How bad can Cruisin' Grand get?

The headline from the article in the paper says, "Sputtering car show in 2008." The Downtown Business Association is totally responsible, no one else. Fewer car clubs are participating because the prior person in charge had it taken away from him. It is no longer Cruisin' Grand, it should now be called Parked Grand. …

The import section was full. The post-'73 sports section, between Ivy and Juniper on Grand, was a joke. They had only five cars in the whole city block. Pounders is really getting shafted. I hope the DBA is not charging them anything, because they are not doing anything positive for them by permitting only 10 motorcycles to park in front of their business.

The crowning touch for the night was when the man in the Batman costume, driving in a V.W., trying to cruise Grand to the delight of children and parents alike, was made to ride in a Bronco to satisfy a new rule. How bad can it get?

Hugh Dunning

Escondido

Formless America is here

A few years ago, I began noticing an American formlessness, a nation within the nation, mainly youth and some older people displaced from themselves.

Recently I've found confirmation of this effect, in "Decline of the West," by Oswald Spengler, 1880-1935, who wrote of a return to cultural formlessness. This American anomaly has an agenda: basically, to have its own way, free of historical disciplines. The Declaration of Independence wrote a blank check for anarchy free of natural rule, and the first "Americans" were British carry-overs; the next were transplanted Europeans, who brought the disciplines they were trying to escape. Our only born-and-bred Americans have less ties and are largely disoriented. That can be good if they will accept proper rule, but hitching to an Obama or Clinton … regime will submit them to the worst in themselves.

The crooked use of the Electoral College, winner-take-all, will ensure the largest populated! States are tipped by the inner-city classes, which the Democrats are counting on. These agenda-Americans scorn any issues; they just want their own way.

Edward Karlson

Oceanside

Californians will do what others have done

It's true that a picture is worth a thousand words. A map of the United States shows that citizens in 26 other states have already done what Californians will do on Nov. 4. They have already locked into their state's constitution that marriage is defined as between a woman and a man. (Eighteen states have only state law to protect marriage. Four states have neither law nor amendment, and two states â€"â€" California and Massachusetts â€"â€" recognize same-sex unions as a marriage.)

In 2000, 61 percent of California voters passed Proposition 22, which was only a state law, and thus subject to judicial meddling. So our November vote for Proposition 8 â€"â€" "Only a marriage between a man and a woman will be recognized in California" â€"â€" will lock the will of the people, and a standard since the beginning of time, into our state Constitution.

Barbara Vickroy

Escondido

Dreams do come true

I turned 50 years old on Aug. 28. My birthday is so attached to history; I am blessed. I also share my birthday with my biracial son, who turned 31. Martin Luther King Jr. chose this day to have the march on Washington for the "I Have a Dream" speech. Barack Obama also chose this day carefully.

The fact is that in 1977, my own mother (RIP), who did not believe in abortion, thought it was OK to abort my baby because he was half black. My father (RIP) said the black child would never be allowed in his house! Praise God, that never happened, and my parents grew to love and accept him.

So, on my 50th birthday and my biracial child's 31st birthday, my and Martin Luther King's dream came true! A mixed-race man chose to accept a presidential nomination on this day, my 50th birthday and my biracial son's 31st birthday. Dreams do come true.

Christine Coulter Adams

Oceanside

Gases adding to global warming

Global warming is a hot-button issue. Many scientists throughout the world appear to agree that global warming is caused partly by mankind. My common sense tends to agree with them. I am not a scientist, but when I think about it, it makes sense to me that with the billions of people that we now have on Earth, each person emitting gases in one form or another, animals doing the same, then when you add the gases from the refuse we dump into landfills, the gases from the millions of miles of pavement and cement, the gases from our manufacturing factories, gases from the chemicals we use in building and agriculture, electrical gases, then add the natural decomposition gases that nature takes care of, such as vegetation, and even decomposing human and animal bodies, and finally, add the gases from natural disasters such as fires, volcanic eruptions and earthquakes and, in my mind, this amounts to a great amount of gases escaping into our atmosphere.

Doesn't it make sense that in combination all of these factors might be adding to global warming?

Andy Pino

Escondido

PUC should rethink area code change

Undoubtedly, the California Public Utilities Commission has already received all the logical and economical reasons for keeping the 760 area code in the area of the largest population â€"â€" North San Diego, South Riverside counties. It would be several times more costly for the larger population to change the area code number than the eastern and northern realms of the area ("Area code fuss shows flawed system at work," Aug. 18).

Why the commission would choose to impose higher costs and great inconvenience on the sizable majority, only they can answer. Let's hope it's not a political decision; Californians can't stand more special-interest grabs at our declining income. Please rethink this decision.

Joe Sisson

Oceanside

Palin is no Hillary

OMG (oh my gaffe)! Just when I got nervous over who McCain would choose for veep, he chose Sarah Palin! Americans know Hillary, and Palin is no Hillary! Democrats alike applauded McCain's decision all over our United States of America! Game, set, match. Mercy rule. Walk off. Whatever you like to call it, call it a no-brainer now. The only chance for Palin is to start dressing and acting like Hillary to fool some Americans.

Once again, Palin is no Hillary. Women should be appalled at McCain's tactics here. It's appalling to think McCain/Republicans can steal votes by her appointment. Republicans can't be that ignorant that simply appointing a woman to run in the veeps place does not mean women will Pied Piper to the polls in their favor. Old-school politics once again! I'm over 50 (my wife is still 39) and we are both ready for a better change.

Bryan Watkins

Oceanside

Where's the outrage?

A repeated refrain from the left for the last eight years regarding President Bush has been "selected, not elected." Well, folks, where's your outrage over the selection of Barry Obama? Obama was selected by the power structure of the Democratic Party. Neither he nor Hillary Clinton won the nomination through the primary process. Barry had a pledged delegate lead, but not enough to win the nomination. He won because the superdelegates decided to back him instead of Hillary. Hillary received more popular votes in the end than did Obama. Wonder if that had anything to do with the convention skipping the roll call vote?

Once again, "selected, not elected," so where's your outrage? Or is this another of those times when it's different because we're talking about Democrats and not Republicans?

Dan Shapiro

Oceanside

Same old GOP garbage

No surprise here that the GOP selected someone who's in bed with Big Oil as a vice presidential nominee ("McCain taps Alaska governor for VP," Aug. 29). Their ticket is now complete to continue the last eight years for four more. They have a presidential nominee who will carry on the failed war-mongering policies of George W. Bush, and a VP nominee who will carry on the Big Oil energy policies of Dick Cheney.

How sad for the GOP. They used to be able to carry their heads high with pride and dignity. Not anymore.

Phil Acosta

Vista

Hillary voters will not support anti-choice Palin

Talk about desperate, even comical, by naming Sarah Palin as vice president. McCain thinks he will get Hillary's voters. She is no Hillary; the Hill's voters are pro-choice, pro-gay and anti-war; they will never vote for a conservative, and the Republicans just don't get it. Choosing Palin is like an attempt to disguise a recycled gift with a pretty bow or throwing fresh veggies in an old stew. It just won't work. Voters see through the desperation.

McCain is no spring chicken. If anything should happen to him, do we want an ex-beauty queen with no experience as president? Talk about hypocrites!

Peggy Hart

Carlsbad

Inexperienced Palin not ready to lead

The purpose of a vice president is to be able to step in at a moment's notice and ably lead the free world. Joe Biden is a highly experienced and able surrogate. John McCain is 72 years old. Sarah Palin is not ready in any way, shape or form to lead anything but the issue-free state of Alaska, which is dutifully handled by Big Oil for her. She has an unwavering opposition to women's rights and zero experience in matters of national finance and diplomacy, let alone the responsibility of commander in chief. God help us all if she were to fall into power. No more fools.

Nathan Wesley

Solana Beach

City of Vista strikes again

I witnessed dumping of broken asphalt and concrete and foliage on a property I believe to belong to a popular Christian church in my neighborhood that fronts my yard. I have photos and a plate number of a rental yard dump truck used in the dumping, as well as the times the material was dumped. I phoned the city of Vista and, as usual, was voice-mailed, referred and finally told that the work day was over. This was at 4:30 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 28. I was informed I would have to call back Tuesday â€"â€" Monday being the holiday.

I called the city of Vista to advise them that two shopping carts from a local discount store were located on a city-owned easement across the street from my front yard, and I was told a shopping cart retrieval company would be called and the carts would be removed. A week later and they are still there. I hope the phone system in the $40 million-plus City Hall, the employee you finally get to speak to, their attitude and their sense of duty will be improved. The current system doesn't seem to be working.

Ken Beverly

Vista

There are always two prices to pay

Since the dawn of the United States upon the stage of history, there has never been an election as critical, crucial and potentially catastrophic as the one this November 2008. Certainly not in my 70-odd years of life.

The school of hard knocks has a way of teaching some lessons that will form a person's character. One of the most profound lessons ever learned and remembered by me is: There are always two prices to pay for an item, an action, a decision, or a choice. It certainly does not always involve money. …

Please, America, go to the polls in November and vote. And then we and our children will pay the additional price, good or bad, for the next four to eight years. Know that we need to live with the decision we make for the rest of the future history of the United States.

Charles Wright

Oceanside

Fire tax won't solve fuel problem

The county Board of Supervisors is asking for a huge amount of money to create a huge bureaucracy that cannot put out a fire any more than the current configuration of firefighters ("Regional board approves fire tax"). The real problem is the fuel, and when you eliminate the fuel, you will not have a fire problem. This is just another way they can buy more fire engines and helicopters. When we have big fires, they cannot be put out by any means; the firefighters, most of the time, cannot even get close and, when they do, they are putting themselves in jeopardy. Notice when the news shows a helicopter or aircraft dropping water or retardant on a fire they don't show what happens next, but what happens is the fire continues to burn until it burns up the fuel and quits burning. …

The way to fix the fire problem is to remove the fuel that causes houses to burn, build fire breaks and conduct controlled burns; there are plenty of personnel sitting around polishing fire engines to accomplish those tasks. After you do that, and you have a big fire, send the firefighters off on vacation and ground all aircraft that are not being used for joy rides. The fire will burn itself out, and no homes will be burned and no one gets hurt. We don't need a huge bureaucracy to do that.

Rod Galloway

Ramona

'No' vote isn't against TCMC

Many property owners objecting to paying all the exorbitant costs of Tri-City Medical Center are not opposed to a new hospital. They oppose the contentious management team, supported by the board of directors, that would be handling our tax dollars. By the time the full seven floors of the Taj Mahal were completed, property owners could owe more than $2 billion!

This gang spent close to $2 million on three elections. They are overpaid and too free and loose with other people's money. If they looked in a mirror honestly, they would do the right thing and actively seek a buyer for TCMC. Of course, that would eliminate their gravy train, so that's not going to happen.

Let's hope a few responsible board members, management people, the media (especially the North County Times) and private citizens stand up, demand an independent accounting and make changes. It's estimated the vote total drew less than 45 percent support from property owners. The remaining 14 percent to 20 percent of the "yes" votes were not property owners, but those along for the free ride. Calling the needed two-thirds majority unfair is wrong. If only taxpaying property owners were polled, results would be a wider loss.

Jean Sesson

Oceanside

Jim Gibson for Oceanside City Council

Jim Gibson is running for Oceanside City Council, and I think he will make a great city councilman. He is a former Marine captain, he holds an MBA and he is an employer who has owned and operated a high-tech business for the last 20 years.

But one of the real reasons I would vote for him is because he is strongly against illegal immigration. He has zero tolerance for illegal immigration and gangs in Oceanside. He has also been on the school board for the last 10 years, for most of which he has been in the minority and been voted against. Recently, however, he has been able to push through proposals that he has been fighting for for years. That principle he has fought for is, every child needs to know how to read and write in English this year!

Having just moved to San Marcos, I can't vote for Jim, but if I could, I would be voting for Jim. I hope Jim has your vote. Jim Gibson for Oceanside City Council. Go, Jim, go!

Christine Branner

San Marcos

Firefighters honor 9/11 heroes

I am sure we all remember where and with whom we were with on that day nearly seven years ago. I was getting up to go to the firehouse that morning when my wife, Monica, awakened me to the sight of the twin towers on fire. The south tower of the World Trade Center just got hit, and we knew we were under attack. The day seemed like it went on for days, with reports of many rescue workers and Americans killed by a cowardly act of bin Laden. America united and let it be known that we would never forget. We will do this by honoring our heroes.

The Escondido Fire & Police Associations are sponsoring Patriot Week and invite the community to come out and help us remember and honor the victims and family members of 9/11/01: from Friday, Sept. 5, Fire Truck and Police Car Night at Cruisin' Grand, to Kit Carson Park 9/11 Softball Tournament from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sept. 6 with fun for the family and friends to raise money for local troops overseas, closing with a Name Reading Event at Grape Day Park beginning at 5 p.m. Sept. 11. We would like it if the public signed up to read names. Everyone is invited. … For more information, e-mail firemanmic@aol.com.

Mike O'Connor

member, Escondido

Firefighter Associationˇ

Valley Center

Plea to women voters

Congratulations to Sarah Palin for being selected as the vice presidential nominee for the Republican Party. What a great accomplishment. No matter which party wins in November, it is clear this 2008 election will be historic.

This vote is the most important factor in deciding the direction the United States will take into the future. As a woman, I look forward to the day when a female will occupy the White House â€"â€" as either president or vice president. But I urge all women voters across the country to focus on the issues, policies and ideologies of the candidates instead of their gender (or race, for that matter). First and foremost, each woman needs to decide for herself who will be the right person for the job. We should vote with our heads and not our hearts.

Blair Butler

Encinitas