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May 31, 2007

Step in right direction

Re: your May 27 article, “County clerk to open Simi Valley office”:

Supervisor Peter Foy's plan to open a branch of the Ventura County Clerk-Recorder's Office in the Simi Valley Courthouse is good news indeed.

It has been about 25 years since the late Supervisor Jim Dougherty, for whom I worked as a field aide, did the same thing. The response was excellent and will be again, especially considering the auto fuel crisis.

Unfortunately, after Dougherty's terms in office ended, the county ceased to acknowledge that more than half of Ventura County's population lives east of the Conejo Grade and requires public services.

Now, if only Foy could persuade court officials to use our local courthouse more often and set up jury pools here so those called for jury duty didn't have to waste gas driving to Ventura.

— Vince Nowell Sr., Simi Valley

Posted by Andrea Howry at 10:17 AM

Giving shelter

Re: your May 29 article, "Suicide car bomber kills 21 in Iraq":

The photo caption accompanying this article, reads, "A young boy seeks shelter behind a U.S. soldier." If you continue to print that type of picture, people might get the impression that we're the good guys.

— Bill Buchanan, Thousand Oaks

Posted by Andrea Howry at 10:15 AM

Taps player an inspiration

Re: your May 26 article, “Live taps replaces a taped version”:

It was rejuvenating to read this article. This young woman should be held up by all who have faith in this country and be made a model for others to emulate. She obviously has more respect for this country than do most of its own citizens who were born here. She certainly can educate those who are illegal and march in our streets demanding their rights. She has clearly discovered and paid attention to what this country has to offer and is giving something back that many of its own will never comprehend.

There is room in this country for all who come here and have the understanding and the gratefulness that this young girl displays to our soldiers.

— Rick Freeman, Simi Valley

Posted by Andrea Howry at 10:13 AM

May 30, 2007

Democrats have no character

Capitulation by Congress in providing money for the war of lies (Iraq) is a new level of deep shame in America. The leadership of the Democratic Party — Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi — have demonstrated they are unfit for public office and have about the same amount of character as the Republican maniac in the White House.

The U.S. government is under the control of criminals, cowards, traitors, liars and scoundrels. These government representatives were all voted in by an uninformed, docile constituency that relishes pleasure, amusement and luxury more than constitutional government and the liberties and blessings that can flow from it.

— John K. Carter, Camarillo

Posted by Andrea Howry at 12:32 PM

Incomprehensible issues

There are two things I don't understand.

First, the citizens of this country, this writer included, voted the Democrats into office in the last election for one specific purpose: to end the carnage in Iraq and bring our boys home. There has never been any doubt that Bush and the Republicans, left to their own designs, would continue the war until voted out of the White House in January of 2009. The only way the Democrats could end it would be to cut off funding for the war. But the gutless wonders reneged, fearing to be tagged as unpatriotic. So now, the blood of every American killed or maimed henceforth in Iraq will be on their hands, as well as on the hands of Bush and the Republicans. I just don't get it.

Secondly, as far as I know, none of the terrorists involved in the 9/11 attack got here by hopping the Mexican border, nor have any of the other presumed terrorists being held today. They all got here on visas, which they overstayed. So why are we pouring billions of dollars into building fences and walls along the border? Why aren't we spending that money to find, arrest and deport all those still in this country on expired visas? I just don't get it.

— Patrick S. O'Malley, Oxnard

Posted by Andrea Howry at 12:24 PM

Comments (4)

Global warming’s big picture

Among my “doomster” friends, I frequently hear that a dictatorship is necessary to meet the threat of global warming, that people will not voluntarily do what is needed if it means sacrifice or inconvenience.

They say anybody with a brain knows we need to reduce population. Climate change is caused mainly by human activity; ergo, we need to have fewer humans. The Chinese successfully dictated family size and enforced one child per couple.

However, this same regime now savages China’s soil and rivers and pollutes everyone’s atmosphere. In this test of efficiency, totalitarianism is failing its one excuse for being. And environmentalists in China face severe government repression.
Instead, I want to speak for democracy — not the fraud perpetrated on Iraq under that name by Bush and the neocons, but the real stuff.

Given good information, our people rise to whatever needs doing, be it rescuing our Louisiana neighbors from flood and corrupt governance or changing the majority of the House and Senate to block an overreaching executive.

What has failed us is not our people, but biased and shallow media that failed to inform most Americans of impending climate crises back when less drastic sacrifice would be required of us.

Recent polls show Americans overwhelmingly regard global warming as a serious threat and that we want government action to help us combat it.

The groundwork for this awareness came from the labor of not only Al Gore, but a generation of activists in academia and independent media, going back at least 30 years.

Despite oil industry-financed campaigns to “manufacture doubt,” Americans are now ready to hear the unpleasant truth and deal with it.

Our government is not. What about “mainstream” media?

— Margaret Morris, Ventura

Posted by Andrea Howry at 12:17 PM

Fix Congress, fix problems

Re: your May 27 letters and Pulse page:

Did The Star look at its letters to the editor on Sunday? I am assuming it has discretion over what letters to print.

First, Susan Elizabeth Strassel’s “Emergency-room crisis”: This is news? This person wants to know how it can be solved. Doesn’t she know that our government does not want it solved?

Next, William L. Hammaker’s “Department of Peace”: This is a real joke. It goes with Bruce Marshall’s “Democrats capitulating” on the Pulse page, and The Star put in several of those.

To cap it all off was John L. Thawley’s “Spend war money on U.S.” How old a saw is that?
All of these problems could be solved if the American public would toss out Congress, which is supposed to represent us, and put in a new bunch. It boggles my mind that Sen. Edward Kennedy, D-Mass, has been in the Senate for 43 years, making the same mistakes time after time.

— Carole H. Adam, Ojai

Posted by Andrea Howry at 12:04 PM

Comments (2)

Whose sacrifices?

Re: Terry Paulson’s May 28 commentary, “Memorial Day thoughts”:

So Mr. Paulson thinks that no sacrifice is too great when it comes to fighting "Islamofascists," whatever they are. As far as I can tell, the only sacrifice Paulson is making while young service people die in Iraq is giving up time on the golf course to serve as a cheerleader for the Bush administration. As evidenced by his continual begging for more tax cuts, it seems that he isn't even willing to pay for the war he so enthusiastically supports. Indeed, Paulson is all for sacrifices - as long as it's someone else making them.

— Joe Power, Ventura

Posted by Andrea Howry at 11:53 AM

Newspaper niches

Re: your May 27 article, “The paper chase”:

Interestingly, and perhaps symptomatic of the problem, none of the journalism professors quoted in this article offered the most fundamental and valuable advice to young people studying for a career in journalism: Set yourself apart from the tens of thousands of other bright, articulate journalism graduates and get a better education.

The world is becoming ever more complex, and a facility with words is simply not enough. Students should consider a bachelor's degree in a scientific or technical subject — physics, chemistry, biotechnology, engineering or economics — and either a dual degree or a master's in journalism. That has the obvious fallback of marketable skills if journalism doesn't work out — always good to have a “Plan B" in life — and, in the long run, could be the saving of print journalism itself.

Newspapers can never compete with television for immediacy and emotional impact. Nor can they compete with the Internet for hard data. What newspapers could do, if their editors and reporters were better educated, is offer insight. Newspapers could bring depth to a subject that other media cannot provide.

I believe one of the reasons for declining newspaper circulation is that most articles have become virtually information-free. Ninety percent are what would be called "sound bites" on television. Everything is opinion. The front page and the op/ed pages have become indistinguishable. Whether the subject is climate, the war, the economy or technology, there seems to be a belief that it isn't necessary for reporters to know anything about the subject. All that is needed is to weave together enough snappy quotes.

I think newspapers are wrong and that newspaper readers, as well as stockholders, are paying a price for that mistake.

— Jack R. White, Camarillo

Posted by Andrea Howry at 11:43 AM

Comments (1)

Puzzles are too small

I've been a subscriber for 15 years, but my patience is starting to wear thin.

Earlier this year, The Star declared that it was going to reduce the size of its paper — and of its newsprint — out of environmental concerns. OK, that's fine. But what about those of us who look forward each day to working the crosswords and other puzzles? Those tiny, tiny letters are even smaller now. That leads to eyestrain.

On May 27, I opened the classified section to the page where The Star prints the New York Times crossword puzzle, looking forward to working it. But the clues were in such tiny print — I think it's 8-point type or smaller — and the squares in the puzzle itself are so small, it's tough to write the answers in.

I did crack the puzzle, finally, but how much longer are we going to have to put up with this? I am getting headaches from having to deal with the tiny, tiny size of The Star’s word puzzles.

Some days, the puzzles are the only things in the paper that interest me. What happens if they become burdensome to work because of the small print size?

Please print the puzzles larger!

— Dan Navarro, Ventura

Posted by Andrea Howry at 11:32 AM

Comments (1)

Enforce what’s on the books

The Immigration Reform Act of 1986 was a pretty simple act, but these laws have not been enforced in substance for 20 years. The current immigration bill in the Senate is 380 pages long, before amendments. President Bush and the lawmakers would want us to believe they will enforce the new laws if passed. Are you kidding me?

The reason some of us call this new bill amnesty is that, as soon as it becomes law, the illegal immigrants will be immediately granted legal status by a very simple process. Path to citizenship is something else, of course. Legal status means they would essentially have the same rights as citizens except the right to vote, for example. It also means an estimated 30,000 illegal immigrant gang members could immediately request quick legal status and, when granted, could never be deported.

In 1986, we said we could not deport 3 million illegals. Now we say we cannot deport 12 million. In 10 years or so, we will probably say we cannot deport another 20 million. The lawmakers say that this new bill and the 370-mile wall — if ever erected — on a 2,000-mile-long border will deter new illegals from entering the United States. Are you kidding me?

We need to follow this bill closely because some provisions are smoke screens. For example, emotional debates are raging on the immigration bill’s point system for future immigrants. If this point system were to pass, it would not be implemented for eight years. Do you think the next president and lawmakers will remember and implement them then?

I believe the answer to the problem is for us to enforce existing laws.

Let’s challenge Bush and the lawmakers to enforce existing laws for two years before they embark on creating very complicated new ones.

— Leon Lim, Camarillo

Posted by Andrea Howry at 11:25 AM

Comments (2)

‘Increased strife’ a wild guess

Re: your May 27 article, "Increased strife is predicted in Iraq if U.S. troops pull out":
It is disappointing to read yet another example of sloppy, biased reporting masquerading as an "even-handed" review of this issue.

Let's examine the three pieces of evidence that claim to support the prediction for increased violence in Iraq should U.S. soldiers leave.

— U.S. military commander’s opinions: Top military commanders serve at the pleasure of the president. Their public statements tell us only about the opinion of their commander in chief, President Bush.

— "Staunchest congressional critics agree": This statement is intentionally misleading nonsense. The staunchest critics of Bush's policies in Iraq do call for withdrawal of our troops and dismantling of the many bases we've built. Simply being a congressman or senator doesn't make one an expert on something as complicated as Iraqi civil strife.

— Iraqis agree: Oh really? Based on a survey of "more than 40 Iraqi politicians and citizens.” Last time I checked, 41 was more than 40. Of course, "more than 40" is nicely vague, and who really wants to deal with messy real numbers? Iraq has a population of 26 million, and we’re supposed to believe that a sample size of 41 people is representative?

What do we know about violence in Iraq? We know that the mere presence of our troops spurs hatred and violence. We know that violence in Iraq has steadily increased despite the presence of more than 120,000 U.S. troops — plus thousands of mercenaries. In supporting the case for keeping U.S. troops in Iraq, it’s telling that the best the article can do is to blow smoke or be intentionally misleading.

I’m still waiting for a credible explanation of why violence in Iraq will be worse if we leave than if we stay.

— Kirk Waln, Ventura

Posted by Andrea Howry at 11:20 AM

Democrats failed

It came as no surprise that our own local Republican representative, Elton Gallegly, voted May 24 to extend the war funding. That in itself was no surprise because Gallegly always votes straight down the Republican Party line. In this case, and once again without regard for the will of the majority of his constituents, he has voted his personal belief.

As a registered Democrat, my issue at the moment is not with the Republicans who voted to extend the war. At least they are predictable. No, my outrage comes from being double-crossed by Democrats in the House and Senate who spinelessly caved in to President Bush and Vice President Cheney, contrary to the a clear mandate we gave them back on Nov. 7, 2006. We gave them clear instructions to extract this country from Iraq, and we told them that we wanted it ASAP, with no phony timeline, no Iraq government benchmarks, no vacations, no recesses. Our soldiers are being blown to pieces on a daily basis, and that will continue to be reality on the ground even as the Iraq parliament knocks off for a few months of much needed rest and relaxation.

The cowardly Democrats who voted yes voted from a position of fear that the Republicans would turn it around on them and accuse them of not supporting the troops. That old worn-out line has not worked for a long time, and Democrats were not brave enough to actually support our troops by taking the action needed to bring them home now.

We sent the Democrats to Washington to win for us. We did not elect them to negotiate with Bush. Everyone knows you don't negotiate with terrorists or with 3-year-olds.

— Stan Hubbell, Ojai

Posted by Andrea Howry at 11:13 AM

Saddam created stability

Re: your May 27 Pulse page on the Iraq war:

It seems to me that all those people who had letters published on May 27 did not once mention that the war had already been won by American and British boundary "flyovers" long before this President Bush invaded — and without the loss of one single pilot. There was also no civil war between Sunni and Shia. In fact, they were still marrying each other, and Iraqi oil pipes were safe.

Kurds were satisfied with having the North, Sunnis had the middle and the Shia had the South. The infrastructure was safe, and apart from a few anti-aircraft batteries opening up, Iraq was comparatively quiet and productive.

When Saddam did retaliate with anti-aircraft batteries, we just destroyed them. We had Saddam boxed in, frustrated and disciplined. We also had him there to maintain stability instead of the present-day confusion and day-to-day combat.

We also would have had 3,500-plus American and 50-plus British soldiers and scores of contractors still alive. And let’s not forget the death of approximately 2 million Iraqi men, women and children lost to suicide bombers.

We also had the option to take out Saddam’s palaces one by one if he became too obstintate or any structure that didn't cause the Iraqi population any discomfort. Iraq was more or less stabilized, producing oil that would have driven down the price of crude. How much are you paying for gas right now?

We are surely in another Vetnam, a winless war no matter how long it takes, and a world full of terrorists that are training by the hundreds. Now we've given them a better reason to train. They will keep us busy for the next 100 years.

God help our children and grandchildren, who will not only have to pay for it financially, but in loss of life, too. Those who started this war will change the world forever.

— Jim Gray, Ventura

Posted by Andrea Howry at 11:07 AM

Coverage questioned

Re: your May 27 Pulse page on the Iraq War:

I counted two opinions that were in favor of the war, each with no logical reason why this war is a good idea except the opinion that everyone else is wrong. Virtually every other opinion went on to express various reasons why this war is a bad idea with logical reasons and facts to support their opinions.

Why did The Star choose to start the page with the most pro-war, least supported opinion of all?

— Tom Lazarich, Oxnard

Posted by Andrea Howry at 10:52 AM

Self-centered boomers

Re: Beverly Kelley’s May 28 commentary, "Baby boomers tripping out with lives of Founding Fathers":

As a midrange baby boomer, please let me apologize to Kelley for not being stillborn. I guess that's just another example of how selfish and self-centered my entire generation has been.

— Nels Norene, Camarillo

Posted by Andrea Howry at 10:50 AM

Transfer policy wrong

Re: your May 27 editorial, “Fillmore puts caps over kids”:

Just because it's legal doesn't make it right. Such is the case with the decision by the County Board of Education in rejecting school transfers from Fillmore Unified School District. Trustee Chris Valenzano was right to dissent, because in his own words, "Districts really have to take into consideration the harm they are doing to students."

Surely, it is harmful to remove children from the only elementary school they've ever attended, in this case, the Little Red Schoolhouse, Santa Clara School, on Highway 126. Up until this year, these students had been granted transfers every year to attend the school of their choice. Suddenly, according to new Fillmore Superintendent Jeff Sweeney, "Our district, like every other district, is underfunded, and we have to look at what's best."

What's best for whom? Since the district has the option whether or not to cap transfers at 3 percent, couldn't it have allowed these dozen or so students to remain at their home school until sixth grade? I guess it boils down to the fact that money is more important to FUSD than the educational and emotional stability of a few elementary school students.

— Lynne Brooks, Fillmore

Posted by Andrea Howry at 10:46 AM

American culture disappearing

I was appalled at so few flags being displayed this Memorial Day weekend in Simi Valley. The retail stores did a better job advertising their Memorial Day sales that we did at displaying our patriotism and respect for our soldiers. Shame on you, Americans.

My conclusions for such a poor showing are that Americans are apathetic and lazy. We have so many foreigners that they are not about to support the country that gives them so much. I know there are exceptions, but in general, I believe this to be true. We have reached the age of confusion about where we are headed and so do nothing. I believe I'm pretty accurate with my assessments.

If our forefathers could have envisioned the happenings of today, I think they would have written our Constitution a lot differently. I believe our country and culture would have been protected with a lot fewer giveaway concepts, and I think they would have made laws to preserve the land for Americans who respect and appreciate what they have.

— Anita Colello, Simi Valley

Posted by Andrea Howry at 10:41 AM

Why there’s peace here

Monday, the country observed Memorial Day. There were many ceremonies dedicated to the memories of those who gave it all. There were a lot of flags, music and prayers. But still there were the groups that continue to ask, "Why are we there?"

During the ceremonies, a number of airplanes flew close. Police sirens sounded in the distance. Rifles barked a salute to the fallen. But during this, no bombs fell, no rockets went off among those gathered, no prisoners were dragged off to jail or torture, and there were no dead because of the rifles.

We stood there in peace, continued our prayers and memories and departed in peace, without harassment.

Why? Because our troops are over there, allowing us to continue our lives undisturbed.
Those of us who have served know why. The rest seemingly will never understand.

— Don Davidson, Port Hueneme

Posted by Andrea Howry at 10:36 AM

Just say, ‘Thank you’

Re: your May 28 article, “Service members look for work”:

Monday was Memorial Day — a day of remembrance for all who have died in our nation's service, not just one war, but every war.

Yes, the current war is a very heated debate. However, why should military personnel be treated so disrespectfully?

Was The Star’s headline: “We honor all who gave their lives for us”? No, it wasn't. How about: “Thank you for fighting so the United States can enjoy being free”? It wasn't that either. The headlines talked about healthcare and fire hazards — topics in almost every edition.

Sure, The Star talked about those serving in the military needing jobs when they come home. Thanks for reminding them of the hardships they must now face after putting their lives on the line.

There was a note to look in the second section for all the Memorial Day events, but even then, these were on the second page. It was very important to talk about golf swings on Page 1. Wasn’t there enough room in the Sports section?

Couldn’t you have mentioned the loyal people who have given their lives? How about spotlighting those who have gone above and beyond what is expected of them? Isn’t this what the military is all about, strength and pride?

These are the people our kids should be looking up to, not sports “heroes” or rock stars thrown into jail for drugs and beating up their wives.

Since 1973, the armed forces have been voluntary. People join because they have a strong feeling of dedication to our country and all that it stands for.

Now I know happy topics don’t sell newspapers. But of all days and with everything going on all over the world, would it have been such a horrible thing to have just said a simple, “Thank you”?

— Debra McKenzie, Oxnard

Posted by Andrea Howry at 10:33 AM

Military vehicles aren’t fun

I was appalled to learn that this year’s annual Touch-A-Truck, sponsored by the Conejo Recreation and Park District, will include military vehicles. Since when are military tanks and armored killing machines considered wholesome family entertainment?

I suppose there will also be military personnel on site handing out pamphlets and telling our children all about the glory of war. Does the military have to take over everything? Why can’t the military just have its own “military truck day”? Why does it have to ruin Touch-A-Truck?

There is simply nothing “fun” about war vehicles. Or is there? At this year’s Touch-A-Truck, there will be young children happily climbing aboard military tanks and enjoying the idea of blasting human beings to pieces. This is sick.

— Diana Hirth, Thousand Oaks

Posted by Andrea Howry at 10:22 AM

Comments (1)

Help available to vets

Re: your May 29 article, “Military’s mental healthcare faulted”:

Twenty-four years after leaving Vietnam, my post-traumatic stress disorder surfaced with a vengeance. It took years of group and individual therapy, but I can keep that beast at bay for the most part, even though the Department of Veterans Affairs rates me at 100 percent disabled because of it.

The biggest single act a returning veteran can do is to talk about his combat experiences. Talk therapy or "psychotherapy" helped me enormously. Keeping quiet won't help. The stigma some have that is attached to seeking aid for a "mental health" issue doesn't help. Neither does the lack of knowledge about where to go for competent help.

The best organization to contact for combat-related mental health issues is Veterans Affairs. It has very competent professionals for those issues. I would not be as well off as I am without them. I learned so much that I can treat myself when my PTSD ramps up. I know what the trigger points and symptoms are, thanks to the help I received.
For more on PTSD, visit: http://www.ncptsd.va.gov/ncmain/index.jsp.

Write to your elected representatives about this problem of a lack of facilities to make it better for returning vets.

— David L. Folck, Simi Valley

Posted by Andrea Howry at 10:17 AM

Is Rocketdyne still a threat?

Rocketdyne appears to still be a serious health threat to those living in Simi Valley. After research, it has been discovered that several are dying young, possibly due to the history of several individuals with cancer. Within the past five years, I have had two family members die of cancer — the youngest, my mother, at age 43. Several other family members have been diagnosed and treated for cancer and have survived.

There are several still out there, like my relatives, battling this health risk. Could the recent building of new homes near the mountains within the past two years be the cause in the increase in those affected? I feel Rocketdyne needs to be addressed again pertaining to this issue. Could those living in Box Canyon, Santa Susana and Simi Valley be killing themselves without knowing it?

We want to live in a city that is safe to live in, but also safe for our health and our children.

Please help assist me in addressing this concern again to the public.

— Kristen Lenox, Simi Valley

Posted by Andrea Howry at 10:05 AM

May 29, 2007

Duped by a water bond

It’s really upsetting to learn you’ve been the victim of a scam, but it’s even worse to find out the con artists reside in the state Legislature. We, the taxpayers, have been defrauded!

Last year, the voters were told the state’s levees were in imminent danger of collapse if they weren’t repaired and that we needed to approve Proposition 84, the water bond, to provide $5.3 billion for the repairs.

Now we are being told the fine print in the proposition contains funding for projects that have nothing to do with our water supply. Two projects that are being proposed in legislation by Sen. Mark Ridley-Thomas, D-Los Angeles, would provide funds for the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County and the Huntington Botanical Gardens. The senator justified this funding by saying, “Culture is important.” Is this what you had in mind when you voted for the water bond?

But there’s more. Legislators in the San Joaquin Valley want some of this bond money to build a large aquarium in Fresno. Other projects being considered include a Lake Tahoe water-trail to provide access to camping accommodations and a biking-hiking trail around the Sacramento Delta.

Major contributors to putting the proposition on the ballot were the Big Sur Land Trust, which expects to receive $10 to $15 million for land purchase.

Adding insult, the lobbyist who wrote Proposition 84 said promoters were not being devious by including spending for museums and aquariums, adding that “those projects made the proposition more attractive to the voters.”

We’ve been duped! I doubt I’ll ever vote for another bond measure for fear of the small print.

— Jere Robings, Thousand Oaks

Posted by Andrea Howry at 12:05 PM

Breast-feeding defended

Re: LeeAnne Clark’s May 25 letter, “Breast-feeding not for all”:

Ms. Clark took issue with my May 22 letter, in which I stated that babies are born to breast-feed and most babies have no need for a bottle. Ms. Clark referred to me as "sanctimonious" and a "breast-feeding extremist," lumping me in with a couple of women with whom she’d had an unfortunate encounter.

As an international board-certified lactation consultant, I am well aware that there are babies who must be fed with a bottle. That is why I clearly stated, "Most babies have no need to drink anything from a bottle."

Nowhere in my letter did I "eschew logic," as Ms. Clark states. I pointed out a couple of facts about breast-feeding and suggested that if moms are going to be concerned about the safety of bottles, they might first consider the safety of the formula they're putting into those bottles.

I must take huge exception to Ms. Clark's portrayal of adoptive nursing as a "whacked-out idea," "an unnatural and excruciating procedure" and "a very difficult, painful and usually fruitless process." Most adoptive mothers are able to produce at least a little milk, and those who have breast-fed adopted babies say that breast-feeding has numerous benefits in addition to nutrition.

Breastfeeding should not be painful; if it is, a breast-feeding professional should be consulted immediately to help correct the problem.

— Dianne E. Oliver, Simi Valley

Posted by Andrea Howry at 11:49 AM

Comments (1)

Insensitive to veterans

Re: your May 27 article, “A bitter Memorial Day”:

I am truly outraged and offended by The Star’s lack of sensitivity and concern for all veterans and for those now on active duty. What is the purpose of such an article? We have so much to be thankful for when we live in this great nation. Instead, I am slapped in the face the day before we are to be honoring those who died serving America.

I am a Vietnam veteran and flew 157 missions during that era. I have been a subscriber of The Star for more than 10 years. The Star’s positions have clearly taken a much greater negative tone toward our country over the past two years. The good news is relegated to the back pages or just not delivered at all.

Peter Collier wrote in the May 26-27 issue of the Wall Street Journal, in his article “American Honor,” as follows: “We impoverish ourselves by shunting these heroes and their experiences to the back pages of our national consciousness. Their stories are not just boys’ adventure tales writ large. They are a kind of moral instruction. They remind of something we’ve heard many times before but is worth repeating on a wartime Memorial Day when we’re uncertain about what we celebrate. We’re the land of the free for one reason only: We’re the home of the brave.”

My suggestion to The Star is that it take to heart what is stated in Mr. Collier’s article and apply it to The Star’s journalism. As Americans and as citizens of Ventura County, we will all be much better served.

— Ken Curry, Newbury Park

Posted by Andrea Howry at 11:40 AM

Politicians out of touch

On Memorial Day, I couldn't help but remember the millions of Americans who fought for our freedom since this country was founded. At the same time, I thought of the politicians I voted for in the last four elections who gave us the unresponsive government we have in Washington.

Many soldiers gave their lives for this country, yet those rogues in Washington, who have offices around here in Ventura, are passing out free citizenship to people who have no right to be here. It doesn't make sense to me. This problem should have been resolved eight years ago.

After World War II, a popular phrase summed up what we should keep in mind: “Remember Pearl Harbor." Does anyone know what that means today?

An election is coming up next year, and we the people will be having some pretty frank discussions on talk radio, the Internet and the cable news. I don't think the old politicians will get away with giving away America anymore.

— Ray Holm, Westlake Village

Posted by Andrea Howry at 11:30 AM

Certainties about LNG

Re: Thomas Elias’ May 25 commentary, “Is LNG needed? No one yet knows for certain”:

Elias doesn’t want liquefied natural gas terminals. He’s a NIMBY. I can understand that. If he had the intellectual honesty to say so, I could respect that. But, no, he insists on trying to build a case against it using data and logic.

First, no one ever knows anything in advance “for certain,” but several things are “known” about LNG. The U.S. Energy Information Administration is forecasting that LNG will play a critical role in meeting our intermediate term national needs for natural gas. The California Energy Commission forecasts that LNG will play a key role in meeting California’s gas needs. Numerous companies are ready to invest billions of dollars to meet the need for LNG they see developing.

Second, the best way to have lower natural gas prices in California is to have too much. If we want to lower prices, we should court LNG companies, supply them with very high gas demand forecasts and ease restrictions on building terminals.

Third, California can have a serious natural gas shortage even if demand does not grow. All it takes is a drop in available supply. Given that this future supply is expected to be increasingly from LNG imported into the Gulf Coast, California residents had better hope their NIMBY forces are weaker than ours.

The one thing I agree with is that it appears necessary we forge a shared understanding of the need for LNG. We should undertake this study as rapidly as possible. If we wait too long, we will have the “certainty” that Thomas Elias seeks, but it will be the certainty of higher natural gas prices, higher electricity prices and companies moving out of California to find states with lower energy costs.

— Jef Kurfess, Westlake Village

Posted by Andrea Howry at 11:25 AM

Let’s get out of Iraq

It boggles my mind that so many Republicans and conservatives say that, if you do not support the war in Iraq, you do not support the troops. On the contrary, many people support their dedication and their ultimate sacrifice. How dare anyone suggest different.

Having lost someone very dear to us three years ago January in Iraq and watching us lose thousands of young men and women, as well as the ones who are returning with emotional and physical scars, are we supporting them? Are we "winning the war" against terrorism, or are we following blindly a leader so out of touch with reality he went into this war with wrong information, causing the loss of many Americans as well as thousands of Iraqi citizens?

How much does the death toll have to be to say we won the war? We have almost demolished the country under false pretenses. Yes, we have helped in many ways, but we need our young men and women home now to take care of the many disasters that are ongoing here. We need to support, fund and take care of the families who have been forever changed by this "war on terror.”

Bush should be the man he claims to be and start listening to reason. His approval is at an all-time low, and he just sticks his fingers in his ears and does not listen to suggestions to a timeline for withdrawal or any other suggestions to get us out of Iraq. Are you willing to lose your son or daughter or family member to a mission that will never be complete? Is the oil worth the "ultimate sacrifice?"

Let's take care of America and our very brave soldiers and let them return to their families and friends who love them and support them.

— Lisa Padilla, Moorpark

Posted by Andrea Howry at 11:22 AM

May 25, 2007

Sacrifice is needed

President Bush proclaimed that if we don't win this war in Iraq, the enemy will come here and attack and destroy our country. If he really believes in what he says, then it begs the question: Why isn't our president going all-out to win this war? If we are in such a critical state of life and death for the survival for our democracy, then why hasn't our president called for a national draft so our military would be at full strength and capable of fighting the fight?

What happened to our foreign policy and diplomacy? Do we still have an ambassador of foreign affairs or a secretary of state? For longer than it took for the Allies to win World War II, our "decider" has let our National Guard and a relatively small group of volunteer soldiers fight the war in Iraq for the rest of us. Why hasn't our president asked our nation to rally behind our troops and sacrifice?

I really believe the American people are ready and waiting, but our leader has never asked us to do anything significant. Instead, he encourages us to use our credit cards and go deeper and deeper into personal debt while oil prices go unchecked.

I, for one, am sick of all the lies and more lies coming from this president and his administration. I was taught at a very early age to listen to one's actions, not their words. It's time to face the truth. Since Bush took office, I thought there was some evil plot by extreme right-wing conservatives to take over our government, destroy our Constitution and rid our nation of our beloved checks and balances. But now, after all these horrible years, I've come to the conclusion that our president and his blind loyalists are not just evil, but plain incompetent. Left unchecked, they are doing irreparable damage to our country.

Bush likes to repeat baseball clichés in many of his speeches, so here's mine: "Throw the bums out."

— Steve Binder, Oxnard

Posted by Andrea Howry at 10:56 AM

Difference is the draft

One of the things that will surely strike future historians about our era is the odd placidity of American cultural life at the time of a wildly unpopular war — so different from the eruptions that attended Vietnam.

In spite of some similarities, one of the main differences between Vietnam and Iraq is the presence of the draft in the former and its absence in the latter. Without universal conscription, the current war just doesn’t cut as wide a swath in the public’s consciousness, and I can’t help but believe that this was one of the unstated motivations for ending the draft after Vietnam. In a democracy, an army made up of citizens from across the social spectrum serving for relatively short terms of duty becomes much harder to sustain in a wrong-headed war than one composed solely of volunteers.

— Bill Harris, Oxnard

Posted by Andrea Howry at 10:45 AM

Vietnam not like Mideast

Are those who cite the Vietnam debacle as a precedent for the United States abandoning military action in the Middle East considering a vital difference between the two conflicts?

In Vietnam, Ho Chi Minh merely wanted us out of his territory; he had no stated objective to destroy the United States of America.

In the Mideast today, Islamic terrorists vow — and implement whenever possible — death and destruction for America, Americans and America’s allies, including the fledgling democratic government in Iraq. And they have the near-term potential of major weapons to employ toward their ends.

There is no appeasing this sworn threat. It can only be countered and, with unflagging effort, run into the ground like Saddam in his hole!

— Dale Osborn, Camarillo

Posted by Andrea Howry at 10:42 AM

Comments (2)

Confusion reigns

If my memory serves me correctly, the Constitution says the right to use arms is only if we have been attacked. We have not been attacked, and there have not been any weapons of mass destruction found! I am confused.

— Mary Pezzotti, Camarillo

Posted by Andrea Howry at 10:40 AM

Comments (2)

No cure for this

Doctor’s report: Operation was a complete success. Unfortunately, the patient died.

President Bush’s report: Operation was a complete success. Unfortunately, Iraq died.

Post mortem: Patient was misdiagnosed, coupled with wrong prescriptions.

— Joseph Kobylak, Camarillo

Posted by Andrea Howry at 10:39 AM

Bush is a genius

Re: Ann McFeatters’s April 16 commentary, “Czar wars in Washington”:

While I agree with Ms. McFeatters about the proposed "czar of war" being nothing but an effort by the administration to set up a scapegoat to take the blame for the disaster that Iraq and Afghanistan have become, I must say that her comment, "Four years — and counting — into a war that was begun for reasons that have never been explained” isn't quite true.

Actually, if you examine the timing of the invasion of Iraq, the conduct of the war by the administration and what has been created on purpose in that country, the reason for the war becomes plain.

The simple answer is that George Bush, our "Big Oil" president, was following the standard monopolitic business model. Since virtually the entire world energy supply is controlled by a mere handful of corporations, which have formed an effective cartel, you have the classic monopoly. In normal business practice, you attempt to increase your profits by increasing your market share. But the very definition of a monopoly is that you already have all the market.

Therefore, the only way to increase profits is to increase demand. And the usual answer for that is to restrict supply.

If you check the news reports coming from the United Nations prior to the U.S. move to invade, you will see that there was a major movement forming in the United Nations to end the sanctions that had been placed on Saddam Hussein 10 years before. This is something Bush could not allow, because everyone knew that as soon as the sanctions were ended, Saddam was going to dump cheap oil on the market to kick-start his economy and start rebuilding.

So, we invaded and ended that threat to the profit margins of Big Oil. Since then, the conduct of the administration has been to perpetuate and exacerbate the conflict. Since a stable Iraq would again threaten profits by dumping cheap oil on the market in an effort to rebuild, there is no real effort by the administration to actually create such a thing as a stable Iraq. Again, it’s quite the contrary.

If you don't believe this, please check the truly gross profits of the Big Oil companies and how they're still going up.

When seen in this light, Bush and Co. are shown to be true geniuses, and they did it all while making us believe that it was for "spreading democracy."

— Stephen J. Schrader, Ventura

Posted by Andrea Howry at 10:33 AM

Democrats capitulated

The Senate, freshly under Democratic control, passed with much hoopla a few weeks ago an Iraq war supplemental funding bill containing benchmarks that were promptly vetoed by Bush. Then I watched the Democrats spinelessly capitulate on C-SPAN. They voted 85-14 in favor of a bill containing no timelines or benchmarks, shamefully caving in and showing their true colors.

What happened? If I understand civics correctly, those in Washington are representing us, and they are supposed to be responsive to our collective will. And yet, even with the mandate of last November, and even with 70 percent of the American public behind them, the Democrats put their tails between their legs and whimpered away.

The two leading presidential candidates in the Senate, Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton, both voted no, but they only did so after the vote had already been decided, when it was safe.

I don't know what the answer is, frankly. Third parties don't work. And neither do the two we have.

We simply have to get out in force next time and vote for candidates who really share our beliefs.

— Bruce Marshall, Santa Paula

Posted by Andrea Howry at 10:04 AM

Comments (4)

May 24, 2007

Thoughts of the day

We need immigrants to harvest our crops. After achieving legal status, how long will they continue picking strawberries?

The injured whales insist on heading away from the ocean. Do you think maybe the mother is protecting herself and her injured calf from sharks that can smell the injuries miles away?

Islam is a religion of peace; it’s only a few fanatics who are bent on destroying democracy. Common sense: Their Koran demands that they slay all non-believers. You think maybe that means us? Did the good ones ever turn in “bad ones?”

President Bush asks that we be patient and give his new strategy a chance to work. What have we been doing for more than four years?

Bush criticizes Congress for imposing its judgment as being superior to the soldiers in the field. Isn’t the tradition in this country that civilians control the military? Wasn’t that what got Gen. Douglas MacArthur fired by President Truman? Besides, every time a general speaks the truth about the disaster in Iraq, he gets fired and replaced by one who is hand-picked to follow Bush’s folly.

The “conspiracy theory” raises its brainless head again. We have been conditioned to believe in fairy tales in which the white knight is confronted only by his equal, the black knight. We cannot accept the proven fact that a single moron or a malcontent with a gun can easily eliminate the best the world has to offer.

— Bernard Lehrer, Ventura

Posted by Andrea Howry at 11:02 AM

Gas prices inexplicable

It appears that the House is trying to do something about record-high gasoline prices. This would be in the form of a stiff penalty for those found guilty of gasoline price gouging. However, it has already been implied that the president will veto the bill.

Not too long ago, it was reported that the oil companies were making excessively high profits, billions more than had ever been recorded. Consumers complained. Our representatives complained. The president said he didn't like it either, but there was nothing he could do about it. Well, here is his chance: He can be sure the bill is worded properly and sign it.

The oil companies have always had an excuse for the price increases. They say we use more gasoline during holidays and summer months and we cause a shortage, so they have to charge more. Or, we are using less gasoline, which cuts into their profits, so they have to charge more to cover the loss of revenue. Use more and get charged more, or use less and still get charged more. Of course, there is the other reason that falls between the high and low usage excuse, and that is what the oil companies call "research."

However, I guess we are expected to be ever so grateful when we see the listed prices drop a couple of cents once in a while between the dramatic highs we are charged.
No one expects the oil companies to not make a good profit. That's just good free enterprise. However, I think they finally need a good reason for the increases other than doing it because they can get away with it.

— Tom DeBardas, Ventura

Posted by Andrea Howry at 10:52 AM

Gas prices inexplicable

— Tom DeBardas, Ventura

Posted by Andrea Howry at 10:52 AM

Disgraceful Democrats

I guess if President Bush can call an occupation a war, the gutless Democrats can call a capitulation a compromise. Their spineless collapse is a disappointment and disgrace to the people who elected them to end this lunacy, not foment it.

— Wayne Saddler, Ventura

Posted by Andrea Howry at 10:46 AM

Too much trash

I am disgusted by what I see happening to our city. An early-morning walk through downtown Oxnard confronts you with trash everywhere, especially on weekends. Don’t these people have any respect for their city? Why aren’t the litter laws being enforced? Trash bins at businesses and apartment buildings are overflowing with trash. The lids on the dumpsters won’t close, allowing the seagulls to spread trash everywhere. Why don’t we require larger Dumpsters or empty them more frequently? If the adults have no respect for our city, what can we expect from our children?

— Tim Hardin, Oxnard

Posted by Andrea Howry at 10:44 AM

Emergency room crisis

I recently spent well over six hours in the emergency room as a patient. I observed the people who work there and concluded that they truly are heroes and angels to the rest of us in the community.

There were many people seeking help, and clearly the emergency room was overburdened. What can be done to make the job of these men and women less difficult? I believe this serious problem needs to be addressed, especially in light of the temporary future closure of St. John's Regional Medical Center.

It seems to me that the emergency room, locally and generally, is in a state of crisis. Does anybody have any solutions? Consider your loved ones and your own lives, and the urgency of finding solutions becomes paramount.

— Susan Elizabeth Strassel, Ventura

Posted by Andrea Howry at 10:41 AM

Comments (1)

Failed occupation

Please vote no on any blank-check bill to continue President Bush's failed occupation. At least Bush had an exit strategy in Vietnam.

— Julie du Bois, West Hills

Posted by Andrea Howry at 10:36 AM

Comments (1)

Easy money for CHP

I commute from Thousand Oaks to Carpinteria on Highway 101 from 6 to 7 a.m.
Driving at 70 mph, which is over the posted speed limit, there are insane drivers who tailgate a couple of feet from my rear bumper, flashing their headlights and weaving in and out across several lanes of traffic just to get ahead of the car in front of them. They do this while traveling in excess of 80 to 90-plus mph. This is a routine occurrence on the 101, including southbound toward downtown Los Angeles.

These drivers are very dangerous, have no regard for safety and are a fatal accident waiting to happen. Where is the California Highway Patrol? I rarely see any highway patrol officers in the morning. If the CHP is underfunded, all they have to do is cruise the 101 each morning, pull over the reckless and speeding drivers and write tickets. I guarantee that they will need to replenish their ticket books by 7 a.m.

Enough fines will be collected from the tickets to enable the CHP to hire more patrol personnel to continue the crusade against the reckless 101 drivers.

— Chuck Groel, Thousand Oaks

Posted by Andrea Howry at 10:32 AM

New engine needed

I recently received an e-mail from someone who pointed out that the Big Three automakers — General Motors, Ford and Chrysler — are all closing down plants in this country and going to other places where the labor is cheaper and overhead is lower in an effort to save money, claiming that is the only way to avoid "bankruptcy."

I am not connected in any way to any auto company or dealership. I’m just making observations. I drive a 1991 Toyota Avalon. It's one of the best autos I have ever owned. I have owned cars made by all the other makers in the United States, mostly GM and Chrysler.

The point I wish to make is that Toyota has topped all the other carmakers (almost, anyway) and has moved its manufacturing facilities to the United States. They make a far superior car and do not try to rob the customers who enter their facilities for service or repairs.

Most American cars are built to last about 100,000 miles and at that point are useless. Toyota, on the other hand, makes cars to last more than 200,000 miles with minimal repairs. In fact, many foreign cars outlast American cars. I can't believe American builders can't match them. They just don't want to. They want their customers to buy another car as soon as the old one is worn out.

It is my opinion that if the Japanese can build them here and make a profit, then the Americans can, too. They can build up their customer base up by making a better a car and giving more reasonable service prices.

I would like to buy "American," and I believe most Americans would, too. We just can’t afford the ripoffs.

Come on, GM and Ford, wake up.

— Jack Killian, Simi Valley

Posted by Andrea Howry at 10:29 AM

Planes, homes don’t mix

June 13, the Camarillo City Council will be asked to approve 1,350 high-density residential units on prime agricultural land located between Highway 101 and Spanish Hills. This land is located directly under the aircraft traffic pattern of the Camarillo Airport. There are many daily overflights.

In 2000, a consultant hired to do the airport land use plan showed this property being in the airport safety zone. Under legal threat from the then-city manager, the previous director of airports was told to have the safety zone changed. The zone was moved back to the freeway. Why was it changed? The safety zone restricts residential development.

As Oxnard has discovered, many high-density residential units such as these are inhabited by more than one family. This causes many problems involving parking, traffic, schools and others. A 20-foot-high wall can be built from Los Posas Road to Central Avenue to help with the 24-hour highway noise, but it will not prevent the aircraft overflight noise or solve the safety issue.

I urge the Camarillo City Council to follow the independent consultant recommendation and reinstate that area as a safety zone, which permits commercial development, but not the high- density residential development such as that being proposed.

—Don Hollingsworth, Camarillo

Posted by Andrea Howry at 10:17 AM

Comments (2)

Department of Peace

The time has come, the walrus said, peace is patriotic.

Peacemaking is not for pussyfooters, nor is it for the lily-livered. Peacemaking demands courageous fighters like Mohandas Gandhi, Susan B. Anthony and Martin Luther King Jr. And, don’t forget Barbara Lee, first denounced, then honored around the world.

Peacemaking is for world-class passionate patriots.

There is a bill pending in Congress to add a place in the president’s cabinet for a Department of Peace. The only hurdle is us, the citizenry. What about you? Let us join in a mighty outcry. The Institute for Peace was established by Congress in 1984, and space for its appropriate building near the State Department and the Lincoln Memorial has been chosen and funded. Now is the time for action.

—William L. Hammaker, Camarillo

Posted by Andrea Howry at 10:08 AM

Comments (3)

May 23, 2007

Programming life

Re: Chuck Thomas' May 19 commentary, “Could nature’s beauty be just a fluke?”:

It seems to me that if anyone can stand naked in front of a bathroom mirror and say, "This is all a big accident" is not seeing the big picture. That "intelligence" we call God still hasn't given us a clue as to how it all happened, but there must be some purpose and maybe a little sleight of hand trying to tell us, "Maybe it isn't what it seems to be."

As limited as man is, he can put a radio in a room and change it to hundreds of radio stations all over the world at the touch of a dial. You don't actually "hear" the music any more than you actually "read" the original e-mail that someone sends you. We have just learned to how to relay it.

Let's say that maybe God has a few tricks up his sleeve, too. We don't actually see with our eyes, hear with our ears, smell with our nose, or feel touch with our fingers. We actually do it all with our brain — relayed electric signals. Can we be programmed to presume that's what life is really all about?

If we are just "programmed," then what is to say there are not others programmed a little differently? If my radio is programmed to Los Angeles, I surely can't hear New York unless I program New York. If man can do that, it's for sure that God can do better.

It would surely be much easier to "program" life than build us all individually. Thinking is much easier than doing. Of course, there goes religion and virgin births out the window, but even that would make the world a much safer place and everyone could be "friend" instead of "foe."

— Jim Gray, Ventura

Posted by Andrea Howry at 12:45 PM

Get firefighting help now

As this year appears to be one of the worst for brush fires and forest fires in a very long time, I hope the federal, state and county governments have sought out a more coordinated attack for moving forces. The recent fire on Catalina brought out the well-planned system that Los Angeles County and the Marines had put into effect many years ago. It takes time to work out the logistics and to train up people in the eventuality of need. It worked very well in this case.

As shown in the past, it seems like it takes a very long time to move forces from one place to the other when the Marines, Army and Navy have the tools available to move large amounts of people and equipment. And when state resources are very short, federal resources can be used. All of the above are funded by taxes, so why can’t they be used in time of need? It does not seem to me to make much sense to have C-130 aircraft capable of dropping 3,000 gallons of firefighting chemicals at Point Mugu not being used due to contractual proceedings.

I suggest the governor make plans now with the federal agencies to have those forces necessary on hand and not rely solely on civilian contractors before they are called. To move forces from ground level to higher ground takes a long time, and heavy lift helicopters, such as those the military has, can do so in a much shorter time. It only seems to make much more sense.

I ask our congressional representatives in Southern California to request that the military join in an effort this year to move equipment and supply necessary forces to augment the state’s firefighting forces now, rather than waiting until the last moment.

— John Adams, Camarillo

Posted by Andrea Howry at 12:35 PM

Bring business to Hueneme

We need new commerce in Port Hueneme. The old Vons space is available, and a Trader Joe’s would be nice. If not, let’s look at some stores that would bring in more sales tax and also enhance our community. Right now, we must drive to Pacific View Mall or the outlets for our clothing needs. There are good stores that locate in mini malls, such as Ross, Marshall’s, TJ Maxx and my favorite, Steinmart. With all the new homes on Victoria Avenue in Oxnard, any of these stores closer to home is desirable for many of us.

We currently have so many empty properties being used as tax breaks. Why not pass an ordinance that will fine property owners if their property is not being used for a viable business, such as housing and commerce? There are so many small specialty businesses that could do well in our city if given the chance. How about helping these new businesses by letting them pay rent according to the success of their business? As they grow, the rent grows. Of course, ground rules and levels would need to be set so that abuse wouldn’t occur. Offer the property owners an incentive that will give them an exemption on their property taxes when they assist a new business.

There’s talk of the renewal of Market Street, but it seems likely that if ways aren’t found to help small business by property owners and the government, this might not be a success. We need to think outside the box now to become a financially successful and secure community. I say secure because we don’t need any more developers telling us they will “save us” by building some monstrosity.

— Cynthia Weiss, Port Hueneme

Posted by Andrea Howry at 12:25 PM

Appraiser’s point of view

I am a real estate appraiser who has had to deal with this new real estate market on a daily basis. I find it interesting to read and hear misleading generalities in newspapers and TV news broadcasts. National news posts figures of declining national average property values, while local, state and county realty associations report lower median prices and a decrease in sales volume. These figures do not reflect the multitudes of micro-markets on which the current reported market slow-downs have had little or no effect.

I do feel sorry for those who bought new or newer properties in the last three years. They did not do very well. High-end homes in excess of $700,000 did not do well and even lost some ground. Overinflated areas, such as lower Santa Barbara County, lost value everywhere. Condominiums are either up, down or flat, depending on the complex.

The best properties and solid performers have been the more common 1,000- to 1,800-square-foot homes built 20-plus years ago. These properties are still going up at a respectable 3 percent to 5 percent annually. The only problems associated with these homes are those few bought with subprime loans, interest-only loans, 100 percent financing or “ghost” deposits. The worse fake deposit abuse was the practice of two to three years ago of a buyer and seller entering into an agreement to pay above list price to cover the nonexistent deposit.

These people, today, are trying to refinance their way out of these loans.

There are now bargains and solid values to be had.

Negative stories may make good press, but I see more truth in a quote from W. Clement Stone: “Every adversity has the seed of an equivalent or greater benefit.”

— Kent Ernst, Tri-County Appraisals Ventura

Posted by Andrea Howry at 12:08 PM

Breast-feeding not for all

Re: Dianne E. Oliver’s May 22 letter, “No need for a bottle”:

I am continually stunned by the sanctimonious attitude of some breast-feeding activists. Like so many of them, Oliver seems to have completely ignored the needs of one large community of parents: those of us who adopted our children.

When my first child was 3 months old, I sat at a bench in the mall, bottle-feeding her formula. Two women sat down on either side of me and commenced berating me for “damaging” my child by not breast-feeding her. I thought the news that, even though I am her mother, I did not give birth to her, would stop their assault. They paused for a minute and then launched into some whacked-out idea of artificially forcing my breasts to lactate. I was well aware this is a very difficult, painful and usually fruitless process. Because I was unwilling to undergo an unnatural and excruciating procedure on my body, these breastfeeding extremists loudly and vociferously proclaimed me to be a child abuser.

Oliver also seems to have forgotten that there are other uses for baby bottles besides formula. What about working mothers who pump their breast milk? What about other liquids that babies drink?

I am a firm believer that breast-feeding is, in fact, the most healthy option for babies — when it is an option. For those of us for whom it was not, I am grateful that we have healthy alternatives. I also firmly believe that every mother has a right to choose her own course for feeding her baby. No mother should feel guilty about choosing.

While I applaud Oliver’s interest in spreading the word about the positive aspects of breast-feeding, must she and other breast-feeding extremists eschew logic to make their point?

— LeeAnne Clark, Thousand Oaks

Posted by Andrea Howry at 12:01 PM

Loyalty is trumping ethics

With regard to the Attorney General Alberto Gonzales affair, is it not perjury to say that you don't recall events when you do? The inconsistencies in the attorney general's comments, some of which were made under oath, are stunning.

If, in fact, he is as confused and forgetful as he would have us believe, then he must be removed from office for gross negligence, as his statements render him incompetent to carry out his duties in this high office.

The close friendship that he shares with this president presents a clear conflict of interest. These men have a code of behavior under which personal loyalty trumps ethics every time.

We have a president and people in administrative power positions who make false statements whenever it suits them and prepare rebuttals, shallow as they may be, when they are found to have trashed the rule of law.

They dare to upend the constitution, all the while smiling at us with an attitude that can only be construed as arrogance.

The first George W. is likely spinning in his grave.

— Marjorie Loring Gauley, Newbury Park

Posted by Andrea Howry at 11:58 AM

Don’t hinder U.S. farming

Re: your May 19 article, “Residents concerned about chemicals”:

The question that needs to be asked is, "Who was there first, the farmer or the housing development?" If the farmer was there first, then those who bought homes there had to know that he would be using pesticides, fumigants and fertilizers. That should have been taken into consideration before the home was purchased. To ask the farmer to change the way he grows crops just because residents moved in next door is really unfair.

We are losing more and more farmland and importing more and more produce over which we have no control as to how it is grown. We all saw what happened with the importation of wheat products from China. Now, I understand that toothpaste shipped to the Caribbean Islands from China is tainted with anti-freeze.

We must allow our farmers to grow crops in the United States with the controls we have over them, or we will have more of the "wheat from China" debacle.

— Yvonne DiFrancesco, Moorpark

Posted by Andrea Howry at 11:55 AM

Give Metrolink a try

Re: your May 17 article, “Public agencies also feeling sting of soaring fuel prices”:

The article mentions the effect rising fuel prices have had on municipal budgets throughout Ventura County. As a member of the Moorpark City Council and vice chairman of the board of directors of the Southern California Regional Rail Authority, the operator of Metrolink commuter train service, I have witnessed these effects from two different angles.

Metrolink operates more than 140 trains every weekday that consume several million gallons of a special blend of clean-burning, low-sulfur diesel fuel every year. Between 2005 and 2006, the cost of this fuel increased more than 18 percent and led to an increase of fuel costs of nearly $2 million. Many do not realize that while gasoline prices have increased an average of 20 percent per year since 2002, diesel fuel prices have increased an average of more than 30 percent over the same period. Yet, by carrying so many passengers per mile, even with this fuel price increase, Metrolink has been able to keep increases in fares to an average of less than 4 percent per year since 2002. As an added benefit, the amount of carbon dioxide spewed into Southern California is significantly reduced because commuters are riding trains powered by low-sulfur fuel instead of driving their automobiles.

As you are traveling, count the number of cars with three occupants. These are the folks who are making a difference. Metrolink riders are doing their part every weekday to reduce traffic congestion, vehicle emissions and dependence on fossil fuels.

But there are other benefits beyond the fact that commuting by train is better for our environment: It's also less expensive and more relaxing than driving. I encourage everyone to consider Metrolink to meet his or her commuting needs.

— Keith F. Millhouse, Moorpark

Posted by Andrea Howry at 11:50 AM

Filtering out the filters

The concept of "electable" candidates is a ploy of the conglomerated corporate media pundits used to dissuade voters from looking at the substance of where candidates stand on issues truly important to the vast majority of Americans — the middle- and working-classes.

"Coverage" is limited to those candidates who are acceptable to the military-industrial complex — the same candidates whose campaign coffers swell with the corporate dollars needed to buy expensive but meaningless 30-second spot ads on TV. The pundits will talk about money. They will talk about polls. When they do that, they don't have to talk about what is important.

It is time for Americans to stop being passive consumers who limit their choice to the packaged commodities — aka "leading candidates." Instead, each of us needs to assume the responsibility of active citizenship. Go to the Web sites of each candidate. Compare what they say— or don't say — about issues that truly matter. (Try Kucinich.us). Only when each of us votes on the basis of substance will we achieve the democracy envisioned by this nation's founders.

— Ernest A. Canning, Thousand Oaks

Posted by Andrea Howry at 11:41 AM

Remembering the aborted

On Memorial Day, there will be a short memorial prayer service for babies killed by abortion, from 10 to 10:30 a.m. Monday at the Tomb of the Unborn at Santa Clara Cemetery, 1270 North H Street, in the far east corner. We invite you to join us. Everyone is welcome.

If you have lost a child or grandchild through abortion, please name the baby and send the name to: Mothers-for-Life, 1255 South Ventura Road, Oxnard, CA 93033. You may remain anonymous if you wish. The names will be added to the lists surrounding the tomb.

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

— Margaret Queen, Oxnard

Posted by Andrea Howry at 11:38 AM

Comments (4)

Postal Service updates

Re: your April 26 editorial “Time flies in P.O.”

The poorly researched editorial was full of misinformation. The Postal Service is not removing clocks at post offices across the nation. The only clocks being removed at some locations are outdated “century countdown” clocks, which were installed before 2000 to celebrate the millennium and have obviously outlived their intention.

The Postal Service is working hard to make doing business with us faster and more convenient by offering our customers online access to many of our services at usps.com and by making automated postal centers available in many postal lobbies. This allows our retail associates to more readily take care of customers conducting more complex transactions at their local post office.

Finally, I must correct the piece’s inaccurate closing statement about postal funding. Since 1982, the U.S. Postal Service has not used any tax dollars to fund its operations. We are self-sustaining, covering all expenses solely on the sale of postage and related products.

—Tammy Enriquez, Postmaster, Ventura

Posted by Andrea Howry at 11:36 AM

Biased coverage

Re: your May 18 article, “Deadly Israeli attacks on Hamas aggravate Palestinian tensions”:

The article, caption and pictures are as misleading and biased as any I've ever seen. It isn't until the end of the third paragraph that there is mention that, "The strikes [by Israel] followed days of Hamas rocket barrages into Israel” and not until the 11th paragraph some details, such as more than 50 rockets fired into the border town of Sderot, just a mile and a half from the Gaza border, over a period of just three days.

The inflammatory caption and subcaption make it appear that Israel was the aggressor rather than simply defensively attempting to protect its citizens. The Star cites as the source of the article The Associated Press, but fails to use a report from The Associated Press from Sderot indicating injuries to Israeli civilians and damage to Israeli civilian property. Under the circumstances, Israel’s response was limited and targeted to Hamas military launching sites, military headquarters and personnel involved in these unprovoked rocket attacks. What nation would do less in defense of its citizens?

The Star also failed to be even-handed in its choice of photographs, publishing two from Gaza and none of the available pictures of the rocket damage to an Israeli school, synagogue and homes.

— Jerry Schwartz, Ventura

Posted by Andrea Howry at 11:24 AM

Who’s the aggressor?

Re: your May 18 article, “Deadly Israeli attacks on Hamas aggravate Palestinian tensions”:

I strongly object to the wording of this headline. It intimates that Israel, for no reason at all, just started to assault the Palestinians. It’s not until you continue reading that the article states: “The strikes, a series of Israeli attacks Thursday and the reported movement of a handful of tanks a few hundred yards into the northern Gaza Strip, followed days of Hamas rocket barrages into Israel.”

Thus, a more truthful headline might be: “Due to continued Hamas rocket barrages, Israel finally retaliated.”

— Jack D. Prosen, Camarillo

Posted by Andrea Howry at 11:21 AM

Family farms at risk

Re: your May 19 article, “Residents concerned about chemicals”:

Spring is in the air, and with it comes the usual nonsense about air quality and what do about it. The latest foray into this deeply flawed public policy realm was described in The Star’s article on chemicals.

First, the headline is deeply foolish. What resident isn’t concerned about chemicals? We all are. The big question is: What are we prepared to realistically do about it?

On my list of what to do about air pollution, I can say for certain that “destroy Ventura County agriculture” is near the bottom. Yet, that’s what California and Ventura County bureaucrats seem ready to do.

The issue is related to the regulation of pesticides and fumigants, which are toxic substances. But — reality check here — without those substances, we would have no food on our table.

If new plans go forward that restrict the wise and proven use of fumigants like methyl bromide, we might as well just cancel the Strawberry Festival.

If people are really concerned about pollution, how about looking into ships that bring products into the Oxnard Harbor District port and spew black toxic diesel pollution into my lungs.

Let me conclude with a few words about what I’m also concerned about: People who know little — and care less — about agriculture putting forward feel-good rules that won’t have much impact on air quality, but that will do a fine job destroying our way of life.

I am fairly certain that if people stop to think what’s really going on here, they would eventually take action and ensure that the family farm is free to grow and succeed. But by then, will we have wrecked our proud system of agriculture and driven family farms into foreclosure?

— Barbara Burnett, Port Hueneme

Posted by Andrea Howry at 11:18 AM

Policies aren’t substantive

Re: Rep. Elton Gallegly’s May 20 commentary, “ID need more urgent than ever”:

I oppose the Real ID Act and urge people to consult the Electronic Privacy Information Center Web site (epic.org) to see why.

Scapegoating migrants and supporting Patriot and Real ID acts only make things worse. The war on terror is creating more terrorists. Many Islamic people and Arabs are angry with us, not because they hate our freedoms, but because we have invaded and occupied their homelands.

I urge Gallegly to get our troops out of Iraq and Afghanistan and to advise President Bush not to attack Iran. Requiring Israel to withdraw from territory it illegally seized from Palestine in 1967 would also be helpful.

Additionally, if Gallegly would repeal the North American Free Trade Agreement and otherwise work for wiser economic policies, there would be less poverty in Mexico and elsewhere, and fewer people would be forced to migrate.

Most fundamentally, if Gallegly would work for a sustainable economy instead of scapegoating migrants and championing bad ideas like Real ID Act, we would make real progress toward kicking our addiction to imported fossil fuel. We need reliable mass transportation, wind and solar energy, living wage jobs and more organic agriculture, not the oil wars and scapegoating of migrants offered thus far by Gallegly and Bush.

— Jim Yarbrough, Newbury Park

Posted by Andrea Howry at 11:16 AM

Comments (1)

May 21, 2007

Imperfect justice

Re: Rellis Smith's May 17 commentary, “Executions need to be carried out”:

Mr. Smith states that the justice system needs to upgraded to assure that people are not convicted of crimes they did not commit. Later, he refers to "the insane justice system that runs rampant in our county." I would enjoy hearing what is "insane" about our system and how he proposes to fix it. It seems to me that there is a fundamental disconnect here; he admits that the system is broken, but he wants to go on killing people expeditiously when they are convicted by that system anyway.

I happened to work for 30 years within the justice system, and I agree that it is fundamentally flawed. Many people are erroneously convicted, even some like the Central Park wilders who falsely confessed to the crime. Others, especially those with the money to exploit the system, go free. Do the initials “O.J.” ring a bell?

The problem is that the system is operated by human beings. There is no way to foolproof it. I suggest that Mr. Smith and every other "string 'em up" advocate read Carol Tavris' splendid new book, "Mistakes Were Made: But Not By Me," especially the chapter titled "Law and Disorder." Perhaps if they did, they would not be quite so eager to conduct these legal lynchings.

— George Vye, Ventura

Posted by Andrea Howry at 01:49 PM

Innocents on death row

Re: Rellis Smith's May 17 commentary, “Executions need to be carried out”:

Smith says the system should be severely upgraded, but there is neither the political will nor the money for that to ever happen. Even if it did, the justice system would still never be able to be absolutely sure that those condemned to death are all guilty.

The Innocence Project has now freed more than 200 people who were wrongly convicted. Many of them had been on death row, and most had served decades in jail for crimes they did not commit. These were all cases in which DNA evidence was available to clear the suspects. In the vast majority of cases, there is no DNA evidence available, so one has to wonder how many thousands more prisoners are also innocent.

The same things that led to those erroneous convictions — sloppy police work, officers lying in court, prosecutors withholding evidence, mistaken eyewitnesses, lying snitches — must also be present in at least the same percentage in cases where there is no DNA evidence.

Instead of being concerned with those facts, Mr. Smith wants to speed up the process, which, of course, would lead to even more innocent people being executed.

The people on death row are mostly minorities and the poor. What conservatives are really thinking is, "No one in my family or acquaintance is ever likely to be wrongly convicted."

Thus, if a few innocents slip through the cracks and are executed, it is no skin off their backs.

— Alex Magdaleno, Camarillo

Posted by Andrea Howry at 01:44 PM

It’s not about air quality

Re: your May 19 article, “Smog reduction effort threatens local farms”:

The Star reports that newly proposed regulations could take a third of Ventura County's strawberry fields out of production. The article did not even mention how much other farmland, in total, would ultimately be lost.

According to the article, the proposed regulations aim to reduce smog. However, if crops now grown and eaten in the county have to be shipped in from elsewhere, the smog produced when this food is transported then has to be factored into the predicted net loss of pollutants.

In addition, if homes and businesses were to be built on lands where crops once grew, there would obviously be more associated contributions to photochemical smog and atmospheric particulate matter. Each home would likely have at least one vehicle. Each home would require electricity, which would probably be produced at a gas-fired generating station, and the production of that electricity would increase smog levels here, if not elsewhere. Most of the homes would be heated with natural gas, and this would increase the carbon dioxide — at least — in the atmosphere. Each home would likely receive deliveries via internal combustion engine-powered vehicles, and most of the homeowners or property managers would use lawnmowers, weed-whackers, blowers, and other gasoline-powered maintenance devices.

Will destroying agriculture in Ventura County and building tens of thousands of new homes and businesses really improve air quality? No, it won't. Besides worsening air quality it will simply increase traffic, get rid of local agriculture and add tens of thousands of new sources of pollution.

This looming battle isn't about air quality at all. It's actually a war between competing business interests, and it is disingenuous for the aggressors in this conflict to pretend to be concerned about air quality when they're obviously not.

— Jeff Goldberg, Ojai

Posted by Andrea Howry at 01:32 PM

Young Marines need help

I recently had the pleasure of visiting the local chapter of the Young Marines, a national youth association sponsored by the Marine Corps League of the United States. This local chapter, which meets twice a month at the USMC reserve compound at Naval Base Ventura County, currently has 24 members, with more wanting to join. I saw enthusiastic youngsters participating in a classroom setting, as well as later having physical activities out on the softball field. The program is mostly run by the older kids teaching the younger kids, with assistance from parents and a few reservists.

The overall program is maintained and administrated by the commanding officer, Mel Otte, and his wife. After more than 20 years with this program, they are retiring and moving out of the area. While that is good news for them, it is bad news for this chapter of the Young Marines. A new commanding officer has not been found, and it appears that this chapter will have to close down. To be eligible to be the commanding officer, one must be a veteran of the USMC.

If you are a Marine Corps vet, please consider volunteering for this job and saving this program. If you know a Marine vet, please pass this on to for consideration.

More information can be had at the Young Marines Web site: www.youngmarines.com or contact the commanding officer at 487-6856 and e-mail vcymco1096@aol.com.

— Carl Wade, Ventura
(The writer is a retired Navy officer. — Editor)

Posted by Andrea Howry at 01:25 PM

Highway 101 fiasco

Re: your May 19 article, “Delayed Hwy. 101 bridge limps toward finish”:

This article just scratches the surface of a totally bungled fiasco. The project has been badly mismanaged from the beginning. I hope that the California Department of Transportation has procedures in place to conduct regular performance appraisals of their employees as commercial companies do. If so, the Highway 101 team should be given a total failure grade and, if not demoted, then not be allowed to perform on a future project such as this.

Blaming birds, rain, fish and crime to cover up incompetent design and execution is the mark of incredulousness. I wrote the Caltrans office four years ago when it became obvious that the project was in trouble. I reminded them of the earthquake destruction of the Interstate 10 bridge in Los Angeles and how Caltrans stepped in and gave an incentivized contract for it and it was completed a year earlier than predicted and at lower cost. I was told that it couldn't be done here because this was not an "emergency."

Well, we've had five years of "emergency." A community — northwest Oxnard — was cut off from freeway access, creating huge traffic jams on surface streets and intersections that were already overloaded. Businesses were forced out of business. Then there was the confusion of which on and off ramps were open. Now the pavement of the new bridge surface is unsafe due to a roller coaster undulation of the pavement. And part of the new pavement has "settled a few inches." What a mess! And what are we the taxpayers going to do about it? Probably nothing. We’ll just take it on the chin — or the bottom, as the case may be.

I am also appalled that this progressive community-minded newspaper has ignored this situation so much.

— James K. Easton, Oxnard

Posted by Andrea Howry at 01:09 PM

Commentary troubling

Re: Rep. Elton Gallegly’s commentary, “ID need more urgent than ever”:

Illegal immigration is an important issue, particularly in California. Gallegly has been a tireless legislator in this area. However, I am troubled by several phrases that appeared in his commentary.

He described three brothers who are not from a “terrorist country.” Labels such as these result in misguided and naïve foreign policies and do nothing to improve our image abroad. What constitutes a “terrorist country”? I would remind the congressman that Timothy McVeigh was an American citizen.

His use of the term “catch-and-release” is also offensive. While it is memorable rhetoric and an effective sound bite, historically, countries that employ animalistic phrases to people in their country have been oppressive dictatorships.

The phrase “presumed rights of lawbreakers” is also troublesome. In America, even lawbreakers have rights. While many of us find our system of justice slow and frustrating, it is designed (ideally) to ensure a fair process for the accused and the convicted. Perhaps Gallegly should be reminded that, in 2001, the Supreme Court ruled in Zadvydas v. Davis that, once inside the United States, both legal and illegal immigrants are protected by the due process clause of the Fifth Amendment.

Finally, I am concerned about his suggestion that states issue driver’s licenses of different design or color to illegal immigrants. Increasingly, we are all asked to show our license as a form of identification when we write a check, use a credit card or travel. I am worried people carrying a bright yellow license, for example, would not be treated equally or have their rights protected. This strategy is a slippery slope that will exacerbate the “us” versus “them” mentality.

Perhaps we could save money by simply requiring illegal immigrants to wear yellow stars.

— Cherie Eulau, Ventura

Posted by Andrea Howry at 12:58 PM

Comments (2)

No need for a bottle

Re: your May 17 article, “Chemical in baby bottles raises concerns”:

There was something glaringly absent from this article: any mention of breastfeeding. Most babies have no need to drink anything from a bottle.

To quote our U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, "Babies are born to be breastfed."

Breastfeeding is the normal way to feed babies. Formula is an artificial and inferior food for babies. A baby fed formula is more likely to suffer gastrointestinal and upper respiratory illnesses, allergies, certain childhood cancers, obesity, diabetes and inflammatory bowel diseases, to name just a few of formula's risks.

Those moms who are concerned about chemicals from plastic bottles leaching out into their babies' food should first take a look at the facts about the formula going into those bottles.

— Dianne E. Oliver, Simi Valley

Posted by Andrea Howry at 12:54 PM

Growing a burden

Re: your May 18 article, "Farms losing to development, panelists say":

The article stated, "... people's desire to decide for themselves where development should happen came to Ventura County 11 years ago with one overarching goal: Preserve the county's farmland." This reference was to Save Open-space and Agricultural Resources. Did the environmental BANANAs (Build Absolutely Nothing Anywhere Near Anything) and their supporters genuinely support farmland, or was the claim a smokescreen?

Now, environmentalists are after farmers in Ventura County. By year’s end, California will be the first to regulate farmland soil fumigants. The San Joaquin Valley will have to cut use by 14 percent; the Mojave Desert, Antelope Valley and Coachella Valley area by 40 percent; and Ventura County by 46 percent.

In addition, the fumigants will have to be injected deeper into the soil that is covered with heavier tarps. The biggest burden statewide will fall on Ventura County’s strawberry growers.

It has been estimated that 10,000 acres in Ventura County may be removed from production. Because environmentalists’ limiting of building has helped drive land costs up, many farmers grow crops with high price-to-cost ratios, like strawberries — 20 percent of the nation’s total.

If their farming becomes unprofitable because they can’t use fumigants or fumigating is too expensive, they may not find home builders to buy their land because of their fear of BANANAs.

— Bill Stanley, Westlake Village

Posted by Andrea Howry at 12:49 PM

Prepare for disaster

I am so pleased to see The Star doing stories on disaster preparedness. It is so important that we make sure our families are adequately prepared with food, water and sanitation in case of emergency.

I work with Rebecca Wilson and Jim Phillips, who are both experts in this field. They are knowledgeable and have loads of tips, from turning off gas lines to pet care. The Web site is www.PrepareThenShare.com. Yes, they also have products available, but the information on the site is invaluable. They tell you where disasters are at any given time and what to do. You don't need to make a purchase or join to get the benefit of the information they have to offer. They also work with humanitarian groups that provide food and water sanitation worldwide.

— Kathleen Cappella, Simi Valley
(The writer is a global advocate for Prepare, Then Share. — Editor)

Posted by Andrea Howry at 12:40 PM

May 18, 2007

Not all Christians are the same

Re: Stuart Bechman’s May 9 commentary, “Using prayer rallies to intimidate others”:

Bechman is plainly guilty of the same intolerance he decries in "Christians.” He lumps all Christians into one big lot, speaking of our "hypocrisy" and "egoism" and insisting we promote Christianity by suppressing "any voices that might disagree with theocratic Christian orthodoxy."

There are intolerant Christians who believe it their God-given duty to save everyone, who don't mind using intimidation, political pressure or other questionable tactics to achieve that goal.

Those who identify themselves as "Christian" are a diverse lot. Some are liberals, oppose the war in Iraq, believe in separation of church and state and are tolerant of other viewpoints. Some believe the best way to lead others to Christ is through Christian love.

Bechman claims events organized for the National Day of Prayer serve mainly to intimidate others. As a singer in a Southern gospel quartet, I was asked a few years ago to perform at one of these events. It was held in the Santa Paula Community Center. Bechman would have us believe the locale was chosen to "intimidate public officials to promote Christianity." Isn't it more probable the site was chosen because of size, logistics and economics?

What I found most mystifying in Bechman's letter was his implied notion that responsibility for the Virginia Tech massacre and other tragedies falls upon the shoulders of those who participated in last year's National Day of Prayer because their combined prayers did not stop these terrible events from happening. I am sure most atheists grieve over these tragedies as fully as I and many other Christians do and blame only the shooter for this inhuman act.

— James Terry, Ventura

Posted by Andrea Howry at 10:38 AM

Comments (1)

Solar power’s benefits

Re: Lou Gates’ May 15 commentary, “California needs LNG from BHP Billiton”:

One of the most persistent myths about domestic solar power is the notion of "payback," that this form of energy must be judged largely on its ability to pay for itself quickly in order to justify the upfront expenses of solar panels, wiring, labor, etc.
Gates writes: "It may take 30 years or more to pay off the cost of home-installed solar power units."

It seems this payback rule only applies to solar technology. What is the payback time for the massive liquefied natural gas project proposed offshore, with its long-term environmental and health damage sure to follow? Have you calculated the payback time on your electric or gas water heater? Your refrigerator? Your SUV?

No? I didn't think so. Why saddle solar with this requirement?

I would like to remind Gates there are many benefits to solar — whether as a retrofit or new construction — as an investment. First, the sun's energy is unlimited. We do not have to send the military to secure sources of this energy. You can help yourself and the nation by becoming more self-sufficient and less dependent on foreign sources of energy, such as LNG.

Another advantage is that decentralized solar heat or electric production offsets the necessity for building more fossil-fuel-dependent power plants that inevitably will contribute to climate change.

Looked at as an investment, any high-quality system chosen will pay for itself the day it is installed through the equity added to the value of the house — a value that, unlike other home improvements, is not taxed.

One last benefit is hard to quantify: the moral responsibility we have to help provide a livable future for our grandchildren, which can only come about through a transition to renewable energy sources.

— Robin Wallace & Tim Snowber, Camarillo

Posted by Andrea Howry at 10:34 AM

Expect climate change

Re: John Krist’s April 26 essay, “Bringing an end to an era":

Krist is serious about global warming. I, too, am serious about it. The difference is that he, apparently, has bought into the trendy belief that people are a major cause. I don’t.

History notes that an ice age began about 20,000 years ago and began to melt about 11,000 years ago. That means the Earth, all by itself, cooled down to allow glaciers to creep into North America and Europe. Then, on its own, the Earth began to warm up so the glaciers melted.

Go to a search engine and pull up some pictures of Greenland. It isn’t green; it’s covered by ice. Why, then, was it given that name? Between 800 and 1200 Greenland was warm enough to melt enough ice to allow farming there. When the Vikings arrived, it was green.

Not for long. Between 1300 and 1850, the so-called "little ice age" set in. It meant snow in May in some parts of Europe and almost no summer.

In the 1970s, predictions were made of the coming ice age. I wonder how many of those noted climatologists are now on the warming bandwagon.

What conclusions can we draw from these historical facts? The Earth cools down; the Earth warms up.

So we, the people, can hold our breaths. We can switch to nuclear, solar and wind power. We can stop driving cars that expel carbon dioxide. But global warming is going to happen. And it’s going to last, oh, let me guess, about 400 years? But we, the people, are nearly powerless to stop it.

Don’t assume that I want to live the life of a profligate and live in a mansion the size of Al Gore’s. No, I do my part and hope for the best.

— Lorin Wainwood, Newbury Park

Posted by Andrea Howry at 10:30 AM

Toll roads in the sky

Enactment by large airlines, the current presidential administration and members of the Federal Aviation Administration of the Aviation Investment and Modernization Act will push costs of funding the system beyond the current "gas" tax and into a fee-based structure that affects the general aviation community in rural America.

General aviation is pretty much any aircraft flying that is not an airliner or military aircraft. A user-fee-based system has proved to wipe out almost entirely the general aviation community in every country that has instituted it. It is akin to making every freeway we drive on a toll road, with toll gates every few miles.

America currently enjoys the largest and best federal aviation transportation system in the world. The current system is sufficiently funded through the current aviation gas tax and has full congressional oversight. The proposed Aviation Modernization Act and Sen. Barbara Boxer hope to take away congressional oversight and price aviation to the point where rural communities would suffer.

Ventura would need to raise property taxes to afford helicopters for its police and fire departments. Local farmers would have to raise the price of produce because aerial spraying would be more expensive. Many volunteer pilots who offer free flights to fly patients from rural areas to special doctors would dwindle because they could not afford the high costs of their volunteer dollars going to "user" fees.

On May 16, Boxer, despite a barrage of calls, e-mails and faxes that have hit her offices for two days, joined fellow members in the Senate Commerce Committee and voted down an amendment that would remove user fees from the aviation investment act. Actions speak louder than words. Boxer is clearly not aligned with California, home of one of the largest general aviation communities in the country.

— Walter Bogaardt, Oxnard
(The writer is president of the Oxnard Airport Association. — Editor)

Posted by Andrea Howry at 10:15 AM

Breast milk the answer

Re: your May 17 article, “Formula for a lawsuit”:

Regarding the controversy over the dangers of toxins in plastic baby bottles, The Star neglected to point out the obvious solution: breast milk, which comes in perfectly safe, portable, sterile containers that require no washing, no boiling, no cost and no running to the store. It is always the right temperature, always convenient and close at hand and formulated individually to the exact nutritional needs of each baby.

Each year, the formula companies come out with a new ingredient to "replicate mother's milk." Of course they can't replicate completely what Mother Nature designed so perfectly.

Study after study proves the benefits of breastfeeding to both mother and baby: lower risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, allergies and even learning disabilities in the infant, not to mention the positives of emotional bonding and skin contact proven to benefit mother and child. Last but not least by any means, breastfeeding reduces women's risk of breast and ovarian cancer.

The risk of plastics to humans are well known, infants are even more sensitive. Breastfeeding babies until they learn to use a cup — babies needn't ever drink from a bottle —avoids the entire problem and adds bountiful benefits for all concerned.

— Suzie Franklin DeFazio, Santa Paula

Posted by Andrea Howry at 09:57 AM

Comments (2)

Bush’s personal war

What kind of country are we? We invade and occupy Iraq, which had nothing to do with 9/11. We’ve destroyed their country, killed and wounded thousands of their people, and many Americans don’t seem to care about their sufferings. Yet, when 32 murders happen at Virginia Tech, the outrage is national.

Many of our military have been killed or terribly wounded. Is it wrong to support them and not support President Bush’s personal war? I don’t think so. His war is costing us many billions. Our people have voted against this war, and a committee of learned men advised the president how to get out of this mess.

Bush has ignored all good advice, and he acts like a dictator. When will our people unite and show him that he is not a king? The White House is full of “lying draft dodgers.” Not one has fought in a war. They should be impeached. Why aren’t they? They have done many wrongs to our country, but enough people don’t care.

Now, it is a civil war. We are caught in the middle. What are we doing there? It must be oil. The Democrats are trying to put a stop to this mess but still do not have enough votes to do it. Hopefully, they can stop funding this war, Bush’s war, very soon.

Our Founding Fathers did not intend that our country have a dictator and a one-party system.

My dad, brother, husband and son fought, in their times, in World War I, World War II and the Vietnam War.

— Doris Mihaljevich, Agoura Hills

Posted by Andrea Howry at 09:50 AM

Comments (1)

‘Universal’ healthcare isn’t

Re: Rowland Nethaway’s May 15 commentary, “Big business now onboard for universal healthcare”:

What rock has Mr. Nethaway been hiding under? Big Business has always wanted national healthcare so it can pass its cost of doing business onto the American taxpayer. I note in The Star how Canada’s “universal�

Blog: LettersToTheEditor

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« April 2007 | Main | June 2007 »

May 31, 2007

Step in right direction

Giving shelter

Taps player an inspiration

May 30, 2007

Democrats have no character

Incomprehensible issues

Global warming’s big picture

Fix Congress, fix problems

Whose sacrifices?

Newspaper niches

Puzzles are too small

Enforce what’s on the books

‘Increased strife’ a wild guess

Democrats failed

Saddam created stability

Coverage questioned

Self-centered boomers

Transfer policy wrong

American culture disappearing

Why there’s peace here

Just say, ‘Thank you’

Military vehicles aren’t fun

Help available to vets

Is Rocketdyne still a threat?

May 29, 2007

Duped by a water bond

Breast-feeding defended

Insensitive to veterans

Politicians out of touch

Certainties about LNG

Let’s get out of Iraq

May 25, 2007

Sacrifice is needed

Difference is the draft

Vietnam not like Mideast

Confusion reigns

No cure for this

Bush is a genius

Democrats capitulated

May 24, 2007

Thoughts of the day

Gas prices inexplicable

Gas prices inexplicable

Disgraceful Democrats

Too much trash

Emergency room crisis

Failed occupation

Easy money for CHP

New engine needed

Planes, homes don’t mix

Department of Peace

May 23, 2007

Programming life

Get firefighting help now

Bring business to Hueneme

Appraiser’s point of view

Breast-feeding not for all

Loyalty is trumping ethics

Don’t hinder U.S. farming

Give Metrolink a try

Filtering out the filters

Remembering the aborted

Postal Service updates

Biased coverage

Who’s the aggressor?

Family farms at risk

Policies aren’t substantive

May 21, 2007

Imperfect justice

Innocents on death row

It’s not about air quality

Young Marines need help

Highway 101 fiasco

Commentary troubling

No need for a bottle

Growing a burden