Wedding video captures American spirit

When I first viewed "JK Wedding Entrance Dance" on YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4-94JhLEiN0), it had garnered close to 1 million views. That was on Friday. On Monday, there were more than 9 million. It is an uplifting affirmation of the human spirit. There have been nearly 50,000 responses, but there was a negative comment -- nearly all are outrageously positive -- that derided the wedding march as "the result of liberal decay in our society."

Until then, I had not thought of it as political, but as wholly American. I believe the joyous Minnesota service was, in a word, U.S. The bride and groom reciting their vows beneath the cross, respecting the Christian faith and the institution of marriage. Also, I venture to add, they most likely admire the conservative American values of establishing a solid home and providing for a prosperous life.

On the other hand, the celebration is obviously a liberal representation of their joy and enthusiasm for these American values. It was not political, but simply a solid expression of love. I vigorously applaud Jill and Kevin, and join with other Americans to wish them years of happiness and thank them for the few moments they gave to us.

Sean Reynolds

Murrieta

Majority rules, unless you're Republican

The most basic principle of any democracy is that of majority rule. Voters have spoken and elected a majority of Democrats, yet the GOP get to control.

During the steep recessions of the early 1970s and '90s, Republican Govs. Ronald Reagan and Pete Wilson worked with their legislative colleagues in both parties to make up the major budget shortfalls through a combination of higher taxes and spending cuts.

This generation of Republicans, however, decided to close a $26 billion shortfall entirely through gimmicks and cutbacks and the state's Constitution gave them the power to game the situation to their advantage.

The editorial page of The Californian praised the Republicans for this.

David Thompson

Menifee

Health reform should be nonpartisan

I would like to thank Jack Pepper for his insightful and compassionate comments ("An example of why we need change," Letters, July 26) regarding our need for a different kind of health care in our country. Like Mr. Pepper, I too have excellent health care.

In 1998, I was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis. When I think of the extremely painful nature of this disease, and the millions of Americans who also have it and have to battle it with no professional medical assistance, it not only lets me know how blessed I am, but how unfortunate the people with no health care are. …

I want our representatives in Congress to do a thorough job in deciding the details of the health care plan in a nonpartisan way, but to deny coverage to millions of citizens who have no hope otherwise is not right.

I don't like the thought of higher taxes any more than anyone else, but if I have to pay more taxes to ensure that someone like me can get some medical relief, I'm willing to do that.

Bobbie Porter

Temecula

Real facts about quarry

For several months, we have been invited to "Get the Facts about Liberty Quarry" via an Open House tour as advertised in this paper. At last, they can shut that open house down, as we now have the real facts ("Report says quarry would affect air quality, traffic," July 21).

The honest facts are in: The quarry's effects are called "significant and unavoidable." Please, take it from someone who grew up in the dirty air of the San Joaquin Valley of central California, bad air is nothing to excuse. It put me in the hospital with asthma every year I lived there.

The fact remains: Dirty air is dirty air and we sure don't need 75 years of it from those who think of the almighty dollar over our health.

Just as important: In our upcoming elections, make it a point to remember those politicians who took a stand against Liberty Quarry and those who didn't. Your health is much more important than your political affiliation.

Kenneth Dodd

Temecula

Another opinion on health care reform

Sen. Boxer asked for our opinion on health care reform, so here is ours. If something is to be done about our health care and cost of, first things first: Send back all the illegal immigrants who are getting free medical care to wherever they came from. It is the responsibility of the country of where they came from to take care of them.

Yes, we mean to send back all 12 million to 20 million and maybe even more. Then there may be some way to come up with a plan to reform health care.

This country is the most generous in the world, taking care of people everywhere. We are not picking on the illegals. But if the government doesn't start doing something about this, we can forget about Social Security and health care. …

Raymond and Carol Dovel

Sun City

'Cityhoods debate' editorial missed mark

Responding to "Cityhoods debate missed key issue," July 12, by the opinion staff: Law 34870-34884 is a very well-thought-out law. It clearly gives the voters the right to decide how they will be governed in the newly incorporated city. You're right, it was wrong that the cityhood debates never had discussions of by-district or at-large elections. That was a critical element in the debates and deserved broad dissemination of information to the voters before the 2008 election.

Failure on the part of the incorporation committee to inform the public on Measure G has nothing to do with the way the law is written. Both city councils cannot accept the vote of the people and will call for a special election. How very un-American. The courts will decide and then we will see if the vote of an American citizen still stands in the United States.

How ironic when the vote is not what the politicians expect: It's always a bad law or the public was not informed. We are smart, educated and make informed decisions when we vote and were not making a choice largely in an informational vacuum as your opinion staff claims.

Anne Pica

Sun City