Reject Merriam Mountains project

I am writing in response to the June 9 article, "Foes of Merriam Mountains focus on traffic with recent mailer." As an employee of a business located near the proposed Merriam Mountains project, I too am significantly concerned with the negative traffic impacts expressed in the Citizens Against Stonegate Traffic flyer.

As it is, peak hour traffic delays along Deer Springs Road are a nightmare. An additional 35,000 daily trips on our roads will be a significant detriment to local residents and businesses, not to mention the traffic as a result of the more than 10 other projects proposed in the area.

I can only hope that the Planning Commission and the San Diego County Board of Supervisors make the right decision to reject such an ill-conceived project.

Nancy Taylor

Fallbrook

Spa won't survive project's construction

The Merriam Mountains project must be stopped! As an employee of the Golden Door Spa, I am extremely concerned about the impact the development's construction will have on our business and my job. As proposed, this giant new city would result in a decade of drilling and blasting along Deer Springs Road and because Golden Door guests come here to get away from all that, I don't believe this thriving business would even survive the construction period.

As one of the world's premier destination spas, it is our commitment to provide guests with a peaceful and remote sanctuary to achieve a deep and meaningful connection to personal health, fitness and their innermost self.

The founder of the Golden Door specifically sought this rural location as its home more than 50 years ago. Now, the Merriam Mountains project threatens the livelihood of the Golden Door Spa and its more than 200 employees.

We must work together to preserve the area and secure the Golden Door's future in San Diego County by opposing the Merriam Mountains project.

Hilda Rudolph

Escondido

Scripps steals hospital patients

I was heartened to see the article regarding the hospital lawsuit against Scripps ("Tri-City sues Scripps over patient shift," June 3).

I live in a senior community where many of my neighbors have been devastated by the new HMO rules, forcing them to travel to Scripps facilities for all of their tests, treatments, doctor visits and inpatient stays, when they have an excellent hospital offering all these services in their own backyard.

These are people who, for the most part, are no longer able to drive and must depend on friends, relatives, neighbors or even difficult public transportation to get to their appointments. #… I am a senior, but I still work part time in the medical community and when time allows, I try to take some of them to their appointments.

How can an organization like Scripps, which spends a lot on TV ads touting its caring for patients, be so money-grabbing as to "steal" patients from another hospital district? #…

The HMOs are saving money by not having to pay for the visits, test and procedures, and Scripps is getting a nice bonus.

Jeanette Hurst

Oceanside

Trips to Scripps inconvenient

Could it be that Scripps Inc. is out to get a monopoly? It is with much interest that I read the account of the suit Tri-City is presenting to Scripps Medical ("Tri-City sues Scripps over patient shift," June 3).

I am an example of a displaced and displeased patient. For over 25 years, I have depended on Tri-City Medical Center. All of a sudden, things are different. Recently, in the case of a medical emergency, I had to go to Scripps Encinitas (no choice), for me, a 20-mile freeway drive. As it turned out, mistakes were made, necessitating several more trips (more inconvenience and expense). Later, this was satisfactorily handled by the Scripps clinic in Vista. …

As it stands now, my only remedy for this situation is to select another doctor (no change allowed until later in the year) with Tri-City privileges. This is not an easy decision after 25 years with the same doctor and I'm now 95-plus years old.

Definitely, this is a situation that has gone grossly out of control and for whatever reason, the patient is suffering.

Louise Denbow

Vista

Inappropriate comic placement

Considering the current economic crisis, it is not appropriate for the North County Times to publish the comics in the business section.

Louise Laing

Encinitas

Children's pool an opportunity to learn

I can remember family outings with surfside destinations on our minds â€"â€" when Father had the time and sustenance for the day that was prepared by Mother for the occasion.

The family climbed into the open car, headed for the beach â€"â€" Laguna Beach, mostly, down the Old Canyon way.

We were reminded of safety tips and what best to do if an emergency of sorts threatened. To be cautious, for sure. …

We had fun. We had no goal! Just such a relative circumstance exists today at the Children's Pool in La Jolla, a wonderful opportunity for teaching and learning. …

There is, I feel, being instilled, a philosophy of "me first" rather than respect for and gratitude because of the wonder. I am always hopeful others will learn of the value of our wondrous diversity and preserve territory for whenever possible. …

Renee Messner

Fallbrook

A few Republicans to add to the list

Re: Letters, June 10, "Get beyond petty party affiliations," by Larry Iverson: How about some Republicans for your list?

Richard Nixon, president â€"â€" Resigned from office before impeachment hearings.

Spiro Agnew, vice president â€"â€" Tax evasion.

Tom DeLay, house majority leader, â€"â€" Fraud, money laundering.

Randy "Duke" Cunningham, congressman â€"â€" Guilty of bribery, mail fraud and tax evasion.

Mark Foley, congressman â€"â€" Improper contact with male congressional pages.

Rush Limbaugh, conservative talk show host â€"â€" Arrested on drug charges, doctor-shopping for pain medications.

Bernie Kerik, nominated to head Homeland Security â€"â€" Fraud, tax evasion, obstruction of justice.

Alan Fabian, Mitt Romney's finance chair â€"â€" Fraud, filing a false tax return.

Lawrence Novak, vice chair of the Massachusetts Republican Party â€"â€" Money laundering.

Scott Muschany, Missouri state representative â€"â€" Sexual assault of a 15-year-old girl.

Jeffrey Nielsen, congressional aide â€"â€" Lewd acts with a 12-year-old boy.

George Ryan, governor of Illinois â€"â€" Corruption charges, illegal sale of government licenses, contracts and leases.

Eugene Maysky, mayor of Trainer, Pa. â€"â€" Fourth arrest for driving under the influence.

Ernie Fletcher, governor of Kentucky â€"â€" Conspiracy, official misconduct.

Thomas Ravenel, South Carolina treasurer â€"â€" Possession of cocaine.

Both parties have bad apples.

Frank Straw

Escondido

Fairgrounds site for new Chargers stadium

Although I am registered as a Republican, I did not vote for Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger. I did not feel he had the experience to run the affairs of the state of California. I did not fall for his campaign of, "When I'm governor, I'm going to 'open de boooks' … " But he is our governor, like it or not. True, he is confronted with a serious shortfall in state revenue, not totally of his doing.

Not fully agreeing with his solution in raising money to ease the fiscal dilemma, is his wanting to sell (or lease) the Del Mar Fairgrounds.

Maybe my suggestion is as much of a harebrained idea as his, but what about that site also being used as the San Diego Chargers stadium? Traffic-wise, it could not be any worse than the racing season and the county fair days. Parking in a multilevel garage would utilize the land much more efficiently. It would be miles closer to Orange County fans than what is proposed now.

Hey, Sports Editor, how about you looking into this prospect?

John Raymond Jr.

Oceanside

The Rev. Wright is at it again

The Rev. Jeremiah Wright is at it again, complaining that (I'm quoting now), "Them Jews ain't going to let him (Obama) talk to me." This said, coincidentally, on the same day another warped, hateful man, James von Brunn, walked into the National Holocaust Museum in D.C. with a rifle and started shooting, killing security guard Stephen T. Johns.

James von Brunn is the 88-year-old, far-right extremist and Holocaust denier who has written about the "Holocaust Hoax" and how the Jews are to blame for all the ills of the world. His name will live in infamy.

Stuart Goodman

Oceanside

State cuts will hurt those most in need

We all know the recession has hit California hard and our state budget is reeling. But it will only stunt California's recovery to drain $24 billion from the state's economy, as the governor's latest budget proposes.

What's more, it will be harder for struggling Californians to get back on their feet because the cuts target the sick, the poor and the elderly â€"â€" those who need the most help during these tough economic times.

Sadly, the governor's latest budget proposal would shred California's safety net. And obstructionist Republican lawmakers would rather defend tax breaks for oil companies and big business than keep kids insured and allow the frail elderly to remain in their homes.

Lawmakers need to protect all Californians, stop the severe cuts and pass a sensible budget that includes new revenue.

Judy Ki

Poway

Congress abandoning clean energy

Oil and coal lobbyists have badly weakened the big energy bill in Congress, even though it still has good parts. The current bill wouldn't require any more clean energy than is already in the works. Wind and solar create more than twice as many jobs as coal and oil, so this bill won't create the new jobs we need in our community.

Even worse, the bill would repeal parts of the Clean Air Act, preventing Obama from cracking down on dirty power plants.

For the sake of our economy and our planet, we need our representatives in Congress to fight to fix the energy bill. Congress will be voting in less than 10 days.

John Garner

Oceanside

The health care debate

On page A3 of the June 11 edition of the North County Times, Erica Werner of the Associated Press ("Compromise emerging in health care debate") reports "Most Republicans and business groups are … ardently opposed, saying that private insurers would end up going out of business, unable to compete with a government plan that didn't have to make a profit."

Excuse me, but there is the problem. This is why we spend more on inadequate health care than the other countries with the best. Stop and think, my fellow citizens! We're letting fear of the word "socialism" bankrupt us. We're talking about people making big money at the public's expense â€"â€" your expense, whether you have coverage or not. Go figure!

Andrea Seavey

Escondido

Find new sources of capital

OK, enough already! As the front page of the June 12 North County Times so blaringly announces, every state-funded organization in California wants more of what ain't! Folks, this isn't news. But here's news for some: Carping isn't going to add dollars to anyone's trough! Why? Because those complaining are wasting time and energy being part of the problem, when they could be expending the same on being part of the solution.

Here's a hint for the self-flagellators: The solution is the discovery or development of new sources of capital. Here's the corollary hint: Come up with a solution yourself, or join with those who have one, even if it means stepping on some whiners' toes! Until the state and its organizations stop doing business as usual, the long fall toward state bankruptcy will continue.

James Strong

Escondido

Obama, media naive about Iran's intentions

The naivete exhibited by the media and the current administration about the Iranian election is terrifying. The Iranian hard-liners were not going to give up power in an election, no more than Fidel Castro or Hugo Chavez would. A fixed and fraudulent election is the norm for thugs like Ahmadinejad.

Too many in the media and the administration were fooled because they wanted to believe in a fantasy â€"â€" many want to justify their wrongheaded support for the Shah's overthrow 20 years ago.

The support of democracy in the Middle East that these same people claim George W. Bush wrongly had was ignored because they wanted justification for their own fantasy that support for the overthrow of the Shah was better for Iran and the world.

Remember, with the fantasy of the media and the Democrats, we would have been spared the problems of Hamas, Hezbollah and the spark that ignited Islam extremism that has killed thousands of Americans and ten of thousands worldwide.

Francis Rushford

Carlsbad