Readers of the North County Times and The Californian

Rule of law must be observed

While watching C-SPAN and the debate in the Senate over the recently approved legislation by the Senate Judiciary Committee on immigration reform, I noticed that many senators told stories on how their great-grandparents and grandparents came to this country from the Old World to seek a better life here in America; Kennedy and Leahy just to name a few.

I, as well as many others, would like to know, did they come to this country the legal way through Ellis Island or did they jump ship and swim to Brooklyn? Most likely they came here the legal way, as should everyone wishing to make a better life here in America.

The rule of law is the backbone of our country, and to ignore it creates anarchy and lawlessness, which leads to civil war and the death of this great nation.

RAY CARNEY

Fallbrook

Legal immigration needs to be fixed

We have been hearing a lot about illegal immigration lately. But none of that goes to the root problem. We have a seriously broken legal immigration system.

Some people say the illegal immigrants should just take the legal avenue and become U.S. citizens. But our immigration law makes most completely ineligible, and those lucky few who have a chance still have to wait for up to more than 20 years (depending on their category). Even highly skilled teachers, engineers and doctors have to wait for up to 10 years.

Families are torn apart for decades. That's quite an incentive for illegal immigration.

Fix legal immigration, make it possible to immigrate and become a citizen within a reasonable amount of time, and the problem with illegal immigration will become a non-issue.

KEVIN KEANE

Oceanside

Marches highlight growing problem

The recent marches by local and truant students highlights one thing: that illegal immigration is widespread and a volatile problem.

One thing that strikes me is that these protesters are criticizing the legal citizen's rights to have the American laws upheld. Rational people understand that they are not free to pick and choose which laws they do and do not obey. Illegal immigration is illegal, and this invasion is clearly lowering the standard of living for all of the American citizens. While America once needed immigration to build the country a few hundred years ago, we currently do not have the resources to continue government services to noncitizens. Think to yourself how much better the schools and health care would be for us citizens if illegal immigration was halted. Lastly, the demonstrators were chanting their allegiance to Mexico and waving Mexican flags while disrespecting the police and school administrators. If that is not a sign of an invasion, I don't know what is!

MARK LAMBSON

Encinitas

Welcome to Mexico

America's new know-nothings are the little geniuses who've recently marched out of government schools, waving the flag of another country, to protest what? Most didn't have a clue but, like good little sheep, they did what they were told to do by the Spanish-speaking media. &#8220Viva la raza," they chimed, while wearing their chic Chez Guevara T-shirts. Gee, how profound!

Did the Mexican government ever provide these juvenile protesters with an education, jobs, medical care or housing? Of course not. Yet they stroll around waving the Mexican flag as if it did.

Here's an educational hint to the protesters: American culture, ethics and constitutional standards built this country into the mecca it is. Not the government of Mexico. Burning the flag of the country that made their lives better will never change that fact. For all this, we can thank our own socialist teachers unions and vote-buying political hacks. Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely.

Well, misery loves company, too. Welcome to Mexico!

SANDEE ENRIQUEZ

Fallbrook

Vote for Morrow for Congress

Recently I attended an exemplary breakfast forum sponsored by the Rancho Santa Fe Republican Women Federated featuring all 14 GOP candidates running to succeed our former congressman in the 50th Congressional District election on April 11.

It was an excellent format, and all candidates were afforded equal time, except the one who arrived late and was only given time for his one-minute closing remarks.

All presentations were more than adequate, but, in my opinion, one stood out as the very best to be our next congressman based on the following: Bill Morrow held a forum at Carlsbad High School in August 2005 regarding illegal immigration. He is strongly for lowering taxes and will represent us with dignity, hard work and a dedicated spirit. His extensive background as a captain, Marine prosecutor, an assemblyman and a state senator show the experience necessary for Congress.

Bill Morrow will be able to deal with the serious issues facing our country and our congressional district right now, and in the immediate future.

Vote for Bill Morrow to go to Congress. You'll be glad you did.

BETTY GAULT CORDOBA

San Marcos

Do we want more of the same?

Even while we still suffer from the mistakes of the old Johnson bloc, a new bloc has taken over. When Mayor Jim Wood, the new bloc &#8220head," doesn't want Rocky Chavez to speak, he simply calls for a recess. Oceanside's roads are in despicable condition, seniors are being trounced on, and Cox has converted four channels to Spanish only, taking Channel 15 local news away from basic cable in violation of their contract with the city, with no prior notice/public input.

Even when the forest formed a dam in the riverbed, requiring urgent action, our council seemed to forget that in 1993, only emergency measures prevented a flood. Meanwhile, Mayor Wood watched as the government delayed action, forcing them to do a careless job before the birds came back.

La Missione Restaurant, an extraordinarily beautiful example of Spanish architecture, will be demolished. Gone forever! Tell me why our council is destroying the beauty in our community, while preserving the ugly. In November you have a chance to turn this trend around. You can re-elect Shari Mackin, with her endless union support that is bankrupting Oceanside, or elect someone with no political obligations, who will not simply play follow the leader as a bloc player.

JUNE KRISTAPOVICH

Oceanside

No apology, please

In response to Aida Norris' March 25 letter, &#8220Letter insulted Marines, sailors."

I most certainly will not apologize. I pay taxes for Miramar, have been all my life. What's it there for? To protect my border? Nah.

At some point, I expect the Joint Chiefs of Staff to take George Bush out behind the woodshed, drop his drawers and flog at will. The border should have been secured Sept. 12, 2001. Get my drift?

It's high time the Navy and Marines quit loitering around the chow line and start protecting this nation. If Bush can't do better than this, dump him too.

Bring in the Army. This has nothing to do with enlisted personnel.

GLEN LARSON

Ramona

It is not racist to follow laws

It is neither racist nor insensitive to advocate stronger measures to stop illegal immigration. Amnesty didn't work the last time and has no better chance of working this time. Anyone who wants to immigrate legally has to use the established legal process. Get in line!

JACK ANDERSON

Oceanside

Black students defend truth, history, honor

Re: the March 25 story, &#8220Thousands rally for immigrants' rights." I wonder how many readers saw the photo on A-3 showing L.A.-area high school students marching through Los Angeles waving Mexican flags and protesting immigration enforcement legislation under consideration in Congress.

There in one photograph was America's future: thousands of children of Mexican migrants - many whose parents no doubt are here illegally - falsifying (as illegal immigrants are wont to do) their status as victims of oppression and racism, while cheapening (as illegal immigrants are wont to do) the civil rights struggle of African-Americans.

Luckily, at one high school, black students jumped a group of Latinos as they left class to join the march. As one severely brainwashed classmate ironically observed, &#8220It's ridiculous that a bunch of black students would jump on Latinos like that, knowing they're just trying to get their freedom." Those black students were the only Americans on duty that day defending truth, history and America's honor, what little of it remains.

DOUG BELL

Rancho Penasquitos

Be careful what you wish for

This letter is for those of you who keep harping about the telephone tapping between terrorists outside the U.S. and people (maybe terrorists) inside the U.S. I take it you will accept another 9/11-style attack just so you can maintain your privacy?

STEVEN MELCHER

Escondido

Students need to stay in class

With all of the students protesting the immigration bill that targets illegals and not understanding it, they need to stay in class. Why do they run around wrapped in the Mexican flag? If they are that much in love with the flag of the country of origin, and so upset about mine, why are they here and not there protesting the corruption of that government?

Wait until you get out of school and find out where your taxes go. What about the ones who did it legally? You're spitting in their faces. It's good to be proud of where you come from. However, you need to be allied with your new country. I hear that &#8220they" do the labor that Americans won't or don't want to do. If we need people to work the fields, get the welfare lifers in there to do the labor. We're paying for it one way or another. I'm tired of people demanding full rights when they come here illegally. If I go to Mexico illegally, I am in deep trouble.

The U.S.A. is in some deep trouble and we'd better get a grip. I don't want the U.S.A. to be a Third World country, but one that is from all of the world with freedom and laws to protect and legally.

HOWARD BRENNER JR.

Poway

Proposal to sell city resources is a travesty

This letter is in response to Mayor Jim Wood and Councilwoman Esther Sanchez's proposal to sell Marina Towers and denying the bidding process for city-owned property. Shouldn't this go to the highest bidder? Sanchez consistently wanted to keep the sale of the Marina Towers secret, only to be discussed in closed session, and did so for two years, to quote Councilwoman Shari Mackin. This is a Brown Act violation.

It would be a steal for the existing tenants, effectively giving away city-owned property without anyone knowing, for pennies on the dollar, far below market value.

The California Coastal Commission has legislation that went into law years ago to protect the coast, in part to prevent unchecked development, and was designed to protect the coast for our future generations. It appears Wood and Sanchez are proposing the direct opposite. Who suggested to Wood and Sanchez that to sell off this scenic protected public land was even an option or, moreover, legal?

LAWSON CHADWICK

Oceanside

It's called education

Apparently one Sharon Dean of Oceanside (Letters, March 17) is outraged that students at Madison Middle School are being taught abstinence. Since when did teaching students to not have sex become politically incorrect?

First, Pregnancy Resource Center were not intruders, as Dean indicated in her letter. They were an invited group. Whether they are a religious group or not is beside the point. The group was not there to teach religion. They were there to provide education. I hardly call such an intrusion.

As far as signing abstinence agreements goes, this is done in an educational environment, thus the agreements are not legally binding. It is simply an educational tool. And since the students are in a school, reading assignments would seem appropriate.

I will remind parents that these kids are in school to learn, and their rights have not been violated. Nor is it indoctrination. It's called education.

Parents who do not wish to take advantage of our free public schools may choose to pay for the private school of choice, or better yet, home-school your kid. That way you won't have to worry about your kids being violated or indoctrinated.

DAVID SPRUILL

Vista

Students denied fifth-grade camp

I'd like to say that Bobier School has overstepped boundaries by sending one letter notifying parents at the start of the school year that students will not get to participate in fifth-grade camp because the school feels the school days (five) away at camp affect the poor rating the school carries with the state.

Their other reason told to me was that &#8220only 25 percent of our students can afford it." What a bowl of hogwash. Don't take away the children's fun experience because of the poor running of the school. The school hasn't been run with qualified people on board for years (14), which has left the students to lose real-life experiences of joy. There is enough time for growing up. Get real.

TERRI MacADAM

Vista

Republicans on road to fiscal insanity

Re: &#8220GOP falling short of promises of spending restraint," March 14.

Does anyone still believe the old cliche that Democrats are tax-and-spend economy crashers, and Republicans are fiscally responsible, small-government zealots?

Let's review. Clinton raised taxes on the wealthy and cut taxes on the poor. Every single Republican voted against this plan, many predicting a dire recession, but the Democrat-controlled Congress passed it. The result? Growth was so rapid that there was concern that we might pay off our national debt too fast. Clinton left office having created millions of jobs and a $230 billion budget surplus. All this while reducing the size of government to the smallest since Kennedy.

What did the Republicans do with this amazing surplus? They spent it, then they spent it again, then they spent it again. Four times they have had to raise the debt ceiling to allow themselves to borrow more money from our grandchildren. It's obvious that supply-side economics is a crock. We need to return to demand-side economics. Ordinary consumers with money to spend will create more manufacturing demand.

Give the Democrats control of Congress and start on the road back to fiscal sanity.

DOUGLAS CREWS

Oceanside

Be aware of hospital policy

This is a letter to inform you all of a possible hospital policy that our family just learned. Our mother was admitted to the hospital by a specialist.

We called another of her specialists and informed him that she was in the hospital. We kept wondering why he never came to see her. After a major crisis, we learned that we had to ask the admitting specialist to contact the second specialist before he would come.

So please tell everyone you know, if a family member is admitted to the hospital and a patient/family wants another doctor to also see them, you have to ask. Any doctor other than the admitting doctor has to be asked by the primary/admitting doctor before they can come and see the patient.

I asked Palomar Medical Center what their policy was, but have not heard back. Please be aware of this type of policy so all patients can continue to have good care by all their specialists.

DEE CONCANNON

Escondido

Powerlink won't move us into the future

Sorry, but I have to admit I believe the Sunrise Powerlink is just Sempra's route to higher profits. We need a 21st-century solution to the problem of energy production and delivery in San Diego. We are in a volatile moment in history, when our physical world is changing. We need to change with it, but the Powerlink does not guarantee this new age security, it only touches on it. While we would only pay 10 percent for the Powerlink, we would still be burdened with the cost of our energy. When we pay a lot for a trendy thing, it goes out of fashion in the next year, and we just want something else later.

Jim Avery said that he didn't know how long the Sunrise Powerlink will be able to meet our needs (&#8220Powerlink plans all about balance," March 26). I wonder if he's willing to stay here for the long haul and live with the results. It is costly, destructive and controversial. It doesn't move us into the future very far.

MARY ALDERN

San Diego

Stop the raids at schools

Re: the March 22 story, &#8220San Marcos parents voice concern over alleged immigration enforcement." I agree with the whole ICE operation, get those crooks and gang members out of here. If INS would accept a donation in paying for a one-way ticket I would donate to the cause. I also agree that INS raids have to be done. But what occurred at San Marcos Elementary was after the whole ICE operation.

Granted, during the ICE operation the individual happened to stop in front of the school. The authorities handled the situation well and prevented any incidents from occurring. Everything that occurred was after the ICE operation was completed. Immigration makes it a policy not to have raids near or on school campuses, but this time they did.

My concern, and the concern of parents, teachers and members of the school district that I talked to is that INS raids are always going to happen, that's part of their job. The point that we are trying to make is not to have spur-of-the-moment raids near or on any school campus during school hours.

After clearing the whole incident with the sergeant that supervised the whole ICE operation in San Marcos, we are building a bridge in order to address the issues that are affecting the community.

RAY LOPEZ

San Marcos

Food, cigarette zealots not the same

I read Mr. Walter Williams' column in the North County Times on March 22 (&#8220Obesity zealots consume liberties"). I simply cannot understand how he can equate the zealots of the tobacco industry with the zealots of the food industry. There is absolutely no comparison.

The tobacco companies deliberately lied to the American people about how addicting their products were. They manipulated the amount of nicotine in the cigarettes and led us along with false advertising that they particularly aimed at youngsters. I remember how I started smoking at 13 - the tobacco companies sent out reps to schools and gave out free trial packs to the students. Everyone (just about) at that time smoked. There was no age limit to buy a pack of cigarettes; there were no warnings.

I am a victim of their cunningly deceptive practices. Ten years ago, when I was 51, I had to have one entire lung removed due to lung cancer. Two years ago, I started battling lung cancer in my remaining lung. I never made an adult, informed decision to smoke. I was a child and there was no information, and anything said against tobacco was immediately refuted by big tobacco. Obesity is a problem, but not in the same way as tobacco. The tobacco &#8220zealots" did the right thing.

LORRAINE SPRUNG

Vista

A modest proposal

The Bush administration is selling off more than $1 billion in public lands, lands that are owned by you and me, to raise funds. I suggest he sell off his Crawford Ranch and donate that money to his rural school fund, to put his money where his mouth is.

Why not write President Bush, the White House, Washington, D.C., to find out how serious he is about funding education.

JACK PAXTON

San Marcos

Hardworking Americans pay most taxes

After 40 years of being in business, I've learned quite a bit about taxes, and my advice to the bottom 98 percent of taxpayers is don't make major changes in the system or you'll get screwed. Realize the top 1 percent are going to make the new rules to their benefit. Don't fall for schemes like the flat tax.

The truth is taxes are simple for working people. The complex part of taxes for the rich is determining how much money you've made and using all the tax breaks available to your best advantage. The super-rich can save millions by doing so.

Did you know that in 2006 a hardworking employee with taxable income of $50,000 a year would pay a much higher tax rate than someone who made $100 million on stocks they owned for just over one year? The super-rich have too many ways to avoid taxes. The bottom 98 percent should fight to eliminate this injustice.

I was surprised by the adverse reaction I had from friends on this subject. I can't understand why people who are fortunate enough to make money with investments believe hardworking Americans should pay a higher tax rate than themselves. They should realize their investments are worthless without hardworking Americans.

JOE MARTIN

Oceanside

Cal Lutheran's standards OK with parent

In a recent lawsuit against California Lutheran High School in the expulsion of two girls for un-Christian character, it's obvious that your reporter and Mike Grace, the lawyer for the girls' family, have a lot in common: They know how to distort the truth. Your reporter's bias in being the mouthpiece for Grace is obvious in her reporting -- or is it just her agenda being met? My daughter attends California Lutheran High School and next year I'll have two there. I chose to have them go there because of their goals to promote high morals, good Christian character, high academic standard, and a super sports program. I spend a lot of money sending her there so she doesn't have to deal with problems like they have at the local high school where a girl reportedly was raped in the bathroom. I by no means am a homophobe, but I am sick and tired of having it shoved down my throat in movies, commercials, books and TV.

In this society of "whatever makes you feel good is OK," it's fine, just don't force it on me and my family and ask me to embrace it. As for the character assassination of Pastor Bork the reporter should rethink her source and her notes, as should the editor. Report facts, not opinion and conjecture.

RORY RAUSCHENBACH

Wildomar

Now it all makes sense

Since our government has enforced our immigration laws about as well as our traffic laws, we end up with a lot of bad drivers along with a lot of people who aren't supposed to be here. No wonder traffic here sucks.

CHRIS FRY

Temecula

Show U.S. respect with Stars & Stripes

I am a Mexican-Native American. I am 29 years old and I am an American. My parents were born in San Diego County. My grandfather is the only one from Mexico. He is now 83 years old, and I am so proud of him. He became a legal citizen about 10 years ago.

When my grandfather and other older immigrants came to this country, there wasn't a welfare system like there is today. My grandfather worked hard for his money to support his family of 11. He paid his taxes and he did the honorable thing to pay back the country that gave him so many freedoms -- he became a citizen.

I would say I'm on the fence with the whole illegal immigration debate. I understand people are coming to this country to make a better life for themselves, but the people here are suffering due to welfare and medical expenses being handed out to illegals. On the other hand, next time you pick up some fruit at the store or go to get fast food, you may see the prices have gone through the roof -- who else is going to do these jobs?

I saw images of students protesting from local high schools and I was a bit disappointed. By all means, protest; you have that right here in America. But could you at least hold up the American flag instead of the Mexican flag? You're fighting so hard to be here, at least respect the country with that.

RACHEL MARANO

Temecula

Residents should help support parks

Marna O'Brien Park is being completely remodeled. I know there are concerns that the problems that existed before will continue once the park reopens -- that will not be the case. The parking has been expanded to nearly double the previous parking and the park is no longer designed just for playing baseball. There are picnic areas and open grass areas, a walking path as well as a nice playground, all designed into the new park.

There is another change as well. The Little League has opened a Little League ballfield next to the cemetery. Marna O'Brien Park will not be the soul supporting location for Little League.

The assessment being presented in August is not just for the support of the previous parks, either. Our community has grown. The assessment is to maintain additional parks beyond Marna O'Brien. By adding more parks to the community, we can make parks friendlier and less crowded. The problem before wasn't the park, it was not enough parks.

Please vote yes on this August's parks assessment. Help us bring to the families of Wildomar the parks our community needs.

JOHN LLOYD

Committee chairman

Wildomar Parks Formation Committee

Wildomar

Citizens need to do their part

If people are serious about stopping or at least slowing down the flood of illegal immigration into the United States, they need to do their part, too.

This includes not hiring undocumented workers to mow your lawn, clean your house, paint your property, repair fences, etc. This also must include not using businesses that utilize undocumented labor. Those businesses that do use undocumented labor are often able to charge less for their services, making it difficult for businesses who hire citizens and/or documented workers to compete for work.

When the jobs dry up for undocumented workers, there will be less appeal for them to cross the border.

JAN CLARK

Temecula

'Neighbors' have rights as well

With great incredulity, I read Ms. Suzanne Zychowicz's latest diatribe on March 28 for the "open roads" position she -- though not many others -- espouses. Apparently, Meadowview residents shouldn't be allowed to ride horses, walk or even take our toddlers out for a walk in their strollers.

And now she is talking about installing sidewalks, street-lights, one-way segments and no parking zones to "correct hazards" and improve quality of life for the "whole" community. I would like to know who this "whole community" is. Is it my almost 900 Meadowview neighbors, who specifically moved into our neighborhood to enjoy our natural, equestrian, open-space lifestyle? Or is it a few folks who cannot accept a long-thought-out decision by our city leaders to keep the Meadowview roads the way they are?

Now ponder the term "circulation." By definition, circulation means "to move in a circle, or circuit," which can be thought of in traffic terms as using arterial roadways built to handle the volume. Circulation does not mean taking "shortcuts" through the middle of the circle, as Ms Z. would like to do, since she did indicate this is a "very local problem."

And, finally, Meadowview roads are not built to current city standards and cannot support any more traffic without major redesign, at huge expense to our city, and with great negative impact for Meadowview property owners.

It seems no matter what, the status quo is not acceptable to a certain segment of the populace, and that disappoints me. Apparently, we can only be considered "neighbors" if we agree to have some more roads built and have our lifestyle disappear forever

JOE KRIEGER

Temecula

Web Comments:

Rain appears to slow student protesters

- NCTimes.com; March 31, by Craig TenBroeck, staff writer: Light rain seemed to be dampening the spirits of some students who were on the move again this morning, although others were continuing their protests of proposed federal immigration laws despite the change in weather on the anniversary of Cesar Chavez's birthday.

Kids: &#8220Kids don't care if the school is losing money, they are gonna be out in a couple years anyway. They don't see a dime of that money, so why should they care? No gathering in Oceanside, I guess they acted up just to get out of school.

DMann: &#8220I saw an interview yesterday with Mexico's President Fox. He says the illegals are not illegal, they are migrants, so Mexico is helping them come into our country. Mexico's economic state is in shambles from corruption and bad leadership. But instead of fixing their own country's problems their solution is to send them to America and make them our problem. The reason I see that people are angered by the Mexican stance on this issue is that most of the illegals do not want to be American, as all other people have that have immigrated here since immigration began. It's a good thing to be proud of your heritage, but you should be proud to be an American first and foremost."

Protesting on Chavez Day: &#8220What a bunch of idiots. Do they know Cesar Chavez was against illegal immigration? Just makes them look ignorant"

Maria: &#8220It's hard to believe that all of these students whom I've seen while substitute teaching in Carlsbad and Oceanside limply and slowly navigating the track to fulfill their daily dose of exercise can make it as far as they've done in these last few days of protesting. I guess that cements the idea that students need real-life activities that connect them to the curriculum."

Robert: &#8220California would crumble without illegal aliens. I can't imagine a bunch of white boys picking vegetables, can you?"

So Cali Native: &#8220I am an American of Mexican descent. My ancestors were here when it was just the Indians and Mexicans in the Southwest. I am against all illegal immigration for all of the obvious reasons, which many of you have mentioned above. I am veteran and have served this country proudly and hold the highest standards for patriotism. I now am being stereotyped as being a descendant of illegal immigrants from people who don't know any better. The Mexican is a proud race and have been suppressed for decades by the rich. Education is key and these demonstrations should be held during appropriate times and not on school time. Viva America first and Viva Mexico second - that is the way the flags should be aligned. "

Stand Up: &#8220Oceanside and Vista had no school today and they still marched. It's not an excuse to ditch school if there is no school to ditch."

Dianne: &#8220The kids that protest peacefully are the ones that earn respect. But don't take my flag from my home because you don't like it. Do it peacefully."

Terry: &#8220I am tired of the racist names. If you don't get your way you call it racist? White boys can't pick fruit? You know who would do the work? The 1 million legal Latinos. The guys who waited their turn. And guess what? They would do it for better money and working conditions because there would be no illegals sneaking in and working for cheap."