Checkpoint problem solved

Re: "Driver's license checkpoint locations vary," June 14: Monkey's uncle!

Let's fire Police Chief Jim Maher and make Victor Torres Escondido's chief of police.

Cancel everybody's driver's license and insurance.

Driving drunk and hit-and-runs are no longer a crime.

Problem solved.

Kenneth Harrison

Escondido

Stop the war on dads

This coming Sunday, a time-out will be taken from the transparent agenda to tear down fathers as they get their token day of the year to be indulged, and it makes for a good retail sales promotion. Then America goes back to Dad as dolt and Father as fool, while the invariably sensible and caring Mom, the icon of the un-brave new world, holds it all together.

The favorite anti-Dad technique is the simplest: Tune Dad out. Advertising and the media nearly always focus on Mom in all walks of life, tacitly relegating Dad to the status of the drone left out of social consciousness, at best cajoled but really better staying out of the way, and at worst stigmatized for being deadbeat, neglectful or even abusive. Undermined, betrayed and vilified, it's a wonder he does as well as he does.

In the end, fatherhood will win. In the meantime, every day is Father's Day.

Edward Karlson

Oceanside

Dr. Tiller killed by hateful rhetoric

The recent murder of Dr. George Tiller shows the logical, expected result of hateful rhetoric from anti-abortion extremists. Yes, it took a deeply disturbed sociopath to actually pull the trigger, but the idea was planted in his sick mind by the choice of words and emotional force of anti-abortion forces.

Dr. Tiller performed a legal, much-needed service for women and was murdered for his efforts (the most ironic aspect being that he was murdered while performing service as an usher at his church). Abortion is legal in this country; even so-called "late-term" abortion, under strict guidelines. Dr. Tiller was accused of not following those guidelines, but was acquitted.

To call what Dr. Tiller did "mass murder," "genocide" or other inflammatory terms will have inevitable violent consequences, if given enough publicity. For instance, Bill O'Reilly frequently referred to Dr. Tiller as "Tiller the Baby Killer" and warned of Tiller's "judgment day."

I think those who use heated rhetoric ought to look at the results and judge whether it really helps their goal of reducing or eliminating abortions. It doesn't. It results in violence. Instead, let's have an intelligent discussion about facts, methods and goals that involves law, health care and education.

Jon Monday

Fallbrook

Far-left liberals are afraid of Palin

I am truly appalled that the North County Times would even consider publishing such a hate-filled column as the one written by Roland S. Martin on June 15, siding with David Letterman's vicious attack on Sarah Palin and her daughter ("Sarah Palin, the real joke in all this is on you"). He seems to be far and away from being in touch with the feelings of decent people. I wonder what Roland's attitude would be if David Letterman said the same things about his daughter, wife, girlfriend or mother.

The far-left liberals seem to think that they can continue to bash any person who has a conservative view; however, they are the first to cry foul when anyone shows any intolerance against a person of the liberal community.

Everyone is entitled to their viewpoint on Sarah Palin, but if the liberal community was not so afraid that she might rise up and challenge the audacity of arrogance and incompetence shown by the Congress and administration, why do they continue at every opportunity to try to bring her down?

Dick Cummings

Escondido

Represent people in water emergency

With summer here and every municipality in the state promoting water rationing, it's time for elected officials to actually represent the people instead of a non-impacted species of minnow-sized fish.

Let's face it, there's no real threat to humanity when the delta smelt get flushed into our water supply. It's just another way that our elected officials can sit by the wayside and agree to raise fees on the most basic commodity, water.

It's time for simple common sense to apply here, because neighborhood "water police" won't help diminish blatant water hogs. Stop the eco-bureaucratic horse manure and give the water back to the people and farmers. When farmers grow food, jobs are created, and sales tax and income tax revenues are generated. What good does California gain by stopping the basics of our state's economy?

With Sacramento's budget debacle, it make more sense to turn on the water and stimulate the welfare of the people in California than to save a stupid guppy.

Dale Weston

Vista

Wonderful sight

On June 16, I saw a wonderful thing on my drive to work. I saw an immigration officer/car chasing down illegal immigrants at the corner of Washington and Quince Street. Why don't we see this more in Southern California?

Maybe if the United States cannot protect our borders, the immigration office in North County could run a few of these sweeps to protect Escondido and surrounding areas.

Gary Groover

Escondido

Column was disgusting

Just wanted to say how disgusted I was with your paper printing the column written by Roland S. Martin ("Sarah Palin, the real joke in all this is on you," June 15). How could you people support him, Letterman and their perverted views on 14-year-olds? I will be discontinuing my subscription to your paper.

Dan Formanek

Bonsall

Are Al Gore's credentials secret?

I understand we will soon have a flat(ulence) tax on cattle. This will somehow prevent or slow global warming. Do not forget all the animals in Africa, Cape buffalo, elephants, etc. I can't wait to see Mr. Gore and his disciples running about amidst a herd of Cape buffalo with a bucket of corks! I will be glad to pay a tax to see that.

What are Mr. Gore's credentials to be a global warming czar? What are his degrees? Or is that secret, like our president's birth certificate?

George Bolton

Carlsbad

Skeptical of Israeli government policies

Dolores Wiener's letter of June 13 regarding me was completely unfounded. I have been a supporter of the plight of Jews since my youth in the 1930s. At that time, many in our society were supporters of fascism.

It was my mother who told me that Germany would lose the war in 1940 at Dunkirk. Why? She said it was due to its hatred towards the Jews … In addition, I volunteered my Army Medical Service to Israel in 1967. Which, of course, they refused! The Six-Day War was the most historic miracle in my lifetime!

Israel is our only ally in the Middle East! I have been a skeptic of our government policies for the past 60 years. Look at most of these policies, and you will find gaping holes of dishonesty. Most in our government have the position of neutrality to spit-wad diplomacy. We used to call them "quislings."

For obtaining real peace, the Arab nations must recognize Israel as a state and stop terrorizing its citizens. Giving them land for peace doesn't work.

Israel does not have that luxury of playing these false games! We are now under the two-minute warning, and the clock is ticking!

Stanley Peterson

San Marcos

Bottom line of the Frank White trial

As we follow the Frank White trial in the North County Times, we have read that White feared for his life (what else would a policeman say?) and an expert on police procedures testifies that White acted appropriately (what else would an expert say?). We've also read that Rachel Silva was under the influence of things she shouldn't have been under the influence of, and she had her 8-year-old son with her during this escapade.

The bottom line of the whole incident is that two people met in a Lowe's parking lot and both acted like idiots. One of the idiots had a gun and the other idiot had a car. Geez, what a recipe for disaster. It's too bad that the 8-year-old boy had to be caught in the middle of all of that idiocy.

Bill Homann

San Marcos

Growth should follow design guidelines

Re: "Open house addresses land dispute," June 11: It's important to mention what I said to your reporter Wednesday evening, that the growth rate is dictated by state and local government. We are not trying to stop it (growth) but guide it in a balanced and fair design per the guidelines.

During my conversation with Simon Malk (principal for Accretive), he mentioned that they do have some plans hanging on the wall but he had not read the "Valley Center Design Guidelines." Our job and responsibility to the community is to review those plans that Randy Goodson says we never submitted and make recommendations to county staff per the guidelines given us.

Yes, the economy is a soup sandwich and there is a water shortage, but I've seen these cycles in the building industry during the last 40 years and we will come out on the other side. Right now we have to sweat the details which we've been entrusted to do.

Paul Herigstad

Valley Center Community

Planning Group

Camp Pendleton fires are hazardous

Another fire at Camp Pendleton! How many times per year are fires started at Camp Pendleton or Naval Weapons? Too many. Even if the fires don't spread to houses, the smoke is a health hazard to many people.

Is there any consideration of wind, temperature or dry conditions for artillery practice? I am not anti-military and understand the need for training, but shouldn't there be some consideration of the communities surrounding the base?

What about the disturbance to Fallbrook and Oceanside at all hours of the night with artillery practice? It would seem reasonable that these maneuvers could be carried out before 10 p.m. and not at 2 a.m. as is often the case.

Please show some consideration for the local community.

Larry Moskovitz

Fallbrook

Heart goes out to little boy

My heart goes out to that poor kid in the Rachel Silva case. When he gets old enough to put it all together, he is going remember it as the day Mom got him shot because she was a drunk (and on drugs).

Let's hope that this woman doesn't cause a real tragedy some day. …

Harvey Bell

Escondido

Financial crisis our own doing

California is undeniably in a financial mess. Unfortunately, from the majority of letters published in this paper, it seems we continue to want someone else to blame for a mess we have created ourselves.

To disagree with one writer, this problem was not created by our governor. Although due to less than stellar politicking on his part, he has done little, if anything, toward fixing the problem. We are near bankruptcy solely because we continue to vote as if someone else is paying our bills.

Without fail, every single bill that is presented to (voters) that costs gobs of money is nearly assured to pass. For example, whether or not you believe stem cell research is morally correct, who decided that our singular state should foot the several-billion-dollar bill associated with exploring its potential?

Every government, individual, business or family who always buys everything on offer will eventually hit a day of reckoning. Our day has finally come.

Yes, adjust Proposition 13 to exclude the business loopholes. But for the most part, we need to finally realize that any and all government expenditures we authorize are going to fall squarely on our very own, heavily burdened shoulders.

Colleen Pyle

San Marcos

It's inborn, not choice

Frank Lancelotti, in his Letter (June 15), continues to claim that gender is the only thing that's inborn, even though it's common knowledge that there are many inborn traits, such as eye color and left/right-handedness. He also claims there is no proof that sexual orientation is inborn, but presents not one iota of proof that it is anything other than inborn.

In contrast, there are numerous studies supporting the position that sexual orientation is inborn. For example, in an early study (1987), psychiatrist Richard Green demonstrated that later homosexuality could be reliably predicted well before puberty, based on children's "gender inappropriate play"; for example, boys preferring to play with dolls rather than toy cars. ("The 'Sissy Boy Syndrome' and the development of homosexuality," www.religioustolerance.org/hom_fixe3.htm).

The following 2006 meta-study â€"â€" a compendium of relevant studies â€"â€" concludes: "There is now a solid body of scientific, peer-reviewed evidence stretching back almost 20 years, that sexual orientation is not a choice" ("Is It a Choice? The Science of Sexual Orientation," www.libertyeducationforum.org/IsItaChoiceTheScienceofSexualOrientation.htm).

Lancelotti's concept of marriage is outdated, not recognizing that some states provide for same-sex marriage, and is simplistic, not accounting for both the benefits and the responsibilities that marriage entails.

John Terrell

Fallbrook