PUBLIC FORUM GREENSPAN'S DOING.Re ``Fighting Inflation'' (Public Forum, Feb. 23): Marc Zoolman attributes inflation to various private sector costs such as wages and bonuses, low unemployment and production costs. I quote: ``Rates are being raised to head off inflation caused by rising prices in the private sector.'' This confuses cause with effect. Webster's defines inflation as ``an increase in the volume of money and credit relative to available goods resulting in a substantial and continuing rise in the general price level.'' It would seem as though the private sector responds to sustained increases in the money supply by raising prices. How does the money supply increase or decrease? Could it be Zoolman's proactive Alan Greenspan Alan Greenspan Dr. Greenspan is Chairman of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System. Dr. Greenspan also serves as Chairman of the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC), the Fed's principal monetary policymaking body. and the Federal Reserve? I think so. Greenspan can influence prices via manipulation of the money supply. Just don't lay blame at the feet of the private sector. It has a hard enough time pulling the cart as it is. - David Fortin Apple Valley Drinking water drinking water supply of water available to animals for drinking supplied via nipples, in troughs, dams, ponds and larger natural water sources; an insufficient supply leads to dehydration; it can be the source of infection, e.g. leptospirosis, salmonellosis, or of poisoning, e.g. standards ``Danger in L.A. water,'' the Feb. 25 Daily News story on arsenic may leave the false impression that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), independent agency of the U.S. government, with headquarters in Washington, D.C. It was established in 1970 to reduce and control air and water pollution, noise pollution, and radiation and to ensure the safe handling and is not acting forcefully enough to reduce arsenic in America's drinking water. EPA EPA eicosapentaenoic acid. EPA abbr. eicosapentaenoic acid EPA, n.pr See acid, eicosapentaenoic. EPA, n. considers safe drinking water to be one of its top priorities. That is especially the case in regards to arsenic, a known carcinogen carcinogen: see cancer. carcinogen Agent that can cause cancer. Exposure to one or more carcinogens, including certain chemicals, radiation, and certain viruses, can initiate cancer under conditions not completely understood. that affects the water supply of many communities in the West. EPA has drafted a tough new standard to reduce the permissible level of arsenic in drinking water from 50 parts per billion to 5 parts per billion. The proposal is being reviewed by the Office of Management and Budget The Office of Management and Budget (OMB), formerly the Bureau of the Budget, is an agency of the federal government that evaluates, formulates, and coordinates management procedures and program objectives within and among departments and agencies of the Executive Branch. in Washington, D.C., and we expect to put it out for public review in April or May. By following this schedule, EPA will meet the congressional deadline of Jan. 1, 2001 for having a new, more effective arsenic standard in place - and Americans will enjoy safer drinking water supplies. The EPA Safe Drinking Water office may be contacted at (415) 744-1884. - Alexis Strauss Director, Water Division Environmental Protection Agency Rosie was offensive I agree with Marilyn Dalrymple (Public Forum Feb. 28), there must be many accomplished female doctors, scientists, businesswomen, etc. deserving of a Daily News front page, however, I was not offended by Jennifer Lopez. While perhaps shocking, you have to admit, Jennifer Lopez looked absolutely beautiful at the Grammys. She carried herself like a work of art, a Michelangelo, or the Venus de Milo Venus de Milo armless statue of pulchritudinous goddess. [Gk. Art: Brewer Dictionary, 1126] See : Beauty, Feminine Venus de Milo classic sculpture, discovered in 1820 with arms missing. [Gk. . What was truly offensive and ugly at the Grammys was Rosie O'Donnell and her mean-spirited comments. In the world of achievement it is always better to judge people by their accomplishments rather than appearance. In the world of art, I would much prefer the beauty of Jennifer Lopez to the ugliness of Rosie's humor. - Michael Guetzow Woodland Hills Try a mirror I saw the photos of the Grammy Awards Grammy Awards Annual awards given by the Recording Academy (officially the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences). The first Grammies (the name is a dimunitive of “gramophone”) were given in 1958. in the Daily News (Feb. 25). These people that attend, don't they look in a mirror before leaving home. Go Go Dolls looked like hobos, Jennifer Lopez with a curtain half wrapped around her, etc. What are the respectfully dressed doing about this? I'm sure they don't want to be seen near them. I do hope just our respectable people will be at the Oscars. - Valerie Hendrix Pacoima State's rights Re Prop. 22: States ought to determine for themselves the types of union they will recognize as a marital relationship Noun 1. marital relationship - the relationship between wife and husband marital bed family relationship, kinship, relationship - (anthropology) relatedness or connection by blood or marriage or adoption . States ought to decide for themselves the benefits they will or won't extend to same-sex relationships from the complement of benefits which accompany marital status marital status, n the legal standing of a person in regard to his or her marriage state. in each state. Current law in California leaves open the certainty that our state will be subjected one day to claims invalid in California but for the fallout from another jurisdiction's legislative processes. This is not right. Vote yes on Prop 22. - Graig Larsen Thousand Oaks Thousand Oaks, residential city (1990 pop. 104,352), Ventura co., S Calif., in a farm area; inc. 1964. Avocados, citrus, vegetables, strawberries, and nursery products are grown. Matter of morality Some portray legalization LEGALIZATION. The act of making lawful. 2. By legalization, is also understood the act by which a judge or competent officer authenticates a record, or other matter, in order that the same may be lawfully read in evidence. Vide Authentication. of so-called same-sex marriage Noun 1. same-sex marriage - two people of the same sex who live together as a family; "the legal status of same-sex marriages has been hotly debated" couple, twosome, duet, duo - a pair who associate with one another; "the engaged couple"; "an inseparable as a civil right. This is not a matter of civil rights; it is a matter of morality. The belief in defining this sacred institution, by working to preserve traditional marriage, lies clearly within our religious and constitutional prerogatives. There is no justification to redefine what marriage is; such is not our right, and those who try will find themselves answerable an·swer·a·ble adj. 1. Subject to being called to answer; accountable. See Synonyms at responsible. 2. That can be answered or refuted: an answerable charge. 3. to God. - Carolyn Madigan Chatsworth Unnecessary proposal How saddened I was to read the Daily News Editorial supporting Prop. 22. This is not about protecting marriage. Same-sex marriage is illegal now, and will be if Prop. 22 passes. Proposition 22 is an unnecessary proposal designed to foster discrimination toward one group of individuals. I hope people will see through this mean-spirited proposal and vote no on Proposition 22. - Steven Afriat Sherman Oaks Reaffirming marriage Thanks for your editorial ``Supporting marriage'' (Feb. 28). I thought that you placed the right emphasis on this proposition: ``. . . reaffirming marriage as it has been and continues to be defined in our culture.'' This is not an anti-Gay initiative - it is a pro-marriage initiative. You added a ray of light to those who support Prop. 22. - B. Jones Canoga Park The right thing I admire your courage and integrity to voice the editorial ``Supporting marriage'' (Feb. 28). Nobody has yet expressed the whole truth better than you did in your editorial. Gov. Gray Davis and many other politicians and business people switched their opinion for their political and financial gains. I am sure all your readers know that you have said the right thing. - InSoon Lee West Hills Examine your hearts In regard to your editorial on Prop. 22 (Feb. 28th): How does granting these rights to same sex couples affect the rights of heterosexual couples? It doesn't. It's bigotry Bigotry See also Anti-Semitism. Beaumanoir, Sir Lucas de prejudiced ascetic; Grand Master of Templars. [Br. Lit.: Ivanhoe] Bunker, Archie middle-aged bigot in television series. and if Prop. 22 stated that marriage could only be between a man and woman of the same race or religion, you would rightfully denounce it. I urge your readers to examine their hearts, think of a relative or friend who may be in a same-gender relationship and build a bridge from their heart into the protection of our laws. Vote no on Prop. 22. - Paula Goldberg Los Angeles Los Angeles (lôs ăn`jələs, lŏs, ăn`jəlēz'), city (1990 pop. 3,485,398), seat of Los Angeles co., S Calif.; inc. 1850. You vote, you pay I agree with Linda Storli's letter ``One man, one vote'' (Public Forum, Feb. 20), if it also meant you vote, you pay for it. It seems unconstitutional to me to have a majority vote to raise the taxes that only some pay. That's exactly what will happen if Prop. 26 passes. A simple majority vote instead of the two-thirds protection we have now for passing school bonds will be able to raise taxes for which only property owners pay for. You can believe it won't stop there. - Pam Konyk Van Nuys Who gets the tab? One item that is not really emphasized too much on Prop. 26 is that it's the homeowners who receive property tax bills from the county; renters do not. So, guess who picks up the tab. Sure, I've heard the old story that the tax increase due to bond issues shows up in the tenants' rent, but who really knows how much of it actually ever trickles down? There's nothing like that tax bill mailed directly to let you know who is on this hot seat for it. - Roy H. Stratton Woodland Hills Meat propaganda Susan Parker Susan D. Parker is an American Democratic politician from Alabama. A resident of Rogersville she served as a delegate for the 2000 Democratic National Convention and 2004 Democratic National Convention. First time she represented Opelika and second time Rogersville. Harper (Public Forum, Feb. 6) says she ``read a lot of positive information in ranchers' newspapers regarding the health benefits from consuming beef.'' Naturally she read it there, agribusiness agribusiness Agriculture operated by business; specifically, that part of a modern national economy devoted to the production, processing, and distribution of food and fibre products and byproducts. publications promote agribusiness. We certainly won't read those statements in JAMA JAMA abbr. Journal of the American Medical Association , British Journal of Medicine, Lancet, American Journal of Clinical Nutrition Clinical nutrition The use of diet and nutritional supplements as a way to enhance health prevent disease. Mentioned in: Naturopathic Medicine , etc. These prestigious journals contain voluminous evidence to the contrary. Not only are there no health benefits derived from consuming beef, but absolutely no nutritional necessity exists in any animal product, be it meat, fish, eggs or milk. Plant source protein is far superior to animal protein. Plant protein is pure, efficient, lacking the fat, antibiotics and growth hormones in meat, not to mention the environmental consequences caused by an animal-based diet. - Jan McClellan Van Nuys Taxing the Internet The Opinion article ``Why not tax the Internet?'' (Feb. 15) is viewing the issue in reverse. The article should be titled, ``Why Tax the Internet?'' The answer is, there is no reason nor precedent for taxing interstate or international commerce and it is not done today. If a person purchases an item in France there may or may not be a sales tax sales tax, levy on the sale of goods or services, generally calculated as a percentage of the selling price, and sometimes called a purchase tax. It is usually collected in the form of an extra charge by the retailer, who remits the tax to the government. there and there surely is not one here. The same is true for interstate sales here in the United States United States, officially United States of America, republic (2005 est. pop. 295,734,000), 3,539,227 sq mi (9,166,598 sq km), North America. The United States is the world's third largest country in population and the fourth largest country in area. . If a resident of California purchases an item in another state in person, there may be sales tax there, but not when the item is brought across the border to California. Why is this the policy today? Because the sales tax is based where the business is conducted. Whatever local government services that need be provided to the business by the local government are funded by the local state tax. - Francis Jansen Northridge |
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