A vote for Davis or Cruz is a vote for more illegals

Illegals now have access to our skilled nursing homes. Illegals can go to our colleges and universities at the same fees as native Californians. Illegals are allowed to have their babies here in the U.S. Illegals come here for their transplants. Illegals go to our public schools.

Davis now wants to give driver's licenses to illegals. Davis and Bustamante worked together to quash Proposition 187, although it was passed overwhelmingly by Californians. All of the above is at the expense of the California taxpayer.

A vote for Gray Davis or Cruz Bustamante is a vote for more illegals getting more freebies from the California taxpayer and nothing will change.

GLORIA ANNE SMITH

Carlsbad

Part of blame for fiscal mess lies with the people

There seems to be a tendency to blame our present elected officials for the financial mess that our state and nation are experiencing. And that, of course, is where some of the blame belongs.

However, if we study the situation more deeply, I think we will find that the problem has been accumulating for years and is due to the continuing, insatiable desire of voters to ask for more good things from their government. It is a factor of human nature, and politicians are human, to protect one's own interests. The interests of politicians are to preserve their own plush jobs and their feeling of power. To do this they must bow to the wishes of the voters.

Asking those politicians for more and better programs will eventually reach the point where there is not enough money to cover all of those expensive wants. Thus it would appear that our state and federal governments have reached that point. As Walt Kelly's alter ego, Pogo, has stated: "We have met the enemy and he is us."

MARION C. WETTER

Oceanside

We can thank Issa for more state debt

Before one celebrates Darrell Issa's funding of the recall of Gray Davis, one should first understand the full cost of this recall election. All the debates I have heard center on whether the direct cost of the recall election is $30 million or $60 million.

These debates are meaningless because they ignore the massive increase in the financing costs of California's debt. Due primarily to the recall election itself, California's debt rating has been downgraded recently. The best estimate of the cost to California taxpayers of this downgrade is an additional billion dollars in debt payments. Thanks, Darrell.

MARK SOUTHWORTH

Vista

Bush only supports troops in public

President Bush, adorned in a flight jacket during 100-degree heat, strides the flight line at Miramar MCAS, looking very much like the leader of the world's greatest military. His speech to the recently returned Marines commended their performance in Iraq. He ended his speech with semper fi (always faithful) much to the delight of his audience.

As soon as the cameras stopped rolling, he immediately stripped himself of the flight jacket. It was no longer necessary to show his support for the troops. However, he has shown his lack of support by opposing as wasteful and unnecessary a proposal to double the death gratuity of $6,000 paid to survivors of soldiers who die on active duty. The administration also wants to cut back monthly pay for troops in imminent danger from $225 to $150 and the family separation allowance for troops in combat zones from $250 to $100.

President Bush is a master of saying one thing to the public and then acting to the contrary behind the scenes. Semper fi, indeed!

BOB TURNER

Rancho Bernardo

Irresponsibility of Bush is horrendous

I think I'm a good Republican - I believe in fiscal responsibility. Pay as you go and don't spend money you don't have. Make sense? Well, I voted for George W. Bush in 2000 - but how I regret it now. My darling granddaughter Libby is just 4 years old, and already her proportionate share of the U.S. national debt is over $3,000 and growing daily.

What right do I and more than 200 million other adult Americans have to saddle our children and grandchildren with such a huge fiscal obligation?

No less an authority than George A. Akerlof (he shared the Nobel prize in economic sciences for 2001) states: "Within 10 years we are going to pay a serious price for such irresponsibility." The fiscal problems faced in the state of California are hideous, but they shrink into insignificance when compared with the horrendous U.S. federal debt. What we need in 2004 is a nationwide recall to get rid of George W. Bush, his whole, crony-controlled administration and all those in the U.S. Senate and House who blissfully stood by while this nation slid into moral and fiscal disaster.

ROBERT F. GREEN

Fallbrook

Another comment about older drivers

Referring to Joyce McPartland's letter Aug. 25, here are some additional comments. I am a senior driver, been driving for over 50 years, never in an accident nor as yet have gotten the finger from much-younger drivers (and that is an accomplishment, I think).

First of all, I don't think the teens or the elders are any worse drivers than those in between. I've seen some pretty pitiful driving by many of those in-between-age drivers.

Secondly, I would suggest that all drivers over the age of 50 enroll in the AARP defensive driving course. You will be amazed at what you learn and relearn that you have forgotten. My wife and I have taken the course four times in the past 12 years and don't regret a minute of the time spent.

Finally, if and when either my wife or I feel that our driving skills have become impaired or our eyesight has deteriorated, we will be the first to find other means of transportation.

In the meantime, to Ms. McPartland and others who feel sympathetic to her comments, I would only suggest they observe the drivers who drive without properly signaling, change lanes improperly, drive with excessive speed, use their cell phones while driving and the other myriad of things that are done daily by many drivers and try to calculate their age. Maybe then all of us should be required to take a driving test - not just the seniors.

CHARLES S. JOHNSON

Oceanside

Rent control in mobile home parks important

I would like to clarify a letter that appeared on Aug. 25. The last sentence should have read: The only time the rent could be raised on a space is when the owner applies to the Rent Review Board for a rent increase for 100 percent of the spaces in the park - not a 100 percent raise.

The main object of this is, we need to get all the residents who are in parks that rent their spaces to contact the City Council to put on the March election ballot a referendum for vacancy rent stabilization control. It would simply state: "Should an owner of a manufactured/mobile home park be allowed to raise the rent on a space when a space becomes vacant or when the home on a space changes ownership?"

The reason why this needs attention is an owner can raise the rent on a space now to whatever he wants when it becomes vacant or when a homeowner sells the home, and then he can turn around and include that same space for a rent increase when he applies for an increase for the whole park before the city Rent Review Board.

ROBERT F. ANDERSON SR.

Escondido

The wrong perspective

of normal

In response to Bev Laufenburger's letter of Aug. 10: The citizens of California in March 2000 approved by a vote of 60 percent to 40 percent to define marriage as between one man and one women. That's not close.

The American Psychiatric Association is now being pressured by the same element that pressured it to remove homosexuality from its list to also remove pedophilia, sadomasochism and sexual sadism using the same arguments as used for homosexuality. If you accept homosexuality, you also have to accept the above-mentioned for the same reasons.

What in heaven's name makes Laufenburger think that she came from a "normal" heterosexual family, as she says, if she was abused starting at age 9 until a resulting pregnancy at age 12.

What makes Laufenburger think that she was married to a "normal" heterosexual man if he beat and raped her? The problem here is more of what she defines as normal.

Her past gives much credence to the belief that past experiences are responsible for homosexuality, since she now has a same-sex partner.

Her beautiful grandchildren, remember, came from a heterosexual, not homosexual, relationship.

FRANK LANCELOTTI

Oceanside

Johnson's bad taste cost O'side $2.2 million

As usual, I was impressed by J. Stryer Meyer's Aug. 26 column, "Right decision hard to swallow," regarding the Manchester conspiracy - that is, up to a point.

I thought he glossed over our illustrious Mayor Terry Johnson's participation in this giveaway of our tax dollars for the Manchester holdup. Take a look at Johnson's voting record on this (of course, all the dirty work was done in closed sessions). Did he ever vote no or stand up against this rip-off? No, he made some sort of a lame excuse about his loyalty to other council members at the time (both of whom were canned). I believe the Coastal Commission used superb judgment in denying the boondoggle Manchester was evangelizing - and that goes doubly for keeping Johnson off that commission.

Meyer says that Johnson's response to this backroom settlement is that "it left a bad taste in his mouth." Now, that's a malady I'd love to have for the $2.2 million he helped give away.

LEONARD BERLOW

Oceanside

Article pointed out the need

to do more

Thank you, North County Times, for the Aug. 25 article on the North County Drug Court ("North County Drug Court patches lives"). Such great results. Would that more of our dollars could be so successfully spent.

For several years there's been a concerted effort to start a San Diego Count Mental Health Court. (Forget it - no funds available for such a project. Strange the courts can't realize that treatment, rather than jail, saves money in the long run, but they do find the funds for incarceration.) Brain disease chooses its victims - never would one of us choose this torment.

Our state and county reps need some prodding from the citizens. Our mentally ill are left to wander the streets like sick animals. Come to think, we're not allowed to mistreat or neglect animals, are we?

LOIS ANDERSON

Escondido

These ideas may save some lives on the road

I have been following the opinions on senior drivers with interest. I am 75 years old, driving since age 18 with never a ticket for anything, including parking. Never been in an accident. Three times in almost 60 years my car has been hit while parked. This was by a 17-year-old girl, a 19-year-old boy and a DUI driver. I've driven cars, semis and motorcycles hundreds of thousands of miles. My suggestions follow.

Road test all 70-and-older drivers. Under 18 drive only when with parent or guardian under a probationary license that can be revoked in injury accidents. DUI a minimum $1,000 fine and loss of license for one year. A second offense, confiscate the car to be sold at auction. Those caught speeding with minor children in their vehicle should pay double fines for endangering their lives and teaching them to disrespect the law. Running red lights equals reckless driving. So many of these are right turns where they hardly slow down. So often we read of multiple arrests for DUI. How can that be allowed?

Watch drivers around you; most violators are younger drivers. When I was a driving instructor for Arizona Safety Center, one of my best students was a 72-year-old widow who had never driven before.

DONALD G. WHITMAN

Vista

Saturday lunches won't be the same

Wendy and Dave's Hamburger Tree at 168 W. Mission in Escondido was established in 1979. I ate there every Saturday. On a recent Saturday morning, a waitress from the restaurant called me to tell me that they were closed for good.

I spoke with Wendy to verify this, and she said yes, it was true. What will I do now for lunch on Saturdays after I get my hair done?

All my family and friends knew I went to the Hamburger Tree on Saturdays. They would go with me. My husband, Paul, and I used to go there; he's been gone for 17 1/2 years.

They've been known for the best hamburgers in town, and many would drive many miles to go there. They had many longtime regular customers and I became acquainted with a lot of them.

This past March, I had my birthday lunch paid for by two families that go there, and the waitress and her husband.

There have been many different waitresses and I feel most of the treated me special. I generally sat at the same table every week and one waitress used to put a reserved sign on the table.

Another time someone else was sitting at my table, and a man came by and said, "Do you want me to tell them to move?"

Anyway, Dave and Wendy, thanks for the memories. I will sure miss having lunch with you at the Hamburger Tree on Saturdays.

LOIS THRASH

San Marcos

Drivers are not following the rules

In response to Aug. 8 letter from Greg Dauss regarding idiots driving in predawn hours without turning on their headlights, I would like to add the following items to Mr. Dauss' comment: Drivers not turning on headlights at dusk and on gloomy or rainy days. (Dark-colored cars are very hard to see because they blend in with the pavement.) Drivers who do rolling stops at stop signs and when turning right on red lights. What part of "stop" don't you understand? Stop, as in wheels stop turning completely. Drivers who stop behind another vehicle at a stop sign, and when the car in front of them enters the intersection, the vehicle behind does not move up to the white line and stop again. Drivers who change lanes in the middle of an intersection, and drive in the bike lane before getting to the broken white line prior to making a right turn.

I will now wait for any response to my comments. I am sure there are bound to be some.

ELENA HILLS

Oceanside

Memorial to crash victims needed, too

There is a current difference of opinion as to the appropriate use of $200,000 of Temecula's taxpayer money for a memorial to a local soldier who was a patriot when he enlisted and is now a local and national hero who gave his life in the war in Iraq and fought to save the world from weapons of mass destruction.

I, too, grieve for the loss of this soldier and the 250 others who were killed in the line of duty in Iraq.

I served in the Navy in the Pacific Theater in World War II, where the goal was to save our allies and possibly even ourselves from extinction.

During my lifetime every 20 minutes one person has died on our nation's highways. That adds up to over 2 million people killed and hundreds of millions injured. Clearly, the greatest weapon of mass destruction in our nation is the automobile.

A memorial to those who have died on our highways would serve as a reminder to all citizens driving weapons of mass destruction on our street and highway battlefields.

Every life is precious!

Sam Pratt

Temecula

It's Pratt who's politicizing the memorial

I'm disappointed that (Temecula Councilman) Sam Pratt is attempting to move this wonderful project into a political arena. ("Temecula memorial a political gambit?" Aug. 30). (Mayor) Jeff Stone's idea for a veterans memorial accurately captured the way this community feels and will provide an inspiration for us all by remembering that freedom is not free and people continue to die defending our freedom.

The Duck Pond is a perfect location for this memorial for many reasons. I can't imagine why anyone would think that the presence of a second statue/memorial would diminish the one given to us by the Netherlands.

In 1914, when the Lincoln Memorial was built, there were undoubtedly many other ways that the money and effort could have been spent. But, instead, a memorial was built so that millions of people who visit there each year can be inspired to celebrate those things that unite us as a nation in a time when there is so much effort to divide us.

If there are other worthy causes that need support, get the word out, Sam. This community has proven its generosity and compassion and Jeff Stone has proven that he's in touch with his constituents.

Elena Medo

Murrieta

Hunting doves for sport is barbaric

When I see the two precious and sweet baby fledgling doves in the planter by our garage, cuddling close to each other for protection, while their mother is looking for food so she can feed them, I wonder how anyone can hunt them and shoot them.

They look up at me -- the giant -- with their beautiful and big brown eyes and for some reason they know that I won't hurt them. I have watched their mother sit on the nest for the last month waiting for her babies to be hatched, and I have seen her feed them.

To know there are other mother, father and baby doves "out there" who will be shot and killed makes me sick to my stomach! We have plenty of food in the grocery stores to eat, so why kill them? For sport? For shame!

Marilyn Uecke

Wildomar

'World According to Warnie' is a good place

We Murrieta citizens who have been here since the early '80s and have watched Murrieta grow from a beautiful, rural community to an overcrowded mini-metropolis like the "World According to Warnie" (paid political advertisement, Aug. 30).

We feel if there were more people on the City Council that thought like Warnie Enochs, Murrieta would still be the "Gem of the Valley." (Councilman) Jack F. van Haaster is part of the clique that has contributed to our city being overbuilt, and this clique is in favor of continued mass-density building.

One thing we do agree with Mr. van Haaster on in his paid advertisement of Aug. 30 is to please vote carefully this November. I and many others urge you to vote for Warnie Enochs.

Carol Carson

Murrieta

Recall just a way to help Bush win in 2004

The Republican candidate for California governor lost to Gray Davis in the last election. Another Republican spends millions to force a recall election, and hundreds of wannabes file papers to be on the ballot, making California look ridiculous. We thought Florida's election fiasco, which ended up with Bush as president, was a joke.

Admittedly, Gray Davis made mistakes, but every state except one is experiencing huge budget deficits. California being the biggest, is naturally the worst off. Bush's oil buddies could have come to help California's power problem, but sat back and let it get worse. Is it fair to blame Davis for the collapse of the Silicon Valley dotcom industry?

My personal guess is in agreement with those who feel that getting a Republican governor will help Bush gain the much-needed electoral votes to get him re-elected. I think he's done enough damage to our economy, environment, health care and school budgets, not to mention the loss of some fine young military personnel in Iraq.

To sum it all up: Vote no on the recall.

Helen Miller

Anza

Part of blame for fiscal mess lies with people

There seems to be a tendency to blame our present elected officials for the financial mess that our state and nation are experiencing. And that, of course, is where some of the blame belongs.

However, if we study the situation more deeply, I think we will find that the problem has been accumulating for years and is due to the continuing, insatiable desire of voters to ask for more good things from their government. It is a factor of human nature, and politicians are human, to protect one's own interests. The interests of politicians are to preserve their own plush jobs and their feeling of power. To do this they must bow to the wishes of the voters.

Asking those politicians for more and better programs will eventually reach the point where there is not enough money to cover all of those expensive wants. Thus it would appear that our state and federal governments have reached that point. As Walt Kelly's alter ego, Pogo, has stated: "We have met the enemy and he is us."

Marion C. Wetter

Oceanside