Why no advocates for single-payer?

When our senators on the Finance Committee meet to discuss various health care plans and refuse to allow single-payer advocates to speak or even to be represented, we can no longer call our system of government a democracy. This is what the Bolsheviks did to the Mensheviks.

When the American people elect their senators and the senators turn on their constituents and side with the drug companies and insurance companies, then we should be very worried. What does the Finance Committee have to fear by listening to single payer representative? It can only be that they fear the power of the corporations and their contributions to the senator's campaigns.

Madison Lang

Oceanside

San Diego's problems solved overnight

I awoke this morning realizing that last night I came up with a plan that solves it all here in Southern California. Having done a Navy career, I remembered my first ship, an aircraft carrier home-ported in Mayport, Fla., at what was called an "Aircraft Carrier Basin."

Here's the plan: 1. Build a three-carrier basin at Camp Pendleton where the landing craft air cushion operate out of. This solves two problems, one being bridge traffic and congestion in Coronado and the other being direct access to the open sea, which carriers do not have now at North Island (remember Pearl Harbor).

2. Since naval aviation would now be centered at Pendleton, combine North Island NAS and MCAS Miramar into one and also put it at Camp Pendleton. No more military aircraft flying over populated civilian areas. This would "free up" Miramar for the new San Diego International Airport.

The president is looking for "shovel-ready" projects, and this would be a whopper! Imagine the construction boon to this area, along with all the peripheral benefits. Instead of pouring billions into foreign ratholes, we could do something for America.

Mike Malone

Escondido

Children's books no longer innocent

It's a sad world when we have to screen all books our children select in the children's library. Sadly, I recently discovered children can't select a book in the children's section without "parental" screening to be certain books are child-appropriate.

Getting your first library card because you can now write your name is an exciting day for children. It's wonderful that a child is excited about going to the library to select "their very own books." What a disappointment to have to say: "Let Nana look at the book first to see if it is appropriate." How disappointing to discover I can't honestly tell her to pick out her very own books in the children's section.

On a recent library visit with my 6-year-old granddaughter, she selected "Uncle Bobby's Wedding" by Sarah S. Brannen, a book that began innocently enough. A story about the relationship between a little girl and her "Uncle Bobby." Unfortunately, it isn't until reading over half the book that you learn "Uncle Bobby," a male guinea pig, is going to marry "Jamie," also male.

It's a sad world when a visit to the children's library can't be an innocent visit.

Jeanne Bunch

Escondido

Fighting landfill wastes time, money

In response to the recent letter by Hershell Price (Letters, May 8), I ask: If we continue to allow special interest groups to control those who are willing to invest in San Diego County, won't they soon look toward other counties in which to spend their money?

Gregory Canyon Limited LLC, a privately funded investment group, has committed to spend millions of dollars to supply us with a safe, modern trash disposal site. Opponents are doing everything they can to stop these investors, using unfounded and inaccurate accusations.

The argument that the site is unsafe is simply not true. The voters of San Diego have already approved this site; the environmental studies have shown that the landfill is one of the safest in the world; the geologists have concluded that all that needs to be done has been done to protect our precious environment.

Mr. Price, tell us â€"â€" who is really behind your fight? With San Diego's financial situation in dire straits, it is absurd to turn away those who are willing to both serve our community's needs as well as add money to the bottom line â€"â€" all because of special interests. Mr. Price, please stop wasting our time and our money.

Gregory Valdez

Fallbrook

Our Fallbrook autocracy

In Fallbrook, we have an "autocracy" operating as Fallbrook Public Utility (water) District. It is run by an overpaid general manager, Keith Lewinger. … He shows up only a few days a month. We also have the board, an "old boys network," who will quickly tell you they only get $100 per meeting.

They don't want newcomers in because it might threaten the hidden benefits they receive for their numerous properties. This high and mighty group has relentlessly raised rates, with water being a "lesser" contender for revenue. I have tried since 2006 to raise the issue of a discount for low-income qualified seniors, but at the June 2008 meeting, one of the board members spoke up and said, "I don't want to subsidize old people!"

We should all be outraged, because we have no advocates at FPUD to help us achieve reasonable rates â€"â€" probably because the general manager wants to stay on the Fallbrook gravy train. We need to replace all these people …

Nancy Howland

Fallbrook

Reagan was prepared for the presidency

It would be nice if Tony San Miguel (Letters, May 16) knew what he was talking about. Reagan was probably the best-prepared man ever for the job of president. He was graduated from college with a degree in economics. He was president of the Screen Actors Guild for years. He did not serve as a congressman, but was a two-term governor of California.

He worked for General Electric for years when it was a wonderful company. His job was speaking to the people and listening. They were political speeches. He had enormous love for his country.

I knew Ronald Reagan. I had him as my guest for dinner.

Ronald Reagan knew the Constitution and didn't trash it, as is being done today. He also knew the job of president. He never said one thing today and changed his mind the next. He was prepared for the job.

My home is graced with his picture alone and one with my son. I am proud to say for Mr. San Miguel to denigrate such a man just exposes how small and ignorant he is.

Better to keep your mouth closed and be thought a fool than to open it and prove you are.

Bettie Heldring

Escondido

The Guvinator's big chance

With the apparent demise of the ill-conceived propositions, now Arnold is free to do what he promised us in 2003. He has nothing to lose; his precious "legacy" is already in the toilet.

He should declare insolvency, tear up all state employee union contracts and immediately shut off state funding of resources to illegal aliens and sanctuary cities. Next, put forward a plan that cuts all business taxes and fees by 50 percent, turns the sales tax back to 5 percent and includes a simple 3 percent income tax on every citizen in the state. Then develop and put forward a budget that is 10 percent less than the forecast revenue from these taxes, with any balance put in a rainy-day fund locked away from special-interest groups.

We need real change. As long as California is governed by the simple-minded puppets of unions and special interest groups, who create budgets based on what they choose to spend rather than what is obtained through reasonable tax rates, California will continue to drive high-earning taxpayers to other states.

When the only people left living in California are state employees, union teachers, politicians, welfare recipients and illegal aliens, who will pay the bills?

Robert Gladden

Oceanside

Editorial cartoons jog a pleasant memory

I would like to thank the North County Times for jogging a pleasant memory. The two editorial cartoons today on the Iranian A-bomb bring to mind a job I had with a Los Angeles firm in 1979 that was designing a nuclear reactor for the Shah of Iran.

I remember how the Shah had spoken on how Iran's petroleum reserves would deplete some day, and it needed a backup energy source. This made sense to everyone back then, and still makes sense to me now.

Again, thank you for jogging a pleasant memory of when our man, the Shah, was paying us lots of money to build a powerful new reactor.

David Goodman

Escondido

Bilbray, Issa vote against schools' future

The article "Schools to receive millions in stimulus funding," May 13 should have noted this was achieved despite efforts by Republicans Brian Bilbray and Darrell Issa. They tried to kill the measure. Their "no" votes on the stimulus package are now exposed as grossly irresponsible.

They are so out of touch with California's fiscal emergency, exacerbated by budget proposition failures, that the public is now caught between an incompetent California Legislature and a "we don't care about you" Republican congressional delegation.

Fortunately, stimulus monies passed by a Democratic Congress and approved by a Democratic president now serve as a safety net for local school budgets. More than $40.8 million is going to help school districts in Encinitas, Escondido, Fallbrook, Oceanside, Poway, Ramona, San Marcos, Vista and Valley Center.

As the report points out, these funds will help soften further state education cuts. Parents and teachers should remember that Bilbray and Issa voted against our students' futures. It is clear their priorities are elsewhere.

Perhaps they are busy purifying the Republican Party. Is Rush Limbaugh, or retired Gen. Colin Powell, a "real" Republican? Dick Cheney picked Limbaugh over Powell. Whom would Bilbray and Issa pick? I hope this newspaper gets an answer.

Robert Tormey

Escondido

Democratics don't champion socialism

Of late, the Letters page of the North County Times and the diatribes of various conservative pundits have been freely salted with talk of socialism and the Democratic Party. Here are a few observations:

For the sake of credibility, those who rail against socialism should be required to present documentation that they have eschewed Medicare and Social Security benefits for themselves or their elderly parents. Integrity would seem to demand that they forgo state-supported police and fire protection as well.

The Democrats, to their credit, have provided documentation. Congress recently shot down legislation that would have provided a modicum of protection to working people facing foreclosure on their homes. This comes after these same legislators voted to hand over billions of dollars to incompetent banks and mortgage companies. Lawmakers also voted to gut new regulations on the usurious practices of credit card companies. Democrats were instrumental in rescuing these financial interests from the demands of decency and fair play that wage earners are required to live by. Thus the notion of the Democratic Party championing socialism is either the result of naivete or a lie worthy of Joseph Goebbels.

Jeff Brownlee

Vista

Budget process needs reform

Voters, myself included, sent a resounding message to the California Legislature: The budget can't be done piecemeal at the ballot box.

Now, will Democrats in the state Legislature take the golden opportunity that has been handed to them? Rather than live with the devil's deal they made with Republicans, they should hammer home to voters this message: All budgetary and revenue issues should be decided by a majority vote in both houses. Simple as that. No more two-thirds rule to pass a budget. Time to give power back to the majority of Californians, and take it back from the state GOP dinosaur that would like nothing better than to see California go over the cliff.

Rachel Rott

Vista

Not a Republican, no longer a Democrat

If I wanted to allow guns in national parks, I'd be a Republican.

If I wanted to block the closing of Guantanamo, I'd be a Republican.

If I wanted to slow or stop cap and trade on carbon dioxide, I'd be a Republican.

Since the Democratic leaders in Congress â€"â€" specifically, Sen. Harry Reid and Rep. Nancy Pelosi â€"â€" won't support their own party, I am no longer a Democrat.

Today I became a dues-paying Green Party member and registered to vote with the Green Party.

Richard Allen

Carlsbad

Why do we need bloated military?

I just looked at this year's dollar amount for the military and was floored: Why do we need such a bloated military?

The U.S has at least 7,000 intercontinental ballistic missiles pointed at the "enemy" around the world, plus submarines with nuclear warheads that no one but a select few know where they are, and you add all the guns that are in this country. Who in their right mind would invade this country?

I could only hope that President Obama calls on the scientists and engineers of the big defense contractors to come up with new ideas and inventions that would benefit our lives and the world, instead of new ways to blow stuff up â€"â€" we have already perfected that. Let's try something else for a change.

William Musser

Oceanside