Thank you, Oceanside for hiring patriots

While other cities are devoting millions to making it easier to employ people who are not Americans, Oceanside and its citizens look to hire our local Marines, corpsmen and veterans.

Since the beginning of HirePatriots.com, the city of Oceanside has been a consistent partner with us in our efforts to employ American troops and veterans. And the people of Oceanside also post the most one-day jobs on our Web site for our local troops who need to earn some extra money. It is a shame that more of our citizens are not like you.

Daily, more than a thousand Marines and sailors look for these day jobs. Unfortunately, we only get a handful of jobs posted for them each day. Why are cities using taxpayer money to hire non-Americans when so many of our own citizens and soldiers need the work?

Post your jobs for free at www.HirePatriots.com. Or call (760) 730-3734 and we will post them for you.

Mark Baird

Carlsbad

Vote no on both propositions

I was very distressed to receive notice of a special election for two propositions, neither of which I can vote for, Propositions 98 and 99. The first one goes too far in imposing cancellation of rent control and the second doesn't go far enough in limiting it to only owner-occupied single-family residences.

Please vote no on both of these propositions. We can do better. Who is paying for a special election of such poorly written propositions? Please quit signing petitions without knowing what you are signing. It's costing us all a lot of money.

Joann West

Vista

Time to think outside the box on hospital bond

They are at it again ("Tri-City pursues mail-only ballot," April 30). After losing two elections intended to burden us with a $500 million-plus debt, they are trying again for a $700 million-plus bond issue, which will provide less. Not only that, they will game the election by having a mail-in vote because they believe that they are more likely to win.

I have another suggestion: Sell the hospital to a private or charitable organization. Hell, even give it away. Private hospitals must provide emergency services to all who show up, with or without insurance or money. Public hospitals are obsolete and expensive monuments to their officers and directors, who take home huge salaries and exceedingly generous benefits. It is time to think outside the box and of the taxpayers' and residents' needs.

Michael Levine

Carlsbad

Let's think slower on the road

During WWII, the speed limit was 45 mph to conserve fuel and tires. Tires aren't the problem now, but fuel is a bigger issue than ever. Dare I say it? A 55 mph speed limit! "The man's mad," you say. "Why, I'd have to leave 10 minutes earlier and my car might not run well at 55, and besides, etc., etc., etc."

C'mon, folks, gimme a break. We all know most of those nice cars on the road aren't going to be scrapped out for hybrids anytime soon, and driving less isn't an option for many people. One thing everyone from the man on a motorcycle to the man with the big RV can do is slow down a little and burn a bit less fuel. The obvious side benefits are lives saved, less pollution by not running the engines so hard and an extra second or so to shift our attention from the cell phone conversation back to the road activity ahead.

Fuel consumption relates to how hard you push on the gas pedal, which relates to how fast you feel you must move over the road and through the wind.

Norman Phillips

Cardiff

Make wet suits brighter

Last week off the coast of Solana Beach, the great white shark did not devour his victim. He was not a seal! As a safeguard, could not wet suit manufacturers emphasize brighter-colored suits that do not cause people to resemble seals in their black gear. If one person is saved, it is worth this change.

Please note, the seal that refused to go into the ocean and was then taken to SeaWorld knew danger was out there, evidently.

Betty Mettee

Cardiff

Designate a driver this Cinco de Mayo

Though Cinco de Mayo has long been a time to observe Mexican heritage, its growing popularity has transformed the day into a national cultural celebration. And just as the celebration has become an important part of American culture, so has designating a driver. In fact, according to a recent study by the Nielsen Co., 154 million American adults have been a designated driver or been driven home by one. That's roughly half the U.S. population.

To help encourage the continued use of designated drivers and alternate transportation among Cinco de Mayo party-goers, we at Markstein Beverage Co. encourage everyone to please drink responsibly. Thanks in part to strong law enforcement and community-based alcohol awareness and education programs, drunken-driving fatalities nationwide have decreased 36 percent since 1982, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Be a true friend this Cinco de Mayo by designating a driver or volunteering to be one. Remember, when it comes to preventing drunken driving, responsibility matters.

Monica Leyva

corporate support responsibility coordinator

Markstein Beverage Co.

San Marcos

Great Hollywood scripts

What a disgrace that our justice system convicted Cynthia Sommer by her lifestyle ("Wife convicted of poisoning Marine husband for life insurance," Jan. 31, 2007). This woman lost her husband and her children. The district attorney should be fired for overlooking evidence and bringing shame to the D.A.'s office in San Diego ("Prosecutors play defense over handling of Marine widow case," April 19). This will make a great Hollywood script. Thanks, Bonnie.

Next case: the shooting in Oceanside. This poor victim, Rachel Silva, was painted really good by the police report ("Woman was drunk when shot by off-duty officer, warrants say," April 15). What threat was that family to the guy who shot them, a professional with a gun? This woman has a lot on her plate, her husband overseas in some crazy conflict, left alone to care for her son and any other thing that life throws at her: job, rent, food and her husband away. Try it some day, you might survive. Hello, Hollywood, another script is on its way. Maybe she will get a fair trial.

Quote: "The administration of criminal law in the United States is a disgrace to civilization" â€"â€" President Taft.

Mel Gallegos

Oceanside

Consumers need to relearn spending habits

There are scores of perspectives being expressed concerning our economic woes. Mine briefly focuses on credit and its damaging effects.

Families used to live on controlled budgets. Wants were not recklessly purchased. … Millions of families clamored to use it, disregarding their mounting debts. Cities and states followed. Everyone spent perceived future incomes, satisfying wants and living the fast life.

Today, credit now dictates how millions of families will live. It dictates how city and state governments can be run, and it now dominates our economic future. Rising debts are everywhere.

Now, to correct some of them, numerous sacrifices are required. Some painless sacrifices for everyone would be to slow down their lifestyles, to relearn how to use their actual incomes for their actual needs and eliminate their wasteful wants, at the same time, learning how to say no to credit enticements while paying off their existing debts. These actions will allow wise consumerism to be reborn, something I believe is vital for economic recovery. It's not the total solution, but for many, with increased conservation practices, it would be a sensible program to implement.

Richard Matthews

Escondido

In these crazy times, we need more clowns

I think the most needed and active individuals are the psychiatrists and psychologists tending to the ever-increasing numbers of people with mental illness. Maybe if we had one day of reflection, free from the constant barrage of bad news and comments from all quarters, we might see an improvement in the mental health of our population. Sure, we have grave problems in our daily lives â€"â€" high prices zooming everywhere: food, gasoline, etc. â€"â€" but we are a great nation, free to find solutions (we managed to get to the moon), and I am confident we will overcome.

The fact remains that the psychological stability of our people now needs a strong injection of positive rejuvenation heading in an entirely different direction. A soulful wish for another Bob Hope to emerge, giving us a respite from the avalanche of crazy input pouring in.

Yes, we need a holiday, a time to laugh again, a space to release the tension of trying to survive the fury of the storm. I say, bring in the clowns!

Jean Doktor

Oceanside

It could be worse for newspapers

Sometimes the newspapers and the editorial staff take a hit from those readers who take exception to policies expressed or letters printed. Whatever the criticism, however, take heart, you toilers in the newspaper industry â€"â€" it could be far worse!

I quote from Charles Dickens' masterpiece, "The Pickwick Papers." Quote: "Your newspaper, sir, is still dragging in a wretched and lingering career. Abhorred and despised by even the few who are cognizant of its miserable and disgraceful existence; stifled by the very filth it so profusely scatters; rendered deaf and blind by exaltations of its own slime; the obscene journal, happily unaware of its degraded state, is rapidly sinking beneath the treacherous mud which, while it may seem to give it a firm standing with the low and debased classes of society, is nevertheless rising above its detested head, and will speedily engulf it forever." End quote.

So, you see, dear editor â€"â€" it could be far worse! Stick with it.

Robert Green

Fallbrook