Robinson's opinion was well received
The Oct. 31 commentary by Eugene Robinson (“The Donald (Rumsfeld) Back off,” Opinion) is well said and certainly welcome. I cannot imagine that the American people are not just aghast at being treated like idiots by a man who, as was reported elsewhere in the paper this morning (“Pentagon readies PR push on Iraq war,” News, Oct. 31), is setting up in the Pentagon for a PR blitz. As if he doesn't have more pressing things to do with the money we give him. And he won't tell anyone about the program – what it costs, who's in it. At least he's consistent: Back off, people. It's complicated. Let your betters do the thinking. Thank God for a free press.
|
Write us
The San Diego Union-Tribune welcomes letters to the editor. Because of the number of letters received, and to allow as many readers as possible to be published, it is the policy of the newspaper to publish no more than one letter from the same author within 120 days. Letters may be edited. It is also our policy to publish letters supporting or opposing a particular issue in a ratio reflecting the number received on each side.
To be considered for publication, a letter must include an address, daytime phone number and, if faxed or mailed, be signed. It may be sent to Letters Editor, The San Diego Union-Tribune, Post Office Box 120191, San Diego, CA 92112-0191, faxed to (619) 260-5081 or e-mailed to
letters@uniontrib.com. Letters submitted may be used in print or in digital form in any publication or service authorized by the Union-Tribune Publishing Co.
|
|
LOUISE BUCK
San Diego
U.S. debt and the money trail
Regarding “Fiscal tour warns of trouble ahead/U.S. debt could become a crisis, official says” (A1, Oct. 29):
David M. Walker does not give a fair look at our nation's $8.5 trillion debt by hiding where that money went and why it is kept off budget. Best guess is that the war in Afghanistan and Iraq is costing us $9 billion a month.
Keeping this war's funding off budget makes it a lot easier for Walker's chart to make it look like all our financial troubles are caused by Social Security. This deception about the cost of war is called “supplemental” budgeting so it does not even need to be part of our national budget for public review. For just one small example of where all that money is going, check the price of Halliburton stock that rose from $11 a share prewar to over $40 a share over the past year.
BARBARA SCHNELKER
Rancho Bernardo
No quarrel with candidate's mailer
A candidate or his staffer sends out a mailer reminding people that it is illegal for non-citizens to vote (“Dirty tricks/GOP responds correctly on candidate's mailing,” Editorial, Oct. 24). So what?
In a state such as California, with its massive illegal alien problem, it only seems to be a logical precaution against vote fraud. How is this “intimidating?” What legal voter would be intimidated by the fact that illegal voting in a federal election is a crime that could result in jail time?
In a rational world, people wouldn't be complaining, calling it reprehensible and other nasty sounding things. They'd be affirming the basic facts, and warning people not to try to vote unless they are citizens legally entitled to do so. Instead, the outcry against Tan Nguyen seems likely to actually encourage illegals to go out to register and vote because anyone who challenges them will now be labeled a racist.
Last spring illegal aliens and their supporter activists held rallies with banners saying, “Today we march; tomorrow we vote.” Following that, any measure to assure that only the legal voters vote should be welcomed, not condemned.
JOHN VENCIUS
San Diego
Political correctness on race ID guidelines
Regarding “Race and the Mission Beach Assaults” (Opinion, Oct. 23):
As Readers Representative Gina Lubrano wrote, “This crime in Mission Beach was not limited to the immediate victims. . . . It made residents of an entire community feel vulnerable and frightened.”
As a resident of Mission Beach, I could not agree more. These crimes happened just a few blocks from my front door. This particular crime is a case in which we didn't know much about the criminals until they actually came forward. If viewers and residents had any idea of what to look for, the whole community would have been on the look out for the perpetrators with an idea of what to look for, rather than just suspicious-looking people.
It is understandable that there is a bit of hesitation in revealing the race of suspects. However, this was a high-profile case and was before the race of the suspects was released. I agree completely with your statement that these are simply guidelines and should be followed on a case-by-case basis. But such political-correctness needs to take a break.
SONIA McKEON
San Diego
Military pay raises under Clinton
In response to Allison Wall's letter (“Military families and food donations,” Oct. 22), it is plainly false. She refers to the era of the military from 1992-2000 as the “days of little-to-no pay raises for the military under the Clinton administration,” and she knows this from 17 years of being a military spouse.
Well, as a service member from 1991-2002 and current Reservist, that is wrong. This year our service members will be getting a grand 2.2 percent raise. If she would like to check the facts she would see that this the smallest pay raise for our military since 1994. There were raises of 4.2 percent more than once during Clinton's term. Just wanted to keep the facts straight.
JOHN HEAGNEY
San Diego
A 'latte' truth in mall portrait
Kudos to Jenifer Goodwin on her sharp and balanced report on the opening of the new mall in eastern Chula Vista (“Chula Vista 'lifestyle center' trumps mall,” A1, Oct. 27).
Instead of just waving your cheerleading pom-poms for yet another place for people to live in a fantasy land while digging themselves into further personal debt and real-life misery (as many writers would have), she chose a critical analysis.
It seems people are defined these days by a single dimension – consumer. We are branded like cattle on our T-shirts and purses, herded blindly through malls by ubiquitous Muzak, pretty, fake images and architecture, and carefully controlled pathways to our final destination, the must-have label slaughterhouse. Our consumer “choices” are already tightly controlled and circumscribed by the multibillion-dollar advertising arm of the corporations whose candy cane mall streets we now wander.
I particularly liked her writing about the “code of conduct” of mall management. Between the Patriot Act on the one hand and the Mall Muzzling on the other, we've become happy little automatons, programmed to unquestioningly shop till we drop. See you at the mall!
SUSAN DECLERCK
La Jolla
I loved Jenifer Goodwin's article about the new Chula Vista lifestyle center – especially the last sentence: “Well, praise the Lord and pass the Frappuccino!” I've always had a vague feeling of unease when visiting these types of places, and now I understand why. They are recreations of Main Street, without the diversity and freedom of expression of real Main Streets. Sort of like Paris – the one in Las Vegas, not the one in France.
Thanks for digging deeper.
PAULA DETWILLER
Mission Valley
Spending and spending in Imperial Beach
Regarding “Gold-plated race/Mayoral candidate has Imperial Beach agog” (Editorial, Nov. 1):
What is it in Imperial Beach that makes it worth spending $230,000 to buy the mayor's seat? Have they discovered oil or gold under our city? I think not!
It seems as though Kourosh Hangafarin, the carpetbagger from the North County, has discovered something that would make him invest more money than has been spent by all the candidates in the last five or six elections for both mayor and City Council.
This man moved into our community, took out the papers and is running for mayor all within a month. He has no endorsements from our community, he has never been to a City Council meeting, and he says that he has the answers for all our ills. At a candidates' forum last week he spoke about his solutions for our northern boundary with San Diego Bay. I would opine that he has never seen or walked the path along the bay and has not the least idea of what is going on there.
What is he trying to buy in Imperial Beach for $230,000 and growing? My only question is “Why?” He has not been able to answer that!
JEANNE SORRELS
Imperial Beach
