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August 31, 2007
Use a different workforce
Wouldn’t it be nice if we could depend on our government to come up with the right solutions? The farms and orchards could be easily taken care of without illegal immigration workers if we utilized two options that I can think of.
The first is that some prisoners in jail should be used for farm labor to reduce their upkeep expense.
My second option is to offer scholarship awards for specific time spent working on farms and orchards. This should include youth, homeless and unemployed.
I am sure more of you can think of additional options to stimulate our government’s thinking and reduce our dependency on foreign labor. Our problem with illegal immigration would thereby be reduced or diminished.
— Eugenie P. Cansler, Camarillo
Posted by Andrea Howry at 10:55 AM
Why the legal way is best
Re: Evalyn J. Stout’s Aug. 29 letter, “Deportation was earned”:
I am in full agreement with Ms. Stout’s letter, especially in reference to speaking English.
It seems to me that most of the Hispanics who come here illegally never learn to speak our language, but they sure know how to get all the freebies they want.
My biggest pet peeve is that after giving 12 million amnesty 10 years ago, we have 12 million more, only now they and their president are telling us how to run our country in reference to immigration laws.
I suppose they want us to lower our standards.
Also, now they want amnesty, but instead of asking for it, they are demanding it.
One other point I was curious about: By their not going through the legal process, is this why hepatitis and tuberculosis cases are on the rise?
— Russell E. Spencer Sr., Simi Valley
Posted by Andrea Howry at 10:52 AM
Who’s not safe? Americans
Re: Kathy Phongpitag's Aug. 30 letter, "Who's safe in America?":
Yes, I am brave enough to explain the truth about Elvira Arellano. She's an illegal alien who broke into our country not once, but twice — a country she holds responsible for all her problems. She's a person who chose not to attend her deportation hearing while committing fraud by using a fake Social Security number while working at a major airport. She also chose to hide in a sanctuary city, which, by the way, is against our federal laws. She also chose to leave behind her child after she finally was deported.
Yes, she is the perfect example of an illegal alien. She feels entitled to receive all the benefits of our country while ignoring our laws. She helps to bog down our hospitals, jails and schools, while helping to drive down wages for American citizens. I, like Ms. Phongpitag, also feel unprotected in my own country, thanks to a government that will not secure our borders or enforce our current immigration laws.
— Sue Terry, Oxnard
Posted by Andrea Howry at 10:49 AM
Close the floodgates
Re: your three Aug. 30 stories, “Legislators push legal status for hero’s immigrant widow,” “U.S. sued over illegal worker crackdown” and “Teamsters ask appeals court to block Mexican trucks”:
This is where I stand on the law. If you are not supposed to be here, get out. Take your relatives with you. You are breaking the law now, as when you came here.
The folks who came here to pick crops and wash cars have branched out into every area of the country and have pushed many native-born Americans out of high-paying construction, medical and trucking jobs and others that used to pay a lot more 10 years ago. Because someone left the floodgates open, those jobs have only declined in wages per hour.
The thing that bothers a majority of us born here is that a lot of the illegals who have been here for five to 10 years cannot even fathom our language, even though all public school systems in the state offer free English classes. The only way their children learn the language is when they start school, often holding whole classes back. I have never been able to understand why we have to print voting material in 15 different languages, when to vote you have to be a citizen who speaks, reads and writes in English.
Although it is too little too late, the hiring of a large number of new border patrol officers, the new fence, and Rep. Elton Gallegly’s bills to try to bolster our borders will help. Without the citizens who have volunteered to watch the border, I really doubt that much of anything would have been done.
— Ralph N. Burquist, Simi Valley
Posted by Andrea Howry at 10:45 AM
Some gone, but Bush remains
Re: your Aug. 23 article, “A ‘free Iraq’ is within reach”:
President Bush tells the Veterans of Foreign Wars convention that a free Iraq is close, despite all signs to the contrary. This, by the man who led the people to believe Iraq possessed weapons of mass destruction, a threat serious enough to consider a pre-emptive strike, who four years ago announced Iraq had been subdued.
He falsely states that those who brought about the withdrawal of U.S. forces from the Vietnam War quagmire claimed it would end all fighting. This, from one who enlisted in the Air National Guard to avoid being drafted, received his commission, “copped” out of combat training and attended a few of the required Guard meetings before managing an early good conduct separation. Now, unmindful of more than 3,700 Americans killed, hundreds of wounded and costs in the multibillions, he orders staying the course.
He administration’s secrecy, the violation of constitutional provisions, the breach of “checks and balances,” Vice President Cheney’s contention with the president’s tacit approval that they are above the law — all are grounds for impeachment. The sending of our youth to this war under the guise of patriotism and love of country is criminal and should be treated as such. Alberto Gonzales, Karl Rove, Donald Rumsfeld and John Ashcroft are all gone, but the rot remains at the top.
—Nenand Mihaljevich, Agoura Hills
Posted by Andrea Howry at 10:33 AM
Only the teens are to blame
Re: your Aug. 28 article, “Teenager is killed, two are injured in car crash”:
Ryan Edwards would probably be alive today if he had worn his seatbelt. And driving while allegedly intoxicated is stupid and very selfish. The driver could have killed more people if he had hit another car.
This was an "accident" that could have easily been avoided. The drivers and passengers need to take responsibility for their actions. They were all in the same car.
No one else is to blame.
Parents have very little control at this age.
— Teri Schwartz, Thousand Oaks
Posted by Andrea Howry at 10:29 AM
$3,863 a month per kid? OK!
Re: your Aug 24 article, “County asked for $15,000 for teen homes”:
I fully support a program that phases in independence for foster children who are approaching their 18th birthday.
However, I am absolutely appalled that an organization cannot manage to run a program that pays them $3,863 per month per child. It is a slap in the face to any parent who must struggle daily to make ends meet for more children on far less money than that. It’s the equivalent of having a $22.28 an hour fulltime job — with no income tax taken out.
As a single parent, I’d be more than happy to show any organization how to budget a household on far less money: Take in roommates to help pay the rent; no cable TV, just a rooftop antenna that brings in a couple of fuzzy channels; don’t run the air-conditioner, even on the hottest days; drive a 14-year-old car with only the minimum required liability insurance; shop at Goodwill, even for birthday and Christmas presents; eat a lot of macaroni and cheese; and last, but most risky of all, forgo health insurance because it’s too expensive and just hope everyone stays healthy.
That’s how those of us in the real world get by without help from the government.
I am thankful my personal situation has improved since the days of thrift stores and no health insurance. However, my current take-home pay is only a few dollars more than the $3,863 a month that the state pays Interface, and I have what I consider to be a well-paying job.
I hope Interface is teaching them how to live on less than $3,863 a month because it is extremely unlikely an 18-year-old with only a high school education is going to find a job that pays anywhere near that amount.
— JoLynn Hinger, Simi Valley
Posted by Andrea Howry at 10:25 AM
Trains don’t stop easily
Re: your Aug. 24 editorial, “Rail-crossing plan welcome”:
In this editorial, I find a salient point given to me by a friend who is a retired railroad engineer. The braking surface between the steel rail and the engine’s wheels is only the size of a dime, and the engine weighs more than 450 tons. That makes anyone stop and realize the stopping distance is longer than imagined.
— John Adams, Camarillo
Posted by Andrea Howry at 10:18 AM
Stepping in Nixon’s footprints
With more than 70 percent of Americans fed up with the war in Iraq, this president is still doggedly pursuing a futile course of action in the hope of victory and a legacy that he brought “democracy” to that country.
“We are making progress.” We have heard that phrase ad nauseam for years now, as our troops go on dying.
President Bush is oblivious to the fact that he personally has made a mockery of our system of government with his depredations on our Constitution by his abuse of executive powers shrouded in secrecy.
Prior to going to war in Iraq, the president said he had sought divine guidance. He said that as he walked around the White House that night for the third time, God gave him a sign that it was a go. It was reported that in a recent interview, the president felt that God would like to see the countries around the world pattern their governments after ours.
Personally, I do not believe that Bush is the second coming of the Messiah. As a matter of fact, I think this president is not playing with a full deck.
We’ve had one president, Richard Nixon, who self-destructed — brought about by his obsessions and paranoia — using the same tactics: namely, the abuse of executive powers.
We are now looking at history repeating itself.
— Joseph Kobylak, Camarillo
Posted by Andrea Howry at 10:13 AM
Water bottles tip of iceberg
Re: your Aug. 23 article, “Tapping into consumers”:
When it comes to bottled water or tap water, most people drink both, depending on the circumstances. People recognize the importance of water consumption for hydration and refreshment, and that should be encouraged. Pitting bottled water against public drinking water only confuses consumers who make bottled water their beverage of choice.
In responding to the debate about the impact of plastic packaging on the environment, a narrow focus on bottled water spotlights only a small portion of the packaged beverage category and an even smaller sliver of the universe of packaged products. The fact of the matter is that the bottled water industry has an outstanding record and solid commitment to environmental stewardship. To reduce its environmental footprint, water bottlers use containers that are 100 percent recyclable and increasingly made using lighter-weight plastics.
Any effort to reduce the resources necessary to produce and distribute packaged goods — and increase recycling rates — must focus on all packaging, not just bottled water. Any other piecemeal approach misses a real opportunity to arrive at a comprehensive solution for protecting and sustaining the environment.
— Stephen R. Kay, Vice president, communications,
International Bottled Water Association, Alexandria, VA
Posted by Andrea Howry at 10:06 AM
August 30, 2007
Rickety loans
The financial issues with mortgage companies are the front end of what is going on in terms of shaky lending practices.
Based on my experience in college supervising consumer credit and customer service activities for a large retail store, credit worthiness was based on three primary factors: job stability and length of employment, credit history and available credit and net monthly income compared to monthly obligations. Someone who was unemployed or less than six months on the job and had other credit cards at their limit was not a viable candidate for credit.
Apparently, lenders don’t see things the way they used to. This is causing a national crisis, not just with subprime lending, but with less astute buyers. My daughter is 21, a single mom, and was laid off and unemployed for three months. After just two months on her new job, she was maxed out on her credit card. Yet, she was able to put a nominal payment down and drive out with a car when she couldn’t even pay her monthly expenses without support.
The dealership shocked us. I thought no competent lender would give her a credit card, yet alone a car loan. Incentives at the car dealership made them more than happy to extend her a loan with more than $10,000 in finance charges on a $17,000 car. I reviewed her application and, to my amazement, the dealer only asked for cursory information and did not consider her employment history an issue, nor did the application have information on her other financial obligations outside of her credit card.
Bottom line: The lending practices need to be tightened up all around.
— Donovan Ayers, Camarillo
Posted by Andrea Howry at 11:32 AM
Yacht owners don’t need help
Re: your Aug. 25 article, “Governor endorses overdue budget”:
Any governor who cuts an effective program for the mentally ill while preserving a tax break for purchasers of yachts, planes and recreational vehicles is neither competent nor moral.
Legislators who say they worry about the state deficit but keep a $45 million tax break in the budget for the “deserving” rich who buy yachts are neither fiscally conservative nor honest.
The governor was quoted recently as saying he would support SB840, the only state bill that truly provides universal health care to Californians, when the money was there. Well, if we needed money to pay for the bill, the above would be a start. He chooses not to hear that SB840 will not cost us more money but will, in fact, save us money — to the tune of $34.3 billion a year over the next 10 years!
What is the governor waiting for?
— Doug Bungert, Camarillo
Posted by Andrea Howry at 11:28 AM
Blame game is a waste
Re: your Aug. 24 article, “Minorities score lower on state test”:
Consider not only what was said in the article, but what was not. The subheadline stated, "Schools chief says the problem lies with educator."
State Superintendent of Instruction Jack O'Connell was quoted later in the article saying, "The achievement gap cannot be explained solely by economic factors." The article concludes with this statement by Linda Murray, an official with The Education Trust-West: "Certainly there is something more going on than just poverty that's impacting these students."
The state test is the high school exit exam. Students have five opportunities to take and pass this so-called exit exam. Nowhere in the process are they allowed to "exit" school when they pass the exam.
Do we ever consider that schools have always been a reflection of the society and culture in which they exist? One hundred years ago, the Bible was used as a reading primer. Today it is basically illegal to use it as a text in most public schools.
At that time, there were no state-mandated tests. Most homes included two parents, one who served as homemaker. Parents were often involved in their children's education. Education, especially higher education, was valued and looked upon as a means of getting ahead in the world.
Who's to blame for these failures? How can we point to and single out any one group or cause? Why can we not spend more time truly educating rather than pontificating and finger-pointing?
If we blame educators, then blame all. Why not place some blame and responsibility on society and homes from which the students come? Why not work together toward the common goal of motivating and educating our most precious commodity, our youth?
— Warren Glaser, Ventura
Posted by Andrea Howry at 11:20 AM
Parking lot waste of money
I want to make known a very disturbing fact to anyone who might care: Ventura County Medical Center owns the building the County Behavioral Health Department rents from them. The hospital has decided to tear down a perfectly good building so they can build a parking lot. It seems like a waste when you look at the cost of real estate. Plus, aren’t we wasting a resource just for a parking place? It just doesn’t make sense to me.
— Cathy Howell, Ventura
Posted by Andrea Howry at 11:16 AM
Political target
If Alberto Gonzales were a Democrat, he would still be attorney general of the United States.
— Elaine Navarro, Ventura
Posted by Andrea Howry at 11:12 AM
Page 1 no place for sex
Re: your Aug. 23 article, "Survey says: Seniors like sex":
Why would our so-called "family newspaper" select such a banner headline story for the top of Page 1?
At a time when America's moral fiber has been — and continues to be — corroded by large segments of the film, television and Internet industries, do we need to start our day's activities by spicing up breakfast with "an unprecedented study of sex and seniors?"
Hey, I have no problem with the article! Had it been on page A10 with article, "Studies show merit of obesity surgery," or anywhere else other than Page 1, fine.
Somehow, the thought of Grandma having sex doesn't sweeten my morning cup of coffee. And I'm sure it's not her cup of tea.
— Lee O. Larew, Oxnard
Posted by Andrea Howry at 11:09 AM
This joke isn’t funny
I am really fed up with the press and the media having given this excuse for a president a free ride for virtually his entire presidency.
This man and his corrupt administration obviously have no respect for the laws of our land or our Constitution. George Bush has lowered our reputation in the world community to one of a laughingstock. Our own infrastructure is crumbling, and we are losing our soldiers at a rate that soon will completely deplete our defenses here at home.
Are we to just wait around until Bush feels like maybe changing direction? Or maybe we should just do what we have been doing: absolutely nothing, no protests, no demonstrations, just good old apathy.
Well, I for one am sick and tired of sitting back and watching all of these political games while our freedoms and liberties are shunted to the Middle East. Remember, Bush fabricated this war and shoved it down the throats of all of us. Whatever happened to the original objective of getting Osama bin Laden? Oh, I forgot, you can’t go after the guy that your family is in business with.
What a cruel joke has been played on us, but it’s far from funny.
— Ken Green, Ventura
Posted by Andrea Howry at 11:05 AM
Sopped by this SOP
Why is it when I read the news, I see that government agencies handle an emergency or other problem using a “standard operating procedure,” usually referenced with the acronym, SOP. I consulted my American Heritage Dictionary to find the meaning of sop, and there is was: the concise reason for so much apparent ineptitude. Used as a noun, and generally capitalized: “Something yielded to placate or soothe; bribe.”
Now I understand why nothing has changed in New Orleans, and particularly the Ninth Ward, in two years. New Orleans certainly was sopped by this SOP.
— Mel Lowry, Newbury Park
Posted by Andrea Howry at 10:59 AM
August 29, 2007
Policy of ‘no’ takes a toll
Unfortunately for all us taxpayers, the U.S. government clings to a “no” policy: no critical thinking, no initiative, no planning, no action, no meaningful legislation, no accountability and, above all, no common sense.
Twice in the last decade, a fawning Congress has swallowed a Federal Reserve Board fantasy for raising key interest rates, with disastrous results both times. The Fed belatedly stuck its thumb in the current crumbling credit/housing dike, but at the same time approved a rules change that set off a daily double betting frenzy in the market, leaving J. Q. Public holding yet another empty bag. Look for market touts and bettors to cash out and disappear after Labor Day, when Congress returns from its summer recess.
Right after that, Congress will have a tax bill you’ll like. It’s known on the Hill as “Taps for the Common Man.”
— L. Page Shaffer, Moorpark
Posted by Andrea Howry at 01:04 PM
College tips, atheist-style
Re: your Aug. 25 article, “Clergy offer tips to students headed to college”:
To supplement the clergy-inspired college student tips published in The Star, I'd like to suggest these atheist tips:
— There are plenty of natural, evidence-based reasons to be a good person. You're old enough to rationally explore your ethics.
— Remember that science doesn't want your worship, obedience or blind belief. Those things obfuscate nature rather than illuminate it.
— Just because authority figures ridiculously exaggerate certain vices doesn't mean that there aren't any risks. Moderation, patience, self-control and critical thinking are demonstrably good behaviors. Practice them.
— Some relationships are easy, others are tough. It's worthwhile to learn to deal with the tough ones, but no one deserves to be abused.
— This is your life, right now. Do yourself proud.
— Chris Habecker, Thousand Oaks
Posted by Andrea Howry at 12:55 PM
Wildfire strategies archaic
Re: your Aug. 19 article, “Growing Zaca fire inching closer”:
The Zaca fire that has been burning in Santa Barbara County since July 4 did burn into Ventura County. “The fire is not expected to be fully contained until Sept. 7 at the earliest,” according to the Forest Service Fire Protection Division.
Isn’t it time that the subject of “protection from wildfires” be seriously reviewed? Isn’t it time that methods and the equipment for fighting these fires be improved so that thousands of acres of prime forest land are not devastated, as well as hundreds of homes lost and firefighters sacrificed while millions of dollars are spent fighting these fires almost every year?
Since 1932, fires in California alone have burned well over 1 million acres, and that does not include several Malibu fires and the fire in Riverside County that last year burned many acres, destroyed many homes and cost the lives of several firefighters.
Since the introduction of helicopters and aircraft to the firefighting team, there has been no effort to develop ground-based equipment to aid and protect firefighters. Our crews still use handheld hoses that are limited to spraying 200 gallons of water per minute, as well as setting “back fires” to reduce the fuel available to the main fire.
It is time the Forest Service, county and city fire departments and insurance companies get together and seriously study the problem of wildfire containment equipment. They should consider what types of firefighting equipment should be designed and developed that will fight the fire, protect the firefighters and get the fires under control before they can develop into conflagrations.
— Homer M. Fuller, Westlake Village
Posted by Andrea Howry at 12:27 PM
Why isn’t Zaca fire out?
Since July 4, our local firefighters have spent $81 million fighting the Zaca fire — 2,900 folks are fighting the fire with 21 helicopters and five planes — and they haven’t gotten the fire out.
A state of emergency was announced Aug. 19, and now access to more equipment is available to fight the fire. It looks to me like the original equipment hasn’t been put to proper use at all. Are the firefighters and equipment operators just cleaning up overtime?
— Howard Cottrell, Ventura
Posted by Andrea Howry at 12:21 PM
Measure isn’t about fairness
Re: Dan Walters’ Aug. 22 commentary, “Will measure help California decide next president?”:
Kudos to Walters for highlighting this attempt to hijack California’s position as the leader in Electoral College votes. Rather than nominate a candidate acceptable to the majority of California voters, the national Republican Party has decided to try to divide our state into what would effectively be two smaller states.
California voters have never shied away from candidates merely because of their political party. Witness the fact that three of our last four governors have been Republicans. Rather, we have shown an inclination to oppose candidates whose platform consists of nothing more than pandering to the wealthy and politically powerful while preying on the prejudices of the gullible.
Regardless of whatever pretty name might eventually become attached to such a ballot measure — “Voter Fairness Act” or “Minority Enfranchise Enhancement” — it remains a ploy for political power by folks who care nothing for fairness. For proof, consider that no such ballot measure is being proposed in dependable red states like Texas and Florida.
— Jim Woodson, Oak View
Posted by Andrea Howry at 12:18 PM
Block schedule isn’t working
Re: your Aug. 28 article, “School districts have new schedules, buildings”:
Though it was nice to see coverage of back to school, the rosy picture painted couldn't be farther from the reality that is the new block schedule.
Oxnard High School Principal James Edwards said, "Our hope is students will take college-level classes or additional electives on our site."
Students are only guaranteed three classes per semester, and sport is counted as a class. The community colleges started last week. Anyone interested in attending now is already behind. More than 300 students at OHS have study hall at first period instead of later in the day, when they might use this time to work on assignments. Seniors and juniors are considered responsible enough to get a waiver to skip study hall in order to cut staffing. Some classes have been cut late due to scheduling issues. As a parent, I have received little information regarding this block schedule other than a "bell schedule."
Unfortunately, none of these issues could be addressed last week during counseling hours and book distribution because the computers were down. Now our kids are subjected to an altered school day with periodic instruction gaps, while parents try to get them to and from school and are forced to try to fill gaps with additional community college classes at the last minute.
Edwards states, "All of the kids will have an opportunity to meet with their counselor."
This turns out to have little impact due to the overwhelming volume of kids thrust at counselors who offer few solutions other than to attend a community college already in progress.
I am nothing but frustrated with "the bugs" in the system and am trying to make up for the lack of instruction my junior son is receiving at OHS.
— Laura Finney, Oxnard
Posted by Andrea Howry at 12:14 PM
Bush’s decisions aren’t easy
Re: John M. Crisp’s Aug. 28 commentary, “Impeachment: A good way to say we’re sorry”:
Since Crisp teaches English, he should confine his writing to English issues, as he knows nothing about history.
The Democratic platform under their candidate Stewart W. McClelland, for the election of 1864, was surrender to the South. Tens of thousands of young men were being killed, and the Democrats had no stomach for the difficult challenges facing the nation. In retrospect, we can see that President Lincoln did the right thing for this nation, even though his decision caused an extremist group of men to attempt the assassination of Secretary of State William H. Seward and Vice President Hannibal Hamlin, and the successful assassination of Lincoln.
It is easy for each of us to throw stones at those who get to make the hard decisions. It is difficult to stick with a hard decision when some of the results are bad for others involved. I am certain President Bush suffers for each life lost in this struggle against those who hate us and the freedoms we enjoy.
— Jim Oliver, Ventura
Posted by Andrea Howry at 12:04 PM
Mom should leave with son
Re: your Aug. 20 article, “Illegal immigrant woman arrested outside church”:
Elvira Arellano, the deported illegal immigrant, is making me mad. I emigrated from New Zealand legally, a 7,000-mile journey. I did not sneak across the border with the help of a smuggler. I did not have a child with a father unknown to the media. Where is the father of young Saul? Did she produce a child just for the purpose of having an American citizen in the family? What sort of mother would return to her native land without taking her son with her? Is this the sort of role model we want?
I think Arellano should stay in Mexico and her son should be with her.
— Michael J. E. Burge, Ventura
Posted by Andrea Howry at 12:01 PM
Residency should be earned
Re: David Howard’s Aug. 28 commentary, "Arellano plight shows immigrants' dilemma":
This is an insult to millions of legal "economic refugees" and "political refugees" who helped build the United States. It is an insult to me personally, since my mother and father and their parents legally immigrated to the United States to escape the Russian pogroms and the hatred and terrorism spreading across Europe under the leadership of Adolf Hitler.
I am very proud of the contribution my parents and grandparents made by their moral strength and determination, as well as their sweat and tears, to establishing themselves as decent and law-abiding and productive citizens of this country.
Howard owes a sincere apology to the memory of Rosa Parks and Anne Frank and all of the other souls who had a reason to emigrate to the United States and helped build the economy and the heart of this great country.
Elvira Arellano and her son, Saul, are not economic refugees by any stretch of the imagination. Arellano crossed the border with the help of a well-paid “coyote.” She knew exactly what she was doing when she was deported for the first time and came back across the border the second time — to have a child here who is a U.S. citizen and use the entitlement system to have us pay for education and healthcare. She brings no skills or training that she can use to contribute to the betterment of herself, her child and this country.
Do we need to rethink our legal immigration policy? Yes. We need to allow more legal immigration based on need, skills and ability to assimilate.
We need to look at re-establishing a sponsorship program as part of revitalizing our legal immigration program. Where there is a will, there is a way.
— David Collins, Newbury Park
Posted by Andrea Howry at 11:59 AM
Who’s safe in America?
Re: your Aug. 20 article, “Illegal immigrant woman arrested outside church”:
The illegal arrest and deportation of Elvira Arellano, who was speaking at a rally outside of Our Lady Queen of Angels church but well within the safe confines of the church’s private property, defies the freedom that churches, temples, mosques or any place of worship in the United States have erroneously believed they have.
What we in California have witnessed is the dissolution of the laws and freedoms documented in the U.S. Constitution by the illegal arrest and removal of a protester and activist who had safe sanctuary with various churches and was protected by the laws of the Constitution until she entered California.
When an unreachable Jim Hayes, director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement in Los Angeles, is quoted in an article on the Internet on Yahoo that “proper perspective” should be placed on the woman’s case, I would like a few questions answered.
Why is there no contact address using the U.S. Postal Service available for ICE? Why does Hayes not have an address or e-mail contact for relatives of Arellano? Why is everything so secretive? Why defy the Constitution by arresting a protester and activist who had sanctuary within the confines of the church? Why was a mother, illegal immigrant or not, arrested on the steps of a Christian church only for public speaking, and why was that found acceptable in California?
Is there anyone brave enough in California to explain this to me? I’m a resident of California who is feeling very unprotected in my own country as a native American citizen married to a man from a Southeast Asian country, who is also an American citizen.
— Kathy Phongpitag, Ventura
Posted by Andrea Howry at 11:54 AM
Revoke church’s tax status
Re: your Aug. 28 article, “Church provides shelter to family”:
Our U.S. Constitution separates church and state. I feel two things need to happen:
— The Internal Revenue Service needs to pull the United Church of Christ of Simi Valley’s federal tax exemption status. The church is making a political statement and harboring a federal fugitive.
— Immigration and Customs Enforcement should be outside the church waiting for the opportunity to arrest and deport this person who is in violation of our country's laws.
Wake up, America. Enforce our constitutional laws.
— Ted Maloney, Oxnard
Posted by Andrea Howry at 11:46 AM
‘Genesis of anarchy’
Re: your Aug. 28 article, “Church provides shelter to family”:
Once again, I write to condemn the granting of sanctuary to a woman who, without apparent remorse, has entered the United States illegally. I cannot for the life of me understand how you can reward the wrongdoer. The United Church of Christ in Simi Valley has chosen to ignore certain laws while presumably following others. This selective endeavor is nothing short of the genesis of anarchy.
I commend our fine mayor in his efforts to preclude that which has occurred, as well as his representation that our sterling Police Department will assist Immigration and Customs Enforcement if asked to do so. I understand that individuals — even my own priest — can have compassion for this situation, but I fail to see how one's compassion can override the laws of the United States. If the young lady under discussion wishes to keep her family as a unit, her family can accompany her to her legal country of residence.
— William J. Tewksbury, Simi Valley
Posted by Andrea Howry at 11:39 AM
August 27, 2007
No privacy with government
Re: Tom McClintock's Aug. 22 commentary, “No substituting for Mom and Dad”:
This commentary is really telling of the way the conservative mind works. McClintock writes, “Parental discretion and judgment ought to be replaced with governmental regulation, intrusion and, ultimately, enforcement.” Oh sure, unless it's the end of life, right to die, medical marijuana, birth control, family planning or the right of two people of the same sex to raise children, or, God forbid, marry. Then, oh boy, does he want government intrusion!
He quotes a story that suggests the government busybody doesn't know the names of the people he wanted to control. Well, does he know the names of the people he would cause to suffer who can't tolerate cancer drugs, or have glaucoma or are in great agony with no hope of recovery? Does he know the name of the teenager who needs an abortion because a family member raped her and McClintock wants her to tell them? Does he know the name of the woman who can't have chemo because she can't get an abortion?
He says he’ll take government’s advice, but “I'll be damned if I'll take its orders." Oh, really! In his world, every really important private family or medical decision would be subject to taking orders — unless, of course, you’re a rich Republican. Then you can be like President Bush and Vice President Cheney and answer to no one.
— Bonnie Smith, Santa Paula
Posted by Andrea Howry at 01:52 PM
Dogs need seat belts, too
Re: your Aug. 24 article, “Man injured, dog killed in Highway 101 car accident”:
This man evidently allowed his dog free rein in a moving vehicle. Please, please harness and belt in your pets, or use a portable kennel that is belted in.
— Mary Hollan, Oxnard
Posted by Andrea Howry at 01:36 PM
Fillmore wasting money
It's embarrassing to live in Fillmore these days. I thought nothing could top the City Council's decision to fund an $83 million sewer plant. Well, last week the Fillmore Unified School District board "gone and done it."
Immediately following the protests of concerned parents, the board voted unanimously to file a lawsuit against the Ventura County Board of Education regarding the Little Red Schoolhouse — Santa Clara School — transfers.
On June 8 the County Board of Education directed FUSD to comply with the law and allow students who had previously attended the Little Red Schoolhouse to return there this August. But FUSD doesn't want to abide by the law! Accordingly, the board has decided to spend major money on what many would term a "frivolous lawsuit" in the hopes of forcing elementary students back to Fillmore.
According to County Superintendent of Schools Chuck Weis, insurance doesn't cover the costs of school districts suing each other. Where is Fillmore getting the extra money? We taxpayers have always been told that Fillmore schools are underfunded and that monies are sorely needed for important educational programs. Who is spinning this web of deceit that the board is caught up in?
— Lynne Brooks, Fillmore
Posted by Andrea Howry at 01:31 PM
Bush flunks history
Re: your Aug. 23 article, “A ‘free Iraq’ is in reach, Bush says”:
President Bush's belief that a "free" Iraq is within reach and that our history with Vietnam supports our troops remaining in Iraq until victory is achieved demonstrates just what a poor student of history Bush is.
History looks back on our entry into conflict in Vietnam as a mistake, as the "domino" theory proved no more true than the existence of weapons of mass destruction in Iraq. Once we erred into involvement in Vietnam, history also finds that we could have, and should have, left much sooner than we did.
The only thing worse than being involved in a civil war is being a foreign occupying power trying to resolve a civil war between the participants.
History is tragically repeating itself. After ignoring history for six years, for Bush to now try to invoke history to support continuing our troops' involvement is adding insult to injury. He has proven he has little ability to understand the past. His ability to make decisions and to predict the future is even more questionable.
— Bill Hessell, Oak View
Posted by Andrea Howry at 01:26 PM
Hot car can kill a dog
Apparently, security at the Pacific View mall is too busy staring at TV monitors to help animals in danger on their premises.
On a 90-degree day recently, I found two Chihuahuas locked in minivan outside the mall with the windows open about an inch. On a 73-degree day, the temperature inside a car can reach 120 degrees in 30 minutes. On a 90-degree day, it can shoot up to 160 degrees. Dogs can only cool themselves by panting and sweating through their paw pads. Heatstroke can come on quickly and result in brain damage or death.
After security ridiculed and refused my request to page the owners, I called the police and animal control. Only then, about 25 minutes later, did security come out to “investigate.” I politely explained why I was concerned, but all they did was glance briefly in the car and state that it was OK because the windows were cracked (hardly!). The police wouldn’t do anything, and animal control was “too busy on another call” to respond.
Having previously worked at a Humane Society, I’ve seen numerous cases every year of dogs dying in these situations. In addition to the irresponsibility of the dogs’ guardians, the responses from security, the police and animal control were highly inappropriate, uncaring and upsetting. If it had been a child in that car, I’m sure all would have responded with immediate concern.
Please, leave your dogs at home. If you find other animals in this situation, watch for restlessness, excessive thirst, heavy panting, lethargy, dark tongue, rapid heartbeat, vomiting or lack of coordination. Have the guardians paged, and ask them to get the dog into shade immediately and call a veterinarian. Call the authorities if necessary.
— Liz Fritzinger, Oak View
Posted by Andrea Howry at 01:19 PM
Festival or seminar?
When I was a boy, the big event was when the circus came to town. The big attraction was the one with physical oddities. Things haven't changed much. Such a show came to Ventura.
One would assume that the purpose of a Gay Pride festival is an attempt to soft-sell and promote gay life as an equal or even favored lifestyle. In reality, it is what it is: a perversion and a denial of God's divine order. If this self-proclaimed "family-oriented celebration" serves its purpose, it may well succeed in introducing the young children in our community into an unspeakable and adulterated way of life. Bear in mind that the indubitable truth is that children emulate their elders and “that like begets like.” Do we want our children emulating the gay lifestyle?
Equally appalling is that not so long ago, in a decent and moralistic America, homosexuality was known but not advertised. Conversely, today in our community homosexuals are allowed to “celebrate” their deviations in the public square and it has become completely offensive for normal upright citizens to contest them.
We all share the shame and the blame for allowing perversive demonstrations like this to happen. And that’s a memo.
— Robert D. Wilson, Camarillo
Posted by Andrea Howry at 01:12 PM
Need for oil isn’t going away
Re: Michael Lind’s Aug. 26 letter, “Gallegly too close to big oil”:
What planet is Mr. Lind you living on? The future of this country's energy policy is being determined by social engineering liberals — like himself — who know nothing about the realities of oil and how our economy uses same. The liberal Democrats in Congress block every attempt to rid this country of dependence on foreign oil. There hasn't been a new refinery or nuclear generating plant built in the United States for 30 years.
Don't get me wrong, as I am all in favor of solar, wind, geothermal and, best of all, nuclear energy. However, until technology catches up, we are dependent on oil.
Want to reduce our dependence on foreign oil? Drill more wells, build new refineries, and, like much of Europe, go nuclear. The Chinese and the Cuban governments are drilling in the waters between Florida and Cuba. Are we? How about Alaska? The Pacific Coast? The Gulf of Mexico?
Also, what about those obscene profits that big oil is reaping? Last I heard, local, state and federal taxes accounted for more than 50 cents per gallon of gasoline. Oil company profit? About 8 cents per gallon.
Lastly, I have written U.S. Rep. Elton Gallegly urging him to support tax breaks for the oil companies that chose to develop domestic forms of renewable energy. However, he and his fellow Republicans are blocked by the liberal Democrats who control Congress and who will not consider any kind of tax breaks for oil.
— Ken Davis, Moorpark
Posted by Andrea Howry at 12:56 PM
Gays not family-friendly
Re: your Aug. 26 article, “Rainbow reigns at Gay Pride festival in Ventura":
How is it possible that the gay community can hold a pride festival that is family-oriented and family-friendly? Nothing about the gay lifestyle is pro-family or family-friendly. Nothing about a gay partnership will ever naturally produce children. By their own choice, gays and lesbians create relationships that cannot produce children or families. The relationship is barren and even anti-family. Saying that a gay pride event is family-oriented is ironic at the very least. I suggest that the claim is dishonest and intentionally deceptive.
— John O'Conner, Ventura
Posted by Andrea Howry at 12:46 PM
Murdoch vs. Murdock
Re: Chuck Thomas’ Aug. 25 column, “How can anyone own the news?”
Perhaps Santa Barbara News-Press owner Wendy McCaw expects reporters and columnists to not confuse billionaire News Corp. owner Rupert Murdoch with billionaire Dole Foods and Lake Sherwood owner David Murdock.
Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, but don't expect me to seriously consider the opinions, "facts," and "assertions" when an underlying factual error is so blatant.
— Ray Johnson, Fillmore
Posted by Andrea Howry at 12:39 PM
Permaculture holds promise
Re: Betsy Hart’s Aug. 24 commentary, “Deflating the myth that organic-grown is better”:
From an ecosystemic point of view, chemical-based industrial agriculture is perverse and fails to understand how nature works. It is an extension of our economic belief system that attempts to turn everything into a dollar with almost no regard for how it affects people and the planet.
Chemical agriculture is war on life. With the bombs and tanks of World War I and World War II came the chemical-based fertilizers and pesticides and the tractors used to deliver them.
What do herbicides and pesticides have in common? They are both biocides — literally translated to mean “life killers.” The plants we are eating aren’t the only things that get sprayed. When chemicals are applied, they go into the soil, water, air and on the farmers themselves. These chemicals don’t just go “away.” They accumulate up the food chain in which we humans are at the top of. When we poison the Earth, we poison the systems that give us life — hence, we are poisoning ourselves.
Organic farming is a giant leap toward a healthy food system. It provides many people with nutritious food and doesn’t poison the land. Let us support local farmers as we go beyond just saying “no” to chemicals.
Probably the most hopeful of solutions is a design science and movement called “permaculture.” Permaculture uses successful patterns of natural ecosystems to build anything — from a garden, to a home to a whole community. It is about taking responsibility for our own lives and making choices that will bring about a healthy future.
Locally, we have the Santa Barbara Permaculture Network (http://www.sbpermaculture.org), or you can just start reading about permaculture by searching the Internet.
Here’s to a truly regenerative food system and culture.
— Devin Slavin, Ventura
Posted by Andrea Howry at 12:19 PM
Say no to Springville
Why is the Camarillo City Council pushing Springville on us? Do they want to develop every last open space?
Why do we keep electing these folks? There is a big new housing area to the east side of town. We have every store and shop imaginable and a crowded freeway. Let's get rid of this group and get some council members who do not represent developers. If we don't, then the words of Joni Mitchell, "They paved paradise and put up a parking lot," will come true.
— Benedict Lucchese, Camarillo
Posted by Andrea Howry at 12:12 PM
T.O. removing pepper trees
Re: Clint R. Matkovich’s Aug. 16 letter, “Trying to save the wetlands”:
I thank Mr. Matkovich for his letter about our property located in Thousand Oaks. I have lived in the Conejo Valley for more than 40 years and have always tried to be a good neighbor.
While we must address damage that we feel has been done to our property by various parties, as he points out, we are also concerned about the environment and our beautiful city. In that regard, he may be interested to know that the city of Thousand Oaks is planning to remove approximately 40 mature pepper trees on the property as part of a public works project. We do not know what effect this may have on the 25 species of animals and plants that he refers to in his letter.
— Nasser Moradian, Thousand Oaks
Posted by Andrea Howry at 12:08 PM
Healthcare is never free
Re: Raymond A. Greenberg's Aug. 24 letter, “Entitlements in disguise”:
In rebuttal to Terry Paulson's Aug. 6 and Aug. 20 essays, Mr. Greenberg states, "Mr. Paulson should stay away from finance, economics and international relations." Mr. Greenberg then asserts, "GM pays $1,800 per car for health insurance for current and retired employees. Toyota pays nothing (my emphasis) because of universal healthcare in Japan." I cannot dispute that GM pays $1,800 per car for healthcare. I can however, dispute the claim that Toyota pays nothing for their employees’ healthcare.
Healthcare can never be free. One way or another, the Japanese government funds their healthcare system. That means taxes. This may be a business tax, sales tax, income tax or property tax. It makes no difference, all taxes add to the cost of living, and that expense is paid for by all businesses through their employee compensation.
It may be true that Toyota pays far less than General Motors for employee healthcare, but to say they pay nothing is impossible and misleading.
Apparently, Mr. Greenberg believes that the key to global competitiveness lies in a government-managed healthcare system. That is a good topic for debate, but how does one intelligently debate when one is asked to believe that healthcare will be free when dispensed at the pleasure of government bureaucrats? Are the merits of socialized medicine so weak that one must resort to smoke and mirrors to win the debate?
Mr. Greenberg cannot assert that universal healthcare is free. That is simply not true. And he can take that to the bank.
— Dan Siefert, Thousand Oaks
Posted by Andrea Howry at 12:03 PM
Wrong Murdoch
Re: Chuck Thomas' Aug. 25 column, “How can anyone own the news?”
Mr. Thomas needs to check his facts! David Murdock owned Lake Sherwood, not Rupert Murdoch.
— Richard A. Barton, Newbury Park
Posted by Andrea Howry at 11:57 AM
Don’t create Pol Pot II
Re: your Aug. 23 article, “A ‘free Iraq’ is in reach, Bush says”:
I was dismayed to hear President Bush's comments on Vietnam. I remember our history in Vietnam very differently and believe the president is trying to justify continuing the war in Iraq.
According to Robert McNamara, secretary of Defense at the time, our war in Vietnam killed at least 3.4 million people, mostly women and children. Many were burned alive by napalm. It was truly an atrocity of immense proportion. We certainly didn't leave too soon.
Events after the war weren't as bad as Bush would have us believe. Not long ago, Bush visited Vietnam, celebrated our restored trade relations and later hosted the Vietnamese president in the White House.
It is true, however, that many thousands of Vietnamese people who had collaborated with Americans and weren't given visas to go to the United States before we left at the war's end suffered in re-education camps. We must not let this happen again. We owe visas to those Iraqis whose lives are in jeopardy because they have worked with the United States.
After U.S. occupation troops leave Iraq and Iraqis sort out how their own country (or countries) will be run, we have a responsibility to repair what we have destroyed and help restore a viable economy.
The U.S. invasion of Cambodia, which President Nixon tried to keep secret from Congress and the American people, led to empowerment of Pol Pot and the Khmer Rouge's killing fields. Bush neglects to mention that the United States did nothing to stop the Khmer Rouge, whom we had enabled. It wasn't until after we stopped killing Vietnamese that Vietnam was able to use their military to overthrow the Khmer Rouge.
Don't just take my words or Bush's as the truth — verify it from the historical record.
— Gordon Clint, Newbury Park
Posted by Andrea Howry at 11:44 AM
Religious brainwashing
Re: your Aug. 25 Arts & Living section photo, “Emotional devotion”:
The picture on Page E6 shows what's wrong with religion today. These brainwashed children are no different than the brainwashed Muslim children that we complain about.
— John Hantke, Newbury Park
Posted by Andrea Howry at 11:40 AM
Lessons from Little League
I had the pleasure of being able to watch some of the Little League World Series on TV this weekend. I was quite impressed with the sportsmanship of these young players who greeted each other, shaking hands and/or hugging at the completion of an awesome win or tough loss. While the losing team was upset, the players took the time to congratulate the winning team, adding honor to the battle.
Seeing this, I thought our Major League Baseball players and teams might be able to learn a life lesson from these young teens. I love the game, but I am always disappointed that these grown men hang their heads in the dugout after losing the final game of the playoffs or World Series. The Major League players should remember the way they acted when they played in Little League and follow the example being set by the kids.
My hat is off to the coaches, the players and their parents.
— Joseph May, Simi Valley
Posted by Andrea Howry at 11:34 AM
Once a deserter …
What makes President Bush's comparison of Vietnam to Iraq particularly egregious is the fact that he was technically a deserter from the first conflict and probably would have done the same for the second.
— John Blumenthal, Westlake Village
Posted by Andrea Howry at 11:31 AM
Good parents create leaders
Re: your Aug. 24 article, “Minorities score lower on state test”:
First, I have to say that I am a first-generation American son of immigrants and a Latino. What the report about the discrepancy in scores did not point out was that the Latinos who broke out of the mold are in the top percentages, and many have become business, civic and military leaders. I don't need to mention names. We all read the newspaper.
Someone in the article said the cause for the lower Latino scores was the educators. If by educators he meant parents, I agree. My parents turned off the TV, as did I, and we read books. We hiked, camped and, yes, even prayed together. My brothers and I turned out to be relatively successful, and my children — well, some of you may work for them.
The point I am trying to make is that the parents — two of them — must get involved. How many big tough studs are man enough to get a girl pregnant, but when the time comes to be real men and step up to the plate, they take their tiny little tails and tuck them between their chubby little legs and run to mama? If we can again produce non-self-centered brave parents — white , brown, black or even chartreuse — we will again have leaders.
— Jim Barros, Simi Valley
Posted by Andrea Howry at 11:29 AM
Making money off crime
Re: Mark F. Sullivan’s Aug. 24 commentary, “Law limits abuse liability to Catholics”:
I thank Mr. Sullivan for addressing the elephant in the room. One would think that the approximately 1 percent of priests were the only child abusers out there.
It boggles the mind to understand how they were able to hold an entire archdiocese financially responsible for the actions of so few people who themselves take the vow of poverty and acted against the principles of the church. But it does probably explain why they were given free rein, so the lawyers could tap into the church finances on a grand scale, especially since many accused are not here to defend themselves.
I hope they are as diligent in pursuing those guilty of the same crimes who do not offer the financial windfall. Our children deserve our protection, even when there is no financial incentive.
— Dorothy Hage, Newbury Park
Posted by Andrea Howry at 11:16 AM
August 24, 2007
Deport all the illegals
Now that we are nearing a possible water shortage, has anyone researched how many gallons of water we would save if we deported 20 million illegal immigrants? They say it is impossible to deport that many people, and yet we can topple Saddam Hussein's statue. They say we need these illegals to pick our crops. We should use our prisoners, of which we have an overabundance.
Most of the people moving to California are illegals. I am also getting tired of the media stating we have 12 million illegals in our country. Does anyone know how long it takes 12 million illegals to create 6 million anchor babies? I figure about nine months.
Unfortunately, we have a law stating that if you sneak over the border long enough to give birth, your child is an automatic citizen. I think this law should be changed.
Before you call me racist, I also believe that the 50,000 Irish illegals in this country should also be deported.
We, as Americans, have become far too passive and tolerant. We need to wake up. Let’s mow our own lawns, wash our own cars, watch and raise our own children. We are giving this country away out of sheer laziness and for the want of the appearance of short-term wealth.
Our forefathers fought many wars and battles for this state and the entire country. I think they would be ashamed of us. Surely they are turning in their graves. Yes, our forefathers took this country by force, as did the Spanish. I am not ashamed of our forefathers. All countries at one time or another were taken by force. Apparently, we will be taken by our own complacent stupidity.
—Mark Mahnken, Ojai
Posted by Andrea Howry at 01:59 PM
What happened to cats?
I am writing this to caution pet owners.
I became disabled and had to move. I had to find a home for two of my cats. I had bottle-fed them. It was hard to give them up. I had no family here or children. They were my family. They were brother and sister, Sissy and Smoochie. I wanted to keep them together. I did not want to have them euthanized.
I placed an ad in the newspaper. A young couple called and came to see the cats. They said they would give them an indoor home. I told them I would check to see how they were. Also, I would need to be able to see them. If it did not work out, they had to contact me. They agreed.
After numerous calls, they left a message saying they didn’t have the cats, they had given them to an older couple. They have not answered my calls or letters or answered their door when I tried to find out where the cats are. I am very suspicious, and I question their actions. I am heartbroken by what they have done. It is very cruel and hurtful.
If anyone has to give up a pet, please be very cautious. Check the people out. Insist on doing a home check. Check their identification. Make a legal agreement in writing. People can seem very nice on the surface and be deceiving.
My cats were my family, and I have to live with this mistake every day. They are all God’s creatures. They gave me love and comfort. No one will help. I don’t want anyone else to experience this. Animals cannot speak for themselves. We need “animal police” and laws to speak for them and protect them. They suffer in silence, and need our help. Where is the trust when people act like this?
— Hazel McKenzie, Camarillo
Posted by Andrea Howry at 01:51 PM
No more Snow days
With the departure of Tony Snow as press secretary, who will the White House get to take over the Snow job?
— Marvin Petal, Oxnard
Posted by Andrea Howry at 01:45 PM
Local college success stories
I read with interest Raul Hernandez's story regarding the appointments of two new Superior Court judges for Ventura County. The appointees were praised for their fine reputations in our local legal community and their stellar careers practicing law in the public and private sectors.
How did these local lawyers get started on the path that led them to their highly prestigious judicial appointments? What caught my attention more than any aspect of their qualifications was the fact that each began their educational experience at one of our Ventura County community colleges. After earning associate degrees from Ventura and Moorpark Colleges, respectively, they went on to highly regarded California universities and law schools.
While there are many reasons to celebrate these achievements, they serve as a reminder that our local community colleges in Oxnard, Ventura and Moorpark can be and obviously are the launching points for developing student confidence, achievement orientation and academic learning skills that are indispensable for success in higher education, professional schools and work careers. I am certain there are countless other examples of success at community college opening the door to the pursuit and achievement of excellence in higher education and professional careers. The Ventura community colleges are quality, highly economical local resources for our parents and students to utilize in their early career planning.
— David Gonzales, Camarillo
(The writer is a personnel commissioner for the Ventura County Community College District. — Editor)
Posted by Andrea Howry at 01:39 PM
Deportation was earned
Re: your Aug. 22 article, “Deported mother says she’ll ‘continue to fight’”:
I am writing in regards to Elvira Arellano, the Mexican citizen who took refuge in a Chicago church and subsequently came to Los Angeles to lead a protest.
First, she is here illegally and should be deported. Her son should be with her, and when he is an adult, he can come back to this country if he wishes.
Second, had she wanted to become part of the United States, the least she could have done was to learn to speak English.
People who are feeling sorry for her don’t seem to get the big picture. This woman came here illegally, is being used by the pro-illegal immigration crowd and has already cost the taxpayers a bunch of money, just like all of the other 12 million who are here. There seems to be a lack of understanding that the impacts to our society are great, including such things as water, sewer, transportation, schools, healthcare and housing, to say nothing of the illegal inmates that are causing our prisons to be overcrowded. Just wait until the federal judges come down on California for the prison overcrowding issue. It is going to cost us even more, or they will all be released back onto the streets.
It may feel good to feel bad for her, but she created her own problems.
— Evalyn J. Stout, Simi Valley
Posted by Andrea Howry at 01:32 PM
Shaking babies isn’t funny
I recently saw “License to Wed,” which has a scene depicting someone shaking a robot baby that he had to show what it would be like to be a father. It was meant to be funny, and unfortunately, the audience was laughing.
As a mom to a child who was shaken by his birth parents, I want to express just how not funny this is.
Because of being shaken at 4 months old, my little boy struggles to do even the smallest of things most of us take for granted. He struggles to move his right side, has cerebral palsy, cannot walk or stand on his own, is legally blind, has severe developmental delays and has to eat via a G-Tube in his stomach.
All of this is a direct result of his being shaken.
I hope The Star will let parents know that shaking a child will cause lifelong damage and is in no way funny. Also, the movie industry needs to realize that what they do matters and influences people, and they need to be more responsible for what they portray as humorous.
Help future babies not have to struggle like my beautiful boy!
— Tracy Healy, Simi Valley
Posted by Andrea Howry at 01:23 PM
Gallegly too close to big oil
Rep. Elton Gallegly had the chance to support legislation that would decrease our dependence on foreign oil, create thousands of clean-energy jobs and change the direction of this country’s energy future. Instead, Gallegly once again chose to support tax breaks for the big oil.
Gallegly showed just how out of touch he is with mainstream America by voting to support $14 billion in tax loopholes for the oil industry at a time when the oil companies are reaping maximum profits.
Gallegly voted against extending the tax credits for the solar and wind industries. He voted against requiring the electric utilities to produce 15 percent of their energy from renewable sources. He voted against local jobs, and he voted against reducing our dependence on foreign oil. We need someone who will better represent Ventura County and who can think outside the Republican (big oil) Party box. We deserve better representation, not an oil-industry, rubber-stamp congressman.
Ventura County already supports a vibrant and growing solar industry, which provides hundreds and hundreds of high-quality local jobs. Manufacturers such as SolarWorld AG and Professional Solar Products are thriving here, and local contractors such as REC Solar, Solar Perfect, Prime Solar, California Solar and a half dozen other solar companies are installing solar electricity systems on rooftops throughout our county, but Gallegly continues to support big oil instead of our local economy.
Please write or call Gallegly and let him know that we need more responsible leadership in Washington. We need leadership that will guide Ventura County — and our country — toward a clean energy future. We need a congressional representative who will help steer us away from our dependence on foreign sources of fuel and who will support clean renewable energy, local jobs and energy independence.
— Michael Lind, Ojai
Posted by Andrea Howry at 01:16 PM
Where did wildlife go?
One thing that is noticeably missing from news reports is what has happened to 223,000 acres of wildlife now that their habitat is scorched. Are people in Santa Barbara, Montecito, Carpinteria and Ojai being overrun with critters? No mention so far.
What are the firefighters seeing when they go in to mop up? Piles of dead animals? Besides the obvious effects of destroyed natural beauty and future flash flooding, inquiring minds would like to know more about what happens to the animal denizens as a result of a fire of this magnitude.
— Guy Ervin III, Westlake Village
Posted by Andrea Howry at 01:09 PM
Focus on deportation
Re: your Aug. 23 article, “Immigration law will not be enforced at local level”:
Who does the mayor thing he is kidding? I read with disbelief that less than 1 percent of Simi Valley police bookings were found to be illegals. But when I got to Page 2 of the story, the other shoe dropped when I read, “Lack of Spanish-speaking officers is obstacle.”
I don’t want to overstate the obvious, but the fact that an arrestee can only speak Spanish should be setting off some alarm bells about citizenship. Wouldn’t an audit of the effectiveness of the police department’s ability, or willingness, to determine citizenship be more appropriate than bragging that you can’t tell whether the people you are booking are in the country legally or not? With the recent surge in property crime in our city, I would feel better if the mayor was bragging about how many criminals got deported rather than how many were returned to the streets.
— Jack Peters, Simi Valley
Posted by Andrea Howry at 01:06 PM
NAACP wrong about Vick
I don't understand how the NAACP can suggest that Michael Vick should be allowed to return to football. I feel his crime was far worse than anything that has happened in pro sports. I think this organization will come to regret the statements.
— Jack Brewer, Simi Valley
Posted by Andrea Howry at 01:02 PM
Litter isn’t beautiful
There is no doubt that Simi Valley is a beautiful city, but there is nothing beautiful about the trash littering our freeways. Not only is this trash ugly and disgusting, but it is terrible for our environment.
During the ongoing construction, there has been little to no effort by the California Department of Transportation to pick up trash. Are we supposed to wait until around 2009 or 2010, when construction is over, for us to have clean freeways? I hope not.
While getting off the freeway these past few weeks, I have seen Gatorade bottles, Starbucks cups, McDonald’s burger wrappers and those annoying plastic bags. But, are we to blame? While we can’t just jump out of our cars and pick up this trash, we can help prevent it from becoming more of an issue. Just by throwing away our trash at home and reminding others not to throw things out of their car windows can make even the smallest difference.
The freeway is not our trashcan, and our streets aren’t, either.
Another way to help is to fill out a short Maintenance Service Request Form at the Caltrans Web site at http://www.dot.ca.gov/maintform.html. Choose “Litter, Trash and Debris” from the dropdown menu.
Simi Valley is a beautiful city, and I believe that if we take even these small steps, our freeways can be beautiful too!
— Shelby Garren, Simi Valley
Posted by Andrea Howry at 01:01 PM
4-H teaches wrong lessons
Re: Marty Fast’s Aug. 12 Pulse page commentary, “Ultimate betrayal at the fair,” and Suza Francina’s Aug. 22 commentary, “What happens after the fair auction is the real story”:
What does the 4-H program — whereby children raise animals, care for them, bond with them, even love them and then sell them and leave them to a merciless fate — teach children?
Responsibility? No. It teaches them that the almighty dollar is king.
As Ms. Fast noted, there are other ways to teach children compassion and responsibility. Children need to learn these are sentient creatures that will suffer a horrendous fate. As Ms. Francina suggested, before taking on this task, the children should be taken to a slaughterhouse and see where they are sending their beloved pets.
Interestingly, Nazi leaders would give young recruits a puppy to raise and bond with. When the dogs reached adulthood they were ordered to strangle them. This was to teach a lack of compassion.
This 4-H program should be re-examined to see whether the cruelty and ultimate guilt, in some cases, is worth the money.
— Gillian Herson, Simi Valley
Posted by Andrea Howry at 12:57 PM
Pay attention to megadump
The city handles most new land-use projects efficiently and in the public's interest. However, projects the size and impact of the proposed landfill expansion appear once in a lifetime. The effects of Waste Management’s expansion on traffic, pollution, real estate values and tax revenues cannot easily be assessed.
Why does the city treat an application for a carwash the same as an application for a megadump? Should there be a one-size-fits-all process? Of course not.
The city's general plan calls for a future west-end business park next to the existing landfill. Potential tax revenues range from $4 million to $6 million. But will businesses want to relocate next to a major regional waste site? This question isn’t being asked by the community. Why? The reason is that most of us won’t even know an expansion was planned until it’s too late to speak up.
Though the city’s been involved with this expansion for years, it’s decided now is not the time to talk about it. The city has decided to wait until the expansion application is final, despite the fact Waste Management’s current application contains almost everything that will be in the final application.
Doesn't a project with such potential for enormous impact on our community deserve a thorough public airing long before it comes to a vote?
Aug. 20, Mayor Paul Miller and Councilman Glenn Becerra argued for opening council discussions to projects outside the city's borders and to include concerned citizens currently outside the process. I applaud them. The motion failed, but the debate on how to better involve the community in these important discussions will continue. With more community involvement at an earlier stage, major issues won't be so frightening nor so volatile as is Waste Management’s plans for a megadump.
— Gary Selvaggio, Simi Valley
Posted by Andrea Howry at 12:53 PM
Cars deadlier than guns
Re: Dan E. Gallagher Sr.'s Aug. 20 letter, “Don’t blame the gun lobby”:
Gallagher, responding to Dan Thomasson's July 28 essay, which apparently suggested confiscating everyone's guns (I didn't see it), wrote, "Automobiles account for 27,000 deaths a year.”
Actually, according to government statistics, the number of deaths on U.S. highways is annually in the vicinity of 45,000. These are all referred to as "accidents." By comparison, about 12,000 people are killed annually by "assaults by gunfire." Surprisingly, an additional 16,000 die annually from self-inflicted gunfire.
I didn't find any data regarding how many of the traffic "accidents" were the result of people using a car to commit suicide instead of a gun.
— Brook Evans, Camarillo
Posted by Andrea Howry at 12:48 PM
Who cares if it’s socialist?
For years, I've been aware of right-wing propaganda so pervasive and continuous, I assumed it was everyone's reality but mine. Only recently, have I observed that left-wing propaganda makes a complementary contribution to the same illusions.
Take the capitalism/socialism dichotomy. I can find dictionary definitions of each, but that doesn't mean any reality matches up with the definitions. I can find definitions for gremlins and fairies, too.
My dictionary defines socialism as "government or collective ownership and administration of the means of production and distribution of goods." Capitalism, on the other hand, involves private or corporate ownership and control.
But where are the realities so defined? If the product is fire protection or law and order or education, the means of production are basically public — in every industrial society. If the product is recycled household goods or surplus produce, the spirit of private enterprise flourishes in every clime. Instead of a clear-cut "this" or "that," we have a "more" or "less," a continuum.
Take healthcare: If the system works, if people's needs are being met at reasonable cost, then whatever system is in place is satisfactory. If, as in this country, patients, doctors and others report massive failure, damage and frustration, despite enormous outlays of private and public money, correction seems in order. That correction should be toward more successful models.
State Sen. Sheila Kuehl's plan, approved by both houses of our Legislature but vetoed by the governor, may or may not be "socialized medicine," as the governor stated, but the reality-based question is, so what? The plan, still alive as SB840, appears the most "corrective" of those in the offing relative to what ails the current systems: abuse by insurers and pharmaceuticals and Byzantine complexity. Rather than being stampeded by ideologues and their labels, we should support it.
— Margaret Morris, Ventura
Posted by Andrea Howry at 12:30 PM
Case for castration
Re: Star Managing Editor John Moore’s Aug. 19 essay, “Firestorm on sex offender”:
Ross Wollschlager, deemed a "sexually violent predator," was released in Ventura County because he had lived and committed his crimes here. He is now listed as a transient because he has no permanent housing.
This man was convicted in 1983 at 19 for breaking into the homes of two women while they slept and raping them. He was paroled in 1987 and two years later broke into another home through unlocked doors, stealing items and molesting a girl younger than 14. Wollschlager served 13 years before his release.
The state Department of Mental Health, which oversees the sexually violent predator civil commitment program at Atascadero and Coalinga State Hospital, objected to his release. Yet, the court ordered it. Why?
In 2006, a jury heard conflicting testimony from expert witnesses and could not reach a verdict on whether Wollschlager was still a danger. It would be interesting to know what the Mental Health Department’s and others’ objections were.
Experts testifying for his release cited his advancing age (44 is advancing?), progress in therapy (not rehabilitated) and a model patient. There was conflicting testimony. Yet, this man was released by the court.
When Wollschlager rapes again — and I can pull statistics to show that he will — and possibly kills a woman or a young girl or child, the state will say it’s sorry, if we're lucky, but that the law mandated his release and “there was nothing we could do.”
This man has ruined multiple lives and the lives of their loved ones because one person in our court system has ruled in his favor.
I firmly believe men like this should be chemically castrated. When they commit these crimes three times, they are using their anatomy as a weapon.
— June Johnson, Ventura
Posted by Andrea Howry at 12:28 PM
August 23, 2007
Same old arguments
Re: Tom McClintock's Aug 22 commentary, "No substituting for Mom and Dad":
The fascinating thing about McClintock's commentary is that every argument in it was made 50 years ago in opposition to child abuse statutes and 50 years before that in opposition to child labor laws.
The senator says he has no problem with listening to government's advice on raising his children, but he will not take its orders on the subject. Nor will he support government intrusion and regulation in areas of parental authority. In his words, that is "a very bright line" he refuses to cross.
Child protection laws, far from being new and dangerous legal concepts, as McClintock asserts, have been around since the days of Teddy Roosevelt. I doubt that even McClintock's most ardent supporters long for the good old days when school attendance was not compelled; parents were free to hire their children out for factory work at age 6 or 7; and Dad could beat them with a two-by-four if they disobeyed. However, that seems to be the state of affairs McClintock is championing.
If I'm wrong on this, I hope McClintock will set aside his very bright line long enough to tell Star readers which government intrusions into parental authority he does support, and, most importantly, how these differ from intrusions he rejects.
— Rick Scott, Ventura
Posted by Andrea Howry at 02:00 PM
Government intrusion
Re: Tom McCintock's Aug 22 commentary, "No substituting for Mom and Dad":
I was fascinated by McClintock’s commentary about the right of parents to decide what is best for their children and how the government should stay out of personal decisions such as seat belts and vaccinations. So, can I expect him to support all reproductive rights legislation facing the California Legislature, given that there is nothing more personal than a woman's right to choose what happens to her body and nothing more intrusive than the government telling her she must bear a child?
It would seem that anyone who so vociferously supports the removal of government regulation and intrusion into personal choices would be a staunch supporter of an equally personal circumstance. Maybe it's time to engage the hypocrisy-meter?
— Susan Bray, Newbury Park
Posted by Andrea Howry at 01:55 PM
Protecting kids a priority
Re: Tom McCintock's Aug 22 commentary, "No substituting for Mom and Dad":
With all due respect, McClintock is utterly off base with respect to his argument about limiting smoking in cars containing children.
Smoking in a car and subjecting the children in it to secondhand smoke is not simply a bad idea, it is potentially a fatal one. We have government to protect people who cannot protect themselves from this sort of abuse. Children in cars cannot get away from the carcinogen inflicted on them. McClintock should support this legislation and stop puffing up about being damned if he’ll take orders from the government.
— Leonard J. Loomis, Thousand Oaks
Posted by Andrea Howry at 01:51 PM
Entitlements in disguise
Re: Terry Paulson’s essays of Aug. 6, “Relying on entitlements,” and Aug. 20, “No ‘sacrifice’ required”:
Paulson should stay away from finance, economics and international relations.
About corporate subsidies for "failing" U.S. businesses, he states that, in the worldwide economy, creative and innovative companies will win without government subsidies. He cites the success of Toyota compared to General Motors Corp. He ignores the fact that GM and other U.S. firms do not compete on a level playing field with foreign companies subsidized by their governments.
In the United States, the cost of labor is the highest single cost of producing goods and services. GM pays $1,800 per car for health insurance for current and retired employees. Toyota pays nothing because of universal healthcare in Japan.
If GM and Toyota charge the same for a comparable vehicle, Toyota starts with a $1,800 profit.
Paulson refers to entitlement programs such as Medicare, Medicaid, disaster relief and potentially national health insurance as "income redistribution" from "haves," such as him, to "have nots," the poor, but really the rest of us. He writes that citizens must again embrace “self-reliance."
Thus, "self-reliant" people will use tax-deductible health savings accounts instead of national health insurance, an "entitlement."
Because Paulson is "self- reliant," he likely can afford a mortgage payment and property taxes, an HSA and business expenses, including conferences he attends and the computer on which he wrote his essays.
Yet, those expenses are tax deductible — "entitlements" he receives, paid by the rest of us.
The Star recently published a UCLA study regarding mandatory health insurance that said, for a Ventura County family of four, a $57,000 annual income was necessary to break even, living in a two-bedroom apartment with no extra money for savings, including healthcare.
Clearly, "entitlements" are bad to Paulson unless he receives them.
— Raymond A. Greenberg, Thousand Oaks
Posted by Andrea Howry at 01:34 PM
National primary bad idea
Re: Richard Larsen’s Aug. 21 essay, “A system running amok”:
While agreeing that we must rein in the primary process, I must take issue with the concept of a national primary.
A single national primary would reduce the number of choices Americans have in choosing the candidate for the most important job in the country. In such a system, only the candidate with the most money and the best ad campaign would ever win or even contemplate running. The current system produces a contrived selection that results in narrowing the field months before a single voter casts a vote or trudges through the snow to meet and caucus. How is it possible that with more than a year before the Democratic and Republican conventions, many are saying the nominating races are already over? If you feel a little excluded by the process now, a national primary would be an even greater farce.
A suggestion would be to adopt a rotating regional primary system. Split the country fairly into regions Northeast, South, Midwest and West and cyclically rotate the first primary region to vote on the second Tuesday of March. The other regions would vote on the second Tuesday of the successive months of April, May and June.
A regional primary system gives voters time to inform themselves of the issues rather than be subject to and barraged by a candidate selling himself like a bar of soap. It would be better to truncate the prolonged and stilted process that we have today, but starting in small states like New Hampshire should be retained and coveted because we need a system that forces candidates to meet, listen and talk to the concerns of real people in order to win their allegiance and their votes.
— Richard J. Lebeck, Thousand Oaks
Posted by Andrea Howry at 01:26 PM
Star wrong to ‘play it safe’
Re: John Moore’s Aug. 19 essay, “Firestorm on sex offender”:
I have concluded that The Star is bureaucratic and inflexible in its editorial policy.
As The Star’s managing editor, Moore is the messenger who delivered just that in writing about sex offender Ross Wollschlager. The message is that The Star will play it safe by not reporting the facts, even though they are a matter of public record. One only needs to Google Wollschlager’s name to find the information.
In stating that The Star would not report Wollschlager’s whereabouts because he had served his time and met the legal criteria for release, Moore avoided saying that it was not a 100 percent opinion of the experts that he was safe to release.
Expert testimony at a judicial hearing stated that because of a mental disorder, Wollschlager suffers from volitional impairment, which means he has difficulty, or an inability, to control his behavior. This was not resolved by serving time in prison and a mental institution.
Experts also agree that some of the most incurable mental disorders are those of pedophiles and sexual offenders, a good reason for apprehension. One should weigh the consequences of not reporting information the public wants, and should have, against that of the philosophy that a debt paid to society is sufficient reason to withhold information.
Yes, The Star knows the “power of full media release of information,” but the other side of this two-bladed sword is that information withheld can be more dangerous than information revealed.
— Leo G. Alvarez, Oxnard
Posted by Andrea Howry at 01:10 PM
August 22, 2007
‘Me first,’ public servants say
Re: Joe R. Howry's Aug. 12 essay, "A firestorm over wages":
Right on! It seems to me that most public employees, including politicians, manage to take pretty good care of themselves financially and in regards to benefits. I am reminded of the old adage of “the fox guarding the henhouse.”
It is hard to point with pride at our “employees,” considering the adversary positions taken by many and their unions.
— Herb Darling, Oxnard
Posted by Andrea Howry at 10:55 AM
Injustice in public service
Re: your Aug. 10 Associated Press article, “Army boosts perks to recruits,” and Frank Moraga’s Aug 10 essay, “Born in East L.A., really”:
An interesting coincidence occurred in The Star’s Aug. 10 issue. The Associated Press article featured new and additional incentives, paid for with our tax dollars, offered young recruit prospects, while Moraga’s essay relates a tragic story of racially motivated injustice by our law enforcers.
It is one thing to provide perks and incentives to naïve Hispanic youngsters; it is another to ask them to serve when the result of their sacrifice leads to support of a system that rewards them with racism and the abuse of their people.
Moraga’s is not the only example of injustice. Double standards of law enforcement are an intricate part of patriotism. It is demonstrated when our district attorney presses vehicular manslaughter-related charges against Randall Painter for killing Beth Dunn, but rewards Oxnard Police Officer Frank Brisslinger with a paid administrative leave for committing the same offense of manslaughter by killing Cindy Conolly on an Oxnard beach.
Military service is an honorable, heroic and patriotic act that is marred by racism and the miscarriage of justice. I hesitate to encourage youngsters, particularly Hispanics, to participate in and support injustice and racism by enlisting in the military under these circumstances.
— Chris Dreyer, Oxnard
Posted by Andrea Howry at 10:52 AM
Requests turned down
Re: Bill Danforth’s Aug. 20 letter, “’My Ventura Access’ works”:
We have not had the good luck of Bill Danforth in making traffic requests of the city of Ventura. When I requested a stop sign on the blind intersection of Sunset Drive and Catalina Street after two near-misses, I was told that they agreed the visibility was a problem, but that the traffic volume didn't justify the expense. Since they are on notice, I am wondering about the expense of the lawsuit if someone is seriously injured entering the intersection from westbound Sunset.
The other request I made was for more handicapped parking on the Main Street block east of California. That was also turned down. I see no reason why the disabled have to make their way down the hill from the city parking lots while the able-bodied can park on the flat, right outside the movies and restaurants. For the merchants, it might cut down on impulse stopping — although anyone driving down Main Street not planning to stop is an idiot — but they would get an increase in disabled shoppers.
— Elinor Hood, Ventura
Posted by Andrea Howry at 10:39 AM
Paying the price of greed
Subprime loans are made to subprime borrowers. It’s just that simple. And across the Southland, people are finding out that it's time to pay the piper.
People who refinanced their home every three to six months were known as churners, churning every bit of unearned equity the red-hot housing market bestowed upon them. And for what? To make ends meet? To pay for the kids’ education? On the contrary, I'm betting it was to pay for that fancy new pickup truck, that new boat or that new motorcycle. I know some folks who purchased all three!
Well, it’s time to pay up, and I'm in the market — ready, willing and able to capitalize on these people’s stupidity. For years, I've sat back in amazement and watched the seemingly never-ending greed play out, wondering when the bottom would fall out. Well, it’s here. Foreclosures and repossessions are up more than 150 percent on a monthly basis now from the corresponding month of years prior.
Personally, I own two homes with one mortgage on each. The total of the two probably is less than a third of what most churners owe on their one property. So here's the deal. If you want out from under that mortgage payment or if those "toy" loans are getting you down, drop me a note. It's bargain basement sale time!
— Tucker Katlin, Oxnard
Posted by Andrea Howry at 10:25 AM
Early learning is critical
Re: your Aug. 16 article, “Test scores show racial achievement gaps”:
It is a recognized fact, as indicated by test results, that there is an “achievement gap” between racial groups. It should be noted that many children enter school with an existing gap. Five-year-olds should enter school with a 5,000-word vocabulary, and yet many of our children do not because of lack of exposure to a literary environment.
This gap must be addressed early in a child’s development. We could accomplish this by enabling all children to attend a quality preschool and by mandating attendance of kindergarten. Thus, we begin closing that achievement gap when children are anxious and ready to learn, rather than labeling them failures because of test scores. We need to take advantage of this “window of opportunity” by offering quality early-learning programs.
— Helen Faul, Camarillo
(The writer is treasurer of the California Kindergarten Association. — Editor)
Posted by Andrea Howry at 10:18 AM
Decaying trees must go
Re: Beverly Kelley's Aug. 20 commentary, “Navy plan to get rid of trees needs a rethink”:
An arborist told the Navy the trees are nearing the end of their lives and are decaying. This is a fact, not a "global-warming-denying," pro-oil, Republican scheme. Should one of those trees come down and damage private property or, worse, injure or kill someone, the Navy would be sued. Because this problem has been identified, the Navy would pay out a lot of money. The city of Port Hueneme would probably also be sued.
It reminds me of a similar story about 15 years ago, The owners of the Jolly Kone in Meiners Oaks wanted to remove an oak tree that was decayed, but a group of people and the county told them no. In the middle of the night, one of the larger branches snapped off and flattened a table beneath the tree. Had this happened during the day, someone would have been injured or killed. The owners would have been sued. The next day the tree was removed and replaced.
I am not anti-trees, but as a taxpayer, I expect the Navy to be fiscally responsible and prevent a potential lawsuit. Will Kelley, the Sierra Club or Wangari Maathai accept liability if one of these trees does fall and causes damage?
Perhaps Kelley and the Sierra Club could advise the Navy on what type of trees to replace them with. They could be replaced with trees indigenous to California.
I remember reading an article in The Star some years ago where an environmentalist group called the eucalyptus tree a "weed.”
Maybe there is another way, but dragging this out over a decade makes no sense to me.
— Mark Scantlin, Santa Paula
Posted by Andrea Howry at 10:06 AM
Be open to healthcare cures
"If it's broke, let's fix it!"
I remember hearing my grandparents use the scare-phrase "socialized medicine" when I was a boy more than 40 years ago, but I don't remember any of my grandparents turning it down when it came in the form of Medicare.
It is my understanding that Medicare works more efficiently than the current managed care system. My brother is a doctor, and he spends most of his time doing paperwork. He primarily delivers babies and is ready to give it up and start removing tattoos. Something is wrong with that picture.
It is time we all realize that it is just plain wrong to try and increase hospital profits by making medical care a scarcer commodity. It is just plain wrong for an HMO bean-counter to tell a doctor that a procedure he recommends is not necessary. And it is just plain wrong to be stuck in an emergency room because there are no beds available at our own local hospital on a Monday afternoon in August, as happened to my wife’s friend.
Let's not let scare-talk frighten us from doing what's right about our healthcare system. Let's keep an open mind and a civil tongue.
— Michael Preddy, Westlake Village
Posted by Andrea Howry at 09:49 AM
Botched counterinsurgency
Re: Clifford D. May’s Aug. 20 commentary, “It’s getting harder to overlook Petraeus’ progress”:
May needs to realize that we are not fighting a "war" in Iraq. We are fighting a counterinsurgency that we have permanently botched.
Commanders from Napoleon Bonaparte onward have written volumes about the differences. Counterinsurgencies must avoid killing, gain respect and restore peace and normal commerce. But if the guerrillas have popular support, they can resist until the occupiers are bled white and go home.
Have we restored peace and normal commerce? Hardly. We have destroyed Iraq as a functioning state and started a civil war, all as predicted by George H.W. Bush. This fiasco has been described as the worst military blunder in 2,000 years by Martin van Creveld, Israel’s leading military historian and an adviser at West Point Academy, because its failure was so foreseeable, its warnings so clear and its consequences so disastrous. It has been described as "mind-boggling incompetence" by The Economist magazine.
The costs are staggering and will exceed $2 trillion, as calculated by Professor Linda Bilmes of Harvard and economist Joseph Stiglitz, a Nobel Prize winner. That exceeds the cost of World War I and World War II combined, adjusting for inflation. It has all been borrowed, mostly from the Chinese, to whom we owe $1.3 trillion already.
Fighting counterinsurgencies in their empire bled the British dry. The British left Iraq in 1932. No matter how much lipstick Gen. David Petraeus puts on the pig, we too will leave when we finally realize the high cost of cheap oil. Have you ever wondered why the British Empire is no longer on the map?
— Raymond Freeman, Thousand Oaks
Posted by Andrea Howry at 09:44 AM
Lose trees, lose oxygen
Re: Beverly Kelley’s Aug. 20 commentary, “Navy plan to get rid of trees needs a rethink”:
Finally, someone with a few brain cells gives the other side of "global warming." I greatly appreciated Kelley's commentary.
Why not take advantage of the system God placed in action in creating the world? The only aspect of nature that uses carbon dioxide and, in turn, produces oxygen is plants — trees.
In my 80-plus years of observation of life, I have seen forests, woodlands, groves of trees and individual trees systematically removed from the landscape all across the United States. Is it any wonder that when all those carbon dioxide absorbers are removed, the carbon dioxide in the air increases?
Kelley's commentary should be expanded upon and broadcast widely. Let's get something positive going instead of hyping Al Gore's blabber.
— Jean Nepsund, Westlake Village
Posted by Andrea Howry at 09:40 AM
Fair coverage wasn’t Angelic
It didn’t seem like “fair time” without in-depth coverage and photos of George Christie defending his right to wear his Hells Angel clothes to the fair. Who gave in, the Hells Angels or The Star?
— Mike Fargo, Moorpark
Posted by Andrea Howry at 09:35 AM
August 20, 2007
English only, please
I am a fairly new subscriber and have been enjoying reading The Star. However, the other day, I eagerly opened the magazine insert called "Vista" and could not read much of it due to the fact that it was written in Spanish! Gee, I could have sworn that I lived in the good ol' USA, where English is our spoken language! Isn't English is the official language of the United States of America?
I want to keep my subscription, but I don’t want any sections that are written in a foreign language.
— Marganne Winter Oxley, Ojai
Posted by Andrea Howry at 01:18 PM
Tip of the iceberg
Re: your Aug. 17 article, “ACE program to offer healthcare for uninsured”:
Isn’t the Access Coverage Enrollment Program just one more step toward taxpayer-funded nationalized healthcare, also known as welfare? According to the article, it will be a Ventura County program funded initially with a $30 million federal grant obtained via the California Department of Health Services.
Is this just the tip of a huge iceberg? Ten counties in the state each receive initial grants to pay for the next three years — and then what? Maybe national healthcare managed at the local level.
— Don Wells, Ventura
Posted by Andrea Howry at 01:11 PM
Penal colony’s the answer
It seems that there are very few places in Ventura County or any other county within any city limits where it is legal for any convicted sexual predator to live. The law states a minimum of 2,000 feet — almost half a mile — from any school, church, park or other place children may congregate. Personally, I have no sympathy for any of these people, but short of them living in a riverbed or back in jail, no one has come up with a good place for them to live.
Here's my suggestion. Start a penal colony (a la Australia in 1700) somewhere out in the country where all paroled molesters would be forced to go. I am sure there are many skilled positions among them — carpenters, teachers, lawyers, mechanics, etc. — to make a fairly complete society. The state could contract out any needed services, such as medical and dental care. They wouldn't have to worry about neighbors, and society wouldn't have to worry about them. It would be cheaper for the state to build apartments and a few stores than to put them back in jail, and, with modern GPS systems, it would be easy to keep track of them. All supplies could be brought in via trucks with armed guards. Eventually, if placed in the right spot, it could become a self-sufficient entity.
The only question would this be whether to make it a coed society. If it were to be coed, there would eventually be children who would have to be taken from their parents — that is, unless all inhabitants, both male and female, were sterilized.
I am not sure of the right answer, but something needs to be done for the safety of society and a stable living experience for the parolees.
— Dan B. Kaufman, Ventura
Posted by Andrea Howry at 01:04 PM
Bottom line on the budget
I keep looking for the whole truth about the California budget and don’t seem to be able to get it.
As I understand it, the Democrats in the Legislature have crafted a budget that is illegal. The Republicans have, for the most part, refused to sign on to it, and the governor says, “Sign on to the illegal budget and I’ll fix it later.” In the meantime, the Democrats have said, “We don’t care that the budget is illegal, we’re going on vacation.”
Now as far as I can find out, it is illegal for California to have a budget that is not balanced. And even with the most optimistic of dreams, the budget pushed by the Democrats is not balanced. It seems, then, that the Democrats are pushing for the state to break the law. Why is this not the number one subject on the front page? Is it because it makes the Democrats look bad?
— James May, Simi Valley
Posted by Andrea Howry at 12:53 PM
Mosque visit an eye-opener
We are so pleased we attended Sunday’s open house at the mosque in Newbury Park. It was reassuring to meet dozens of men and women of the Muslim faith who are totally against all the terrorist attacks against civilians, including women and children, by members of their faith. In fact, because their holy book, the Quran, forbids violence against civilians, they do not regard the terrorists as fellow Muslims.
We found the leaders of the mosque to be open-minded and comfortable answering every question by the many visitors from our community. While opposed to the violence of extremist Muslims, they feel powerless to effect change in the Middle East.
We commended the mosque leaders for creating an opportunity for dialogue between neighbors of different faiths who