Readers of the North County Times

Letter distorts history on U.S. founding

Joseph Kraatz's March 24 letter distorts history. He writes: "When our original founders escaped England, it was to throw off the tyranny of the Church of England (Christian) and its control of the government. They did not come here to set up another theocracy."

Seventeenth- and 18th-century England was not a theocracy, but a constitutional monarchy. The king, as the Church of England's head, controlled (with Parliament) this state-sponsored church more than vice versa, and collected taxes for it.

In contrast, the American founders desired a more balanced church-state relationship. So our Constitution's First Amendment guarantees freedom of religion and from state-sponsored religion. But as the Library of Congress' documentary exhibit "Religion and the Founding of the American Republic" (www.loc.gov/exhibits/religion) clearly demonstrates, the founders also recognized that the biblical worldview was the necessary framework for democracy, or "liberty" as they called it.

The declaration states, "all men are created equal" and "endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights," including "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness." Washington declared at his first inauguration: "The preservation of the sacred fire of liberty, and … the Republican model of government, are justly considered as … staked on the experiment entrusted (by Heaven) to the … American people."

Howard Killion

Oceanside

More Congress changes, more it stays the same

When Sen. Joseph Biden of Delaware championed bankruptcy "reform" in 2005, resulting in limiting the average debtor's ability to (file bankruptcy), it was not without precedent for Congress. Also, while in the Senate and as vice president, Biden became a mouthpiece for bailing out huge financial corporations facing bankruptcy …

After the financial collapse of the 1790s, certain prominent men of society were adversely affected, prompting Congress to enact first-time bankruptcy legislation designed to relieve only huge commercial debtors. The remaining debtors were destined for prison. The legislation enacted was the Bankruptcy Bill of 1800. Only commercial debtors whose success enabled them to amass enormous debt â€"â€" "too big to fail" â€"â€" were granted relief through the act. The act was short-lived, just long enough to allow the worst of the debtors a get-out-of-jail-free-card.

Inherent in the 17th-century English economic system known as capitalism is debt. It is this mechanism that yields capitalists great profits, while allowing the development of a middle class, but traditionally, it also entailed great risk. What has Congress learned from all this in two centuries? What it always knew â€"â€" how to take care of itself by protecting only its wealthiest patrons.

Peter Benson

Escondido

Competition is the spice of life

Re: "NCT's Davy named Editor of Year," Jan. 20: Congratulations, Mr. Editor, but how about a Photographer of the Year, a Columnist of the Year and a Poet of the Year? This is an invitation to the board committee of the North County Times to lead us, whether professionals or non-professionals, into a competition to do and work the best in us.

Regarding the photo, "A Little Learning: Instructor Kristen Moss, a mother and her daughter Reagan Moss, 3 years, leading her in an Alphabet Adventure Class in San Marcos," April 28: Thanks a million, Jamie Scott Lytle, staff photographer, for an outstanding photo, beautiful, as unique as it is: "words implement photo."

I wish the NCT newspaper could lead us through 2009 in competing and find results in January 2010.

Overwhelmed! I hope my suggestion is a little good, or good enough to be taken into consideration by the board; they are the ones to appoint or select judges.

Agree or disagree, it's all right. Sharing unique ideas is free.

Claire Yacoub

Carlsbad

Richard Kirk has it right in his column

The column in the May 5 North County Times was a reasoned evaluation of the boorish treatment of Miss California, Carrie Prejean, by Perez Hilton ("Trashing Prejean, tolerance"). Why is it that people like him who disagree with the views of others have to act in such an insulting way? It seems that some in today's society are degenerating back to barbarism.

If Mr. Hilton chooses to disagree, why can't he politely express his point of view without making all the slanderous comments about Miss Prejean? He displayed extremely bad behavior and an unworthiness of being part of civilized society. This kind of behavior is much too frequent with those on the left. If they don't get their way, they have a temper tantrum.

Are we becoming a nation of sickos?

Glen Holzhausen

Fallbrook

Tea party realism

In response to Margaret Liles "Tea parties not based on facts," Letters, May 4: Where are her facts? First, I challenge anyone to look at any picture or video of the tea parties and see if they were "lily-white," as Liles claims, or representative slices of America, as I saw. It seems that unless the vast majority are glaringly people of color, Liles is blinded by the white.

Second, Liles claims: " … in point of fact, participants … have never paid a lower rate of taxes." I'd like to know where she got her economics degree. Most likely, the same place Tax Cheat Geithner got his. With rampant government growth, nationalization of banks, auto industries, health care and cap and trade, who does Liles think is going to foot the bill for all this glorious socialism? Why, those nasty "faith-based" people, of course. You know, those who have self-respect, self-determination, morals, values and a work ethic.

Kind of sounds like participants of the tea parties, from all walks of life, here in what used to be America. It's no wonder that an uber-liberal like Liles doesn't recognize them any more than does her "astroturf" smear hero, Pelosi.

Mari Hayden

Oceanside

City should stay out of towing business

The city should not even consider the idea of taking over the towing and storage of impounded vehicles ("Seeking more revenue, city may take towing contracts away from private companies," May 5). We have several great tow services in the city now. They do not need to be put out of business and lose the considerable investment they have made in equipment and storage yards.

Let the tow companies do what they do best: Tow. Let the cops do what they do best: Cop.

Do not mix them.

Bob Shuster

Escondido

Kern recallers are dishonest

I have come to the conclusion that the people behind the recall of Jerry Kern are fundamentally dishonest.

At Vons, there was a large sign asking people to sign a petition to support veteran housing, but upon investigation, it was actually a recall petition. As the widow of a disabled veteran, I'm furious that they are using this deception to further their own agenda. Upon questioning this signature-gatherer, I discovered he was from out of town and was being paid for every signature that he duped people into signing. This leads me to believe that there is no valid argument for the recall and the only way to get people to sign is through trickery. I do not blame the person sitting there; he is just trying to make a buck. My disgust is reserved for the shadowy, anonymous, political group paying them.

Please do not fall for this! If you think any elected officials are not doing a good job, vote them out at the next election. Don't ask the people of Oceanside to pony up half a million dollars for a special election. Who can afford that?

Please, before you sign any petition, learn the facts.

Lorrea Crane

Oceanside

Thanks for help with children's day at park

Re: "Children celebrate their day at North County parks," April 26: This was a wonderful event for the children of Oceanside, but it could be done only with the help of some dedicated volunteers. We don't have big sponsors, just some very hard-working community members, local businesses and organizations.

Two groups that stand out: SOCal Pro Wrestling, who brought their ring and wrestlers and donated their time and equipment. If purchased, it would have cost more than a thousand dollars.

And the Fellowship Center men, who donated their time and strong backs to do the heavy lifting. They set up the booths, cooked the hot dogs and made popcorn, snow cones and nachos. They also manned the rock climbing wall and bounce house; then, when the event was over, they cleaned up the park and broke down the booths and put them all away.

I don't know what we would have done without their help. They worked all day with a smile and are a wonderful example of selfless service to the community.

Maria Russell

Oceanside

Still some honest people in world

Recently I lost my digital camera with several new family photos still on the disc. I assumed the camera was gone forever. However, I did have my name and phone number on the camera. Lo and behold, I received a call from a lady whose name is Martha. She had my camera. Her husband had found it while working for EDCO in Valley Center.

I wanted to thank Martha and Cerillo Saldana. They would not accept any reward. It's nice to know there are still some honest people out there in the big bad world.

Arthur Peterson

Valley Center

Prejean should be thanking Hilton

This so-called "controversy" at the Miss USA pageant is way too much fun to ignore. For everyone out there who thinks Perez Hilton is a jerk, he certainly lived down to your expectations, but Ms. Prejean and her handlers should send him flowers and a thank-you card. How many people in the country know the name of the reigning Miss USA compared with how many know the name of the first runner-up?

Ms. Prejean's answer to the question probably was spontaneous, but it now is serendipity. What she has been doing since the pageant sure doesn't seem spontaneous; her handlers seem to be working overtime. How much media attention has she gotten? One would doubt, though, that it is hurting her future aspirations, be it model, actress, motivational speaker, etc.

The cartoon on the April 27 editorial page really spoke to the big question. To paraphrase: Why should we care so much about Miss USA's opinions on socially relevant issues?

Bill Homann

San Marcos

Spreading scientific illiteracy

Sadly, Mr. Peters' response of April 29 to my April 25 letter illustrates a sad trend in our country. First, that he found a mere 200 words "long-winded" and second, that he did not seem to comprehend it.

His quoted definition of a "theory" is undisputed, if not simplistic (Google "scientific theory" if interested in a truly "wordy" definition). What was missed is that I did not state that a scientific theory is a "fact," but that it is "made up of facts and predictions that are assembled as a self-contained 'model'." The key here is not only the difference between "is" and "made up of," which is significant, but that it is a model that is used to make practical predictions and to provide a framework for further research. I apologize if those are too many fancy words to digest.

Our beloved country is becoming a nation of the scientific illiterates who pride themselves on their simplistic "sound bites." As a former science teacher, this is very troubling, since I believe that science is the foundation of our nation's strength and leadership in this dangerous world. Scientific ignorance is not bliss, it is dangerous ("sound bite" warning!).

John Moore

Bonsall

Constitution couldn't be clearer

Re: Mr. Vega's letter of May 2: How callous can some people be? Mr. Vega feels that by making children of illegal parents born here second-class citizens, that that will punish their mothers. What it does is punish those children who had nothing to do with where they were born. Did Mr. Vega have a choice?

People are good at interpreting anything from the Bible to our Constitution. They claim that the writers meant this or that. How do they know what was meant? Our Constitution states that anyone born in the U.S. is a citizen, period. How much clearer can that be?

Mr. Vega apparently feels that having second-class citizens is OK. Why not have slaves, too?

Mr. Vega's thinking could potentially lead to situations whereby "citizens" would have more privileges than "resident citizens." What about allegiance? If the person is not fully an American, but also not a foreigner, what allegiance will the second-class citizen have to either country?

Mr. Vega, until our Constitution is changed, all persons born in the U.S.A. are full-fledged Americans. Any other status demeans not only those resident citizens, but our country as well.

Andy Pino

Escondido