The Mexican government vs. you

The Mexican government, led by Felipe Calderon, is launching a full-scale assault on the sovereignty of our country and our right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Their greatest concern is, of course, the American people's call for the U.S. government to enforce immigration law because American citizens are hurting from the tax burden, the reduced quality of schools and the increase in crime that is directly related to illegal immigration.

The Mexican state of Sonora drew first blood when nine legislators traveled to Tucson in mid-January to try to stop Arizona's new employer sanctions law. Now, I have extended family that lives in Arizona and they said that the quality of life for the average American has improved there thanks to the new law and to Sheriff Joe Arpaio. …

The Mexican government has a problem with the quality of life of the average American improving. Wake up to this, because that average American could be you!

Brian Berg

Rancho Bernardo

Our one-bullet Fife

Peachy! Inept George has found an excuse to scratch his trigger finger ("Attempted shootdown of dead satellite could happen as soon as Wednesday," Feb. 20). Disabled spy satellites. Hmm.

While I'm no advanced calculus major, by my calculations a 5,000-pound satellite traveling at a thousand mph in an unknown trajectory can surely be destroyed by a super-duper long-range missile fired from a ship. I'm sure some Ph.D. has got it wired. Problem is, somehow I get the feeling the guy pushing the button is going to be wearing a flight suit (George) and leather jacket.

Note to all neighboring countries. Wile E. Coyote's umbrella never stopped the anvil. Look out, Iran. Hope Barney, oh, I mean George, pushes the right button. Exit stage wrong.

K. Mark Miller

Carlsbad

Who makes up the Coastal Commission?

It would be most interesting, and informative, to see an article about the people who make up the state Coastal Commission. The commission is not an entity; it is a small group of real people, with names and backgrounds and possible business interests.

Seems like they go out of their way to block efforts to build a nice hotel near the beach in Oceanside. One cannot help but wonder who these members are and why they are so adamant about blocking the hotel. One wonders if there is a financial consideration involved. Is someone (or more than one) on the commission being paid off to vote no so often? Could it be some person or entity along the coast but outside of and near Oceanside is using money or other rewards to fend off the nice hotel?

An investigative reporter might turn up some surprising information.

Hank Jordan

Oceanside

Reverse the cuts in Medicare

I urge you to do all you can to make sure Congress reverses the proposed 9.9 percent cut in Medicare payments to doctors now scheduled for July 2008. As you will recall, since the sustainable growth rate formula came into play in 2002, Congress has failed to correct the problem. Rather, Congress has chosen to Band-Aid the situation by extending the mandated cuts 12 months at a time. …

The cuts, in payments to doctors, will devastate seniors' and military beneficiaries' access to health care by encouraging even more doctors to refuse Medicare and military Tricare patients. Military beneficiaries are affected even more severely because Tricare rates are capped at Medicare's and, in many cases, even discounted below Medicare's.

This issue is a particular problem for retirees, survivors and Guard and Reserve families who don't live near military installations. In many areas, health care providers already refuse Tricare patients. If you recall, Tricare does not have the same penalty provisions of Medicare.

Please do all you can to ensure Congress reverses the Medicare/Tricare rate cuts now scheduled.

Donald Pierce

San Marcos

Competition saves us money

Regarding, "San Diego to prohibit Wal-Mart superstores," Nov. 29, 2006: These City Council members obviously have never had to live on a fixed income. If they have, they would know how nice it is to buy groceries considerably less at a Super Wal-Mart, and not from these monopoly stores here that take every last dime you have just so you can have something to eat.

If you have a problem with Super Wal-Marts, then don't shop there. It's as easy as that. Continue to shop at your mom-and-pop stores if you're afraid they are going to be run out of business. And are Vons and Ralphs really mom-and-pop stores? If they want to survive against a Super Wal-Mart, then they will just have to lower their prices. It's competition and it saves the working class money.

Scott Greenwood

Santee

End the Clinton dynasty

Hillary Clinton touts her experience in politics, including her eight years as co-president, as they put it. Does this include their support and signing of the NAFTA agreement in 1994, which cost the United States millions of jobs? Or was it their balancing the budget on the backs of our military and intelligence departments and the immoral and adulterous actions of her husband? Was it their inaction on persistent attacks on the U.S., our military, our embassies and, of course, on the World Trade Center?

One of the biggest problems facing this country right now is our open border, which will eventually destroy us if not controlled. What is her solution on that and the war on terror? All I hear is when she gets in office that she will provide change. If the change she can provide is based on her days from Arkansas to Washington, it's very scary.

The unions and many other Democrats must feel at least she has firsthand experience on what not to do, but that's not what I want in an incoming president. The party of FDR needs to step up and put an end to the Clinton political dynasty and nominate someone with integrity and a real concern for this nation and its citizens.

Dave Perrine

San Marcos

Sensible people believe in saving species

In response to Mr. Bob Sheard (Letters, Feb. 15) on the subject, "Endangered species do not deserve our help": This is probably the most moronic Letter to the Editor I have come across in the North County Times since moving here 15 years ago. Fortunately, Mr. Sheard is becoming the endangered species, as most sensible and informed people believe that it is increasingly more imperative to reverse the damage that society is doing to the environment, endangered species of all kinds, including plants and living creatures, [for] the future of mankind.

What does this man propose that these efforts and money be spent on? The pointless war in Iraq, more government waste on earmarks attached to almost every bill that goes in front of Congress or supporting societies around the world that constantly violate human rights, destroy their natural habitats and resources, along with challenging the global community regarding nuclear ambitions? Not to mention the loss of American jobs these societies create through cheap, forced child labor. …

Where is Mr. Sheard's common sense? He ought to be ashamed of himself.

Robert Ottmar

Oceanside

New therapies for healing patients

I read with much interest your article on the new rehabilitation practices ("Wii-habilitation - Doctors use games for therapy after strokes, surgery, even combat injuries," Feb. 17). As a new nursing student at the University of San Diego, it is beneficial for me to be able to learn about the new techniques and arising strategies for providing motivation as well as therapy for patients.

Within the second semester of nursing school, we have been introduced to alternative methods of therapy for our patients. It is intriguing that doctors have found a way to merge new technologies, such as video games, with physical therapy. I think that this emerging idea, which allows for physical therapy to be enjoyable rather than painful or boring, is beneficial to patients.

Most people dread the slightest medical procedure, but by providing therapies that are more relaxed than traditional PT, we are able to create a much calmer environment for the patient.

The more pleasurable these types of activities are to people, the more willing they are to participate, and even heal quicker. As nurses and people in the health care industry, we need to be able to think outside the box in order to find new techniques for healing patients.

Chrissy Wattanaporn

student,

University of San Diego School of Nursing

San Diego

Try a movie the critics hate

If you are a little weary of the nonstop political coverage by all aspects of the media and yearn for a brief respite from it all, might I suggest a movie? Oh, I'm not recommending the current offerings of blood, guts, car crashes, sex, profanity, nudity and a general mix of mayhem and madness. You can easily identify which lines at the theaters will lead you to the top-rated flicks, each guaranteeing to jump-start your pacemaker and raise your blood pressure.

If violence isn't your thing, seek the shortest line. I have found over the past few years that films that receive the poorest ratings from the critics are oftentimes quite excellent. "The Bucket List" is one of those films. Starring Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman, the few people viewing it were completely captivated by their performances and touched by the deeper message it conveyed. Unlike the other selections, it left us with a feeling of peace. Try it, you might like it.

Jo Anne Jones

Vista

Privacy is overrated

I want the U.S. government to listen in on people who are talking to terrorists. I am disgusted at and tired of people talking about their privacy. Privacy be damned if you are talking to terrorists.

Lila Harrison

Encinitas

Letter writers seem to enjoy being wrong

Fidel and Junious are at it again (Letters, Feb. 17). They seem to enjoy being wrong. Let's look at their latest bile.

Fidel should be embarrassed for voting for Bush, not once, but twice. Just because Bush wasn't impeached doesn't mean his crimes aren't impeachable. It means Congress is gutless. As for visiting military hospitals, we have seen in the news how this administration treats veterans. And, yes, I will give Fidel credit for admitting to voting for a former drug user, not once, but twice. He is also a recovering alcoholic. Junious' letters ramble on with no logic to them. Hate letters are all they are. …

Thomas Cowan

Escondido

Killings by gunpeople on the increase

The NRA says gun owners are law-abiding. Since we have 90 guns for every 100 people, this would be great if it was true. There are so many killings, they no longer make front page news.

Three reports were on the Back Page of the Feb. 9 North County Times: A woman in Baton Rouge, La., killed two students and herself at Louisiana Technical College. Police said her reason was unknown and she had no criminal record. In Los Angeles, Edwin Rivera shot and killed his father, two brothers and a SWAT officer and wounded another in a standoff that ended when a SWAT sniper killed him. He had mental problems, which did not prevent him from acquiring his weapon. In Kirkwood, Mo., a gunman, upset with civic leaders, stormed City Hall during a council meeting and killed two policemen and three others before lawmen fatally shot him.

On Feb. 15, one did make the front page. Steven Kazmierczak, armed with three handguns and a shotgun, walked onto the stage of a packed lecture hall at Northern Illinois University and rapidly killed five students, wounded 16 and committed suicide. Two of his weapons, a Remington shotgun and a Glock 9mm pistol, were purchased Feb. 9 from a federally licensed dealer. …

Will the gunpeople repeat their argument that the victims were to blame for not carrying guns to defend themselves?

Joseph Grant

Oceanside

We need to honor peace treaty

"There shall be firm and universal peace between the United States of America and the Mexican Republic, and between their respective countries, territories, cities, towns and people, without exception of places or persons." That is Article I of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo that ended the Mexican War. It is not how many of your letter writers feel today. If Nicholas Trist, the U.S. negotiator, had done his job as he was directed, Baja California would be part of this country.

Not many encourage lawlessness, and all should be concerned about the numerous illegal drivers who pass them on the freeway at unlawful speeds, fail to halt at stop signs, run red lights, drive drunk and make unsafe lane changes. Those illegal drivers, each year, will kill [thousands of folks] on our highways, injure hundreds of thousands and cost billions of dollars in damages.

During Prohibition, many kept illegal beer, wine and hard liquor at home for their own consumption. Most religious training teaches that you should love your neighbor and help those in need. So it costs a few million dollars to give physical care and education to our uninvited guests. We have given billions to Musharraf in Pakistan (no wonder he doesn't want to give up leadership), and have not received much in return.

Robert Upp

Solana Beach

A German racial slur?

As a proud German American, I am offended by the term used in Wednesday's Editorial headline, "Jerry-rigged". It is obviously used as a double-meaning with the Jerry Brown article, but the implication is clear. This is a low-brow, derogatory term used during the WWI and WWII war-era years to describe Germans. … Unfortunately this crude racial term has clung on and survived over the years.

Double-entendres can be fun when used cleverly, but this editorial used it as a silly, stumbling racial slur to make a cute headline about Attorney General Jerry Brown.

Paul Marx

Escondido

New therapies for healing patients

I read with much interest your article on the new rehabilitation practices ("Wii-habilitation -- Doctors are using video games for therapy after strokes, surgery, even combat injuries," Feb. 17). As a new nursing student at the University of San Diego, it is beneficial for me to be able to learn about the new techniques and arising strategies for providing motivation as well as therapy for patients.

Within the second semester of nursing school, we have been introduced to alternative methods of therapy for our patients. It is intriguing that doctors have found a way to merge new technologies, such as video games, with physical therapy. I think that this emerging idea, which allows for physical therapy to be enjoyable rather than painful or boring, is beneficial to patients.

Most people dread the slightest medical procedure, but by providing therapies that are more relaxed than traditional physical therapy, we are able to create a much calmer environment for the patient.

The more pleasurable these types of activities are to people, the more willing they are to participate, and even heal quicker. As nurses and people in the health care industry, we need to be able to think outside the box in order to find new techniques for healing patients.

Chrissy Wattanaporn

San Diego

Association election a success

Our elections were a major success not only for the candidates but for all of the members, too. This was one of the largest responses to an election that we can remember. The highest vote count went to the candidates who ran for having a manager or management company help run our association. This was Jim Rzepka, Edna Rae Bogut and Susan Carreiro. They all want to bring our association back to the members so we all have a say in how things are run and money is spent.

They will need our help and input to get things started, so please come to the meetings each month on the first Wednesday at 7 p.m. and the third Saturday at 1 p.m. I've heard rumblings about wanting meeting days changed, so come and tell them when you want them. Let's start now to sign up for committees so we all do our part to help. Sign-up sheets will be in the office and at the meetings.

Pat Thurman

Sun City

It's time to stop throwing money at Iraq

As of today, we've spent more than $495 billion in Iraq. With the economy in the tank, think about what that money could do here at home.

As long as we keep pouring that money down the drain in Iraq, we'll never solve our economic woes. We won't have the money to take care of people hurt by the economic downturn or to invest in making our economy more competitive.

The recession is going to force states to cut back their budgets. Most likely, the cuts are going to affect the services that working families need and depend on.

Meanwhile, the war is costing Americans more than $338 million per day. That money could be spent to help out the folks who are hurting most now. For less than what we're spending on the war, we could pay for affordable housing for hundreds of thousands of families, healthcare for children or scholarships to help folks pay for education.

Gas prices are close to double what they were before the war began. The cost of oil is still hovering around $100 barrel.

We're borrowing millions upon millions every day to finance the war in Iraq. Our skyrocketing debt will be a bigger and bigger drag on the economy -- slowing recovery and burdening future generations.

Mark Justice

Temecula

Who's to take care of the older generation?

Pope John Paul II rose from the death bed and, with help, went to his balcony to give the world a last message. "Be good to your elderly and infirm." And thereby lies a tale.

Many of us in the area have "hung up our keys" -- meaning we no longer drive. We are not of the "pantry hand-outs," but capable of buying food at the "piggin-out" markets. With no friends or family in the area, this poses a dilemma. For me, twice a month, it becomes scary. The old adage of neighbors stopping in to say, "I'm going to the market. What can I get you?" is passe.

There's food for thought a plenty. Food for the soul, which is communion. But food for the tummy -- nobody cares.

Lorraine Graham

Murrieta

Web Comments

Poway scales back affordable-housing project's density, height

Readers respond to our Feb. 22 story about Poway housing manager Ingrid Alverde saying an affordable-housing project planned for Old Poway will be less dense than originally envisioned and will consist of town houses rather than apartments.

Catch the bus?

Walt: Exclusively subsidized housing so I assume car ownership and garages will not be allowed. Will mass transit facilities have to be extended to handle the residents' travel?

Less!

Do you hear Escondido City counsel?: Less low cost housing - not more!

In need

Some of us: … need low-cost housing. Market rate rentals are just too expensive when you earn minimum wage. Even if you work two jobs. Not to mention food, gas, electricity, insurance, etc. I say open up affordable housing to not just the very poor, but to families making slightly higher incomes, but who still can't afford market rate rents. Not all families who live or need low cost or affordable housing are bad tenants, neighbors - many of us are citizens.

Other places

RobertM: There's plenty of low cost housing in places like New Mexico, Iowa, Kentucky, Indiana, etc. Everyone does not have to live in Southern California.

EUSD board OKs retirement bonus

Readers respond to our Feb. 22 story about Escondido Union School District trustees approving a plan employees eligible for a one-time bonus if they notify the district by March 26 of their plans to retire before the next school year. Bonuses range from $1,000 to $500 with the higher bonuses going to earlier notices.

United we fall

OMG: Can't we give a bonus for early retirement without union approval? Can't we give teachers bonuses for better performance? Oh yeah, teacher unions can dictate their compensation policy. Ah, the value of unions …

Empty piggy bank

Bonus?: How can the State of California afford to give the retiring teachers a bonus??? We are broke.

Figure it out

Union member: Just so you know, OMG, that IS the value of unions. At least you recognize it, even if you don't understand it. And Bonus, they give senior (high-paid) teachers a $1,000 to retire and then save many thousands by hiring junior (low-paid) replacements.

Not tempting

A teacher, home sick with the flu: How can this even be viewed as an incentive to retire? If a teacher is considering retirement, he would be looking at his monthly retirement income to decide if he could afford to retire. If working for another year or two boosts that monthly income for the rest of his life, how on earth would being compensated with $1,000 be any incentive to hang up his teaching career earlier? What's going to happen here is that the teachers who were already planning to retire will turn in their paperwork and each get an additional grand in their pockets.

Offensive

Randy: A $1,000 bonus to retire early - are you serious? This is an insult to our intelligence!

Wrongful death suit filed against Vista, county

Readers respond to our Feb. 22 story about the family of a parolee who was fatally shot by sheriff's deputies in a Vista mobile-home park in 2006 filing a federal wrongful death lawsuit against the city and county.

Easy case

bill: Seems pretty cut and dry to me. A convicted felon, charging at deputies? Perhaps the family is taking out their frustrations out on the city of Vista. The deputies just want to go home to their families in one piece. It's easy to play the race card in any situation when a minority gets shot by the police. Come on, enough already with the tired race-bating game.

Responsibility

Me: This guy sounded like a real gem. He had been in trouble with the law before and was a parolee, so he did time. He knew not to reach in his waistband. He was not a good boy and brought all this on himself. The cops shot him and now his family wants our tax money. I hope this family sinks every dime they have into lawyers and loses the case. Way to go Sheriffs - keep up the good work.

Rock and hard place

Slappy: Sad as it seems, when you read the article this man was a violent person who was threatening his own family. When he charged the deputies and was reaching into his waistband, he left them with no options. This same family would be suing the city if the deputies would have not dealt with him and he hurt his family. This is a no-win, sad situation, but I do not see how the city or Sheriffs dept. could have done anything other than use deadly force.

Critical review of Temecula annexation on tap

Readers had this to say about a Friday article on a draft environmental report being released in relation to the Temecula City Council's proposal to annex land south of the city:

No mistake

Concerned-1: Make no mistake about it. Without annexation by the city, the quarry will be approved by the county. There are alternatives for aggregate that don't include blasting a mountain and destroying a natural habitat.

Preservation

GreatHikingArea: I am pleased to see that Temecula is taking steps to preserve our open space while we can. The area being proposed for annexation contains remnants of Temecula's history. We need to be able to choose what happens on land that is a part of our history and community. Temecula citizens reserve the right to preserve!

Good job

Go Council: Go Temecula Council!

Intent

Blasted Rocks: There are mining operations that don't involve blasting several days per week within a few miles of homeowners. But annexation is not about the quarry, it's about preservation of open space and protecting the gateway to Temecula and the Santa Margarita Ecological Reserve.

Already protected

Researched: This area does not (need) Temecula to protect it as open space people. 90% of the proposed annexed land is already protected land. The city of Temecula is just now going to make us the taxpayers of Temecula pick up the bill for this land.

What?

Concerned-1: … Researched, the fact is the SD State preserve is protected, but not from the air/noise pollution that Granite will generate. And since when did "annexing" an area involve buying it? …