Tell us what's in those pills
We are told where many of the products we use on a daily basis are manufactured; e.g., clothes and toys made in China or other Far Eastern countries are regularly disclosed. One big secret remains: Where are the generic and other pills we use manufactured?
This consumer, who takes numerous pills daily, would like to know where they were manufactured. However, this information remains a big secret. Why is this critical information such an unknown? Why won't the distributors let us know who manufactured the pills and where they are located? Many are calling for full disclosure, but we can expect the pharmaceutical companies to fight such proposals with major dollars and their stable of lobbyists.
The widespread contamination that we regularly read about is scary, and I don't want to take needless chances. I would feel much more comfortable in making my choices of various pills if I had sufficient information to make an intelligent decision.
Why should the pharmaceutical industry and their cohorts object, if all the good practices and controls they espouse are in place and functioning as described?
Ira Landis
Oceanside
Safety codes are designed to protect everyone
Christina Johnson (Letters, March 20): She may be well aware of the fire risk involved with building on her property and may be willing to take that risk. So be it. The building and safety codes are designed not only to protect her, but also to protect the public and public servants.
You see, by her making the decision to build a house in an unsafe area, without adequate access and egress, she is also making a decision for the first responders. It is in them, their blood â"â" they will disregard their own life to save her, even if it was her own undoing that put her there. That is why there are buildings and safety codes.
Robert DeRieux
Fallbrook
Disappointed with U.S. Supreme Court
Members of the U.S. Supreme Court are appointed for life, so they don't have to be concerned about losing their jobs if someone doesn't like their decisions. But there still is the remaining problem about allegiance to the political party that put them in office. A good example is the presidential election of 2000, where they stopped the recount in Palm Beach County based on "equal protection," but were not equal at all when they failed to provide a recount in all counties, and thus completely stopped a recount that was fully justified.
An even better example of the U.S. Supreme Court failing to do its job is the lack of action regarding our corrupt legislative system, where big business investors give money and favors to members of Congress through 40,000 lobbyists, leaving the citizens not represented on issues that concern business profits. This is why we cannot have a low-cost, government-controlled health care system, or jobs that have been given to cheap foreign workers. Like everyone else who holds a government office, the members of the U.S. Supreme Court are acting like politicians.
Herbert Pairitz
Carlsbad
'Block party' forum was inspiring, upbeat
Re: "Block party a melting pot," Community Forum, March 30: Hooray! What an inspiring, upbeat piece Mr. Lawson authored. What a warm pool of sunlight in the usual political and economic gray in today's newspapers and world.
Thank you, Jordan Lawson. Wish we were your neighbors, too.
Barbara Harrison
Escondido
Invited to a tea party
Had enough of the Obama insanity yet? Are you looking forward to much higher taxation to fund his massive programs by using crippling debt that will ruin our childrens' futures? If so, then you're invited to a Tea Party (Taxed Enough Already) April 15, between 4 and 6 p.m. in front of the U.S. Post Office at 403 N. Broadway in Escondido.
These Tea Parties have been spreading across the nation the last month as Americans become increasingly outraged at political and corporate corruption and arrogance. These events have been drawing thousands of people at each event.
If you want to start to take back your country from the corrupt, radical socialists that are ruining it, then tell your friends about this event, too. You can also learn more about this on www.912project.com. The number stands for the day after the terrorist attacks on 9/11 and stands for the unity Americans felt at that time that has faded away since. It's this unity of purpose that we must get back to in order to save our nation, which is under attack from greedy and corrupt people.
Help your children and grandchildren by attending this event.
David Cline
founder, Escondido
Minutemen Brigade
Escondido
Action could have assuaged their guilt
The dog-beating story in the March 27 North County Times was the most upsetting thing I've read in recent memory ("Officials probe beating of injured dog in euthanasia attempt").
The ghastly details of the dog's suffering while being beaten are shocking and upsetting, to say the least.
It would be unjust to judge the two people who stood by and witnessed this, though my reaction is, How could you? I don't care how menacing this man appeared to be, I'd lie over the dog to protect it from this hammer-wielding man if necessary. I'd risk lying beaten in a hospital to protect man's best friend in righteous indignation. Call me stubborn, call me foolish, call me crazy, but I doubt I'd be having nightmares!
Donna Renner
Oceanside
Carbon dioxide is needed to produce oxygen
Environmental fanatics and the media constantly proclaim that man-made carbon dioxide is causing the plant to warm and will cause the extinction of mankind, even though the past several years have indicated a cooling trend.
If the planet is really warming, there are other more likely reasons than man-made carbon dioxide.
According to a segment of "Planet Earth" produced by the BBC, there are more than 30,000 active underwater volcanoes. In addition to causing the ocean to warm, these volcanoes spew forth tons of carbon dioxide, which while produced underwater, will eventually reach the surface. The segment also indicated that there are an untold number of hot water vents that produce water over 400 degrees. Maybe this explains why one section of the ocean warms and the rest stays cold.
The environmentalists who scream that man-made carbon dioxide will cause the extinction of mankind apparently do not understand that without carbon dioxide, trees and other green plants cannot produce oxygen. Without oxygen, we die.
Frank Thurlow
Vista
Police state?
I do not believe that Michael Guerrero, president of the police union, truly represents the feelings of the rank and file officers. "To protect and serve" does not seem to be his motto. Maybe it's "to threaten and scare"? Let's examine some of the outrageous statements he has made (I paraphrase):
MG: You saw our gang member flier. Pretty scary! Did I tell you they are from L.A.? Oops, I forgot that detail.
Me: What if I sent a flier depicting police brutality in other cities? Would that be OK?
MG: Crime is up! Better take care of us!
Me: Apparently you aren't doing your job.
MG: Meet our demands or we'll go elsewhere.
Me: In this economy, plenty of people (e.g., MPs) would love your job.
MG: We are going after council members individually to bully them into supporting our demands.
Me: Now is the time for citizens to contact the City Council. We won't be held hostage by the very people sworn to protect and serve.
No one wants to have salary cuts. But others have recognized that giving a little will serve the greater good. And that means you, Mr. Guerrero, and the union.
Michael Anet
Escondido
The sales tax/city services connection
Re: The Escondido sales tax debate: I was touched by Councilwoman Waldron's concern that a sales tax increase would fall heavily upon the poor, because she is right â"â" the sales tax is regressive ("Council rejects 'no new taxes' pledge," March 26). However, it's important to note that the benefit derived from city services is also regressive, accruing quite heartily to the poor and those nearly so, while others shoulder a burden larger than their benefit.
If Ms. Waldron cannot smile at the thought of taxing the poor for what they get, she may be of no further use as a Republican. I can only pray that this is not true.
Doug Joyner
Escondido
A new editor at the NCT?
Since being banished from having my letters printed, I have a sneaking suspicion that maybe the editor is either Bill Dreu, Eric Parish, Sorab Ghandi and others of the same ilk, or a compilation of all of them. Could I be wrong? Maybe.
Phil Epstein
Carlsbad
Hoping for new Renaissance
We should not trust science, and those who do are atheists who are ruining our society.
Illegal immigrants are also ruining our nation, bringing dangerous diseases such as leprosy to our country, always involved in criminal activity and receiving welfare and all other free services here which has caused our economic crisis. They are soldiers in a conspiracy by Mexico, the U.S. and Canada to take us over and create a new union.
Liberals are all socialists moving us to a socialist society because anytime you create more equity in the distribution of wealth, this constitutes socialism, which will lead to communism. Furthermore, billionaires and millionaires should not be taxed more because they will not continue to help our economy do well.
Improving the economic status of the poor is another step towards socialism and should be avoided.
Finally, homosexuals are destroying our religious organizations and our families. They are immoral, cannot be caring parents and can be compared to nuts and bolts.
Are these ideas from the new millennium that I have read on these editorial pages, or has a time machine transported us back to the dark, suppressive world of the Middle Ages? Let's hope for another Renaissance.
Joan Horn
Carlsbad
Wonderful photos showed joy of friendship
Thank you so much for publishing the wonderful photos in your paper on March 30 showing the children with special needs celebrating Passover with the teen and adult volunteers of Friendship Circle.
As a board member of this outstanding nonprofit organization, Friendship Circle, which pairs teen volunteers with special-needs children on a weekly basis, I was thrilled to see them all sharing their time and the joys of friendship with these children at this festive event.
One little girl with special needs who came to a Friendship Circle activity for the first time commented, "This was the happiest day of my life!" Thank you for bringing her joy, and the work of these dedicated volunteers, to the attention of our larger San Diego community.
Judy Gruber
board member
Friendship Circle
San Diego
Letter writers should attend conference
Kudos to Ernest Sparks ("Writer denies well-established truths," Letters, March 25). Chris Pulse and those of the hate-driven left have most obviously driven themselves mad with their unfounded contempt for anything even remotely decent or American. Pulse's alter ego, Eric Parish, recently condemned Israel for responding to "homemade rockets" (Letters, Jan. 7). Try more than 4,000 rockets fired at civilians over a one-year period.
I'd like to invite anyone, including Pulse/Parish, who wants to know what's really going on to the Epicenter 2009 Conference at Cox Arena in San Diego on April 4. Admission and parking are free.
Speakers will include New York Times best-selling author Joel Rosenberg, retired Army Lt. Gen. William G. Boykin, and senior Calvary Chapel Pastor Chuck Smith. We are, literally, witnessing Bible end-times prophecy being fulfilled on nearly a daily basis. It's OK to be a skeptic; in fact, God encourages that. It is not OK to mock something while you keep your mind closed.
For details, log on to www.Epicenter09.com. Or e-mail me at skipbro@juno.com and I will pass the invitation along to you. Like it or not, we are on the precipice.
Rob Edwards
San Marcos
Proud of Poway Library's Sunday hours
Kudos to Poway and the San Diego County Public Library system for ensuring Sunday hours for the Poway Library ("County funds library's Sunday hours; endowment fund untapped," March 27).
At a time when libraries are needed most, Poway and the county can point with pride to the fact that the city-owned, county-operated Poway Library is open seven days a week to serve the needs of citizens. In fact, as reported in the article, 11 San Diego County library branches enjoy Sunday hours.
Alex Galenes
Escondido
Water crisis or great opportunity?
I always enjoy and am informed by Gail Chatfield. Her "Water crisis or disaster" (March 30) column inspired a reply.
I want to let everyone know that water conservation need not be, as Gail says, "undesirable perhaps, but doable."
To live better, we've installed: A dual flush toilet that works better than the supposedly efficient one we had. A greywater irrigation system that allows us to enjoy macadamia nuts and blackberries by reusing shower and washing machine water. A solar water heater that permits guilt-free hot showers. A hot water recirculation system that brings hot water to our sinks so we don't have to run water down the drain. Rainwater harvesting tanks. My wife is still using rain water to sprout broccoli, spinach, peas and tomatoes long after the rain has stopped. And the lawn I was mowing is being replaced with a beautiful patio, vegetable beds, and diverse native habitat.
The bigger picture here is that these are products and services that can provide good-paying jobs here and now.
So when the San Diego Water Authority finally recognizes the need to ration our water supply, thank them for the opportunity to be resourceful.
Dadla Ponizil
Encinitas
