On this Memorial Day 2005, I listen to the planes overhead flying in formation on their way to ceremonies to honor our military, and especially those who were lost in battle. Memorial Day is Memory Day for me.

I remember the days I spent at the U.S. Marine Corps Air Station at Cherry Point, N.C., and at the Naval Air Station on Coronado Island, San Diego, as a Marine lieutenant. I always had to answer roll call as “Barbara (None) Hudson,” for I had no middle name.

So Dick Cheney is “absolutely convinced we did the right thing in Iraq” and that the fighting will be over by 2009. I wonder if he is as certain about this as he was that Iraq had weapons of mass destruction.

— Tom Vorgitch, Simi Valley

Re: your May 28 article, “Outraged Muslims protest”:

The bias shown by this lead headline was offensive to me.

The content of the headline, taken by itself, was not offensive. I presume that many Muslims were, in fact, outraged over a mishandling of their holy book. Whether the extent of that “outrage” is worth a lead headline in a major newspaper is at least questionable, but that is not the source of the offense.

Re: Jere Robings’ May 26 commentary, “Too-generous county pension plan needs fixing”:

Mr. Robings’ commentary was on point, but it highlighted only a few of the ways that government employee compensation and benefits are too generous.

— In the private sector today, it is increasingly rare to find defined benefit pension plans, the kind our government employees receive. These plans have been replaced with 401(k) plans, which are merely an employee’s own money put into a tax-deferred account, possibly with some matching money by the employer. (By the way, many of our government employees also have a version of this plan, with matching funds!) In other words, most private sector employees no longer have pension plan coverage at all. Most major public companies today fall into this category, including Cisco, Amgen and, soon, IBM.

Re: Wendy Dager’s May 26 column, “Don’t let those kids become statistics”:

I am surprised that The Star’s columnist would attempt to hold parents responsible for their kids’ actions while riding scooters in and around a school.

Does she not believe that these parents have counseled their kids dozens of times about riding scooters safely? But kids are kids, and at that age, many believe they are immortal. This thought stays with them for many years, sometimes into their 20s.

A deceptive, conniving group of politicians and military leaders conspires to turn a free and vibrant republic into a warmongering, totalitarian regime.

Is this the latest “Star Wars” flick, or is it the extremist right-wing plan for America?

In "Star Wars," Emperor Palpatine pretends to love peace but advances war in order to consolidate his power and overthrow democracy. George Bush pretends to want peace while continuing to wage never-ending wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. 

Re: Ralph Belknap’s May 27 letter, “Wake up, take stock”:

I noticed that beneath the letter to the editor by liberal Bush-hater Ralph Belknap, a notation was added: “The writer is a veteran of the U.S. Marines. — Editor.”

So what? If in fact that is true, what does it have to do with the content of his letter?

For the record, I myself am a veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps. I don’t go around trying to add weight to my opinions about national or world events by citing my military service unless it is relevant, and generally not even then.

I continue to be astounded by President Bush’s unmitigated gall and capacity for hypocrisy. He presides over Memorial Day ceremonies oblivious to the irony that it is his own administration’s failures that have led to the latest American casualties of war.

President Bush should be down on his knees begging forgiveness from the parents and spouses of those who have fallen in this unjustified and unnecessary war. And yet, there is no outrage. We are left to put ribbons on our cars to “support the troops.”

Ending this fiasco, which is costing so much in so many ways, is the only real way to support the troops.

— Frank O’Hanlon, Moorpark

Re: your May 29 article, “Amgen caught in dispute over drug’s safety, value”:

What in world do people want in this country? We have drug companies being sued because a drug has caused damage. Now we have people suing a drug company because it withdraws a drug that it feels could be dangerous.

Amgen is being responsible. We expect drug companies to be responsible. They certainly don’t need to be faced with lawsuits because they are responsible.

They certainly should withdraw the drug until they are sure is it absolutely safe.

 — Jack Brewer, Simi Valley

Re: William Sherman’s May 29 letter, “Full history”:

It appears the truth is, most of the time, not politically correct and not what the media want us to hear.

Mr. Sherman’s information is truthful. The spin doctors would like us all to all believe the Israelis are responsible for the Palestinians’ lot in life. With very few recent exceptions, their lot in life has been brought on by the actions of their fellow Arab countrymen and themselves, not the Israelis.

Mr. Sherman gets an “A” in history.

— Ron Patterson, Thousand Oaks

Re: Joe Howry’s May 29 essay, “Wrong spin on hospitals”:

Regardless of the accuracy of Madeline Cosman’s claims in the Journal of American Physicians and Surgeons, the effects of illegal immigration on our neighborhoods, our schools and our social services, and the dramatic increase in racial tension, is easy for those of us who live in communities affected by it to see.

We don’t need statistics promoted by either liberals or conservatives to see the effects of our elected officials’ failure to enforce our laws and their  inability to keep their word after the last amnesty in 1986.
Why must “we improve the conditions in the countries where illegal immigrants are coming from” when they refuse to help themselves?

Re: your May 29 article, “Iraq war veteran describes its horrors at Ventura event”:

This story about the soldier who became a conscientious objector left out a very important fact. These people have a choice to be placed in the Selective Service Alternative Service Programs, where they will serve in non-combative jobs, conservation, caring for the very young or very old, education or health care.

Re: Terry Paulson’s May 30 essay, “Bitter battle over judges”:

Terry Paulson is correct to call on those of us who feel we are capable of morality without the government’s help to campaign as fervently as those who do not.

Nevertheless, the fact remains that social and religious conservatives maintain a downright medieval concept of the role of government in our lives.

The issues in the embryonic stem cell research debate are the same issues that are in the abortion debate. They do not involve questions of when life begins, whether every life is sacred, or whether an embryo or fetus is “life.” Those questions are irrelevant.

The real issues are whose lives and health we value more — embryos and fetuses who may be life but are not alive, or people who are alive — and whether either group should force its beliefs on the other.

Re: Terry Paulson’s May 30 essay, “Bitter battle over judges”:

Paulson’s essay on the battle over judicial appointments reveals that Paulson has finally unsheathed his Christian sword in hopes of inculcating a 21st century crusade.

Paulson has always circuitously addressed the predominance of evangelical Christianity in his promulgation of his deeply conservative politics. In this essay, he finally laid bare how his evangelical Christianity will be deployed to proselytize our secular government.

My, my, my. In a scene straight out of an Orwellian- themed novel, parents in Marietta, Ga., now have the ability to monitor, via the Internet, whether or not their child is the guilty party who orders french fries, chips, a cookie and soda for lunch from the school cafeteria.

Georgia health officials actually believe this nonsense increases parents’ involvement in what their children eat at school? Whatever happened to parental responsibility and setting a good example by having healthy eating habits in the home? Whatever happened to teaching children how to plan ahead and pack their own healthy lunches? And, heaven forbid, whatever happened to good old-fashioned common sense by teaching our children moderation and portion control, and that now and then, having a cookie is not a mortal sin?

Why has The Star chosen to remain silent on the American Israel Public Affairs Committeee espionage story? It seems rather strange that The Star, along with the rest of the American mainstream media, would try to “sweep under the rug” one of the biggest espionage scandals that we the American people can remember and that almost every media outlet around the world is reporting.

In Israel, the AIPAC espionage scandal is headline news in the Israeli media (http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/581788.html), yet not a single American newspaper finds this item worthy enough to print. It should be headline news for all Americans that our congressmen, senators and Bush cabinet members were at AIPAC’s latest convention to show support for the strong lobby group, which focuses exclusively on Israeli concerns, while at the same time the U.S. government is preparing to indict two prominent AIPAC members on charges of espionage. It is of note that AIPAC is paying to defend these two alleged spies and denies any wrongdoing.

Re: Terry Paulson’s May 30 essay, “Bitter battle over judges”:

Once more, The Star has served us with a piece of Paulson’s political pap. This time, Paulson centers on “activist” judges, wanting us to believe that reactivist judges — those who would turn back the clock — have a less activist agenda in setting aside precedent and reinterpreting written law.

Then, while admitting that Christ advocated strict secularism, he supports self-appointed Christians whose belief of Christ does not translate to belief in Christ — to do as Christ would. It brings into question the basis for calling themselves Christian. Are they perhaps anti-Christian?

Re: your May 24 article, “Downtown benches bring tension”:

This article was very successful in portraying the endemic racism that plagues Santa Paula.

This racism stems from an elitist faction of this city that has wanted to get rid of the unsightly Mexicans for years.

Despite all their efforts, they have been unable to legally achieve that desired change, which is why they have to recur to various feeble methods such as the one outlined in your article.

Re: Walter Card’s May 25 letter, “Demand grows”:

In reference to Card’s unflattering remarks about “tree huggers,” he should be informed that the indigenous people of Easter Island, who chopped down all their trees, wound up cannibalizing each other.

Mr. Card and his friends should learn to love “tree huggers,” because if they don’t, they just might wind up having to eat one for dinner.

Marcia Cummings, Oxnard
(The writer is with S. A. F. E. — Safe Air For Everyone. — Editor)

Re: your May 22 article, “Legal drag strip being urged for street racers”:

I cannot express how mad The Star’s article makes me.

First off, yes, it’s a terrible tragedy for a younger person to die in this way, but he is completely to blame. The Star writes about how special this boy was and what a good kid he was; he was breaking the law! Does The Star not see that?

I read the letters with the name-calling by members of our community who personify the difficulties encountered in our city.

In Thousand Oaks, there are lower- and middle-class families, small business owners  and a variety of working people who try to have a voice in their community. Then there are the big-money contributors who are used to getting what they bought and paid for in the City Council members they helped to elect by getting decisions made in their favor.

When anyone opposes these people, they resort to calling citizens “extremists,” "mean-spirited,” and “anti-business,” especially when people get together to speak at a public forum. I do not belong to any group, but I will not be intimidated by a group of powermongers who want to prevent me from speaking my concerns about the city where I live.

Fox is a behind-the-scenes operator who can now wield power through the triad of Fox, Dennis Gillette and Jacqui Irwin, and you bet I am concerned and hope my fellow citizens keep watching closely too!

— Patti Chiarelli, Thousand Oaks

I’m sorry to see legalized physician-assisted suicide (AB654) moving forward for several reasons:

— Consistently, as nurses, we see that when symptoms are well-controlled, people want to live, not die, regardless of their prognosis.

— This bill turns the physician from healer to indirect slayer, but slayer nonetheless, in a breach of the historical patient-physician covenant.

— If the primary intent is to give patients autonomy in their care, then terminal illness has nothing to do with whether or not a person should receive lethal prescriptions.

As I drive on the streets and highways, I can’t help but notice some “W” stickers on bumpers and the back windows of SUVs. I have questions for these people:

When did you trade your family values for discrimination?

When will you wake up to the scientific facts about global warming?

When did you trade fiscal responsibility for a huge federal debt?

There is an orchestrated letter-writing campaign of supporters of the new City Council majority — Andy Fox, Dennis Gillette and Jacqui Irwin. These letters have the same talking points and attack citizens who had the courage to speak out regarding the firing of Phil Gatch. They are trying to do damage control and an end run around the truth.

I checked out http://www.thousand-oaks.org (Gatch-Gate). There are smoking guns pointing straight at Fox. The attachment files on this site clearly show that Fox did much more than discuss the matter.

Re: Ralph L. Belknap’s May 27 letter, “Wake up, take stock”:

Mr. Belknap is “totally amazed” Americans believe Bush’s “lies.” He states “thousands of people are dying unnecessarily in the totally failed war in Iraq.”

Lefties like Mr. Belknap have been spewing this tripe so long they’ve actually begun to believe their own jingoism.  The left repeats over and over that the war in Iraq is unjust and unnecessary, and that Iraq had nothing to do with September 11.

I have heard and seen a lot of criticism of Debbie Gregory and her group, and I find the criticism to be unfounded.

I am not a member of any group; however, I do participate in causes whenever my interests are threatened and my views intersect with what any group is doing to protect our community.

Ms. Gregory heard from Councilman Ed Masry that Councilman Dennis Gillette had informed him that the City Council would be replacing City Manager Phil Gatch, and she acted upon it. She, nor her group, has anything to do with extremism.

Steroids are dangerous drugs, and Congress should ban their use by professional athletes. But why limit the ban to the National Football League, Major League Baseball, National Basketball Association and National Hockey League? The law should be extended to other pro sports, including golf, tennis, beach volleyball, surfing and NASCAR.

We need to be certain that all playing fields are level and that young people can have role models free from drugs.

Yet must we single out only one segment of society? If steroids are bad for athletes, what about other career fields? The courts would agree that equal justice must apply.

Re: Katie Teague’s May 24 letter, “Poor role models”:

This letter gives us glittering generalities without naming names. She resorts to lumping a bunch of groups together as a communist plot.

It is tragi-comic to think someone still cleaves to the past, the Joseph McCarthy era, when, if you didn’t agree with someone, you called him anti-American and made him part of a communist conspiracy. Well, I’m glad we’re beyond this sort of logic. Most of us who are aware of history know where it got us back then. It’s why most Americans shrug off the McCarthyistic tirades of today.

Re: your May 22 article, “Catalina might lose funds to restore bald eagles”:

The Associated Press writer makes the following points to support her thesis that Catalina should retain its funding:

Catalina is bigger than Santa Cruz Island, the alternative site for use of the funds. Santa Cruz Island is more remote and isolated. Catalina Island has more than a million visitors a year who enjoy seeing the bald eagles there. Santa Cruz Island has only a handful of visitors a year. The DDT levels on Santa Cruz Island may be just as harmful as the levels on Catalina. Finally, the article refers to a “council” that will receive input until Monday. No address is given, but two Web sites are listed at the end of the article.

Re: Edward Wassell’s May 24 letter, “Religion and judges”:

May we suggest that if Mr. Wassell wants to shield his children from pornography on the Internet and television that he do what most parents do and turn off the TV and limit their access to the computer. The last time we checked, they can both be unplugged and removed from his household if they are offensive to him.

We are sure that his children will refrain from sexual intercourse before marriage due to his diligent instruction. We are also sure that his children have never been taught how to wear a condom by a public school teacher. This act would most likely result in the arrest  and conviction of any teacher who dared show a 13-year-old how to wear a condom.

Re: your May 24 article, “S. Paula prepares lawsuit against hospital, trustees”:

I read this story in bewilderment. The Santa Paula city manager says they’re suing on behalf of the citizens of Santa Paula. Correct me if I am wrong, but isn’t it the fault of the citizens of Santa Paula that their hospital went under in the first place? If they had simply paid their hospital bills, then I don’t believe the hospital would have gone bankrupt.

Santa Paula has put the welcome mat out for Dirty Industry: a 14-acre asphalt plant in our back yards, one half mile from City Hall and a stone’s throw from the Santa Clara River.

This plant will operate day and night, six days a week, running 950 truckloads of asphalt each day and clogging Hallock Drive and Highway 126.

Who at City Hall is initiating these absurd plans? Are we destined to become the next Pacoima? Pick up your phones now and let them know what you think. Stop it dead in its tracks. This is the one thing all Santa Paulans must agree upon.

Nowadays, the gatekeepers of the truth, unfortunately, are not the reporters anymore. That distinguished title goes to the owners of the major news media.

These owners — ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox, etc. — are all paid big bucks to advertise the products of the large billionaire corporations (BCs).

Lately, most of the small television and radio broadcasting stations have been bought up by the BCs, and the reporters and journalists who report the news are coerced into reporting what the BCs tell them to, or else they lose their jobs.

Reading the recent letters in The Star regarding Save the Conejo 2000, I am shocked. Opponents of Save the Conejo 2000 have singled out Debbie Gregory as a Charles Manson-like figure and the members of this group as the “family.” Get a grip, please, people.

Save the Conejo is a group made up of housewives, students, lawyers, teachers and even elderly people who have a difference of opinion regarding issues at City Hall. It is nothing more, nothing less.

Re: Arleigh Kidd’s May 25 letter, “Charter school wrong”:

Once again, Arleigh Kidd has demonstrated that teachers unions exist exclusively for the benefit of the teachers and not for the benefit of the students.

Kidd’s argument against the formation of a charter school, which is designed to provide classroom education for children with problems that are not handled particularly well by the public schools, is that it will “drain needed dollars from local districts.”

It has come to my attention through a barrage of flyers and signs outside my son’s school that the current principal of Cypress Elementary School will be moving to another school at the end of this semester.

This has caused a general air of indignation among some of the parents I encounter as I drop off my son each morning and slogans both predictable (“support our school”) and surprising (“Hell no! J-Bo won’t go!”).

Congratulations to President Bush. When he vetoes HR2520, I can assure him that I will not vote for the Republican Party in ’08. Who is he to impose his moral beliefs upon me, my family, and/or any American citizen?

I have a son who was diagnosed with Type I diabetes at 9 months of age. For the Republican Party, Bush, Sen. Tom DeLay or any others to inhibit any research that could result in a cure not only for my son, but for millions of Americans, is unacceptable. When 60 percent of the American people support stem-cell research, Bush’s actions are undemocratic.

Re: Steve Greenberg’s May 25 cartoon on embryonic stem-cell research:

Ironic, using a genie in a cartoon supporting stem-cell research. The genie is shown granting “potential cures” for all sorts of human maladies. The dangerous side of this genie is left unmentioned, by ignoring difficulties encountered in such transplants, including rejection by the immune system of the recipient, and cancerous growths caused by embryonic cells that fail to differentiate properly.

Someone in the scientific community has to enlighten President Bush about the definition of frozen human embryos. Maybe drawing pictures would help.

First of all, embryo means: “the developing human individual from the time of implantation to the end of the eighth week after conception.” Implantation means “to insert in a living site, as for growth, slow release or formation of an organic union.” President Bush calls frozen cells babies? Twisted?

I am totally amazed that the American people continue to be lied to wholesale by this corrupt administration in Washington and even more amazed that the lies seem to be believed.

Does anyone really know, or care, that thousands of people are dying unnecessarily in the totally failed war in Iraq? After so-called “democratic” elections, the tribes who still have the power there are unable to bring order, water, electricity, etc., to their own people. They are also, even with U.S. help, unable to stop the killing from increasing week by week.

Re: your May 24 article, “Downtown benches bring tension”:

I can’t believe how shortsighted and ignorant the Santa Paula City Council and Jess Victoria can be concerning the benches in front of Brownie’s Basement. Playing the “race card” just shows how oblivious they are to the real issue, which they have totally ignored. 

Brownie’s Basement is a quilting and gift store, which caters primarily to women. Customers of Cheryl Baudizzon (myself included) have been complaining for years about having to “walk the gantlet” of any number of as many as 10 men who sit smoking, spitting, catcalling and eyeing the women going into the store. What woman in this day and age doesn’t fear that “something” might happen — or to our vehicles while we are shopping?

On April 25, the Ventura City Council approved $5 million to a couple of city staffers for use in attracting more clean business to the city. But the same council went begging to the public to donate about 1 percent of that amount to keep our libraries open.

All these years, I’ve thought the city government was responsible for providing and maintaining services to the citizens, not to go looking for more people to come and add to the already overstressed conditions of traffic, housing, utilities, smog, etc. 

— Roger Muir, Ventura

Re: your May 24 article, “Downtown benches bring tension”:

I saw in this article about so-called “loiterers” in Santa Paula the same disturbing lack of cultural sensitivity as I’ve seen in many other places around California, especially where business revitalization is being attempted.

Business owner Cheryl Baudizzon was quoted as saying, “We’re trying to revitalize downtown and have people see we can have it be an inviting area for people to come.”

It seems to me that our current administration will lie, steal and ignore the true facts to accomplish its own political agenda.

While our country is monetarily going to pot — with a deficit so large I can’t even count the added zeros — with our dollar falling out of bed and our environment getting worse by leaps and bounds, the religious right is gaining more and more strength. I’m more frightened of them than the terrorists.

Re: Cathy Carlson’s May 25 letter, “Dubious honors”:

Armed with the mighty tools of subtraction and division, Cathy Carlson concludes that the Conejo Valley is lacking in excellent schools.

In judging Los Cerritos Middle School, for example, Ms. Carlson seems to believe that all measurements should be confined to A (90 percent and up), B (80 percent to 90 percent), and so on.
Obviously, if everything was put to that scale we’d have some erroneous conclusions such as:

Re: your May 23 article, “Firefighters lobby county for tax share”:

The Ventura County Fire Department desperately needs more firefighters.

Obviously, the Board of Supervisors does not care about public safety and firefighter safety. It appears that they are scoffing at the firefighters association in its quest to bring the Ventura County Fire Department into the 21st century — something that a progressive fire chief should be doing.

Re: Paul Delaney’s letter, “Unfounded allegations,” and other May 24 letters regarding the resignation of City Manager Phil Gatch:

I read these latest “fairy tales” about what a terrific City Council we now have with the FIG (Andy Fox, Jacqui Irwin and Dennis Gillette) representing the citizens of Thousand Oaks.

Perhaps these people need to go to a few City Council meetings. Then they can watch the FIG in action and “feel good” about their city government.

I agree with the Ventura County Fire Department: They do deserve a portion of the Proposition 172 money.

I also believe that the money should be evenly divided among each public safety agency serving Ventura County. Currently, only the Ventura County Sheriff’s Department, Probation Department, Public Defenders Office and District Attorney receive Proposition 172 funds.

Re: Tom McClintock’s May 22 commentary, “A modest proposal to save our schools”:

My first reaction to this commentary was to give Mr. McClintock an “A” for creative writing. However, after some reflection, I was not sure whether I should sympathize with his lack of information or just be angry that he misconstrued so much information.

His $10,084 figure for dollars spent per pupil does not tell the reader that many of those dollars are earmarked for special purposes and cannot be spent at the district’s discretion.

John Relle accuses people who disagree with him of doing what the extremist Save the Conejo 2000 political action committee does: They line up people at City Council meetings to regurgitate talking points fed to them by Debbie Gregory, president of Save the Conejo 2000. The local newspapers are then barraged with phone calls and letters to the editor making every conspiracy claim possible.

Save the Conejo 2000 and Mr. Relle engage in this behavior year round; when an issue does not exist, they create one.

Mr. Relle finds the facts inconvenient and dislikes when anyone provides more in-depth responses that tell the whole story.

Save the Conejo 2000 and Mr. Relle never miss a chance to skew the facts against their more reasonable and professional political rivals.

Mr. Relle walks and talks like a duck. Whether or not he is actually a duck is a moot point.

— Anoma Perera, Thousand Oaks

I’m wondering what happened to all the happy banter over at 92.7 FM radio. Now it’s an automated “Jill,” which has me feeling like I might as well listen to my own CDs.

What happened to the DJs? I want the DJs back. They made the shows funny, informative, and, most of all, personal. I’m ready to bail, and I’ve been listening since the early days when Dick Whittington was at the helm and helped pull up that radio station by the bootstraps.

Please bring the live DJs back. I’m really hating automated “Jill.”

— Jacqueline Boller, Moorpark

Re: Leila Masry’s May 24 letter, “Faiths back initiative”:

I agree: Justice means healthcare for all, not just for those who can afford it.

There is a growing number of Americans, as well as children, who are in desperate need of adequate health insurance. I call them the “invisible Americans.” You won’t find them at the theater, or the opera, on a cruise ship or even at a restaurant. They are the seniors who are shunted off to a side track and left to wallow in their painful and financially devastating end-of- life experience with an ailing loved one.

Re: Robert Brooks’ May 23 letter, “Too much homework”:

Do students really have too much homework? Maj. Brooks’ letter was noteworthy for missing the target.
My wife and I are retired teachers. One son is a California public school teacher and another son teaches in the California college and university system.

Re: Nancy Ordonez Low’s May 23 letter, “Christian offended, too”:

Nancy Ordonez Low and the Christian right are offended because prayer was removed from schools. Which religion or which Christian denomination’s prayers would they suggest we recite?

Nancy and the Christian right are offended because abortion was legalized in the ‘70s. Did either have a problem when names and addresses of abortion clinics and their employees were published in Christian magazines and on Christian Web sites? It was not a surprise that Christians, blinded by their faith, went out and killed doctors and bombed abortion clinics.

On Memorial Day, May 30, a short prayer service in memory of all babies killed by abortion will be held from 9:30 to 9:50 a.m. at the Tomb of the Unborn, located in the far east corner of Santa Clara Cemetery, 1270 North “H” Street in Oxnard.

If you have lost a child or grandchild through abortion, please name the baby and send the name to: Mothers for Life, P.O. Box 706, Oxnard, CA 93032. You may remain anonymous if you wish. The names will be placed at the Tomb of the Unborn.

Women and men suffering from grief and guilt after an abortion can find healing through post-abortion counseling. Contact Project Rachel (203) 251-2621 or www.rachelsvinyard.org, or the Life Centers at 484-1122. There is no charge. You will receive confidential, loving care.

— Margaret Queen, Oxnard

Imagine for a moment that you have discovered a very real plot by a group of sociopaths who were planning to murder your family, and you manage to capture one of the group who had information that would save your family. However, this individual refuses to supply any of this information, simply because he hates you and your family. What would you do?

Well, I don’t know about you, but I would do anything it took — anything to save my family. To do less would be immoral.

Re: your May 21 article, “Cuts at Naval Base won’t hurt county, experts say”:

I guess it’s true that journalists just regurgitate what the supposed experts tell them without trying to critically analyze what’s been given to them. If The Star’s reporter had thought about what she was reporting for even a few minutes, she would have seen that there were serious flaws in the experts’ reasoning.

Re: your May 23 article, “Victim’s family seeks limits on teen driving”:

I think that most of the proposals in Sen. Jackie Speier’s SB806 will have a positive effect on the well-being of our teenager drivers.

Extending the provisionary period to one year is a good idea; our teens need as much driving experience without the distractions of others in the car.

Re: Paul Delaney’s May 24 letter, “Unfounded allegations”:

Mr. Delaney, probably using talking points he was fed, lays out a scenario of how the Phil Gatch situation unfolded. He throws out names and facts with abandon, including the claim that I was a member of and helped form Save the Conejo 2000. 

If the rest of Mr. Delaney’s facts are as inaccurate as that claim, he appears to have little credibility.
The truth is, I am not a member of the group and have never attended their meetings. In fact, if one questions those who formed the organization, they might tell you that I was not supportive of starting the group. I agree with their slow-growth goals as, I suspect, a majority of residents also do.

I suggest that Mr Delaney and other letter writers craft their letters a little better to disguise the origin of the thoughts expressed. Also, he should be a little less cavalier about arbitrarily throwing names and accusations out.

— John Relle, Thousand Oaks

On May 23, the Ventura County Board of Education went from a board of trustees to a “kangaroo court.”

In approving a charter for Vista Real Charter High School, the county board usurped local school board decision-making in Simi Valley, Fillmore, Santa Paula and Oxnard. The board also went against recommendations of its own staff that the charter violated state education code and opened the county school board to possible litigation.   

Marty Bates, Dean Kunicki, Ron Matthews and Chris Valenzana made sure that opposition speakers had only three minutes to speak, while making sure the backers of Vista Real had almost unlimited time to speak. Only Mary Louise Peterson showed the kind of trust and responsibility expected of a county school board “trustee.”

The evidence presented showed that not only is Vista Real a sub-standard academic program, but that it will also drain needed dollars from local districts while paying large financial returns to its “investors.” Vista Real refused to disclose who these “investors” are that will be profiting from the education of our children.

Bates, Kunicki, Matthews and Valenzano have shown by their actions that, in my opinion, they are not worthy of the public trust or re-election to the county school board.

Arleigh Kidd, Simi Valley

The neoconservative administration in Washington has been yelling and screaming about the Newsweek story that was retracted last week and its effect on the view of America in the Islamic world.

The evidence is not that Newsweek got the basic facts wrong. It seems clear that there has been gross misconduct at Guantanamo. Newsweek probably erred in printing this story without the proper level of corroboration, but such an error in judgment by a news organization is nowhere near the level of duplicity and lies engaged in by the Bush administration.

Now we are informed that the story told by the administration about the Pat Tillman death was a pack of lies concocted to foster a spirit of patriotism and support for the bankrupt policies of a failed administration.

The Tillman family has it right. This administration was disrespectful to Pat Tillman and his family, and it has been no less disrespectful to the soldiers, sailors and airmen and women it has sent to war, to their families and to the public at large by its continual stream of lies on a daily basis.

Instead of asking for the resignation of Newsweek editors, it is time that the public start to demand the resignation of President Bush, Vice President Dick Cheney and the rest of the gang that couldn’t and can’t and won’t shoot straight with the American public or the world. Until they are gone, America will have no credibility anywhere in the world.

— Ira Cohen, Thousand Oaks

Perhaps the election of Antonio Villaraigosa to be mayor of Los Angeles was significant in two ways. Neither ethnicity nor partisan politics was an important factor.

— Donald Driehaus, Port Hueneme

Re: The Rev. Leslie R. Lanier’s May 19 letter, “Faith needed”:

The reverend presents “a commonly accepted version of the theory of evolution,” which is common among uneducated people but not among biologists.

Evolution doesn’t postulate the “Big Bang Theory.” Evolution doesn’t claim life was magically created by lightning in a mixture of chemicals.

Evolution does attempt to explain natural genetic phenomena by four main ideas:

(1) Life reproduces itself through duplication of chemicals known as DNA and/or RNA.

(2) Through natural processes (e.g. genetic recombination), gene frequencies can become altered within a population.

(3) Over time, and with additional factors such as geographic isolation and genetic drift, a population’s phenotype (outwardly visible characters) and genotype (genetic makeup) can be altered.

(4) The natural processes in (3) can eventually lead to such pronounced genetic differences that new species arise.

The Rev. Lanier claims that evolution “cannot be proved.” This is false, at least regarding processes (1) through (3). The evidence for DNA and RNA as the genetic material is irrefutable. Genetic modification is also commonly observable, such as in the natural creation of insecticide-resistant insects, or in the unnatural (human-caused) creation of specialized breeds of dogs, horses, etc. The evidence for genetic drift is abundant in the studies of Darwin and many others.

The fourth process, the creation of new species, has solid evidence (but is not unquestionably proved) by various methods, such as DNA sequence similarities, organ and bone homologies, comparative embryology, skeletal remains, etc.

Creation myths of the world’s religions must be supported by faith, since these myths have no known scientific evidence. Evolution doesn’t need to be accepted by faith, because it is supported by an abundance of scientific evidence.

As a faithful Christian, I believe that God is perhaps smart enough to figure out how to make evolution work within the framework of the natural universe.

— Michael Sullivan, Ventura

Re: Art Miller’s May 19 letter, “LNG is safe, clean”:

It sounds like Mr. Miller is getting all his information from the liquefied natural gas corporations or their public relations people.

There have been no evidentiary hearings to show that there is even a need to import LNG from foreign countries. There certainly is evidence that importing LNG will actually increase the price of natural gas.

We all must know by now that the last energy crisis was created by Enron’s manipulation of the energy supply. Steps have already been taken to drive up the price of natural gas by deliberately restricting the flow of cheap domestic natural gas into California.

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger should abandon his intention of a special election — at the shameful cost of approximately $80 million — in favor of getting that money to children who go to bed hungry or without food entirely over a weekend.

The economy is not strong enough to indulge this form of campaigning toward the next election.

— Marise Cherin, Ventura

A seismic study of liquefied natural gas terminals and their high pressure pipelines off Ventura County, which was requested by U.S. Rep. Lois Capps on June 25, 2004, has been released by the United States Geological Survey.

The study can be downloaded at http://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2004/1286/of2004-1286.pdf .

This report clearly shows the inadvisability of placing the two proposed liquefied natural gas terminals off the coast of Ventura County.

Also of concern is the dispute over the amount of natural gas reserves in the Scarborough gas fields of Australia. This April 11 story in the Australian publication “The Age,” http://www.theage.com.au/news/Business/BHP-and-ExxonMobil-in-gas-dispute/2005/04/11/1113071909344.html?oneclick=true# (registration required) raises serious questions about the ability of Australia to even deliver their domestic LNG to our coast.

I believe that both of the above stories deserve in-depth reporting, beyond the scope of letters to the editor.

The citizens of our affected area have a need and right to know.

— Eugene D. Hubbard, Oxnard

I agree that the local community should have a say in the siting off liquefied natural gas terminals in Ventura County.

Already, the community input given on the BHP Billiton project has made them improve the project — such as their decision to move their proposed onshore pipelines away from most residential areas.

Luckily, the federal energy bill doesn’t change a thing about the process for Cabrillo Port, and when the time comes to review their environmental study again, the State Lands Commission and the Coast Guard will come back to us for our input again.

— Sharon Kloeris, Port Hueneme

Re: your May 22 article, “Study: Errors thwart missing kids law”:

I was upset and appalled by this article, which stated, “Police officials around the country offered several excuses for their reporting failures, including ignorance of the law.”

I have always heard that ignorance of the law is not a valid defense in any criminal or civil case. Now this article is claiming that the people we entrust with upholding public safety are unwilling or unable to report missing children due to the fact that they are “ignorant” of the law which they are hired to uphold.

I think someone needs to go back to school.

— Kerrie L. Cortez, Ventura

Re: Tom McClintock’s May 22 commentary, “A modest proposal to save our schools”:

The senator makes some important points in his commentary. As an educator of over 15 years, I agree with some of his assertions but also believe he is missing some of the relevant facts.

First of all, why did he insult teachers in his first paragraph? The unions are leading their fight for their own reasons, but to belittle the teachers who belong to those unions, who have next to no voice in the unions’ political activities, is inappropriate.

Re: Tom McClintock’s May 22 commentary, “A modest proposal to save our schools”:

Tom McClintock’s proposal to “save our schools” is a classic example of what plagues our public schools today.

Almost everyone is a self-appointed “expert” and has some far-fetched notion of how to “fix” our public schools.

Re: Tom McClintock’s May 22 commentary, “A modest proposal to save our schools”:

State Sen. McClintock’s exercise in education budget fiction would be laughable if not for the fact that it was written by one of our elected officials.

He is not making any sort of meaningful point with his silly budget scenario that leaves out real and important costs such as special education services. Is he implying that the schooling of special needs students isn’t a valid use for education dollars?
 

Re: Sen Tom McClintock’s May 22 commentary, “A modest proposal to save our schools”:

I’m continually amazed that so few Americans are outraged that governments take 50 percent of our earnings through one tax or another year after year.

I suppose this stoic attitude is partially explained by the fact that the American tax-payor, generally speaking, has no idea of the level of waste in government budgets.

Re: your May 22 article, “Road signs request kind of a mystery”:

I don’t have any problem with Audra Strickland helping to solve problems outside of her district and her efforts to get freeway signs changed.

In fact, we should applaud and expect our legislators to work cooperatively with the representatives from adjacent districts. More can be accomplished this way.

Our faith compels us to work toward achieving positive social and economic change. Such is the case with our work around the Ventura County Children’s Health Initiative.

Many denominations have gathered to support the underlying positive social and economic justice benefits of providing health insurance to all our uninsured children in Ventura County — over 30,000 children in this county alone are without health care insurance. As a person of the Muslim faith, I support the Children’s Health Initiative.

To understand the Islamic perspective on the issue of the uninsured, I must begin by stating the basic foundations of Islam.

Here’s a hypothetical question for our sanctimonious president. Let’s say it’s the year 2015. Stem cell research, which President Bush adamantly opposes on supposedly deep religious grounds, can now cure a number of potentially fatal diseases.

Let’s say, for the sake of argument, Bush contracts one of these awful diseases. Does he take the stem cell cure, or does he stick to his “principles” and endure the disease?

My guess? By 2015, he’ll no longer need to put on a show for the religious right. He’ll take the cure in a South Korean minute.

— John Blumenthal, Westlake Village

Re: your May 21 article, “Military recruiters are under fire”:

This article stated that the Army is 6,000 recruits short of where it wants to be this year.

I find it incredible that at least a small fraction of the 59 million voters who supported President Bush and presumably his war in Iraq are not lining up in droves to enlist in the military. Surely, there must be at least 6,000 of those eager Bush supporters, or their children or grandchildren, who are healthy, under 39 (the new maximum enlistment age), and willing to serve this country.  And surely, some of those folks proudly displaying the ubiquitous “Support Our Troops” ribbons must be willing to step forward and relieve the brave troops currently bearing the load.

Re: Robert Cooper’s May 19 letter, “Whose money is it?”

I cannot allow Mr. Cooper’s response to go unchallenged. He obviously feels that his going to school, getting an education, starting a business, succeeding, and increasing his investments — and thus his wealth — occurs entirely on his own with none of it due to the environment, specifically that of government, in which it occurs.

I wonder if President Bush will award the Newsweek reporter the Freedom medal for his report?

— Roy Kautz, Newbury Park

AB654, the assisted suicide bill, is a bad idea.

This bill puts the elderly, disabled and uninsured at risk of coercion to commit suicide instead of providing the compassionate care they need.

Once legalized, suicide could be encouraged to preserve an inheritance, hide medical malpractice, or assure profitability of health maintenance organizations.

Re: your May 20 article, “Governor says he will call election”:

Here we go again!

When are the voters of California going to wake up? Your governor is going to Florida, Illinois and Texas to raise money for his election campaign. I say “his” election campaign because if California voters felt strong enough about the issues, he would be able to find enough support right here. What special interest is he courting in Florida, Illinois and Texas? And when he says he is going to call for an election “no matter what,” shouldn’t you be concerned?

Why don’t you care, and when are you going to wake up?

— Steve Crandall, Camarillo

Re: John Krist’s May 19 essay, “Trying a new approach”:

Land trusts are actually an old tried approach.

Consider mobile homes as an example. Corporations purchase the land and rent homesites to mobile-home buyers. The end result: ever- increasing rent and association fees averaging $600 per month versus the $160 of parks that allow tenants to purchase their sites. That’s approximately a $440 return on a 35-by-80-foot piece of land.

Miracles do happen in our time.

It was recently reported that the grenade thrown at President Bush was a live grenade. The firing mechanism malfunctioned.

I choose to believe God protected our president. The scoffers will believe it was a coincidence.
God is at work in this world, whether we choose to believe it or not.

— Lois Shefflette, Oxnard

One of the taxpayers’ constant concerns is whether our public agencies are living within their means.

We all know the pain of passing up some desirable object because of the cost. Governments constantly have to face the same reality. They are in the business of improving lives, so virtually all of their potential goals can be vigorously defended as good and just and necessary. But are they affordable? 

This perennial question is plaguing the Ventura County Community College District with particular urgency these days.

The district is facing severe financial shortfalls. Enrollment is down at the main campuses in Oxnard, Ventura and Moorpark. Some academic programs are duplicated at the three locations, when a single program would suffice to serve the interested students.

Other programs persist even though only a handful of students are signing up. These students can become vocal when their cherished class is slated for cancellation, and this draws attention from the press. In the case of the two separate student newspaper programs that are scheduled to be consolidated into one campus, the students created their own press. A headline in the student newspaper proclaimed their anger in bold print: “Seeing red.” 

And this, of course, is just what the district is seeing — the budgetary kind of red. Out of California’s 72 college districts, Ventura’s ranks near the bottom — 63rd — in the size of its financial reserves. Yet the district has some of the lowest state revenue per student: It is ranked 64 out of 72 in dollar cost per credit hour.

At the same time, employee salaries and benefits constitute a whopping 88 percent of the district’s expenses. This is the fourth highest salary-to-expense ratio in the state.

These figures are according to state sources. 

These numbers tell a simple story. The college district must make cuts or face disaster.

Chancellor James Meznek grasps these realities. He is prepared to make adjustments and is willing to engage in a dialogue with the various affected interests. Some of his critics charge that he doesn’t seem to care about them or their favored programs. It is difficult to project a caring image, however, when swinging the budgetary axe. 

Nevertheless, Chancellor Meznek would do well to connect with his constituents, even as he eliminates the classes and benefits that they want to keep. It would be a shame, and worse, if critical fiscal corrections were shouted down. In the end, something has to give. 

Although challenged, the district is sound and will remain so — as long as its leaders continue to remember that what is good and just isn’t always affordable. 

— Don Facciano, Camarillo

Re: Richard Larsen’s May 17 essay, “Bush already irrelevant”:

To my fellow Democrats, especially Mr. Larsen: Get over it.

As a registered Democrat for 61 years, I have always voted for the man, not the party. In this election I voted for the cowboy, the man, the good guy.

Yes, it’s a terrible thing that Newsweek’s uncorroborated Quran-flushing story resulted in 17 deaths and a spate of anti-American protests in the Arab world. But the spectacle of President Bush scolding the press about accountability is the height of hypocrisy.

Newsweek may have made an awful blunder by not living up to its own journalistic guidelines, but Bush’s little “mistake” regarding Iraq’s nonexistent threat has so far resulted in the deaths of more than 1,600 Americans and 100,000 innocent Iraqi men, women and children, and not one single person in the administration has been fired or taken responsiblity.  

— John Blumenthal, Westlake Village

Due to recent allegations of fraud and intimidation, U.S. Army recruiters will “stand down” on May 20, yielding to a moratorium on recruitment until recruiters are “retrained on military ethics.”

Recruiters were videotaped showing teenagers how to forge diplomas, lie on applications, and how to give false drug screens. One recruiter threatened a prospect with a warrant for his arrest because he failed to appear for an appointment.

The “stand-down” is the Army’s own admission of recruiter abuse rampant throughout our nation.
Recruiters are no more than sales reps for the armed forces, with quotas to reach. Their sales are way down! The pressure is on.

Re: your May 15 article, “Protesters criticize LNG proposals”:

I was disturbed to read this one-sided account.

To both dispel the myths surrounding liquefied natural gas and increase awareness of our need to bring stable sources of energy to California, I attended the event and spoke to your reporter about the need for LNG. Neither my presence at the event nor my viewpoint were included in the article.

Re: Karen Krzyska’s May 19 letter, “Power-grabbers”:

Unless Ms. Krzyska and I have two different U.S. Constitutions, the one that I have in Article 2, Section 2, says nothing about the Senate advise and consent by a simple majority.

I quote from my copy: “He (the President) shall have Power, by and with the Advice and Consent of the Senate, to make Treaties, provided two thirds of the Senators present concur; and he shall nominate, and by and with the Advice and Consent of the Senate, shall appoint Ambassadors, other public Ministers and Consuls, Judges of the Supreme Court, and all other Officers of the United States, whose Appointments are not herein otherwise provided for and which shall be established by Law.”

On May 16, an ethereal trumpet sounded taps.

Jose Mendoza Lopez heard the haunting melody and responded like a true soldier. Old age and cancer finally accomplished what the Nazi army couldn’t. The 94-year-old Medal of Honor recipient “slipped the surly bonds of earth” and America lost a hero, a son and a patriot of the highest caliber.

Described as a humble man, the World War ll veteran was anything but when he faced down German tanks at the Battle of the Bulge, taking out almost 100 of their infantrymen with the kind of brash and reckless courage that instinctively sees mortality as secondary to the brotherhood of men in war. Lopez’s actions gave much-needed time to his comrades in Company K to form the defense which saved their lives. 

Re: your May 17 article, “Newsweek retracts Quran abuse story”:

It is hard to believe that The Star would give this story front-page billing, but even harder to believe is the outrage expressed by the U.S. government.

Newsweek reported the story erroneously, but even if it were true, so what? Why are we so concerned that we have offended the Muslim community, and does it mean that they have yet another reason to kill and destroy in the name of their god?

I was just watching the BBC news and caught the caption running across the bottom of the screen, “The United States government says that the Newsweek article on the desecration of the Koran has caused damage to the image of the United States.”

I guess they haven’t been listening to the rest of the world or even the more than half the population of the United States saying that the pre-emptive war launched against Irag based on lies and half-truths has damaged our reputation both here and abroad.

In the name of truth, justice and restitution, the White House has demanded that Newsweek right the wrongs its story on Koran desecration in Guantanamo Bay caused. The story allegedly damaged America’s reputation in the Muslim world and the entire global community even further.

Since Newsweek retracted its damaging story, is now a good time for the White House to retract their equally damaging and inaccurate stories?

Here are a few of the stories that might deserve swiftest retraction:

Re: Bonnie Erbe’s May 17 commentary, “Let business owners take over cost of illegal immigrants”:

I do not dispute most of her facts, but she left off some important details in order to make the problem look as bad as possible.

The right wing talk shows and the activists want to spread the lie that these babies give instant access for the mother, and, later, the “rest of her family.”

As a present-day retiree drawing Social Security, I believe that the younger generation is under a monstrous deception from the tax-and-spend liberals in Congress. These spendthrifts want to keep full control over your tax monies and will do and say anything to keep your funds coming in for their own purposes.

The Social Security taxes that you will pay all of your life are not saved for your retirement. Ninety cents of each dollar goes directly to pay for my and other retirees’ “security.” The government takes the other dime and spends it elsewhere. All you get is an IOU.

Re: Richard Larsen’s May 17 essay, “Bush already irrelevant”:

Mr. Larsen finally got something right. Having completed his Bush conspiracy theory by placing a British memo in the last slot, he rightly says (for the wrong reasons, of course) that it’s irrelevant.
In the four score and seven years preceding September 11, Western leaders had talked, negotiated, compromised with, tolerated, waited upon, and cooperated with the numerous and various Middle Eastern powers — all with the result that they grew in strength and held us in greater and greater contempt as time went on. George Bush didn’t fly an airplane into the twin towers. It was all the Arabs’ idea.

May 9, 2005: the day VC Press stopped.

After 80 years, was there nothing left to say? There was, and is, plenty more to say, particularly regarding the college district’s cash flow. To the cry of “we can’t afford it,” a voice — VC Press — was silenced. Squashed. Wiped out.

Or was it?

When I completed my autobiography and distributed it to my immediate and extended family, I asked one of my nephews for his opinion.

He stated, “Oh, it was all right, but you left the ‘dirt’ out of it.”

I’ve long known that our problem in this country of ours is that a lot of people are looking for “dirt” and not something that will help them live their lives more fully. It is going to take several generations for the mindset of many people to become, as the familiar expression is used, “being of sound mind.”

Only a few years ago, it was reported that the Ventura County Medical Center was attempting a huge remodel without proper consideration. In the meantime, the county government was just getting by on the tax dollars we were all contributing.

Next we were told that the same VCMC was buying the Santa Paula hospital that was bankrupt and needed an infusion of our tax dollars. Now we are to accept the further expenditure of tax dollars in the sum of $25 million to build a new hospital in Ventura.

The college newspaper unites the diverse parts of the college into a whole. Without it, the college becomes merely a set of buildings, disembodied from the function for which it was created — the residence of an academic community.

An academic community consists of a body and a heart. In the case of a college, the administration, and not the students, form the body, while the students, and not the administration, form the heart. The closing of the Ventura College Press kills the heart of Ventura College by rendering it mute, while that same act kills the body of the college by rendering it deaf. No living dialogue can exist. Where there was once conversation, there will now be only silence.

Re: The Rev. Leslie R. Lanier’s May 19 letter, “Faith needed”:

This letter would be humorous if it were not so tragic. Rev. Lanier obviously understands little about “intelligent design” and less about science.

Creationists like the Rev. Lanier have sold their flocks a bill of goods. If all of the links are not in view, according to the creationists, evolution remains unproven. Forget the fact that the trail of fossilized remains demonstrates how earlier species changed or “evolved” over the millions of years past. If one is to take the Bible literally and, at the same time, believe the Bible is a competent guidebook to scientific truth, the world is less than 6,000 years old. No serious scientist or lay person  believes that.  

Re: Debbie Gregory’s May 13 commentary, “Power play led to Gatch’s ouster”:

I suppose former City Manager Phil Gatch thought it would save his job to threaten Councilman Andy Fox with retaliation from the Save the Conejo 2000 political action committee.

I also suppose it is good politics for Save the Conejo 2000 to accuse Fox and our council majority of practicing the same kind of politics that they do.

Save the Conejo 2000 and Gatch did a disservice to our city by using this foul tactic. This is the legacy Gatch will leave.

In spite of what local school boards say, there will be an increase in education monies — just not the huge slush fund they are used to.

In Conejo Valley the more you give, the more they waste.

State Superintendent Jack O’Connell says that the federal standards are “unfair.” No, the truth is that the federal Adequate Yearly Progress for California is already very fair — and very low — at only 45 percent of the Academic Performance Index. That’s just 560 out of 1,000 API points (it starts at 200). The state minimum target is actually higher, at 800, or 75 percent.

I have lived in and owned a small business in Thousand Oaks for many years. I raised my two children here and have been joyfully involved in numerous service groups and nonprofits.

When Phil Gatch was hired to replace MaryJane Lazz as our city manager two years ago, I was distressed. I shared Councilman Andy Fox’s and Dennis Gillette’s concerns that Mr. Gatch was hired for his political allegiances and not his skills. As city manager, he would have complete autonomy, especially with Councilman Ed Masry and Councilwoman Claudia Bill-de la Peña rarely accessible.

Re: your May 13 article, “Simi group sues over project approval”:

Simi Valley Councilman Glen Becerra says it’s a good thing that the city is being sued for approving a condo development that lays waste to an oak savanna at the city’s eastern gateway because he believes it is part of the process.

As part of the process, Becerra advocated for the preparation of an environmental impact report. He then voted for the project twice, even though the EIR conclusively stated that the project significantly impacts the native oak trees and views into Simi Valley.

As part of the process, Becerra tried to champion a deal to acquire this site for open space. Then he lobbied nurses, police, firefighters and teachers unions to speak in favor of the project.

As part of the process, Becerra confessed to his lobbying efforts only after a resident raised the issue at a public hearing.

As part of the process, Becerra couldn’t figure out on his own if there was anything wrong with lobbying the police (even though he participates in their contract negotiations), so he relied on an employee, the city manager, to guide his moral compass.

As part of the process, Becerra tried to divide the community by proposing a tax for east-end residents for the purpose of acquiring this scenic property. On the very same night, he voted for the condo project.

As part of the process, Becerra said, “I think all of us would be happy if there wasn’t any more development in this community,” and yet the same evening he happily votes in favor of the project.

As part of the process, Simi Valley residents should ask themselves if being sued is really such a good thing, and if Becerra is perhaps too much of a good thing.

— Alice M. Sterling, Simi Valley

Why is it that:

1. Crime in Simi Valley is up 17 percent?

2. There is a shortage of patrol officers?

3. The Simi Valley Police Department has a paid public relations department?

— Jim Barros, Simi Valley

The flail over the “nuclear option” in the Senate is nonsense.

No, the filibuster should not be excised; however, neither should it be used to hold up a vote on appointments, judical or otherwise.

There are 100 senators who each have a vote. If a candidate is unworthy, surely each senator has the same capacity as the American citizen who walks into the voting booth — to make a decision and vote their conscience. Then they march out and accept the outcome. Otherwise, we are not a representative democracy. We are a herd-driven bunch of nincompoops.

As a part-time biology instructor at Oxnard College since 2000, I would like to share my teaching experience.  It is a joy to teach such motivated, hardworking and enthusiastic students — they are truly an inspiration!

Many of my students struggle with family responsibility, financial stress, and/or language difficulty.  Often they work one or two jobs in addition to taking a full load of classes. Rarely have I heard a complaint concerning their workload.

Re: your May 18 editorial, “Pension plans at growing risk”:

This editorial addresses the issue of the government’s unabashed plan to eradicate the guarantees promised to American workers. Allowing corporate America to abandon its pension responsibilities is another step along the strategic road it is paving.

The ultimate insult to the worker’s promised retirement reward is President Bush’s plan to reform Social Security, in which he announced his fervent desire to privatize a portion of workers’ contributions. The “reform” he touts is much like destroying the village in order to save it.
His expectation (faith?) is that privatization will result in younger workers being able to build themselves greater nest eggs than the system as currently configured will provide them. Please note here that the current system is the government’s promise (guarantee) that a qualified retiree will receive a specified amount upon retirement.

How many U.S. military deaths have occurred in the war against terror because of the U.S. media’s anti-President Bush campaign?

How many unfounded and loosely written media accounts such as the Newsweek story of Koran abuse at Guantanano Bay and the distortion of Abu Ghraib will the American people allow?

How many Dan Rathers do we have to throw out on their ear before the media cleans up their mess?
Maybe we the people need to establish a people’s watchdog committee that will review so- called news reports that are, in reality, editorials!

— Fran Jansen, Oxnard

Re: Annette Halpern’s May 12 letter, “Still more problems”:

I came to this country legally in 1995, and after three years, I recieved my green card. I applied for my daughter, who was 7 at that time, and was told it would take about seven years. I went through two lawyers, a lot of money, a lot of trips to Los Angeles, and a lot of standing in long lines. I had to get special permisson every year for my daughter to go to Germany to see her dad at an extra cost of more than $200 each year.

Re: your April 30 editorial, “Endless drive is over”:

We would like to thank everyone involved with expediting the repairs to Highway 150 and Highway 33 after the January storms. As Oak View residents with a 10- month-old son, it is very important to us to have safe access into Ventura for work and doctor’s visits and to Santa Paula to visit friends.  

You would think that Newsweek would have learned from Dan Rather and checked their facts a little. The first question that comes to my simple mind is, “How do you flush a big book down a toilet?” Just that alone would want to make me check the story a little closer. The blood of those Afghans is on the heads of Newsweek.

A simple “I’m sorry” is just not enough.

— Charles E. Voigtsberger, Ventura

Re: your May 16 article, “Palestinians mourn on Israel’s anniversary”:

Anyone reading this small article who has no knowledge of the history of the period would come away thinking that the State of Israel was formed in 1948 and that the Israelis drove out 700,000 Arabs. End of story.

But that’s not the end of the story. Why was there a war, and why did the Arabs leave?

Re: your May 12 article, “Outage planned for east Ventura neighborhood”:

It is unfortunate that the power was out for 12 hours in these neighborhoods, and I hope there were no life- threatening incidents.

However, the article made me think about how lucky we are to have reliable electricity 24 hours a day and to be warned in advance of any planned work on the infrastructure.

Re: George Sjostrom’s May 16 column, “A devil has invaded the ivory towers of education”:

As usual, Sjostrom’s public rants are really another veiled attempt to stifle civil liberties and promote a Fascist agenda masquerading under the guise of sensible conservatism.

He makes cryptic references, such as college professors “are trying to parlay their specialized background into fields in which they have no more authority than does any other citizen.” I guess Sjostrom, a freelance writer and self-appointed guru, excludes himself from the “they” category.

Re: your May 17 article, “‘Sith’ may dethrone ticket-sales king”:

Was this The Star’s idea of journalism? I’ve respected journalists who insist on “their rights,” but The Star degrades its stance and loses our respect when it apparently becomes a Hollywood production.

Newsweek lied, people died!
— Jim O’Brien, Simi Valley

As more information emerges regarding Phil Gatch’s retirement, it is apparent to me that Mr. Gatch brought his problems on himself.

I am a retired business owner and occasionally found myself in Councilman Andy Fox’s position of having to fire, lay off, counsel or ask for the resignation of a longtime employee. It is never pleasant for either party. Sometimes the employee in question wrongfully tries to make the person in charge look like the bad guy.

Adolfo Camarillo High School does not offer driver training or driver education due to budget constraints.

Oxnard Union High School District exacerbates the situation by maintaining a sign at the high school’s main exit to Mission Oaks Boulevard stating, “No Left Turn 7:30-8:30 and 2:30-3:30.” The majority of the violators are high school personnel, including the principal, teachers, administrative staff, bus drivers and district employees. The sign is not enforceable, and the violators think more of their own convenience than the example they are demonstrating for the students on a daily basis.

“Do as I say, not as I do” is alive and well at Adolfo Camarillo High School.

— James Walker, Camarillo

We must all unselfishly rededicate ourselves to the survival of this democracy.

What was the concern of President John F. Kennedy when he said, “Ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country?”

He realized that our country, with the foundation of our magnificent Constitution, afforded us the freest and fairest society since the dawn of mankind. But he was also keenly aware that our form of government is vulnerable;  other democracies did not survive.

Re: Richard Larsen’s May 17 essay, “Bush already irrelevant”:

Once again demonstrating his ability to get right to the heart of the matter, Richard Larsen says the Democrats need to win elections! The sooner the better!

Stop the presses! Call Howard Dean! The Democratic National Committee must get this vital and brilliant analysis!

Re: Tom Teepen’s May 16 commentary, “Catching up with the 19th century views on evolution”:

In commenting on the likelihood that in Kansas “intelligent design” will be taught in public schools along with the theory of evolution, Mr. Teepen says that such a move would be stepping back from 21st century science to the scientific dark ages of the 18th century.

In Mr. Teepen’s mind, the theory of evolution is not theory, but hard science, while creationism or intelligent design is pseudo-science, an intrusion of religion into the scientific realm.

In Oregon each year, a few people with terminal, painful conditions go through the process of assisted suicide and get the means to hasten their death. Many of them never use it; they die naturally, and in control of their situation. And just having the option has made their last days better.

And each year, a few dozen Oregon people do end their lives themselves, with the support of their family and friends.

We don’t have that choice in California.

Those who oppose liquefied natural gas have been embellishing the facts all along, but now they seem to be edging into fiction.

They claim the tankers and pipelines are a threat. Any energy source is dangerous, but Southern California Gas Co. has been piping gas under our streets and into our homes for years with an enviable safety record.

The tankers will be 14 miles out to sea. What comes ashore will be natural gas, which Southern California Gas handles every day.

Re: your May 14 article, “A thoughtful engineer”:

My compliments to The Star for publishing Bill Tammeus and Alan Bavley’s fairly balanced treatment of the evolution/creation controversy.

Neither atheists nor theists should be allowed absolute control over the terms of this important debate. Since the Scopes Trial, the anti-theistic left, with few exceptions, has done exactly that, primarily by the false canard that “science and religion don’t mix.” They then assign their own definitions to both terms.
“Science,” they will have you understand, is the real world of facts, evidence, experimentation and proof, while “religion” is untested belief and leap-in-the-dark faith.

Re: Megan Lysaght’s May 13 letter, “Teen sees need for filibuster”:

First, let me commend Ms. Lysaght for her interest in government. She shows initiative in writing to express her views. However, there are a few areas she has evidently has not researched. 

According to the U.S. Constitution, Article 2, Section 2, the role of the Senate is to advise and consent by a simple majority for executive and judicial nominees. A two-thirds majority is required for ratifying treaties. If the Founding Fathers wanted to have executive and judicial nominees approved by a 60-vote majority, it would have been stated.

Re: your May 12 article, “Life sentence handed down in gang murder”:

Let me see if I have this right. Jose Luis Navarro Garcia gets convicted of first-degree premeditated murder with all sorts of special circumstances attached, and as punishment he gets to hang out with his home-boy gang members, albeit in prison, at our expense for the rest of his life?

Although the seriousness of this crime may be mitigated by the fact that the victim was another gang member, this does make me wonder what one has to do in this state to get the death penalty.

Re: Ann Levin’s letters of May 5, “Camarillo should vote” and May 13, “Local control needed”:

Wow! Am I confused now!

On May 5, other schools in the Camarillo district have high standards and Camarillo citizens need to strive together to make the high school an institution of excellence, not just mediocrity. Of course, there is a better chance of the vote passing if only Camarillo votes, so eliminate the rest of the affected district. Is this the democratic way?

Re: Megan Lysaght’s May 13 letter, “Teen sees need for filibuster”:

Megan’s letter reveals her to be a bright young person, to say the least. It’s very encouraging for us old-timers to read a well-written piece by a teenager. I offer the following, only hoping to encourage her to write more and even better articles in the future.

Judging by some of the descriptive phrases she uses, such as “abuse of power,” “blank check,” “predators” and “power grab,” I’d say she is reading too much from MoveOn.org, Maureen Dowd and Richard Larsen. Such use of labeling, name calling and unsupported accusations often reveals a lack of an argument and is never an argument in itself. There are two sides to this debate, and well-reasoned and supported arguments will carry the day.

Re: George Sjostrom’s May 14 column, “A devil has invaded the ivory towers of education”:

When I was a child, the Soviet Union was bad. We made fun of the Soviets for their leaders always posing in front of the troops, the necessity for papers to travel within the country, and the ever-present political officer found on ships, bases, businesses and schools.

In the past four years, I have seen walls go up on my borders, endless war declared against an intractable, unseen enemy, my president standing in front of troops while wearing a pseudo-uniform and the introduction of a federal identification card.

Ventura County residents who keep U.S. Rep. Elton Gallegly in office must like paying for generous helpings of pork. It would seem Mr. Gallegly has just voted yes for Congressional House Resolution 95, providing:

— $25 million for a “Bridge to Nowhere,” connecting two South Carolina towns with a combined population of 2,000.

On a recent trip back to Ventura County for Mother’s Day weekend, I was concerned to see a significant increase in gang vandalism and graffiti in Oxnard, Camarillo and in the Santa Clara River valley.

The damage now extends to new highway construction, public and private buildings, waterways, agricultural areas and even trees along the roads.

Clearly, the new West County task force of local law enforcement agencies formed to combat this wave of crime is sorely needed.

Re: Rosie Martinez’s May 13 letter, “Parents: Limit help”:

I couldn’t agree more with what she said about the level of homework kids have these days.

I went to St. Anthony’s grade school in Oxnard and don’t remember having anywhere near as much homework as my 10-year-old and 13-year-old have now, who are enrolled at St. Mary’s in Camarillo. I keep telling myself, I’ve already graduated from grade school, so why am I having to get so involved with their homework? I’d hate to see what their homework loads are like when they get to high school.

Re: Barbara Navarre’s May 15 letter, “Find more ‘experts’”:

Thanks to Barbara Navarre for requesting more insight from true experts. I requested several weeks ago that The Star do some real investigative reporting regarding liquefied natural gas issues instead of letting the local non-experts duke it out on the Opinion Page.

The Star needs to perform a real service to the community and let us know the truth.

Re: Dan Walters’ May 10 commentary, “Reasonable compromise has no place in the Legislature”:

This column regarding SB 855 illustrates the desperate need for public education regarding access to public and private facilities for people with disabilities.

Californians with disabilities are illegally denied access to businesses on a daily basis. This is unconscionable when you consider that “accessibility standards” have been required in California for more than three decades.

Re: your May 16 article, “County colleges’ fiscal crisis a blow to Latinos”:

I started teaching some years ago at Oxnard College and found then, as appears now, that the college faculty and administration were dedicated to making available all the classes that faculty, fiscal and physical resources would allow.

Therefore, I found the article about Latinos, and inferring all students, to be misleading.

I don’t know why the California Legislature is again trying to ramrod physician-assisted suicide into law.

The latest title is AB 654: California Compassionate Choice Act. We have previously defeated this measure by direct vote with Proposition 161: Death With Dignity.

Legalizing physician-assisted suicide would be terrible. It is against God’s law and the dignity of life. Every life has a purpose, and only God has the knowledge whether that purpose has been fulfilled.
Even in our disability, we are able to affect others and carry out God’s plan for salvation.

Re: Tom Teepen’s May 16 commentary, “Catching up with the 19th century views on evolution”:

As Ronald Reagan might have said, “Here we go again.”

Mr. Teepen, without any facts, would like to paint us intelligent design folks with the broad brush of religious fanaticism — with an even broader brush of ignorance, perceiving those who think God is real with those who think science works with the devil.

I was surprised to read of the Simi Valley City Council’s objections to the proposed North Park Village project in Moorpark because of increased traffic on Highway 118.

I would have thought that they would have been thrilled to have the tax dollars spent by another 1,650 households at their new mall. It looks like even the almighty dollar is taking a back seat to traffic concerns.

While some Moorpark officials are calling the Simi council hypocritical because of the large projects approved there without freeway widening, I am glad that other communities that will be affected are voicing their concerns.

Re: Terry Paulson’s May 16 essay, “Failure to communicate”:

This essay might have been better named “failure to educate.”

Social critics have for awhile now noted a “dumbing-down” of America. We’ve cut so much school and college funding, fired so many teachers and professors and made fun of intellectuals (and intelligence) while we rush back to the 19th century, teaching “creationism” and waving the flag as we pray.

Re: your May 13 article, “Simi group sues over project approval”:

The Simi Valley City Council set itself up for this. They knew that either way they ruled on this project they were going to be sued, and I’m sure they would rather deal with Carol Solis and Concerned Citizens for Smart Growth than the Larwin Co.

All our elected officials ignored their own staff’s environmental impact report.

So Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld’s idea of lowering the national debt is to close bases or restructure existing bases.

Our local base is facing layoffs of up to 3,400 jobs.

I was born and raised in Port Hueneme. I’m 55 years old, and I realized at a young age that both bases were crucial to this area. Point Mugu is very strategically located with no development around it, making it the perfect area for missile development, along with San Nicolas Island for practicing. Port Hueneme has the only deepwater harbor between Los Angeles and San Francisco. It also has a railroad system to supply it.

If anything, they should be upgraded, given the threat of terrorism in these times.

— Eddie Hoag, Oxnard

I find it interesting that the states that stand to benefit the most from the base closures and reshuffling — to the tune of 35,000 jobs — are Florida (duh!), Georgia, Alabama and South Carolina, followed by Colorado, Nevada, Texas (duh again!) and Oklahoma. All but Oklahoma have Republican governors; Oklahoma, however, has two Republican senators.

The biggest losers are Connecticut, which has two Democratic senators, and Maine, which has a Democratic governor and two Democratic congressmen.

It’s just food for thought.

— Françoise Dubois, Newbury Park

I found it quite hypocritical of the Oxnard Harbor District to place a full-page ad in The Star alleging support of Naval Base Ventura County when, in mid-March, William Buenger, the Harbor District’s executive director, was quoted as advocating for the closure of the Port Hueneme base so the commercial harbor could be expanded.

In view of the then- impending Department of Defense Base Realignment and Closure Commission’s review of the base as a closure or realignment candidate, the Ventura County Board of Supervisors passed a resolution asking the Harbor District to “cease and desist all expansion efforts” during the base closure process toward the end of March.

Re: your May 16 article, “Negotiating rights sought for Ventura lot”:

Exactly what kind of risk will the Santa Barbara-based developer be taking if my City Council gives them the exclusive right to develop an acre of land in downtown Ventura?

Let’s see: They get exclusive rights to develop an acre of land in the heart of downtown, with views of the ocean and within walking distance of the pier. They don’t have to worry about another developer coming up with a better idea, or a better price.

Hawks and doves, liberals and conservatives and all religions: Finally there’s something we can all agree about.

When it comes to the military, we all like the money.

— Jim Harmon, Port Hueneme

Re: your May 9 “Roll Call”:

U.S. Rep. Lois Capps was AWOL on voting for two major issues. She did not vote on HR 1268, which was a bill to fund the war fighters in Iraq to ensure they have the resources to defend themselves, and which requires states to deny drivers’ licenses to illegal aliens. She also did not vote on HR 1268 to add 750 Border Patrol agents.

It seems Ms. Capps doesn’t really support the troops in Iraq, and she is not in favor of ensuring that our borders are protected. Perhaps she is interested in future recruitment of the illegal votes as the “open borders” special interests crank up pressure to allow amnesty and continue to ignore our massive lack of border controls.

Redeveloping the Market Street area in Port Hueneme, as reported in the mayor’s recent State of the City speech to the Chamber of Commerce, is a good idea.

This has been a dream for many years, and if it proves economically feasible and can be done in a way that serves the whole community, I hope it is successful.

I am writing to make sure the people of Port Hueneme are aware of an important aspect of the most recent proposal.

The battle over judicial filibusters is a battle between Christianity and atheism.

The judges who are clearly unacceptable to the Democratic senators are those who disagree with the Roe v. Wade decision of 1973.

The Democrats have been using the courts to impose their morality on the American people because they cannot win their social agenda through popular vote.

It boggles my mind to think how quickly compassionate conservative Republicans would have impeached President Clinton had he lied to us about going to war with Iraq and if it were later confirmed by a top- level secret memo.

If the standard for impeachment is lying about a meaningless sexual bit of fluff, then lying about taking a country into a needless war has to be incredibly serious and certainly rises to the level of genuine impeachment.

Yet, even more incredibly, President Bush is not taken to task for this. Why is this? This president has committed an impeachable offense of the highest magnitude. He should be ousted immediately.

— Charles Albrecht, Camarillo

Re: your May 14 article, “Venturan protests wording on arch”:

I just read about the Baldwin Park arch with the engraved hate speech toward non-Hispanic Europeans.

First, California was settled by Spain, not Mexico. The last time I checked, Spain is in Europe.
Bottom line: California was never a part of a legitimate Mexican government. The misguided belief of hateful Mexicans is due to the failure of a public education system.

— John Henke, Newbury Park

As the California Legislature debates AB 654, the physician-assisted suicide bill, Californians must ask themselves if they want euthanasia legal in this state.

Is this the best healthcare we can afford in this country? Is this the only way we can “help” people, by killing them? In the early 21st century, with modern medicine at our disposal, is euthanasia the best we can offer a sick, lonely or pain-stricken patient? Does this really show compassion, or more the desire to take the easy way out, as is often the case with abortion and divorce?

— Noel D’Angelo, Thousand Oaks

Re: Lou Gates’ May 13 letter, “Naming the R’s and D’s”:

Congratulations to Mr. Gates on his letter. Without question, he demonstrated the intellectual capacity to run his fingers through the pages of a spelling dictionary and categorize words that, in his erudite opinion, describe Democrats and Republicans.

In compiling his lists, however, he inadvertently got the columns switched.

Re: George Sjostrom’s May 14 column, “A devil has invaded the ivory towers of education”:

Centuries ago, otherwise knowledgeable cartographers warned sailors that dragons lurked at the edges of the oceans. Today, otherwise knowledgeable columnists like George Sjostrom perpetuate the myth that college professors “demagogue” their students.

Like those dragon-fearing map makers, Sjostrom fears the devils lurking in the classroom. He falls prey to the same fallacy that informs bills like SB 1335, promoting an “academic bill of rights.” He assumes professors actually have power over their students.

Re: Roger Ebert’s May 13 movie review, “‘Enron’ sheds light on scheme”:

While it is accurate and commendable, Roger Ebert’s glowing description of “Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room” falls a bit short.

The movie does more than expose Enron as a criminal enterprise whose top executives fleeced its own investors and employees as well as the State of California through a manufactured energy crisis. It discloses the symbiotic relationship between Ken Lay and the Bush family and how that relationship translated into what amounted to federal assistance in the fleecing of California.

Re: Bob Herbert’s May 13 commentary, “Today’s generation marked by the young and the jobless”:

Bob Herbert’s commentary stated, “Younger workers remain stuck in a gloomy employment landscape ... the wages of those employed are not even keeping up with inflation ... in many cases the young men and women of today are faring less well than their parents’ generation ... the standard of living of large segments of the population is sinking.”

He also noted that just 36 percent of teenagers are employed, the lowest ever since teenage employment statistics started in 1948. Among those 20 to 24, only 68 percent are employed, a drop of more than 4 percentage points in the last four years.

Re: Debbie Gregory’s May 13 commentary, “Power play led to Gatch’s ouster”:

Gregory’s commentary continues her personal and organizational attacks on individual members of the Thousand Oaks City Council. Gregory has it all wrong.

The recent letters supporting council decisions are written by individual residents who are tired of the continual charges of conspiracy, vituperative personal attacks and campaign of disinformation.
Gregory’s commentary misstates critical facts and leaves out important information that might help individuals reach their own conclusion regarding the recent resignation of Phil Gatch.

Re: your May 15 Pulse page, “Naval Base Ventura County and BRAC”:

The May 15 Star is full of uncritical praise for Naval Base Ventura County. Both U.S. Reps. Lois Capps, a Democrat, and Elton Gallegly, a Republican, are cheerleaders for NBVC, which proves again what little difference exists between their parties.

Since no one else said so in the Star articles, I’ll say it: Ventura County would be better off without NBVC. And the United States would be better off leading an international effort to drastically reduce military spending and abolish nuclear weapons.

Enough, already!

The fact that the political majority has the votes to make a change at the city manager level is a reflection of our democracy. It does not require people justifying that vote by besmirching the reputation of a 38-year employee.

Now, why not let the majority find the new flawless administrator who will perfectly lead us into a magnificent future where everyone will love and agree with everyone else?

— Hugo Roche, Thousand Oaks 

The past few weeks have seen a fusillade unleashed at three City Council members (the “majority,” we are told). Only this one is about a purported act “against” an individual.

I know many of those who have written either as acquaintances or through their correspondence. I doubt there are any exceptions to the statement that we all are, really, very homogeneous in this community, vis-à-vis our beautiful and very well proctored environs. We all feel very much the same way. Oh, we have a few beefs here and there. Most of us keep our heads to the news grindstone, don’t we? But, truly, this city is very well tended by both our volunteer and hard-working council and by a very professional cadre of city employees.

America: We are on the verge of losing our American heritage; on the brink of becoming a synthetic democracy — a democracy in name, structure and ritual of elections, but bereft of the essential elements the Founding Fathers fashioned, checks and balances.

The Constitution provides for three separate branches: executive, legislative and judicial, with the power to monitor and restrain one another. Further restraints are the separation of powers between the nation and states, the addition of the Bill of Rights, and the growth of an independent media which investigates and publicizes governmental actions.

I am writing as a very concerned resident and patient of Los Robles Hospital & Medical Center. I have lived in Thousand Oaks since 1979 and have seen the hospital not keep up with changes in the city.
Recently, I had to go to the emergency room and was disgusted with the service I received at a time when I needed the hospital.

Arriving at 7, I assumed I would be there a few hours, maybe three total. The rule of thumb in the community for anyone that needs to go to the ER: You will spend four hours, no matter what.

How does one define democracy?

Certainly not by the Patriot Act, which allows our government to look into every nook and cranny of our lives, including snooping into our bedrooms.

Nor is it defined by the lock and key that our president has put on the shenanigans of Vice President Dick Cheney regarding the Halliburton dealings. Then there’s the ominous addendum concerning energy — the government allowing oil companies to drill the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.

Re: your April 28 article, “County air better, but not up to snuff”:

This article had some useful information, but probably more important was what was not included.
Yes, our air quality has improved — a tad — but if you went to the site indicated in the article, http://lungaction.org/reports/stateoftheair2005.html, you would have found out that we still get an F in ozone and a D in particulate. So we’re still breathing very unhealthy air.

My glass hasn’t been half-full for a long time. My balloon has not landed, but it’s close, and my bubble is dangerously close to bursting.

After a lifetime of being accused of wearing rose-colored glasses, I find that I liked them better than the ones I wear now. This pair will only allow me to see what is real and true, and I am sad.

Re: your May 10 editorial, “Ballot initiative targets wealthy”:

The Star decries the move to impose an additional 1.7 percent tax on couples earning more than $800,000 to ensure that all California 4-year-olds can have a preschool learning experience. You claim this will be a “burden” on these couples, and that it is “unfair to the rich.”

Was it not “unfair” to the rest of us non-rich that 90 percent of the Bush tax cuts will be going to the top 5 percent earners? Where was your ire at this transfer of public wealth to the wealthy?

Re: Scotty Bonnar’s May 11 letter, “Excellence for all,” a reply to my May 6 letter, “Camarillo should vote”:
I reiterate my opinion: Oxnard should not vote.

Oxnard has almost three times the population of Camarillo, and precedence has already been established in previous Ventura County unifications that only the affected community votes.

Congratulations to our new Oak Park Municipal Advisory Council members, Bonnie Biddison and Jay Kapitz, Supervisor Linda Parks’ picks for the two empty MAC seats.

Bonnie is an old friend, whom I worked with on the campaign to save Ahmanson Ranch from development. She is a person I know cares deeply about Oak Park. She is a hiker and has extensive knowledge of wildflowers, balanced by her scientific background as a lab tech.

Jay is a person whom I just met and am impressed with. He has great energy and enthusiasm and a desire to make Oak Park an even better place to live. His CPA background will bring good financial knowledge to our board.

The World Health Assembly upholds the theme of “Make Every Woman and Child Count” when it meets in Geneva on May 16.

It’s ironic that mothers and children in Taiwan have been counted out for decades. Taiwan’s continued exclusion from the World Health Organization (WHO) is not only inconsistent with the “health for all” objective of WHO but also limits Taiwan’s willingness and ability to share its considerable health resources and experience with others.

As disease doesn’t recognize borders, it is timely to close in on this glaring loophole by welcoming Taiwan in the WHO. Only a united global effort can tackle the immense health challenges ahead.

— Eddy Tsai, Director, Information Division,
Taipei Economic and Cultural Office, Los Angeles

Re: your May 7 article, “Energy bill’s effects on LNG terminals unclear”:

This letter is sent as clarification to what may be perceived as applicable to a deepwater port such as BHP Billiton’s Cabrillo Port, a new-build LNG re-gasification facility proposed for off the coast.

Since the U.S. House of Representatives recently passed its version of the federal energy bill, there has been a lot of confusion and misinformation about the provisions that affect the siting of liquefied natural gas terminals.

With regard to mail-in voting, I was notified by the Ventura County Elections Division that my absentee ballot for the November 2004 presidential election was never received. Consequently, they were dropping my name from the absentee voter list.

I assured them I had mailed my ballot and gave them the mailing date. They told me that hundreds of absentee ballots had not been returned, and the post office didn’t seem to know anything about it. I filled out the card they sent to me and the hundreds of other voters whose ballot never was included in the count.

My registration has been re-instated, but I am undecided about voting this way again.

— Ella Young, Oxnard

Re: your May 8 article, “Economists split over effects of losing base”:

This article on the Oxnard Harbor District’s efforts to expand commerce through Port Hueneme was completely skewed.

Having keen interests in the activity on both sides of the port, many of us feel that the situation is not a zero sum situation.

Re: your May 11 article, “Now they’re in charge”:

From this article, I gained the erroneous impression (and many of your readers probably did the same) that the 236 new “equity” members who “bought” Spanish Hills Country Club from American Golf Corporation now completely own the clubhouse, land, sand traps, greens and all.

Re: your May 10 article, “Traffic problems migrate to less populated areas, too”:

Of course a report on traffic problems sponsored by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials would conclude that urban areas aren’t adding enough roads, improving traffic operations or managing demand; therefore, we must spend $400 billion, mostly for roads.

The association would rather spend more money than try solutions that reduce the need for them to spend more money.  Even the examples of improved operations require spending more money: coordinating traffic signals and removing accidents quickly.

Re: Tim Gallagher’s May 8 essay, “Newspapers hold on by embracing Internet”:

If The Star’s publisher is serious about maintaining his subscriber base, I have a suggestion for him: Try putting some news into the paper.

For more than a week, I have looked in vain for any mention of what should be a front-page story about new documentary evidence the Bush administration was prepared to lie to the nation as early as July 2002 in order to manufacture support for the illegal invasion of Iraq.

Former City Manager Phil Gatch helped develop and has steadfastly upheld the standards and guidelines that retain the beauty and quality of life that the residents of the Conejo Valley enjoy today.
 
Thousand Oaks city regulations on height limits, city scenic corridors, sign standards and residential quality contribute to the uniqueness of the Conejo Valley — a very special place we are all proud to call home. 

On May 1, just before the British parliamentary elections, a British government memo dated July 23, 2002, was released by the London Times. It showed unequivocally not only that President Bush & Co. were “fixing the facts around the policy” of the planned invasion of Iraq, but that Prime Minister Tony Blair & Co. were also well aware of that fact long before the first bomb was dropped.

Golly, given that we’ve spent some $300 billion and sacrificed the lives of 1,600 American soldiers and tens of thousands of civilian Iraqis in that invasion, wouldn't the reporting of that “smoking gun” memo be newsworthy? Yet that was 10 days ago, and there’s been nothing in The Star about it. When exactly did The Star intend to inform us of this stunning development?

The Star’s Web site shows dozens of staff reporters, and presumably some of them are Internet-savvy. Perhaps The Star should use some of them to try to keep us better informed.

— Stuart Bechman, Simi Valley

Re: Lynn Maxson’s May 11 letter, “Don’t pass it on”:

Let me make sure I understand Maxson’s position on inheritance: I go to school, get an education, start a business, take all the risks, make a profit (hopefully), reinvest the profits, buy a home, raise a family, save money, take more risks on investments, get lucky, make a bunch of money — all the while paying taxes and fees — and then die. Rather than being allowed to let my money help my family, I should happily let the government take it all and give it to someone else who hasn’t done squat to earn it? 

Re: your May 10 article, “Wholesome cheerleaders get pie in eye”:

The article begins by focusing on a bill approved by the Texas House of Representatives that would “regulate sexually suggestive performances in public schools.” However, the focus on this topic quickly changes course with a once-professional baseball cheerleader’s silly story about wholesome routines that end in pie throwing.

This story had nothing to do with high school cheerleading and was not an “entertaining” one. Rather, it was a pathetic attempt to sidestep a more serious issue.

When I was fortunate enough to be awarded an internship at the U.S. State Department as an undergraduate college student, I learned very quickly from numerous 20th century examples that appeasing aggressive dictatorships in futile diplomatic efforts has only emboldened these regimes to become more aggressive in their actions to challenge global stability.

From Pearl Harbor and the Gulf of Tonkin to Kosovo and the War on Terror, appeasement has failed.
It is clear today that North Korea smells weakness, and it is motivated to continue its effort to challenge the stability of its global neighbors and the security of the United States.

The real wealth of roadless areas now slated for timber and mining development from Bush special interests is the biodiversity and natural attributes inherent long before anyone laid claim or separated them into quarterly profits.

An architect of American democracy named Thomas Jefferson knew about the value and respect of wilderness. He went to great lengths to warn us moderns of the excesses of the monied interests and the dangers of letting them take control of the reins of government.

The configuration of the forests, of stream and river drainage from the mountains, the pristine open lands containing hidden wealth and all the wildlife supported by these systems are a manifestation of a higher power of intelligence — not to be used with impunity, then discarded.

These priceless creations are for stewardship by the public commons and future generations. They are not for disposal by passing political fancy. Doing so is comparable to regulating the powers of the sun and the moon or countless natural mysteries which have been provided to marvel over and remain humbled by.

Therefore, I say let administration of public lands reflect respect for a higher nature. It not to be traded in the marketplace and treated with impunity in a time when there is increasingly less to hold as sacred ground.

— Pete LaFollette, Ojai

Re: your May 11 article, “President named for Ventura College”:

I wish Robin Calote much success at Ventura College. I hope she doesn’t buy into Chancellor James Meznek’s and the board’s approach of cut, cut, cut first, then dialogue after.

Chancellor Meznek’s approach to “shared governance” is horrific. His actions have demonstrated that shared governance is a thing of the past. Student, staff and faculty input is disregarded by him and the board. Has anyone observed his behavior at a board meeting lately? It’s shameful.

Re: your May 3 article, “‘Ripoff 101’ study: College text costs average $900”:

This reminds me of an incident at Oxnard College.

On the first day of class, the assigned book was not available at the college bookstore, and they didn’t know when they’d get it. However, there were two students who had the book.  One said he got it at Barnes & Noble in Ventura, and the other said he got it at Moorpark College.

Re: Richard Larsen’s May 10 essay, “Blair lost Labor’s love”:

Since one must read through half of Mr. Larsen’s analysis before getting to the issue of British Prime Minister Tony Blair, allow me to suggest a headline better suited to what Mr. Larsen wanted to convey: “Bush and all his friends are losers.”

Once Mr. Larsen does arrive at his subject, he predictably misses the cause of the Labor Party’s narrower margin of majority.

I am only 17 years old. Regardless of my age (and the apathy most adults attach to teenagers), the necessity for the Ventura community to know that Republicans want to change the rules and eliminate the filibuster is essential and crucial.

Filibusters have protected the voice of the minority for more than 200 years. Now I am the minority, and I am asking that this abuse of power that would eliminate debate and dissent in Congress end, rather than give President Bush a blank check to set in motion the most radical agenda and appointment of extreme judges.

Re: your May 9 article, “Parents do the work, children get the grade”:

I read the article regarding children having too much homework with interest because I have two children in grade school.

I am amazed at the amount of homework that is given to them. I understand that California has “raised the bar,” so we try to help our children as much as possible — stopping short of doing the homework itself.

Re: your two May 11 articles, “Judge approves United’s plan to end pensions” and “Supervisors approve big increase in pension fund contribution”:

On one hand, United’s resources are limited by their ability to make a profit; on the other, government resources/taxes are unlimited.

— Robert A Hubbard, Ojai

On May 5, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Emergency Supplemental Appropriations bill to add additional funding for U.S. troops in Iraq and Afghanistan.

On May 10, the U.S. Senate also passed the $82 billion bill.

Hidden in the amendments is a little gem called the “Real ID Act,” which requires states to take a number of measures when they issue driver’s licenses or identification cards.

Here’s how it works:

Re: your May 10 article, “Harbor officials plan to beef up security”:

I applaud the Ventura Port District for its proactive effort to protect Ventura Harbor and its visitors. But, I encourage them to proceed wisely.

There should be a plan for harbor security that goes well beyond simply buying lights and cameras. Security and crime prevention experts, not just Port District staff and security vendors, should be involved in the planning and design process.

Re: your April 24 article, “Condo project erupts in intrigue in Simi Valley”:

I was very disappointed in the Simi Valley City Council’s April 4 decision regarding the plan to build condominium units at Highway 118 and Kuehner Drive.

The Star states that the council members said “they have never witnessed this type of political dustup during their time at City Hall.”

Re: your May 10 editorial, “Ballot initiative targets wealthy”:

Your editorial, in which you state there is much evidence to prove that attending preschool improves performance academically later in life, is absolutely and unequivocally false.

The mantra goes something like this: Phil Gatch is a great guy who did a wonderful job, but it was right to “retire” him, and the council majority showed real courage in doing so.

Is that not something straight out of “Alice in Wonderland”?

So the London Times runs a front-page story revealing a secret Ministry of Defense memo that says clearly what many of us believed all along: that President Bush and the Republicans were itching to attack Iraq and looking for any justification that would take advantage of the post-September 11 wave of fear that hit the United States.

Yet this memo, which unequivocally reveals deliberate fraud on the part of the president (an impeachable offense) has received virtually no coverage here in the United States from the mainstream media.

We find ourselves up to our necks in violence and choas in Iraq with no road map to get out and a seemingly bottomless financial pit. Meanwhile, our military is so overextended and under-equipped that North Korea — a country that actually has a program to build weapons of mass destruction, unlike Iraq — is able to proceed with development of weapons-grade plutonium with impunity.

Where is the media in all this? Why is no one calling Bush on the carpet for an explanation? Is our media so cowed and corrupted by corporate money that it has lost all ability to fulfill its core mission: to hold those in power accountable for their actions? What a disgrace our news organizations have become. Alternative media are our only hope.

— Tim Vandehey, Ventura

If I recall correctly, the issue of having the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission take jurisdiction over the development and approval of liquefied natural gas terminals — which George Bush talked about the other day — only applies to the Long Beach proposal here in California. That means that the projects off the coast of Oxnard will still have input from state and local governments as they move forward.

— Patti McClain, Oxnard