Why did our government change?

Why, for years now, has our "government of the people, by the people, and for the people" decided it would be best to dictate to the people? When did it change?

We ask government officials to balance the federal budget. They ignore us. We ask them to tighten our immigration laws and stop giving our welfare money to illegals. They ignore us. We ask them to stop bailing out corrupt and mismanaged corporations. They ignore us.

Years of politicians, not businesspeople, trying to run the business of our country has gotten us to where we are today. If you think the problem is bad now, just wait until they've "solved it."

Politics might be the second-oldest profession, but it bears a very close resemblance to the first.

David Stovall

Murrieta

Republicans call their actions leadership?

First, I would say to my Republican colleagues that I support many tenets of your platform. Unfortunately, what I don't support is the systemic way that Republicans throw away those platforms as soon as they get in power.

To read in so many publications the outrage expressed by Republicans in response to the Obama administration's budget is laughable. I do not have a short memory. I remember the huge budget increases left in place by Reagan, Bush I and Bush II. And these same politicians who voted for a doubling of our debt under Bush II now say that in trying to repair the total devastation of our economy, the current administration will bankrupt us?

And all that the Republican leadership can offer us are the same platitudes. They want to freeze spending for five years except for defense, cut the tax rate to benefit the rich by reducing capital gains and abolishing the inheritance tax, and do away with Medicare for people under 54.

America, you will be left with no health care, no services and indebted to the aristocracy that is the rich. But we will have the strongest military in the world. Kinda tough to eat tanks, ain't it?

Dan Zuckerman

Temecula

Criticism of Obama hasn't been constructive

John Rubio's letter (Letters, March 26) was amusing, stating that President Barack Obama has had a rocky start. He suggests Obama surround himself with competent people -- like George Bush with all his cronies? Obama is lambasted for his March Madness picks, but it's OK Bush spent one-third of his presidency on vacation? Obama is handed the worst economic crisis in history plus two wars and he takes a few minutes to fill in a tournament bracket -- blasphemy! Obama travels the country, visits Jay Leno's show to explain his program to America -- and he is scorned.

How refreshing to have an open and transparent administration, not one that governs behind closed doors and signs statements unseen by the public.

And the cries of "socialism"! How about Republicans returning their Social Security and Medicare?

Did you realize that from late 2001 until Jan. 20, 2009, Bush had amassed dictatorial powers? He could arrest anyone he wanted, no trial, listen to their phone conversations and read their e-mails.

How about Republicans presenting solutions instead of just saying "no" continually? A little constructive criticism might be a good start .

Arlene Christensen

Murrieta

Who would believe it anyway?

If anyone wrote a work of fiction about our present state of financial affairs, no one would publish it -- the plot would be too far-fetched to be accepted.

Whoever heard of people being rewarded for incompetence with millions of dollars? Who could ever imagine CEOs making the kind of money they are paid? Who would ever imagine the size of their "golden parachutes"? Who would ever think it possible for an "Enron" or a "Madoff" to happen?

And the Washington wise men giving trillions to the same people who created the mess to solve it -- absolute insanity! If the book were published, I wonder what the punch line would be. And why is Bush so quiet?

William Valitus

Canyon Lake

America is blessed because it supports Israel

I would like to respond to writer John Arguimbau's letter of April 2, "Why are we backing Israel?" We back Israel because they are the only country in the Middle East that espouses Judeo-Christian values.

Israel also stands against the Islamo-fascist terrorists that surround them and threaten America.

The writer states that he hates dictatorships and repressive societies, but seems to believe that the madmen dictators of Iran and North Korea are just waiting for peace talks.

President Ahmadinejad of Iran has said that he sees a world without Israel, and without America. If he obtains nuclear weapons, few think he will hesitate to use them to accomplish his dream.

People who espouse this belief usually care little about what the Bible says, but let me leave them with some food for thought.

God makes it clear that the land of Israel belongs to Him and the Jews that he brought back to the land in 1948. He also stated that those who bless Israel will be blessed, and those who curse Israel will be cursed.

America has been a blessed nation, founded on biblical principles, for over 250 years. Could its support for Israel have something to do with that?

Larry Lepley

Temecula