PUBLIC FORUM DOCK LOCKOUT.

Re ``Idleness at ports has firms on edge'' (Oct. 1):

The strike cannot last long as the politicians get their money and backing from the unions. No union income, no donations. Why have dock workers at all? In a number of countries the docks are worked completely by computer, operated by one man and service people. Today most warehouses are operated by computer. Press a code, and an automatic basket goes to the selected spot, picks up the part and delivers it for shipping.

I wish the USA were as progressive as other countries, but of course the nation cannot be because the unions would stop any change. And now is the time not to buy imported goods, since they're not coming in, and to buy American.

- Charles Dusheck

Chatsworth

Police League ads

The recent TV ads by the Los Angeles Police Protective League are so misleading that I have to think the majority of honest policemen are embarrassed. It is typical that the anti-secessionists are creating confusion and using fear to scare voters into thinking that secession will bring less police protection.

Wake up, Valley voters, and realize that there are already more police protecting the other side of the hill than are serving the Valley. With our own city, we can hire our own entire police force to protect all of us. If you believe the police ads, then you should ask downtown: Have all the police already disappeared?

- J. Ming

Granada Hills

Changing the system

After reading about the ``LAUSD exit-exam flop'' (Oct. 1), I disagree with Roy Romer's statement that he cannot ``change the system in a day.'' I believe he can.

As was the case in my school, Romer should start with changing the grading policy of A, B, C, D or F. You either know your subject material or you don't. No in between. No exceptions.

- Paul A. Rosales

Lancaster

Dirtier campaigns

Bruce L. Bialosky is correct that Proposition 52 won't solve the low voter-turnout problem (``Easier registration won't bring more voters,'' Opinion, Oct. 2). But he misses the worst effect that this measure will have - dirty, deceptive, highly emotional campaigns. Campaigns have become dirtier and more fraught with emotion in the past few decades, and Proposition 52 will only raise that to a fever pitch.

We need more informed voters, voters who care enough to read the literature and study the issues. Not voters who don't care until the very bright advertising people who run modern campaigns insert an emotional appeal in the last days before the election, when it is too late for any counterarguments and too late to refute lies.

- Sandi Webb

Simi Valley 

Commuter rail system

Re ``More subway madness'' (Editorial, Sept. 27):

Los Angeles County is still struggling from a lack of job growth. Local employment is still below the 1990 level. The county desperately needs to attract new businesses to provide work for its residents. One essential element missing, which makes Los Angeles County a less-desirable place for business, is the lack of a good countywide public transportation system - specifically, one that does not eat up valuable land, pollute or create constant gridlock.

We desperately need an extensive commuter rail system to become competitive, and we must not let NIMBYism or parochial conflict keep us from providing our citizens with a world-class mass-transit system.

- Peter Force

Venice

Gradual separation

Re ``Separated twin moved to own room'' (Sept. 28):

I'm disturbed about news that one of the previously conjoined-at-the-head twins was placed in a private room. It was emotionally and physically traumatic enough for them to be separated from the only life they'd known - namely, the crying, babbling and other awareness of each other.

I have no medical background - only extensive knowledge of child development - but the brilliant surgeons who performed this operation are missing this important aspect of the twins' emotional health and recovery. Someone with influence: Help to get that baby back with her sister pronto. Any separation needs to be very gradual.

- Mary Reeves

Panorama City

Strike on the Saudis

The administration is making a big thing now about the Iraq/al-Qaida connection. Without having any access to intelligence dossiers, I would venture to say that more al-Qaida are in Saudi Arabia. Why not a pre- emptive strike on the Saudis? I guess not. They're the fair-weather friends of Kings George I and II.

- Lucien A. Moquin

Van Nuys

Reprehensible analogy

Re ``Seemed inappropriate'' (Public Forum, Oct. 2):

What ``seemed inappropriate'' was that you would choose to publish William Brady's letter. Even though editorial letters reflect the opinions of the readers, the Daily News has a responsibility not to foment hatred and anti-Semitism and anti-Israeli feelings.

Recently, in a wave of anti-Semitism across the world, it has become popular with Jew haters to equate Ariel Sharon with Adolf Hitler and to trivialize the horrific events that occurred in Germany in the 1930s and 1940s. To associate the president of the United States and the prime minister of Israel with Hitler is reprehensible.

- Marsha Roseman

Van Nuys

Quitter never loses

Re ``New Jersey loss could cost Democrats control of Senate'' (Oct. 1):

The essence of Bob Torricelli's speech on Monday: You cannot be called a failure if you quit before the finish line.

It didn't seem that Bob had a problem being the guy who is responsible for helping Democrats control the Senate, which could be said about any Democrat in the Senate, given the Democrats' one-vote majority. Now that his campaign, which was once winning, is now losing, he says, ``I will not be responsible for the loss of the Democratic majority in the United States Senate'' - and he quits. Bob should take his ball and go home - and stay there with all the other whiners and quitters.

- Mark A. Butterworth

Palmdale

Defining moment

Re ``Ex-senator agrees to run for N.J. seat'' (Oct. 2):

I guess we all get to sit and wait to see if the New Jersey Democrat Supreme Court justices are willing to display their corruptness and foolishness as readily as the Florida Supreme Court did.

From the press conferences put on by the Jersey Democrats, it seems they expect the judges to write new election law in their favor. I like it, though. It's always refreshing when people define themselves.

- Michael Hannin

Oxnard

Question of confidence

In response to Mary Brown's concern (Public Forum, Oct. 2) about President George W. Bush's mispronouncing the word ``nuclear'': I would have had more confidence in President Clinton if he were smart enough to understand the definition of the word ``is.''

- Mary L. Castrillo

Granada Hills

Speaking of whitewash 

Re Zephirin Hymel's Sept. 27 Public Forum letter regarding whitewashing:

It seems to me no one has had the whitewash treatment more than Bill Clinton - by Democrats and the left-wing media who love liberal politicians. You are assigning an inordinate amount of power to talk radio.

- Les Lannom

Sylmar