PUBLIC FORUM HOW MANY IRAQIS?Re ``1,000 fallen'' (Sept. 8): You failed to mention how many Iraqis have died. In fact, I have not read, or heard on the news, how many soldiers and civilians have died in Iraq. The media is at times so bad, it feels like we live in Russia. I love our troops, pray for their safety, and I pray I beg; I request; I entreat you; - used in asking a question, making a request, introducing a petition, etc.; as, Pray, allow me to go s>. See also: Pray for the war to stop, now. - Mary Altmann Agoura Largest increase Re ``Medicare premiums take big jump next year'' (Business, Sept. 4): It seems that 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. is up to his old tricks again. He slipped the largest increase in premiums for Medicare in history in quietly on the Friday of the Labor Day Labor Day, holiday celebrated in the United States and Canada on the first Monday in September to honor the laborer. It was inaugurated by the Knights of Labor in 1882 and made a national holiday by the U.S. Congress in 1894. weekend, hoping it wouldn't be so noticeable. Wrong! This was a 17 percent increase as opposed to the typical ``cost-of- living'' increases of anywhere from 1 1/2 percent to 2 1/2 percent we retirees typically receive in January. This from our ``Compassionate Conservative'' leader. - Al Cohen cohen or kohen (Hebrew: “priest”) Jewish priest descended from Zadok (a descendant of Aaron), priest at the First Temple of Jerusalem. The biblical priesthood was hereditary and male. Sherman Oaks Did you notice? Re ``Medicare premiums take big jump next year'' (Business, Sept. 4): Did you folks notice that the premiums are going up the first of the year along with an increase of $10 for the deductible? That's going to cost us $149.20 a year ($12.43 a month). I wonder what the Social Security increase will be next year? Certainly not enough. Ah well, what the government giveth, it also taketh away. I'm wondering if we are really better off today than we were four years ago. - Jack Pedder Granada Hills Reminiscent ... Re ``Chevron influenced Arnold's plan'' (Sept. 3): Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger Arnold Alois Schwarzenegger (German pronunciation (IPA): [ˈaɐ̯nɔlt ˈaloɪ̯s ˈʃvaɐ̯ʦənˌʔɛɡɐ] is disappointing the people of California. Schwarzenegger promised a change in the political system of contributions for political favors. Now, a large contributor - ChevronTexaco Corp. - has been highly influential in the governor's plan to reorganize state government. This is reminiscent of the national energy policy by Vice President Cheney; those influential parties are still unknown. It appears that a large contribution to Schwarzenegger's committees and to the state Republican Party buys influential access to policy decisions. Another broken campaign promise. - Norwood Price Burbank Unions and politics Re ``County labor unions facing tough choice'' (Sept. 6): I thought I was reading a script of a new Jimmy Hoffa Noun 1. Jimmy Hoffa - United States labor leader who was president of the Teamsters Union; he was jailed for trying to bribe a judge and later disappeared and is assumed to have been murdered (1913-1975) Hoffa, James Riddle Hoffa movie with the article about the unions and the upcoming mayoral elections. I loved the references to Jimmy Hahn, Antonio Villaraigosa Antonio Ramon Villaraigosa (born Antonio (Tony) Ramon Villar, Jr. on January 23, 1953) is the mayor of Los Angeles, California. He is the first Latino mayor of Los Angeles since Cristobal Aguilar in 1872. and Sen. Richard Alarcon: ``We have a mayor in Jim Hahn... .'' ``We have Antonio Villaraigosa ... our go-to guy in City Hall.'' and ``Senator Alarcon, who is our guy in Sacramento.'' It's no wonder we owe so much to the unions. I would love to have seen some quotes about UTLA UTLA United Teachers of Los Angeles (California) or CTA An abbreviation for cum testamento annexo, Latin for "with the will annexed." in the same article - it would have been complete. - Chuck Benesch Sherman Oaks Only a taxpayer Re ``Bait and switch'' (Editorial, Sept. 7): The LAUSD LAUSD Los Angeles Unified School District (Los Angeles, CA) has not been able to fool me with its ads on TV - saying it's for the kids. Anything Roy Romer Roy R. Romer (born October 31, 1928 in Garden City, Kansas, United States) was the 39th governor of Colorado and served as the superintendent of the Los Angeles Unified School District from 2001 to 2006. has his hands on, I vote no. But that's not the case with the rest of the people. They pretty much vote yes on anything. And let's not forget that the LAUSD has to continue its lavish ways; its working on holidays for triple time sure doesn't make any sense to me. But I am only a taxpayer, trying to save money for my medication. - Joe Pinoy Lozano Mission Hills Like brainwashing brainwashing Systematic effort to destroy an individual's former loyalties and beliefs and to substitute loyalty to a new ideology or power. It has been used by religious cults as well as by radical political groups. Re ``Patriotism on display'' (Viewpoint, Sept. 5): Rich Lowry's editorial on the Republican convention in New York New York, state, United States New York, Middle Atlantic state of the United States. It is bordered by Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and the Atlantic Ocean (E), New Jersey and Pennsylvania (S), Lakes Erie and Ontario and the Canadian province of mentioned the word ``nationalism'' three times. He says at one point, ``The GOP nationalism is anchored in idealism, lest it become mere bullying or bombast.'' Nationalism can't help but become bullying, which is what is going on. The Republicans sound nice, but they are not. They say they don't bully, but they do. They say we are one nation, but this administration has been the most divisive administration in modern history. Feels like a form of brainwashing. Imagine comparing a person who was wounded at war and won medals against a person who chose not to go to war at all. Good is being passed off as evil and the truly wrong as good or not even mentioned. - Jacquelyn Reid Tujunga Simplistic sim·plism n. The tendency to oversimplify an issue or a problem by ignoring complexities or complications. [French simplisme, from simple, simple, from Old French; see simple sound bites Re ``Patriotism on display'' (Viewpoint, Sept. 5): Richard Lowry's right. Democrats could not have pulled off the same speeches at the Republican convention since they weren't based on facts. On post-World War II policy, he ignores Gorbachev, the anti-apartheid movement and continuing oppression by China and Saudi Arabia, and worse, Saudi support of terror this administration ignores for the self-interest of neoconservatives. It's amazing that Chris Weinkopf actually goes along with the simplistic sound-bite approach of neo-cons as was reflected at the convention. Perhaps Lowry and Weinkopf are a new phenomenon, perhaps the ``con-ies'' as opposed to the yuppies of the '80s. - Luis P. Reyes Los Angeles We all spy Re ``Does Pentagon have a spy?'' (Aug. 28): Why are we so uptight about someone maybe spying on us? I'm certain that our CIA CIA: see Central Intelligence Agency. (1) (Confidentiality Integrity Authentication) The three important concerns with regards to information security. Encryption is used to provide confidentiality (privacy, secrecy). and/or other so-called intelligence agencies have our spies in many other countries around the world, both allies and enemy. Israel is alleged to have spied on us. How many of our spies do we have stationed in Israel? Guess it is OK for us to spy on others, but not for others to do the same to us. It's really not good diplomacy for Israel to spy on us, if they really have, but it's better than having Iran or Syria doing it. - Gene Goodwein Van Nuys Kerry's actual duty According to Michael Lieberman in his Sept. 3 letter, John Kerry served his country for only four months. This is grossly inaccurate. Kerry voluntarily enlisted in the Navy on February 1966, and then began officer training in August of that year. In June 1967, Kerry was assigned to the frigate frigate (frĭg`ĭt), originally a long, narrow nautical vessel used on the Mediterranean, propelled by either oars or sail or both. Later, during the 18th and early 19th cent. USS Gridley. On February 1968, he made his first trip to Southeast Asia. In June 1968, he returned to California for training on the 50-foot swift boats. In December of that year, Kerry took command of the PCF-44 in Vietnam. After receiving three Purple Hearts, a Silver Star and Bronze Star, Lt. Kerry was honorably discharged in early 1970. Kerry's actual duty to his country was considerably longer than Lieberman's assertion, and covered a span of approximately four years. - Larry Tamblyn Northridge Yet avoids service Our military years might overlap, but Michael Lieberman (Your Opinions, Sep. 3) speaks for blind obedience, certainly not for me. One guy (Bush) supports the war in Vietnam, yet avoids service there and uses family connections to leap ahead of others to land a cushy cush·y adj. cush·i·er, cush·i·est Informal Making few demands; comfortable: a cushy job. [Origin unknown. National Guard slot. The other guy (Kerry) has doubts about the war yet volunteers for hazardous duty in Vietnam, serves with distinguished valor valor a rodenticide no longer marketed because of toxicity in horses causing dehydration, abdominal pain, hindlimb weakness, inappetence, fishy smell in urine. Called also N-3-pyridyl methyl N1-p-nitrophenyl urea. , and later gives voice to those now-confirmed doubts about the war effort. The choice is obvious. - Alan Benson Newbury Park Democratic values I think when it really comes down to it, the Democrats would vote for the devil himself, if he could beat Bush - which ought to tell you somewhat about the hopes they have for our country. - Steven Robert Shisley Woodland Hills |
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