It's not rocket science

It's amazing to me that, in this day and age, we can communicate wirelessly using cell phones and computers, download movies on demand, even pause live television, yet when it rains, I can't get my newspaper delivered to me without it being soaking wet!

Laurie Webster

Temecula

Greed and the economy

If everyone isn't outraged at the "leadership" we've had in this country for the past eight years, then you're either not paying attention or you're living in an alternate universe! The average working person in the U.S. is beginning to pay a severe penalty for the greed, corruption and incompetence of our elected leaders, corporate CEOs and appointed regulators. We are experiencing the largest transfer of wealth, from the middle class to the wealthy, in our country's history.

So many people blindly voted for the same party in this last election that was largely responsible for the current economic crisis. They continue to vote for the party of "family values" in spite of all the evidence in front of them. Are the increasing number of families seeking food stamps and other public assistance one of their family values? Is watching Bush and Cheney walk away from Washington even more wealthy, at the expense of the middle class, than when they first arrived one of their family values? Where's the outrage?

Michael Stark

Temecula

Tolerance versus intolerance

If you read the so-called community forum by J. Howard Crews ("Who consecrates marriage?," Nov. 25), you were privileged to see bigotry at its best. If he were to have his way, the family unit, as it has stood the test of time for centuries, would be relegated to the woodpile. Instead, we would have a system of a father and a father or a momma and a momma, which as psychologists maintain would be a very unhealthy situation. A child needs a mother and a father.

I realize there are single parents out there because of divorce, desertion and death, and these people have a very tough time. But why make the situation worse by letting gay couples adopt or lesbians seek insemination and compound the problem? For just once, think of the kids.

I suppose the corrupt California Supreme Court will rule against the amendment and spit in the faces of the people again, which would be a complete travesty. They should be impeached if this happens. As to comparing marriage to equal rights for blacks, Crew is at that Kool-Aid again. There is no relevance whatsoever.

The majority has tolerated these intolerant minority groups for years. It's time to get off our backs, allow morality and sense to rule the day. Take, for example, the fall of Rome, to which this lifestyle contributed greatly. Destroy the family, and you destroy the state.

George Ernst

Temecula

It's time for tax reform

Isn't it about time for the United States of America to return to the way the U.S.A. was formed? When you look at our taxes, you can understand that the richer you are and the higher your yearly income is, the lower percentage in taxes you will pay. Compare this to the tax incomes of the people on the medium and lower ends of the spectrum and you'll see that, percentagewise, the medium- and lower-income people will pay a far larger percentage of their income in taxes.

Why is it not possible to accept a tax reform, which will charge everybody and every business all the same percentage in taxes of their gross income, before all deductions? This way, less income will be spent on expenses to professionals to prepare your tax forms. The taxpayers will be able to save money, because fewer people will be working for the government.

I know and understand that many of our elected representatives will refuse to pass such a law, because that will probably deduct the contributions from the wealthy people, who then will have to pay far more than they do now!

Frederik Rosenveldt

Murrieta

He's kidding, right?

I thought I was reading the comics page while reading Richard Meis' Nov. 12 letter about the Republicans needing to unite with the Democrats. Let me get this straight: The Democrats called Bush a terrorist, compared him to Hitler and wanted him charged with war crimes, and now they want the Republicans to unite with them? Now that's funny.

How about I just continue to pray Barack Obama turns out to be the greatest president ever?

Wayne Ramaekers

Temecula