Republicans fail to take responsibility in economic crisis

Fred Ernst wrote (Letters, Oct. 4) that the Democrats could stop the crisis. Elect Republicans so they can blame someone else. This was caused by the fat cats on Wall Street and not Main Street. They put together bundles of trash so no one could find out what they contained. In 2005, Sen. Chuck Hagel sponsored a bill to increase oversight on Fannie and Freddie. This bill was supported by Sen. John McCain. Fellow Republicans did not agree and defeated the bill. The Republicans were the majority party in 2005.

Fannie and Freddie and the so-called questionable customers are not the main cause. Wall Street, private financial mortgage companies and investors all had a hand in it. Many had several properties and received mortgages that exceeded the value of the property. Total greed by the private sector and not government was at fault.

Republicans always say how they hate government and it shows. They will not pay for anything, even the war, just charge it -- deficits do not matter -- and have someone else pay the taxes and give the private sector a license to steal. They do not take any responsibility.

David Thompson

Menifee

Fraudulent voter registrations should not be overlooked

In light of the critical upcoming election, I was disappointed to find in the Oct. 8 paper only a small article titled "Cowboys turn up in Nevada sting," buried under Sports Briefs in the Sports section. This article dealt with fraudulent voter registrations being submitted by ACORN, the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now, in Nevada. This is of vital national interest and deserved greater exposure. If this practice is being carried out across the nation, then one of our most basic freedoms is being threatened.

Regardless of political persuasion, our free and legal elections are a source of American pride and one of the foundations upon which this great country was built. The only connection this article had to sports was that some of the fraudulent names submitted included those in the starting lineup of the Dallas Cowboys. We need to be able to rely on the integrity of our news people to give issues of such national importance the proper exposure.

Frances Jo Power

Temecula

Voter leans toward American Independent Party candidate</>

After listening to both sides these many months and in view of the events of the last few weeks, I have almost decided how to vote. I will not vote for any current office holder, be it at the state or federal level. One way or another they have all failed us. However, I still have a decision to make voting for president. Do I vote for American Independent Party candidate Alan Keyes or Libertarian Party candidate Bob Barr? Because some have stated that not voting for a black man is a form of racism, I think I will cover all bases and go with Keyes. That way, when they -- the thought police -- come for me, I will have an excuse.

If only Keyes had been allowed in the last debate, he would have run circles around those two guys. Having voted for him in the primary in 1996, I am leaning toward Alan yet again.

Jim Ramsdell

Menifee

Obama proposals viewed as frightening

When are the people of America going to wake up and listen to the frightening rhetoric of Sen. Barack Obama's tax and economic proposals? Sen. Obama first wants to increase taxes on those who make more than $250,000. By all means, let's inhibit those hard-working Americans who are trying to run their successful small business. With 99.7 percent of all employer firms being small businesses and the fact that they employ half of the total U.S. payroll, it would be the logical choice to increase the already suffocating taxes on them. No! It is not the correct move. Sen. John McCain wants to maintain the Bush tax cuts, cuts that were for all people from the bottom to the top, while at the same time creating more opportunity for businesses to stay in the United States and flourish.

Sixty percent to 80 percent of new jobs are created by small business, so by lowering taxes on those building these businesses, we will see increased employment, new growth opportunities and reinvestment in America. Or we can allow Obama to abolish the Bush tax cuts, create his own new spending programs, and tax those who are building small businesses. If I am staring down the $250,000 mark in my household, I think I may just cut back and let China earn some more money, because they aren't getting taxed on it. For those who want to fact-check, feel free. All the information is available at www.sba.gov.

Christopher Curran

Temecula

Chamber remains supportive of local legislators

The Oct. 1 article, "Chamber summit drops political angles to pursue straight answers," unfortunately may have given the wrong impression about the new format, event goals and the relationship shared with our local legislators. The Temecula Valley Chamber of Commerce works tirelessly supporting our community and with its local legislators on an array of issues affecting businesses' ability to grow and prosper. If, after reading the article, you were of the impression that the chamber and I did not support our local legislators, nothing could be further from the truth.

Roger Ziemer

Board member

Temecula Valley Chamber of Commerce

Bring back the incumbents in Temecula race

I am hoping that as many people as possible observed as I did the Oct. 7 forum for candidates running for the Temecula City Council. The experience of the two incumbents shows that the lifestyle that we all enjoy in our city was not just luck. The knowledge that incumbents Chuck Washington and Mike Naggar displayed about the issues that face our city show they are not sitting back on the success they have already achieved.

Two of the other candidates admitted that they did not understand some of the issues and would rely on what Chuck and Mike had to say and the other candidate, not wanting to admit he did not understand the issue, decided to try and bluff his way through. Speaking for myself, I want the candidates who understand the issues and have a proven track record of success. Take a look at the amenities that our city enjoys in terms of parks, law enforcement and fire protection as well as shopping and recreation opportunities and we can easily see why our city is one of the most admired in the state.

Do not be bluffed by half-truths by candidates who think they know better. Let's bring back Chuck Washington and Mike Naggar to finish the job they have started.

Gary Youmans

Temecula

Editor's note: The following letter is being rerun because the meaning of part of the letter was inadvertently changed when it was typed in.

Teaching creation has its merits

Last spring, Ben Stein's "Expelled -- No Intelligence Allowed" hit the big screen, and evolutionists, most of whom never saw it, said it was false. Stein's premise, backed up with ample evidence, was that belief in Darwin's theory was required by the evolutionary establishment if you want to keep a teaching job or work for a museum or other scientific institution. Evolutionists claimed that Stein didn't know what he was talking about and that such discrimination didn't exist.

Now comes Kenneth Ray proving that Ben Stein was right. Mr. Ray wrote, "Parents, if you want your children to work in the rapidly expanding future biotech sectors, make sure their schools train them in evolution. Those whose only training is creationism need not apply."

Mr. Ray also wrote that creation has not produced any scientific knowledge or any useful medical cure. Apparently he has never heard of Louis Pasteur, Isaac Newton or Frances Redi, all of whom made major breakthroughs based on creationism principles. Also, Karl Popper, who originated falsifiability as a scientific criterion, wrote: "Darwinism is not a testable scientific theory, but a metaphysical research program." Finally, Rudolph Virchow proved the creation principle that "every cell originates from another cell." He is also credited with exposing the hoax that Neanderthal man was an ape-to-man transition.

Ezra Chapman

Winchester