This letter to The Star is really funny. After extolling the virtues of a government run health care program he comes out against socialism. Just wait until he finds out who runs Medicare!

Re: Rep. Elton Gallegly's Aug. 9 commentary, "Only fix what's broken":

Gallegly's commentary concerning President Barack Obama's "healthcare plan" really hit home with my wife and me. We are currently enrolled in Medicare's Advantage Plan and it is absolutely supreme, the best we could hope for. Case in point: My wife has had 13 hospitalizations and three intestinal surgeries since 2006 through July 2008 and the total cost to us has been $0! This is a fact, $0 dollars. The bills have added up to more than $1.5 million.

I cannot imagine anyone disagreeing with the forgoing statements. As Rep. Gallegly stated, there are some 24,000-plus seniors on Medicare's Advantage Plan in his 24th District. Most have probably not read his commentary, but if they did, I'm sure they would really be surprised to learn that their plan is about to be taken away from them under President Obama's proposed "plan."

I am not a "crazy" or far "right" or as stand-up and shout-out type of guy, but I know a "good deal" when I have it and I do not want to lose it. To anyone! Socialized medicine is not for Americans, ever.

-- Charles D. Richardson, Fillmore

Simi Valley Democrats are holding a panel discussion on healthcare insurance reform. Click here for details.

( Rep. Barney Frank wielding the gavel.)

Do you read the letters to the editor in local papers? This letter from former Simi Valley School Board Member Greg Stratton was in The Acorn and in The Star.

What goes around comes around. So Janice DiFatta and Debbie Sandland are shocked that Debbie was passed over for president of the Simi Valley Unified School District board. Obviously, their definition of "recent memory" does not go all the way back to 2004, when they broke protocol and denied me and Carla Kurachi our turns as board president and clerk. They taught Rob Collins well that the leadership decision is purely political. I'm sure he remembers back that far.
By the protocol, Eric Lundstrom should have been clerk last year. Apparently, they forgot that part of it then, but now they conveniently remember the rules. I don't know how they each can make the statements they made without being afraid of being struck by lightning for twisting the truth.
It gives me some hope to see the board escape from the path those two have chartered. We have a good district, but it needs leadership to make it what it can be -- a great district. That means change, and the two of them have been there so long they don't even understand the need for change. They have become so embedded in the status quo that they take any suggestion for change as a personal affront. Well, times have changed, and the district needs to as well.
So, congratulations to President Lundstrom, and keep up the good work. You can now chart a new course for the district that will improve it for years to come. Good luck.
-- Greg Stratton, Simi Valley
(The writer was a board member from 2002 to 2006. -- Editor)

As a matter of disclosure I am a teacher in Simi Valley. That being said I really don't know how who is the president or clerk of the School Board influences local schools. I haven't paid attention to this issue jut as I don't normally pay attention to who the Mayor Pro Tem of a city is currently. I guess it helps people when they run for office and want a title to put by their names, but what else is there to the title?

Mayor Stratton, ( I assume, like president you get to keep the title) can you fill us in? In your letter you said : "So, congratulations to President Lundstrom, and keep up the good work. You can now chart a new course for the district that will improve it for years to come. Good luck." How does a board president chart a course for the district? Is there something in the bylaws, special committees they are assigned to, or do they become the go to person for staff?

Anyone else know the powers of a school board president and clerk? If they are running a meeting it seems they would work with the other board members on schedules and the like anyway. If the position was truly powerful, why would it be rotated anyways?

None of this should be construed to say I have a strong opinion on who the board president should be.

Click here for Mike Chandler's opinion on the issue. Mike writes the blog votesimivalley.com. He blogs often about Simi Valley. If you know something that needs to be covered send him a message.