Conservatism failed at every turn

Between 2000 and 2006, with all three branches of government under their control, American conservatives were finally able to implement everything they'd claimed they could do if only they were in charge.

The results have been uniformly, completely and devastatingly awful. The economy, the culture and our world standing have all been dealt crushing blow after crushing blow under the corrupt and incompetent reign of the conservatives. Iraq. Katrina. Enron. Deficits from surpluses, spying on Americans, torture, lies and secrecy.

The reign of conservatives has been nothing but unmitigated disaster. And for all those who thought, well, any politician would do it - the fact remains that these ones, Bush, Cheney, Lott, Boehner, Powell, McConnell, McCain, Rice, et al., were the ones that did. They've failed at every aspect of governing, from the high-minded ideals (destroying U.S. credibility as arms-control leaders, peacemakers) to the basic oversight and service aspects (Enron, subprime, FEMA). Everything they've done has been a failure.

Garth Hansen

Escondido

Global warming is never going to happen

With record and fatal snowstorms in southern China, California and the Northern U.S.A., the media have been silent for the last week about catastrophic global warming. By 2015, it will be obvious that it's never going to happen! Let's hope they haven't caused disastrous economic damage before Al Gore and his fellow fearmongers slink back into their holes with their tails between their legs.

Ralph 'Pete" Peters

Encinitas

Paper ballots can be verified

In regard to your article "Out of touch: Voting machines sit idle," Feb. 4: I am very glad to be voting with paper and pen. I don't care if it "delays" the result. I was one of the people who could not vote when I tried to because the machines did not work the first time.

The fact is that the paper-and-pencil method of voting can be verified by anyone, and computers can be manipulated and are only understood by a few people.

I am sorry to say, but our county supervisors simply made a big mistake, for whatever reasons, in buying $31 million worth of voting machines in 2003. But it is better now to accept the fact that it was a mistake, and move on with methods that everyone can understand and that will keep our democracy a little more transparent for as long as possible.

John Poceta

Cardiff

Republicans borrow and spend

President Bush has presented to Congress a $3.1 trillion budget - a budget we cannot afford. And his proposed budget does not include all the money that will be needed for the ongoing wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Fearful of raising taxes, the Republicans continue to pursue those wars using borrowed money. The size of our national debt is growing at an unprecedented rate of about a billion dollars a day. Twenty-two percent of the national debt is owed to foreign investors, with China holding a significant and ever-growing share.

It is time to send the borrow-and-spend Republicans in Washington home and replace them with some fiscally responsible Democrats who will reduce spending by ending the war in Iraq.

Jerry Wallingford

Rancho Penasquitos

Hostility comes from those who oppose group

Regarding letters complaining about the Minutemen: The hostility toward the Minutemen jumps right out of the comments, such vitriol. Take a chill pill. They're just doing a "job Americans won't do."

I read with interest and some humor that Caltrans was denying the freeway cleanup area due to the hostility surrounding the Minutemen. Now I realize that the hostility surrounding the Minutemen is from the groups and people that oppose the Minutemen.

Randy Williams

Carlsbad

Special interests rule the day

It is a pretty sad day in local politics when four out of five councilmen and (I stress men) clearly state their intentions on how they will vote on an issue before they have even listened to the citizenry.

As stated in a recent article ("Industry Street's future up for debate," Feb. 2), "Industrial businesses such as Robertson's are likely to continue to have a place on Industry Street." What's that tell us, guys? Your campaign donors are more important than us average citizens who live here. Oh, please, don't let us be such a burden to your campaign donations. Why waste our time and belabor our points of why a concrete plant is bad for this location? You have already made up your mind, or should I say the lobbyists and special interests have already made up your mind. …

Forget us meager citizens who can't afford to donate the big bucks. The likes of Feller and Kern need the big special-interest campaign money to run their $100,000 campaigns so they can put out all their glossy campaign jargon of how the Republicans support them. People, when you see these big campaigns and glossy fliers it should be telling you something. That special interests don't care about the citizens, they only care about themselves.

Rick Kratcoski

Oceanside

Picture shows desecration of the flag

I was surprised and disappointed that you would desecrate the American flag with the picture on the front page of Sunday's paper ("Vying for the youth vote," Feb. 3). There is an official protocol for displaying the flag and wearing is not appropriate.

There are many ways to display the Stars and Stripes without wearing the flag itself.

It might be well to publish the executive order to help educate our young people and remind the rest of us of the proper display of this symbol of our country and our freedom, including the right to vote. Many have fought and died for this freedom.

Paul Sautter

Fallbrook

U.S. flag should never be used as a blanket

I cannot believe the girl on the front page of the A section using a real flag for a blanket ("Vying for the youth vote," Feb. 3). She probably feels patriotic getting students to vote as she wraps herself in the flag with part of it touching the ground. Disgusting, and also illegal. Surprised no one there, including your staff photographer, showed her the error of her ways.

Ronald Ford

Valley Center

English language being bastardized

Why is the English language being bastardized? People use the F-word so commonly. It's bad enough that we use "ya know" and "like" so much. People can't speak a complete sentence without using these words three or four times.

Here's more! People speak from the "lectern" and stand on the "podium." The phrase "much less" is stupid and contradictory - is it much or is it less? Don't they mean "far less"? Gender is not the sex of a person - it is a feminine or masculine classification. A male can have a feminine gender and vice versa. There is no Democratic Party - it is the Democrat Party. Democratic refers to a political form of government.

The word "unique" is abused constantly. Do not use any adverb with "unique" - it means nothing else like it in the universe. Something is unique or it isn't. When did we all become "guys"? Females should be offended!

The media is guilty of twisting our language for many years and proper journalistic education has failed to stay above the level of the street. All this texting does not help, either.

Trent Hamlin

Vista

You can't get there from here

Well, you can, but it will cost you. El Camino at Crest in Encinitas has become an annoyance. Now we must drive two blocks out of our way just to cross the street! Can you imagine the planning this took, and at $3.29 a gallon?

Let's get this fixed, and don't let the kids play with the computer anymore. OK? They didn't do it? Oops! Our neighborhood did not vote on this.

Marge Loller

Encinitas

Books offer sanity on global warming

A letter on these pages recently recommended the novel "State of Fear," authored by Michael Crichton on the subject of global warming. It is a great book. Furthermore, I would recommend "Unstoppable Global Warming," by Dr. Fred Singer, an environmental agricultural scientist. This book explains the natural comings and goings of global cooling and warming. It presents documented scientific data that are highly reliable.

Additionally, I recommend "The Skeptical Environmentalist,#" by Dr. Bjorn Lomborg. He has challenged the references of several major environmental reports and shown that improper conclusions can be reached. … All three of these books will give the reader a better understanding of the threats of global warming and the potential human endeavors to adjust our cultural and economic activities in that regard.

With a better understanding of the facts, you can prepare yourself for the onslaught of the movies such as "An Inconvenient Truth,#" social environmentalists and politicians who are trying to change your life to stop global warming. Perhaps the best response to human-induced climate change may be actions that would adapt to it in combination with responsible, economically beneficial reductions in greenhouse gas emission.

Robert Smith

San Marcos

Obsession letters are boring

Perhaps Fidel (Jay), the obsessed ex-Marine, should change his nickname to Fidel (retired ilk) (Letters, Feb. 5). Seems appropriate to me. Anyone agree? Millions of us have served proudly in the military, but manage to get over it.

At the same time, Junious Montgomery should strive to get past his obsession with the Clintons (Letters, Feb. 3). Both of their letters get rather boring over time.

Bob Frazier

Oceanside

Local districts suffer from state budget dilemma

The recent state budget problems infiltrate many modes of California activity. Education will certainly experience its share of financial stress. Vista Unified School District has some very difficult choices to mitigate the financial impacts, as was made clear at a recent board meeting. Hard choices need to be made, and previously forecasted deadlines may not be met.

Opening the Mission Vista Magnet High School may need to be delayed in order to avoid personnel layoffs. The approximate $2 million costs would most likely lead to teaching staff reductions. This would be a step backward in view of the advancement made in the past two years in students' education. Test scores have exceeded previously set goals and students who were previously in danger of failing are now succeeding.

After many years of system failure in education of many Vista students, success is at the district's fingertips and more of its schools could come off the state watch list. It would be most unfortunate to sacrifice this victory for a school of 500 students. Let us hope the wise decision is made.

Joan Brubaker

Oceanside

Health care system needs to be reformed

It's such a shame how much easier money is heard over what is right. It's never right to do wrong to get a chance to do right. We get it, we all get it - just do it, make the change. Cover all, reform all and build a system to support all. Please!

I personally have health care, but my health care limits me in regard to how much freedom I have in my career and life, as well as my future and savings for my future, if the cost of my health in the future doesn't take that away.

Darrell Parker

Escondido

Ramona continues to be a great community

How do you say thank you to a community that responds in a heartbeat to a call for help? Whether the need be shelter, a new fairgrounds or park, food for the hungry, permission to enter a grocery store with a young 4-H guide dog puppy in training or a friendly wave when the Kiwanis Club is directing traffic off Main Street because the community is having a parade, the response for help is usually, "when, where and how can I help?"

We were really surprised when the Chamber of Commerce Recognition Committee selected us for the Lifetime Achievement Award. Whoever the "detective" was researching our past activities did a great job, as we didn't have a clue!

When we arrived in 1960, Ramona had a population of about 5,000 residents and was a closely knit community. Today we're pushing 50,000 in population and the personality of the community has proven again, after the recent fires, how much they care about their neighbors and are showing the same closely knit attitude we had in 1960.

Thank you, Ramona, for your very generous award. We will cherish it forever.

Gordon and Donna Zick

Ramona

Will arming of governments ever end?

The letter "Half-truths, distortions, fairy tales," Feb. 5 was half wrong.

Paul Wolfowitz reprimanded Congress for "not understanding" why we attacked Baghdad. It was because he thought Hussein violated U.N. Resolution 1441. But it's impossible to violate 1441 without possessing mass destruction weapons that were functional and deliverable. Hussein possessed no such equipment before the invasion (we had sold him some in the '80s, and then we obliterated them in the '91 Gulf War). He allowed the world to believe he had them, hence our attack was justified in some people's eyes, but nowhere in the half-truth letter was that explained.

Colin Powell issued the last best orders for our forces in Iraq, and that was to vacate in 1991. He long ago apologized for believing, and restating, the idea that Iraq violated U.N. resolutions that would require our military intervention.

Now, precision-guided missiles are sold to foreign dictatorships without congressional approval, making Iran-Contra look saintly in comparison. Without reprimand, where does this anti-George-Bush weaponization of foreign governments ever end?

Richard

Sauerheber

San Marcos

Hillary will say anything to get elected

Presidential candidate Hillary Clinton says that she might be willing to garnishee the wages of workers who refuse to buy health insurance to achieve coverage for all Americans! Garnishee our wages?

Just like our governator, she must have not read our Constitution. Forcing Americans to buy any product smacks of a Marxist/socialist regime rather than our representative republic that utilizes free-market capitalism as our economic system.

Her willingness to disregard the very Constitution she will be sworn to uphold should she be elected is a dangerous indicator that she has absolutely no understanding or respect for America. Forget Democrat or Republican; she will say or do anything to get elected!

Walter Dobrowolski

Oceanside

A closer look at fascism

The word fascist is thrown around from liberals at conservatives and from conservatives to liberals, often without mention of what it means to be a fascist. Fascism is anything that puts the nation, state, and sometimes race, above the individual. Fascism is whenever the government, majority rule, national security, corporations and the like become more important than citizens.

History has many examples of fascism: the followers often wore the same color shirt and did long marches in front of their leaders. They worship national symbols such as flags and past rulers. They have scapegoats: If only they could take care of an undesirable portion of the populace everything would be better.

And if only they could close their borders, things would be better. Fascists historically put progress above all else. Economic or military successes are so much more important than the environment and civil rights. In war, fascists or their children never do the fighting. Instead, they send the sons and daughters of their supporters to do their work, and when those children die, they glorify their sacrifices.

I'm sure from that we can all think of some current and past fascists, domestic and foreign. Next time you throw the word fascist around, whether in print or in person, take into consideration what a fascist actually is.

Kenneth Eby

Winchester

Vote no on fee increase in Temecula

I recently received my "Official Ballot for the Temecula Community Services District Rates and Charges" for perimeter and slope maintenance.

I have been a resident of Temecula since 1990 and I'm very pleased with the great job the city has done with our parks and landscaping. Temecula is one of the most well-maintained cities around. However, this ballot requests permission to nearly double the cost over the next seven years to each homeowner in the zone that I live in. I hope you all do the math, it's a 12 1/2 percent annual increase in the first year and slightly smaller increases each of the next seven years. Then, beginning in 2015 there would be a maximum 5 percent annual increase.

This is just wrong and a no vote is appropriate. I would gladly approve a reasonable annual increase to keep up with inflation, but this is just another government money grab. Vote no!

Robert Ingertson

Temecula

Some folks had the right things in mind

We keep hearing about how the local retailers did not have a real profitable year because of the general public's lack of high-dollar spending this last holiday season. Have they already forgotten how so many gave, sacrificially, of their money to provide food, water, rents, vehicles and services and so much more after the fires and other tragedies. The retailers will no doubt recover their losses, in higher prices; the people who lost homes and possessions and family members will never recover their losses.

I'm so thankful many sacrificed their Christmas spending on themselves to make life better for others; they are to be commended. Love and caring is far more important than buying "things." Thank you all!

Pastor Mary Plies

Sun City

Killing the coyotes not the answer

I can't believe I saw this ad in our local Greensheet on Jan. 2: "Coyotes a problem? Removed during winter hunting season. Excellent results." And then a phone number.

I didn't know "bounty hunters" still existed, much less advertised their services!

Our local coyote population in rural Wildomar disappeared "strangely" and we were plagued by field mice, rats and all manner of vermin. The rabbit population has burgeoned to numbers where they are starving from lack of adequate vegetation to support their numbers. There have been no predators, no coyotes, for the last four or five years or so. Now I know why: This "hired mercenary" was on the prowl.

Now I know we do indeed live in an age of apathy, disrespect of our environment and natural resources. With these "services" we are disrupting the delicate balance of nature by removing predators and allowing the prey species to proliferate. We know as we've lived here for 33 years in peaceful coexistence with all -- even at one time a resident mountain lion in the late '70s, killed no doubt by such a "bounty hunter."

I miss the early morning baying of our coyote neighbors.

Dianne George

Wildomar

Web Comments

Plans advance for Leucadia highway improvements

Readers respond to our Feb. 8 story about a Superior Court judge ruling that former MiraCosta College President Victoria Munoz Richart must testify under oath about her $1.6 million settlement agreement reached last summer in a closed-door meeting with college trustees.

Bring her back

Dave: Could it be that when Richart and her attorneys claimed that her reputation was damaged the board agreed? And had they overstepped the ground, you can not defend it in a zealous way or any way! You just have to shut up and pay up.

However I think they should nullify the contract and bring back Victoria as President. It seems funny that there are not a zillion posts before me. But it is a school holiday and the teachers are at home doing personal things, that is compared to being at school doing personal things.

Pushing for Page

Randy: Will Page announce his candidacy for the MCC board of trustees?

President Page?

Paul: Leon Page for MCC president.

Learn to play

What?: The only reason I could see the board paying this kind of money is if they thought they could be forced to pay a lot more if it went to court. They need to straighten up and learn to play well with others.

Plans advance for Leucadia highway improvements

Readers respond to our Feb. 8 story about plans to beautify a 2-mile stretch of North Coast Highway 101 advancing as design consultants addressed the Encinitas Planning Commission and a staffer announced dates for public workshops later this month.

Keep it funky

leucadiadel: I'm just simply so sad to wake up and read this. This strip of Encinitas and Leucadia is classic, well-loved and rootsy. Keep Leucadia funky. Leave some of the history. Local residents have been so deeply hurt and frustrated with local change, including the recent loss of 100-year-old Cyprus and eucalyptus trees. Even my ten-year-old can't believe the rapid change (for the worse) in our little Leucadia.

Don't forget

Jackie: The plan better eliminate all the freeway cut-through traffic and re-establish the tree canopy along the local roadway. If these two things are not addressed, it's a waste of time.

Simple roadway

John: I agree. Respect the long history of the roadway. Return it to a one-lane roadway as it was for centuries not just a mere 60 years. Let the businesses, pedestrians, bikes and plants have some room in the right-of-way. It's a local roadway and it's not about regional commuter needs. The commuters should use I-5 as intended.

Put a stop to it

davo: They need to lower the speed limit on Pacific Coast Highway and add more stop signs to stop Carlsbad residents from using it as a cut through.

Sounds good

JP: We fought redevelopment and the eminent domain that went along with it, saying the whole time a Mainstreet program with a streetscape was the way to go. We won and it's happening. This is the best way to keep Leucadia rural and functional in the twenty-first century.

Ducheny urges CSUSM faculty to start talking new taxes

Readers respond to our Feb. 8 story about State Sen. Denise Moreno Ducheny urging professors at Cal State San Marcos to start thinking about new taxes during a campus briefing on the state budget. Ducheny's visit to the campus came on the heels of a declaration last month that the state is in a financial emergency.

Innovation 101

Mateo: How about the CSUSM focusing on education and delivers a talented work force which will powers the regions economy? Increase regional business investment to expand high-impact programs such as nursing, bio-science etc., No taxes, build the university into an incubator for high demand industry such as solar power, wind energy. NO taxes. Drive innovation. Earn philanthropy endowments.

Money matters

Holdon: We citizens are already over-taxed. There is more than enough tax money for government to do its job. The government just needs to spend the people's money more wisely. What kind of message does it send to look for new ways to tax people? Isn't this government supposed to be for the people and not for the government? We need to get rid of "leaders" like Ducheny and replace them with fiscally responsible people.

Is she new?

What?: Where has Ducheny been the past 6 months - in Siberia? Doesn't she see the real estate mess, the pending recession, stagnant economy? This is a politician who has lost touch will reality. Hey lady - get a job and stay out of my wallet!

Wildomar cityhood a reality

Wildomar cityhood a reality

An article Thursday about election results confirming that Wildomar voters had overwhelmingly approved cityhood prompted some reaction:

Local control

Already: (Councilwoman-elect Bridgette) Moore said, "I think some people didn't understand what 'at-large' meant." This goes to show you the way things are going to be if you don't agree with them. … Just wait until you speak up at a council meeting. You will finally realize what local control really means. …

Too small

Jon: Districts? How will that work or make any sense in a city with 12,000 registered voters? Sure you can divide the 12,000 into five districts but less than 4,800 actually voted and that is considered a good turnout! It doesn't make sense to have a district with less than 1,000 people voting. Wildomar is too small for districts.

Future ballot

looking forward: I think most of Murrieta's present and ex-city and school councils are heavily invested in Wildomar. There should be some real leadership (familiar names) on the ballot in the future.

People power

Lest We Forget: "By The People, and For the People." These council people were elected to do a job (and) the voters decided the way it needs to (be) done. Take it or leave it. Now, it is easier to recall these people "by districts." … Now, the people have the power over Wildomar's destiny -- not special interests.

System works

Wildomartian: Listen, everybody, if only a small handful of voters determine the outcome of an election, then the fault lies with the lazy, whining, nonvoting majority. That's how the system works! Shame on them! I, for one, am glad "by district" was approved and don't live in B. Moore's district.