely access to hospice services after a diagnosis, they would receive high quality care and the financial burden on the health care delivery system could be eased. Hospice is a solution for patients, families and the national health care reform.

Liz Sumner

director, The Elizabeth Hospice

Center for Compassionate Care

Escondido

Recession a blessing for school systems

In regard to "Budget crisis forces deep cuts at Calif. schools," June 22, the author did not get it right. He stated that the school system went downhill after Proposition 13. Having raised seven children in California schools over a period of 37 years, our school system went downhill long before 1978.

Many parents don't care about their children's education.

Schools are nothing more than giant babysitting facilities. If parents wanted their children to be educated, they would instill respect for teachers. Many of today's high school students are unruly and can't wait to get out of school when they reach age 16.

These unruly adolescents cause a dumbing-down of the class academics, causing those who truly want an education to be shortchanged. Drugs also became rampant after 1965.

Those students who want to further their education can go to junior college as I did, as I could not afford a four-year college. With this recession, many parents can't afford a four-year college.

Perhaps this recession will bless us with an overhaul of our school system, and put the priorities where they belong.

Walt Meier

Carlsbad

Who is this man?

He vowed that he will destroy the United States. Are we unwittingly doing his bidding? Will his cunning ways lead us to our own demise? Are we being fooled and bringing ourselves down?

Why do we persist and assist in this destruction? Isn't there already ample evidence of where we are headed? Who is this man? Do you know who he is? Is he working alone?

Wake up, America.

Howard Sharpell

San Marcos