Take the 'gossip' out of campaign ads
Regarding “With control of Congress at stake, an onslaught of negative ads looms” (A1, Oct. 30):
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These negative ads need to cease. Television shouldn't be filled with constant ads of Democrats and Republicans attacking and blaming each other on political issues. There are other ways elections can be won.
From Republican strategist Rich Galen's comments about negative ads, it seems the ads are just “gossip.” It's essential that the world stop listening to gossip and obtain the facts. Americans are not as politically aware as they should be, and they ought to be or else negative campaigns like those the Republicans are displaying will influence the “less informed” with little effort.
Galen is a dreadful person for his comments about House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi. The prospect that a woman could become House speaker is awe-inspiring in itself, but Galen belittles her because of her gender and stand on gay marriage. Galen is one example of what lengths political parties are willing to go.
The Republicans have hit a real low point in the display of gossip. Today, with the war in Iraq and bad news constantly on the front page, people should start focusing on the positive aspects of the world, government and life.
CHYNNA OBANA
Spring Valley
Taking sides on Prop. 85 debate
Regarding “Parental notice bankrolled by weekly's owner” (A1, Oct. 29):
In the ideal world, young girls would not get pregnant, or if they did, they would be able to tell their understanding parents. Unfortunately, the world is often less than ideal.
Proposition 85 is not designed to create better family communication. It is designed to punish women who have not lived up to the expectations of those like newspaper publisher Jim Holman. Under Proposition 85, a teen could try to get to a courthouse when there is no school to file papers, and again to plead her case before a judge. Alternatively, an easier, but dangerous option, is to get an illegal abortion.
I hope the notification that these parents get is not from the coroner's office.
FRAN LEFKOWITZ
San Diego
This article misses the point. Proposition 85 – the Parent's Right to Know and Child Protection Initiative – is the issue at hand. Parents have a right and obligation to know what their children are doing. They must be allowed to be involved in all aspects of their child's life, especially their child's health care.
While Jim Holman is a major supporter of Proposition 85, there are thousands of us out here with less fortune or opportunity who feel grateful that someone like Holman feels compelled to use his position to fight for parents and their children. He's doing good.
GREG STORRS
San Diego
Now that the Union-Tribune has explored the background of Proposition 85 supporter Jim Holman, I am looking forward to the next article showcasing for us the personal faces and lives behind Planned Parenthood. Since we now know so much about Holman, it would be helpful to have more information on Planned Parenthood's corporate sponsors and its largest private contributors. Perhaps the Union-Tribune should research and report to us as much about their private lives as we have learned about Holman.
It's important to see clearly the motivations of both sides on this very important issue of parental notification of a minor. What does it benefit the Planned Parenthood organization to separate a young girl from her parents at her time of great need? A child cannot obtain aspirin from the school nurse without parental permission. How is it possibly beneficial to a young girl to undergo such a physically and emotionally invasive procedure as an abortion without the knowledge of the parent? Parents: Who loves your children more, and cares the most for their emotional and physical welfare? You? Or Planned Parenthood?
LESLIE WATTERS
Lakeside
Proposition 85 is for middle-class white girls with families they can turn to when they are in trouble. These are the families who will probably support the girl through her pregnancy and help raise this child.
What about the families that will kick her out as soon as they know she is pregnant? What about the drug-or alcohol-dependent one or the AIDS-infected girls? Those are the girls who know that their child will not be adoptable.
What about the girls who absolutely do not want to be saddled with a baby and neither do their families? Who suffers? The children always suffer when they are not wanted.
This isn't even a subject that should be considered by the government. This is a subject that should be between a teen and someone who can give her good counseling. If not her family, then an organization like Planned Parenthood.
MARGARET INMAN
Lakeside
High-speed rail, not a new airport
I am at a loss to understand why San Diego is pushing so hard for a new airport when what is really needed is an integrated, statewide solution to our ground and air transportation problems. A futuristic high-speed transportation system in the form of rapid-rail corridors, coupled with ways to attach “car pods” onto the system, would cut the Lindbergh traffic in half and also eliminate much of our freeway congestion.
Network packet-switching technologies for routing pods to their destinations would be a natural thing for San Diego industry to pioneer. Journeys of one hour to Las Vegas and under two hours to San Francisco, with connecting high-speed corridors to other urban centers to the east, north and south are easily possible with today's technology. Lindbergh's focus would then become transcontinental and international travel.
Bringing tourists to San Diego via rapid ground transportation corridors would be much more of an attraction for people who want to see the incredible scenery that America has to offer than being one of the select few to have a window view from 35,000 feet.
TONY COLLERAINE
La Jolla
The roar of bikes on El Cajon Boulevard
An increasing problem in my relatively quiet University Heights neighborhood is noise. You would think the prostitutes on El Cajon Boulevard, maybe my neighbor's car getting repeatedly broken into, or the occasional drunks fighting on the street in the middle of the night would be my largest concern, but no. Motorcycles, the kind with altered exhaust – altered specifically to make more noise – wake me up sometimes two and three times a night. This sound is deafening, and you can hear it coming and going for sometimes up to a mile. I'm not advocating a law be made, but enforced. It's already illegal in the state for a vehicle to emit more than 95 decibels. These individuals are not afraid of being heard. San Diego police – open your ears and cite these individuals.
LISA EVANS
San Diego
Library design not a selling point
If you are looking for support for the new library, I suggest you refrain from publishing pictures of the proposed design. Many years ago, this design was described as a Taj Mahal to commemorate the City Council. Well, the picture proves it is far too ugly and inefficient to be compared to the Taj Mahal.
The inefficiency of the proposed library, the current library and the Rancho Bernardo library is immediately obvious to the casual observer. For efficiency consider the Tacoma, Wash., library or the UC San Diego Engineering Library. For efficiency and beauty consider the Scripps Ranch Library as a starting point.
I have been a strong supporter of a new library for 35 years even though I was greatly disillusioned about 15 years ago when this design was proposed. I think the majority of new library proponents lost their motivation at about the same time.
Next time, as a starter, I suggest you illustrate how stupid and inefficient the design of the current library is. And not show how ugly and inefficient the new design is.
DENNIS McALLISTER
La Mesa
