PUBLIC FORUM : SELL WAR BONDS.

I am extremely against Social Security funds being spent on the Kosovo war. If congress believes the American people want this war, let them try to sell Kosovo-Clinton war bonds.

- Arne Pearson

Lancaster

Fighting gas prices

The gas companies are laughing at us, the poor oppressed consumers. The one day ``gas-out'' was a well-meaning gesture but doomed to have no effect in the long run. We must stop acting like sheep, ready to be shorn. I say strike back, act forcibly and hit them where it hurts - right in the wallet.

I suggest that we, the drivers of California, keep our gas tanks no more than half full, no more. Let the rest of the fuel back up into the company storage tanks. When the gas companies' inventories begin to grow and these storage tanks begin to bulge, we may hear moans and sobbing instead of laughter spewing out of their corporate offices. Eventually the prices will be forced to drop and we Americans can take charge of our own destiny.

- William Tulin

Reseda

Guerrilla gas war

While one day ``gas-out'' might not have much effect on oil companies because motorists would buy gas the day before or the day after, boycotting one single oil company at a time would have a more positive result. You see, to win customers back, the company that's being boycotted would lower its gas prices. Motorists then switch to that company and boycott the other, which would then lower its gas prices too.

- Julian T. Nguyen

Reseda

A special mom

I just finished reading the letters from the Kids' Daily News (L.A. Life, May 4) about what makes moms so special any day and I was so touched by 9-year-old Adam Edelman's letter.

Instead of saying that his mom did this and that for him he talked about how his mother was diagnosed with breast cancer last summer. He talked about how she made it through that time but now she has liver cancer. Here is a young boy with a mother who is fighting for her life and he knows that his mother is special just because she is. Renee Edelman you have done a fantastic job in raising your son and my prayers are with you.

- Audrey Moore

Palmdale

Challenge to Hayden

I am 80 years old and I have a proposition for Tom Hayden. I will arm-wrestle him and the loser will have to take a ``road test''!

- Zachary A. Charles

Burbank

Get to work

Re ``The L.A. Globetrotters'' (Daily News, April 29). I agree with Kris Vosberg that our City Council should be upfront when they take vacations at our expense.

City Council President John Ferraro and Joel Wachs' visit to London for a ribbon cutting to open an office for the Visitors Bureau is pretty far removed from the problems here at home. That $150,000 would go a long way toward repairing our sidewalks and potholed streets here in Sunland-Tujunga.

Joel Wachs, chairman of the Governmental Efficiency Committee, should have risen above everyone else and known that every dollar of our taxpayer money should be spent wisely on the infrastructure of L.A., not enjoying themselves at our expense.

We need help, not platitudes. Those six council members should be at home in their respective communities, conducting meetings with their constituents, finding and solving problems, not off traipsing around the world at our expense.

- John Bunte

Sunland

Nice jobs

In reference to L.A.'s AWOL Council. Where can you obtain employment with the following benefits: lax attendance, no penalties for being absent and still collect over $107,000.00 in salary? The salary does not include official vacation tax paid by taxpayers.

No wonder L.A. residents are refusing to approve new bonds and taxes. I don't blame them.

Six members were abroad on city trips and they say the trips were required to allow them time to study the mayor's budget proposal. It's an insult to L.A. taxpayers. What's wrong with doing the study in L.A. County, since the budget proposal deals with the county. Are the council members saying that it is not safe to be in L.A. to study the mayor's proposal, so they leave town to be safe.

Well, L.A., you voted for the dinosaur, so live with it, or in the next election vote them out.

- Edwin A. Rodriguez

Rosamond

Short memories

Re ``Voters will remember'' (Public Forum, April 20):

Gray Davis has nothing to worry about concerning his nonsupport of the Proposition 187 appeal in court. I reference Gov. ``Moonbeam'' Jerry Brown who refused to enforce the death penalty initiative during his first term as governor. Though it passed by a larger majority than Proposition 187, Brown wasn't affected by his defiance and was re-elected. The voters forgot

And what about the ballot initiative that was voted in by our keen electorate that allowed the state of California to spend the previously untouchable gasoline tax for rapid transit ``research.'' Now the electorate complains about the sad shape of our roads today. Our roads used to be the best in the country. Now what have we got?

- Tom Ordway

Granada Hills

Raise enlistment age

One of the solutions proposed by our illustrious leader in the wake of the shootings in Colorado is to restrict gun buying until an individual turns 21 years of age. I would suggest to our imperious leader that he roll back the involuntary registration and subsequent enlistment age to 21 as well.

Since our wonderful leader was never constrained by honorable service in our outstanding military, it follows that he would not have a clue that in basic training in all branches, firearms training comes almost immediately, and at the tender age of 18. As to the socialist solution for victim disarmament, hey, you don't have to own a gun. In fact I recommend that you place a large sign on your front yard stating: ``This is a gun-free home.''

- Daniel Taylor

Tujunga

Try parent control

Re Rachel A. Morgan's letter (Public Forum, May 1). The Brady Bill is nationwide, not only in California and it really hasn't worked. The National Rifle Association's procedure of instant search is a much better method. As for the need to ban all assault and junk guns, who will turn in these guns, the bad guys, you think? Locks are useless, as after the purchase with locks required, the locks will be thrown out.

What we need is people and parent controls. Many years ago when Jerry Brown was governor, he passed a bill, ``Use a gun, go to jail.'' It has been disregarded by the courts and the lawyers and district attorneys who plea bargain. Every one wants to blame the guns and the NRA. Whom do you think it is that teaches gun safety, the NRA and no one else.

- Albert Martellaro

Van Nuys

What violation?

Aaron Levinson of the Anti-Defamation League criticizes school voucher proposals (Public Forum, May 3). Levinson says that voucher programs ``violate the First Amendment's proscription against church-state involvement.'' Of course, we've all heard this before, but nobody has adequately explained to me how that could be.

The First Amendment states that the government cannot establish a state religion and cannot interfere with a person's right to worship as he or she chooses. That's it. How is giving a voucher to a parent and saying, ``send your child to the school of your choice,'' a violation of the First Amendment? Levinson argues that a voucher program would siphon away the public schools' need to serve their educational mandate. Does anyone remember when California schools were No. 1 in the nation? Now they rank near the bottom of the ladder. Public schools have already failed to deliver on their educational mandate.

- Stephen Lucas

Woodland Hills

Pierce College plan

With all the controversy over the use of the Pierce College property, why not try this concept? Convert the property into a beautiful community park with grass, trees and a small lake stocked with small fish, such as white crappie. Around and through the park and part of the campus would run bridle trails for horseback riding. At one end of the land would be a double-tiered golf driving range.

The park and the animals could be primarily maintained and cared for by the Pierce students, thus learning land management, conservation, the judicious use of resources, animal husbandry and a whole host of other educational rewards.

Pierce College would make substantial gains monetarily by horse rentals, driving range fees and parking fees. Children, as well as adults, could enjoy a day of fishing and relaxing. The Canada geese will have their place to return to.

With this concept, the community, the college, the students, the golfers, the animals, both wild and domestic, will benefit.

- Louis Thompson

Woodland Hills

Educational abuse

In light of the recent Littleton, Colo., tragedy, I thought the general public might be interested in the shenanigans our own state government is up to. In May there was an Assembly Bill 804 that, due to public outcry, has been shelved until they can slip it through unnoticed later in the year.

This bill is called the ``educational abuse'' law, where anyone suspected of ``educationally abusing'' or neglecting their children are subject to the same penalties as those who physically abuse their children (i.e., children removed from their home, fines and even jail sentences).

We already have many and sufficient truancy laws and a mandatory education law in effect make this bill redundant and unnecessary, not to mention possibly dangerous. What about the teachers and school board members that may be subject to ridiculous lawsuits by disgruntled parents who think that the schools are guilty of educational neglect or abuse.

Then there is the home-school community who will be harassed for no reason; since their test scores consistently beat those of the public schools, not to mention that a child who is home-schooled is not in danger of guns and bombs and the only knives are those mom uses to fix dinner with.

- Janet Willingham

Simi Valley