The government, not the people, is in charge

Now that the war in Iraq and Afghanistan is almost lost thanks to the enemy within, the Democrats and the media, it is time to expose the real plan. It all started in the 1930s while Hitler was conspiring with the U.S.S.R. and having Germany's tanks, etc., built there, in secret, so the Europeans would not notice their military buildup. The U.S.S.R. began by infiltrating not only European governments, but the U.S.A. as well. They had a foolproof plan ññ infiltrate the unions, universities and the government.

By the 1940s it all appeared to fail when Hitler invaded the U.S.S.R. and the U.S.A. joined them to beat Hitler. Trouble was that the U.S.S.R.'s infiltration into the U.S.A. was working so well that, by today, we citizens of the U.S.A. hardly even notice that the infiltrators have pretty much taken us (U.S.) over. We have been socialized, which is to say we are just about another socialist country. The government, not the people, is in charge of everything. We live in their country, not they in ours.

Soon globalization will all but eliminate any competition and we, the citizens, will be replaced by the GWU, Global Workers Union.

Fred Schuster

Vista

Campaign a roadblock to our survival

I look forward to reading the letters you publish disclosing different points of view from your readers on a wide range of subjects. On politics, it is a challenge to determine whether they reflect logic and reason or just biased emotion.

We now likely are facing the greatest threat in the nation's history by an insidious, mortal enemy. Hopefully, there is still time for politicians to subordinate themselves and unite in nonpartisan, common goals and course of action before we self-destruct.

With the government in disarray, the lengthy presidential election campaign seems more like an end in itself and has become a divisive roadblock to our survival. Along with all the rhetoric, if raising the most campaign funds qualifies a candidate and makes them most likely to be elected, God help America!

Henry Sanford

San Marcos

Who will support whom?

I am a member of both AA and NA. My opinion is my own and is not the opinion of AA or NA. I live about five miles from the area that is being considered [for The Fellowship Center] and I attend several meetings at the Alano Club weekly ("The Fellowship Center is planning new facility in Oceanside," July 29).

Contrary to popular belief, AA and NA are not affiliated with the rehabilitation programs. The Alano Club is self-supporting through contributions from the members of AA and NA and has been a long-standing successful support system for addicts and alcoholics seeking recovery. The Alano Club helps hundreds daily.

Having a rehab built near the club expecting the club to support the 59 residents would cripple the Alano's existence. The rehab residents would chase off the long-standing members of the Alano community and, if the rehab members do not contribute to the existence of the Alano club, it will surely be the Alano's demise.

Stephen Tiefenbach

Oceanside

Freedom without sacrifice is not possible

This is for those who are in denial regarding the world condition today. Those in America who lust for domestic political advantage and power at the expense of our national safety, our unity and our resolve in the face of dangerous enemies are, in effect, willing to sacrifice your life and the life of your loved ones to achieve their objectives. They should be viewed with contempt and denied public office.

Public opinion polls are not barometers of collective wisdom or national courage. They simply reflect the degree of ignorance, fear and selfishness that dominates a majority that has enjoyed the benefits of freedom and prosperity longer than they deserve. Freedom is not free. Those who expect to retain their freedom without sacrifice are fools who will lose both their freedom and their life.

The following URL may be a cure for your condition: http://www.terrorismawareness.org/know-about-jihad/.

Mitchell Cwiek

Escondido

Thanks for participating in survey

My survey of what residents want and do not want in downtown Oceanside is just about complete. I want to thank all the neighborhood groups and others who took time to participate. Your e-mailed opinions about what you would like to see happen in the downtown area will be presented to the Mainstreet Oceanside Meeting on Aug. 7. Your names and addresses will remain confidential. Your constructive, creative and artistic sense of what you would like and do not like in downtown is very clear. Many of you share the same opinions.

Hopefully, those who are now or want to do business in downtown will read the survey results and the changes you want will begin to happen now.

Donna McGinty

Oceanside

Our elected representatives have failed us

Pat Tillman, hero and Special Forces soldier, died while no enemy forces were present, unless you count whichever American shot him three times in the head at close range. Murdered. Nobody will even accept responsibility for lying to his family about his death. And what has my congressman done? The same as with every other lie, every scandal, every illegality from this administration.

While this administration falsely led us into invading Iraq, illegally spied on us, assumed dictatorial powers, Congressman Darrell Issa has been there all along, ignoring all evil doings and instead signing away our rights as fast as possible to the madman in the White House. He'll probably run for re-election next year if he can find any constitutional rights that we have left so that he can give them away.

I concur with the words of Pat Tillman's father to Mr. Issa ññ "Get away from me."

Richard McKenzie

Vista

Column on winner-take-all idea surely a joke

Re: the July 29 column by Jim Trageser, ("Will vote winner still take our all?" July 29).

Surely he jests about the merits of the proposed ballot measure. Why should California, along with just two other sparsely populated states, Maine and Nebraska, enact winner take all among each of the 53 congressional districts without the rest of the country following suit?

Trageser illustrated why this measure would benefit the Republican presidential nominee. Why on earth, then, would he advocate a "one state" reform unless it were for that short-term partisan advantage? If he were serious about political reform in federal elections he would propose a consistent national standard.

Has he considered those states with very small populations yet have two electoral votes for their senators? Doesn't that constitute an unfair electoral advantage? Now wouldn't a plausible solution to consider be winner take all among all the 435 congressional districts? That is proportional representation that would fairly reflect a popular vote.

Tell me there isn't some political maneuvering of the worst kind when a Republican lawyer introduces a ballot measure in a predictably low turnout election for the benefit of his own party.

Dorothy Gesick

Poway

A night to remember at the library

Where were you on the evening of Aug. 2? If you were not at the Escondido Public Library, you missed a fantastic free show.

As part of the library's First Thursday Concert Series, Judy Taylor and the Wild Oats Band were featured. They were outstanding and performed to a full house. Each musician sang and played multiple instruments. Have you ever seen a trombonist use her feet to play? I never had! They even taught the audience to yodel and enter into duet. After intermission everybody got into the fun of an old-fashioned sing-along.

The next time you have a chance to hear this band play, don't miss it. Thanks, Escondido library, for a night to remember!

Inez Hoffman

Escondido

Web Comments

Marine gets 15 years for Hamdania killing

Readers respond to our Aug. 4 story about Sgt. Lawrence Hutchins, the first Marine convicted of murdering an Iraqi in the war zone since the U.S. invasion, receiving a prison sentence of 15 years for his role in the death of an Iraqi man shot to death in Hamdania on April 26, 2006.

A travesty

What do their leaders get?: "This is outrageous!!!!! Their leadership was obviously poor. Where are they? They are the ones who should be serving the time, not any of these 8 men! Justice was not served today! Hutchins, we will continue to pray for you and your family. God bless!"

Defense deterrent

bottom line: "15 years = 15 million prospective Marines who will say, 'No thank you' when asked to volunteer for duty in defense of the United States of America."

Consider this?

Semper foo foo: "Well before all of you blame the leadership, has it occurred to you that Mr. Hutchins made this decision on his own and not ordered to do it from his superiors?"

Not a lot

What?: "I am not particularly happy with the results of this whole thing. I would like to see this guy get 5 to 10 years and his cohorts get 3 to 5 years with Bad conduct discharges for all. Any one of them could of prevented this and bear more responsibility then the results of the courts martial show. This is short time considering murder in the civilian world would get you 25 to life. "

Is what it is

TOZ: "Let me get this out of the way, I am a veteran having served 4 years in the service of my country. Murder is murder is murder, he dishonored himself and brought shame on the Corp and his country. The courts marshal found him guilty - he had his day in court."

Cougar Pass Road access in dispute

Readers respond to our Aug. 4 story about an Escondido couple, whose property is intersected by rural Cougar Pass Road, building a gate and a fence last week, blocking access to the dirt and gravel county road that has been used by the public for years.

Sooner or later

Escondodo: "This is what happens when assumptions are made. You can only ignore these situations for so long before property changes hands and people expect to get what they paid for. Maybe now someone will actually have to sort through the mess. Easement issues can be very tricky. I went through this on a much smaller scale. Legal letters were sent but claims weren't proved. You can only expect issues such as this slide for so long before push comes to shove."

Their land

Mike: "These landowners should consider charging a toll and make some money. Otherwise, if they own the land, they should have the right to stop public access."

Road has seniority

to Mike: "Public use of private land over time can create an easement - that is the law. These people bought the land two years ago knowing full well that the road was there, and the potential for an easement existed. They would have paid more for the land if the road was not there. Bottom line is that they want to have their cake and eat it, too. Sorry but it does not work that way."

Learn to share

David S.: "When living in Escondido, I used to use that Cougar Pass Road all the time to access my horse in Reidy Canyon and Avocado Groves in Hidden Meadows. Matthew Becker and Emma Forrest are examples of the kind of people who don't play well with others and a reason I now live in the great inland northwest of Spokane, WA."

Groups says many support Escondido checkpoints

Readers respond to our Aug. 4 story about a grass-roots community group saying many Escondidans support the driver's license checkpoints conducted by the Escondido Police Department because they improve traffic safety, but Latino rights activists, including El Grupo's Bill Flores, complain the checkpoints disproportionately affect poor and Latino drivers.

Justice is blind

Equal application of the law: "If these checkpoints let Caucasian drivers without licenses, registration and insurance off the hook then Flores and El Grupo would have a valid argument. Since that isn't the case, El Grupo should focus their energy on something more positive for their people. Supporting law breakers is not a popular cause."

Where am I?

justin: "What has this country become? It's a police state. Is that America? 'Show me your papers!' All you sheep who want to live in Nazi-era Germany, get out of my country!"