PUBLIC FORUM BUSINESS STRANGLEHOLD.Re ``Just maybe we need a conservative,'' (Viewpoint, Aug. 17): Chris Weinkopf maligns Gov. Gray Davis for having sold his soul to the unions and states that the unions have a ``stranglehold on state government.'' To deny union members and working Americans a strong voice would only serve to return this country to a time when there were no working family rights, similar to when robber barons Robber Barons A disparaging term dating back to the 12th century which refers to: 1) Unscrupulous feudal lords who amassed personal fortunes by using illegal and immoral business practices, such as illegally charging tolls to merchant ships that passed ran this country a hundred years ago. Perhaps Weinkopf would prefer that only corporate Americans have a political voice, such as President Bush's cronies at Enron. When you consider they are the root cause of the energy crisis that has plagued California and the governor for the past year and a half, perhaps the unions do not exert the stranglehold he seems to feel we have on our state. - Ross Bacon Simi Valley Simi Valley (sē`mē, sĭm`ē), city (1990 pop. 100,217), Ventura co., SW Calif. in an oil, fruit, and farm region; laid out 1887, inc. 1969. A mere mortal How naive can Herbert Auerbach be (Your Opinions, Aug. 15) to say actor Arnold Schwarzenegger Arnold Alois Schwarzenegger (German pronunciation (IPA): [ˈaɐ̯nɔlt ˈaloɪ̯s ˈʃvaɐ̯ʦənˌʔɛɡɐ] ``tells it the way it is''? In the first place he hasn't said anything yet. His supporters must be projecting his fictional hero image onto the real man who is now, through the magic of acting, a mere mortal politician exactly like all others. Like Gov. Davis, Schwarzenegger would be rendered ineffective by the state Legislature's machinations, as is King George King George has referred to many kings throughout history. When used, by Americans, without further reference it most often means George III of the United Kingdom, against whom the Whigs of the American Revolution rebelled. Jr. Schwarzenegger is motivated by personal lust for power (boasting he'll owe nothing to anyone if elected). Like Angeline he's never even served as dog catcher. This doesn't qualify him as a ``breath of fresh air.'' It qualifies him as an impostor. - Bob Deluca Calabasas Election alternatives You are so very right in saying, ``Taxpayers will need to stand up strong against this assault'' on Proposition 13 (``Taxpayers under attack'' Editorial, Aug 16). But the real question is how to take such a stand. The answer is simple: Stop electing the politicians who keep attacking us poor taxpayers. In other words Adv. 1. in other words - otherwise stated; "in other words, we are broke" put differently , stop electing Democrats and Republicans, and elect Libertarians instead. - Bradley Bobbs Calabasas Cooley responds Re ``Of `Dogs' and cop killers'' (Editorial, Aug. 14): The Daily News correctly states that Mexico has little standing in demanding the extradition of American bounty hunter Name for a category of persons who are offered a promised gratuity in return for "hunting" down and capturing or killing a designated target, usually a person or animal. Duane ``Dog'' Chapman, who nabbed fugitive rapist Andrew Luster Andrew Stuart Luster (b. December 15, 1963) is the great-grandson of cosmetics giant Max Factor, Sr. and an heir to the Max Factor cosmetics fortune who was convicted of a series of rapes in 2003. For much of his life, he was supported by a $3. . Chapman's situation is a minor distraction from the real issue that Mexico wishes would go away. Here's the real issue: Mexico's failure to extradite ex·tra·dite v. ex·tra·dit·ed, ex·tra·dit·ing, ex·tra·dites v.tr. 1. To give up or deliver (a fugitive, for example) to the legal jurisdiction of another government or authority. 2. accused cop-killer Armando Garcia, wanted for killing Sheriff's deputy David March last year and Mexico's refusal to extradite hundreds of others alleged to have committed murder on American soil who then fled to Mexico to escape American justice. Soon after my election, I met with Attorney General John Ashcroft in Washington. I complained to him that any ability to extradite in potential life sentence cases had been effectively eliminated by a 2001 Mexican Supreme Court decision. Ashcroft's promises then have been just that. The U.S. Justice Department, the U.S. State Department and the White House have done little or nothing to make extradition a top priority. I will continue to raise this issue of extradition injustice and urge a change in Mexican law and enforcement of our country's extradition treaty. I hope those with the power to do something about these issues will listen. The real crime here is not bounty hunting for criminals but the failure to bring the most serious criminals to justice. - Steve Cooley District Attorney Los Angeles County It's the same as water George Bush urges power standards involving electricity - how about a standard in the price of gasoline? In the recent sniper shooting in West Virginia at a Shell Gas station, the price for regular was $1.55. The same gas station in Sylmar and other competing gas stations in the area are charging $1.95. Our vice president announced some time back that he checked into the price of gasoline and he did not see any gouging Gouging can be:
- Frank Jacobs Sylmar Borderline issues Re ``Memo: Arrests OK only at border'' (Aug. 14) and ``Of `Dogs' and cop killers'' (Editorial, Aug. 14): Are we governed by Mexican law or has California seceded to Mexico? We cannot use our federal immigration immigration, entrance of a person (an alien) into a new country for the purpose of establishing permanent residence. Motives for immigration, like those for migration generally, are often economic, although religious or political factors may be very important. bureau to do its job. Now we are controlled by a Mexican consulate to tell where and not to be vigilant. Meanwhile, thousands of illegals in this state are taking our benefits. When we ask Mexico to turn over the criminals who killed on our land, they just laugh. I suppose I have to move to the East to maintain my status as an American. - John Reyes Los Angeles College funding For one, I am disappointed with our San Fernando Valley San Fernando Valley Valley, southern California, U.S. Northwest of central Los Angeles, the valley is bounded by the San Gabriel, Santa Susana, and Santa Monica mountains and the Simi Hills. state legislators as well as our governor for passing the budget buck. Our state public servants again fail to fully fund our three local community colleges - Mission, Valley and Pierce. I also trust that the Los Angeles Community College Board of Trustees board of trustees Politics The posse of thugs who oversee an institution's administration. See Board of directors. and their lobbyists can positively influence this ``quick-fix'' budget. Certainly, students, faculty, Valley voters and residents will long remember this reprehensible rep·re·hen·si·ble adj. Deserving rebuke or censure; blameworthy. See Synonyms at blameworthy. [Middle English, from Old French, from Late Latin repreh more-students-and-fewer-classes mess. - J.B. ``Jerry'' Domine Winnetka Four years and out When the president, sitting in his expensive ranch in Texas, says he's satisfied with the economy, our war on terrorism Terrorist acts and the threat of Terrorism have occupied the various law enforcement agencies in the U.S. government for many years. The Anti-Terrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act of 1996, as amended by the usa patriot act , etc., I shake my head in disbelief. Unemployment is at an all-time high, gas prices are up, home prices are sky-rocketing - he seems oblivious to the needs of the middle class, low-income earners and the elderly. Our involvement in Iraq, and now in Liberia, is making a bad situation even worse. I've seen and heard enough - four years and out, Mr. Bush. You and Gray Davis should compare notes. - Gary Traxler Camarillo Losing jobs In two Aug. 11 Money & Careers articles, Ken Lloyd and Gregg Fields wrote about job losses not only in California but also the nation. Sure, some of it can be attributed to NAFTA NAFTA in full North American Free Trade Agreement Trade pact signed by Canada, the U.S., and Mexico in 1992, which took effect in 1994. Inspired by the success of the European Community in reducing trade barriers among its members, NAFTA created the world's , which sent all the jobs to Third World countries (as Ross Perot so aptly stated, and everyone scoffed at his phrase, ``Giant sucking sound The "giant sucking sound" was United States Presidential candidate Ross Perot's colorful phrase for what he believed would be the negative effects of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), which he opposed. The phrase, coined during the 1992 U.S. of jobs leaving the U.S.''). Well, neither author mentioned the fact you will never reduce the unemployment level as long as you have unlimited immigration, both legal and illegal. If you are losing 300,000 to 400,000 jobs a year and still allowing 1 million immigrants into this country, the unemployment picture will only get worse. - Clovis Kerr Castaic Driving and voting So, Gray Davis and Chief William Bratton want to give illegal aliens a valid California driver's license? Bratton states, ``If more drivers are licensed they'll be less likely to flee accident scenes.'' Nonsense. The people who commit hit-and-runs will continue to run, regardless. Driving without a license in California has basically no consequences. You want to stop hit-and-run drivers? Put each one in jail for a significant amount of time when caught. If they kill someone, they are in jail for life. If they kill someone while running from police, they earn the death penalty. Enforce that and watch what happens. Also, when you register to vote, acceptable identification is a driver's license? So, with this law, we'll have foreigners who are here illegally and voting. - Jerry Schwartz Granada Hills |
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