NCT denounces Bible believers
I am astounded that you printed the picture of two so-called ministers hugging as part of a rally to protest the California Supreme Court decision to uphold Proposition 8. This was on the front page of the North County Times on May 27 ("Reaction mixed to court's same-sex nuptial ruling"). Do you have anyone on your editorial staff that reads the Bible and believes that relations with one's own sex are wrong? Talk about an "in your face" denouncement of those who believe in the Bible. Wow, you hit the jackpot on this one.
California voters overwhelmingly passed Prop. 8, and that is reportable information. The fact that there were protests is reportable news. However, to print a picture like this sends a strong message of where your paper stands on this issue and is inappropriate journalism.
Don't do it again!
Harry Solter
Fallbrook
Do lawmakers not understand voters?
Do state and federal representatives misunderstand or simply ignore the voters?
This California homeowner appreciates residential property tax protections in Proposition 13, but also appreciates the responsibility to pay taxes for services required. I reject initiatives for bond sales or cockamamie plans to rob Peter to pay Paul. If California needs increased taxes, state legislators exist to understand when and how much, and to vote them in. It's dysfunctional that a majority vote is insufficient, but the Legislature must take action.
Instead, the governor proposes to reduce welfare and health benefits to the neediest Californians! Raise the income tax, exempt businesses from Prop. 13, release nonviolent prisoners, eliminate vocational training in prisons for five years, and pass a modest property tax increase.
Same problem in Washington. Americans voted for health care reform. Instead, we get new taxes? With no viable plan to compete with the one plan that is "off the table" â"â" one national insurance funded by premiums, employer contributions, and government subsidies â"â" the Senate nevertheless considers taxing group health benefits as income. Instead of reforming administration of insurance payments, the U.S. Senate creates new taxes for Americans! What's next, a new federal tax to pay for bankers' annual bonuses?
Kate Kuhn
Vista
Thanks to kind man on Memorial Day
On this past Memorial Day, my husband, who is a Korea and Vietnam veteran, attended the services at the Oak Hill Cemetery in Escondido to honor those who gave the supreme sacrifice in the service of their country.
Afterward, we went for lunch at the Centre City Cafe. When we went to pay our bill, we were told that the gentleman sitting at next table had quietly paid it for us as a thank-you to my husband for his service to our country.
We would like to say, thank you so very much and God bless you, and God bless America.
Rosemarie and Bernhard Pfefferkorn
Escondido
Is writer's outrage selective?
I read with interest Mr. Bob Crowell's letter complaining about the costs incurred by our president and first lady when they deliver commencement speeches (Letters, May 27).
I can only hope that he demonstrated the same intense outrage when similar speeches were given by former President George W. Bush, former Vice President Dick Cheney and Laura Bush.
Noralee Sherwood
Oceanside
Californians are driving too fast
I read Dave Downey's column about how speed limits are set ("When officials' hands are tied," May 25).
I would like to see an article about how fast Californians are driving on the freeways and why … the cops (are not) ticketing people driving at speeds over 80 mph and recklessly changing lanes numerous times.
I thought highways 15 and 78 were bad in this area, but this weekend I had to drive to Los Angeles, and it is wild north of Mission Viejo.
In the greater L.A. area, I was forced to drive at 80 mph, and if I did not, drivers were riding my tail trying to speed me up. My guess is traffic flow was 80 to 95 mph.
I normally drive 70 to 75 mph, depending on traffic flow, and stay in the middle lanes. I would gladly pay 5 cents more a gallon of gas to get more police on the roads or … use the extra money to acquire camera machines that can judge speeds, take a picture and send speeders a ticket if caught over 70 to 75 mph. …
If we'd all slow down, we'd save lives and fuel.
Peter Dooley
Escondido
Some things never change
I voted for change in the last election. I read the letters in the Opinion section almost every day and it looks like some things never change.
There is the constant name-calling, i.e., liberal, socialist, Marxist, firemen as ladies, et al., from the people who voted against change. There is also an undercurrent of bigotry, racism, homophobia, xenophobia and a propensity to hate things they don't understand. They deny waterboarding as torture.
Right-wing talk show host and torture denier Eric "Mancow" Muller was waterboarded on TV and lasted six seconds. He admitted it was worse than drowning and definitely torture. Waterboarding is torture.
They deny equal rights for all Americans. How Christian of you to deny your gay or lesbian neighbor the right to wed. Doesn't every one of you have a friend, co-worker or family member who deserves these rights as human beings? Look again. All of us will benefit from open minds and tolerance. Don't be afraid of change.
Bill Thomas
Cardiff
What rights have gay couples lost?
Will someone pleeeeze tell me what rights gay couples have lost, with the exception of the right to describe their union as "marriage"? The only purpose of Proposition 8 was to codify the term "marriage" in the state Constitution as meaning a legal union between a man and a woman. It did not take rights away from anyone.
Gay couples are free to form legal unions equal in stature and law to a marriage between a man and a woman. Call it what you want, it just does not meet the description of marriage.
When people fill out official forms and it asks male or female, if you are a male you say male. You don't say female even though you "feel" like a female, or want to be a female. To do otherwise is a lie. Are your rights infringed based upon this? I don't think so.
Len Tevebaugh
Fallbrook
What values, beliefs?
All this whining about gay marriage and what God intended has me wondering: How do you people know what God intended? Did He come down and talk to you? Don't quote the Bible to me either, because there are lots of things in there that most Christians don't practice anymore. Those things are explained away as cultural things from the time it was written.
Growing up in the Southern Baptist church, I was always taught that the Mormons were a cult, yet the other conservative Christian denominations jumped in and held hands with them to get Proposition 8 passed. It wouldn't have passed without the Mormon church that they consider a cult. Maybe you all should merge so you can lay off half your staff and consolidate your churches!
I find it really ironic that the Catholic church opposes gay marriage based on family values. Are those the same values that protected child molesters, promoted torture during the Inquisition and organized the Crusades? Jesus, please save us from the religious "right."
Curtis Fitzgerald
Escondido
You are being chumped
No one who signs a petition realizes that he or she is being chumped. The campaign will take your name and address and use it for their gain during elections. Campaigns can purchase a CD-ROM from private companies that has access to all your personal information. They know where you live, the side of the street you live on, last time you voted, how many times you voted; they can target age groups, the time of day you voted, and a multitude of other types of information.
You sign a petition and you will be targeted for solicitation of money for their coming campaign. You should also question anyone who asks you to sign a petition. They will lie to you and stir your emotions, and they get paid for your signature. You walk away with misinformation and they don't care.
Your right to vote was paid for by the blood of fighters for freedom. Don't spend it carelessly! Pay attention to your elected officials and make up your own mind. Remember, when you vote against someone, you always get worse than you already have.
Robert Neal
Oceanside
Community clinics are health safety net
H1N1 started with a young boy in a rural area, traveled throughout the world and infected more than 6,000 people in the United States alone. What have we learned? We have learned that our health is inextricably linked. Our good health depends upon the health of those we share an airplane with, those we meet in the grocery store and sit next to in the classroom.
More than 47 million people in the United States don't have health insurance.
These individuals are more likely to forgo primary care, and instead end up in our emergency departments.
During the first few days of H1N1, Vista Community Clinic saw more than three times the normal number of walk-in patients. Our appointment lines were flooded with calls. People were scared, and they didn't have anywhere else to go.
Community clinics are the health care safety net, providing low-cost medical care to those who are low-income and/or without health insurance. We are weathering tremendous cuts in the state budget and decreased private funding â"â" and yet our doors are still open. I urge you to learn about and support community clinics as if your health depended upon them, for in many ways it does.
Barbara Mannino
CEO
Vista Community Clinic
Federal lawsuit to ban electronic voting
Our chance to see an honest vote count: Go to this Web site and see what you can do to help: http://wethepeoplefoundation.org/UPDATE/Update2009-05-11.htm. It must be noted that this is the first federal lawsuit ever to be approved for trial directly challenging the constitutional integrity of a state's official election procedures, which are totally dependent, almost without exception, upon machine-based vote counting.
This is much better than a TEA party because if it prevails, it will mean a lot the next day and all the days after that. Yes, lawsuits are expensive, but $10 from all of us would do the trick. Remember, freedom is not free. Tell a friend.
Bill Hasty
Escondido
More pro-Israeli gibberish
Re: "America spends wisely in Israel," by Stuart Goodman, Letters, May 19: The Arab armies went into Palestine in 1948 to keep the Zionists from taking over all of Palestine, and not to destroy the Jewish state.
Israel is not our friend, and it is my contention that they have nothing but contempt for us. We are their servants, period. If one of our leaders doesn't bow to their wishes, then they have hell to pay.
It is disgusting to see the world's only superpower bowing before a two-bit state like Israel … Why don't the Arabs help the Palestinians? Because the U.S. and Israel forbid it.
Why do you think that Egypt keeps its border with Gaza sealed?
One of the reasons the Arab people hate the U.S. is because their leaders are U.S. puppets. On foreign policy, Barack Obama is the third term of George W. Bush. The people of Gaza voted for Hamas because Fatah was a corrupt water-carrier for the Israelis.
The Israelis will just ignore Obama and continue the siege of Gaza and the displacement of the Palestinians from their ancestral homeland while continuing to badger us over Iran.
I am tired of ignorance.
Chris Pulse
Vista
A raspberry to city of La Jolla
Some in La Jolla are feeling mighty smug and vindicated these days, having won the battle to at long last evict the seals from the Children's Pool. Never mind that, according to a report on Channel 10, it will cost an estimated $700,000 to accomplish the task (or more, if that is as accurate as most other government guesstimates) at a time when revenues are low, not to mention the probability that fewer tourists and locals will come to spend money in their city.
I just hope they are willing to kick in some cash to help support all the poor slobs who will lose their jobs because of a few who have a foolish and inconsiderate need to be right.
And when the seals keep coming back because it has been their home for such a long time, will they get out their baseball bats, Canada-style?
Not all in La Jolla supported this action, but I can't help feel that when I speak the name of their city, it kind of leaves a bad taste in the mouth.
I have just crossed La Jolla off my list of destinations for my "staycation."
Samantha Rae
Escondido
