PUBLIC FORUM IT'S ILLEGAL.

It is my understanding that civil service employees are not allowed to strike. Therefore, the MTA strike is illegal. How do we fight it? By using the same method President Reagan did with the air traffic controllers: Fire them all and rehire. Although it is a dream, the newly hired employees would have to vote for or against being unionized.

On the other hand, the unions would donate more to the council members and we would be back where we started.

< - Charles Dusheck

Chatsworth

MTA strike

The first thing for Angelenos to realize about our bus drivers is that they are fellow Angelenos who have children to support and mortgages to pay just like we do. They work hard for their money, providing a public service to half a million people, and they deserve adequate compensation for doing a hard, often dangerous, job so they can continue to pay their bills like the rest of us.

The MTA is trying to take the drivers' overtime pay away, a contract give-back euphemistically termed ``a change of work rules.'' How would you like your boss to suddenly decide to stop paying you overtime when you are called upon to put in even more hours than your normal workweek? Union contract give-backs are not a good idea for the victims (the employees) even in bad economic times.

- Myrna Hill

Sylmar

Thanks for the lift

Thank you for making me happy. Thank you for making me elated. Thank you for making me ecstatic. Thank you for making me exultant. I'm referring to your editorial ``No buses, no peace'' (Sept. 19).

Last week I celebrated my 79th birthday. I have no auto and bowl four times a week. Do those selfish, thoughtless and sickening unions know how miserable, depressed and wretched and glum they have made me? Previously, I have run into some of the drivers' arrogance and haughtiness knowing that their beloved union will back them up.

- William Fleishman

Van Nuys

Still the same

Jane Robison's column ``District of Despair'' (Viewpoint, Sept. 17), exposing the amount of money that has been quietly funneled into creating the new bureaucracy in the LAUSD, is very timely. It appears the money being used to fund the new minidistricts has been taken directly from the students. Just ask the schools that are designated as LEARN.

At Nobel Middle School for example, the funds previously allocated from LAUSD for the LEARN program were approximately $400,000 a year. The school had planned to use the money to fund curricular field trips, textbooks, supplies for the classrooms and offices, and campus aides, just to name a few. Unfortunately, the education and safety of the students is now at risk because these funds were recently ``frozen.'' Were these funds used to support the bureaucracy of the minidistricts as described by Robison? If so, all parents and stakeholders should be demanding immediate action from the district.

It appears that nothing has changed at LAUSD.

- Mary Lou Westmoreland

Northridge

Less than Olympic

The Olympic Games began at 7 p.m. and finally I went to bed at 10:12 p.m. Total viewing time: 192 minutes. Total amount of Olympic competition events: about 117 minutes. Those 117 minutes of ``competition'' were filled with commentaries, profiles of athletes (some new, some repeated) and view after view of the Sydney Opera House and other happenings which I don't remember.

Actual viewing time of Olympic events? Does anyone know? Plus, who is the genius at Channel 4 who had the brilliant idea to have that guy spit out the Olympic results ahead of viewing time? That was dumb, really dumb.

- Dante F. Rochetti

West Hills

The thrill is gone

NBC's tape-delayed Olympics has all the thrill of a mug of tepid, decaf espresso.

- Jack I. Stone

Sunland

Human values 

On Sept. 17, there was an article (``Life on the street'') on the front page of the Daily News about the homeless.

Inside, there was another story about a luxurious hotel for cats - with TVs among the other expensive items - the cost starting at $25 a night. This doesn't seem right to me, when the homeless man lives out of his car with two children. He can't get a job and has no money even to live in a room. I have nothing against animals, but with me human beings come first.

- Granada Lietz

Mission Hills

Cranky Kronke

TV critic David Kronke should be ashamed of his hatchet-job review of ``Dr. Laura'' (``Petty woman,'' L.A. Life, Sept. 19). Readers expecting a balanced review got, instead, a lopsided rant: He calls her petty, brittle, cranky and criticizes her turtlenecks. Kronke's apparent disdain that Dr. Laura has the temerity to believe in moral absolutes seems to be the impetus for his tirade.

He refers to Dr. Laura's so-called ``homophobia,'' a loaded word and PC epithet that disregards the millions who, based on deep religious convictions, see homosexuality as a violation of God's law. I say watch Dr. Laura's show and decide for yourself.

- Karen Foxen

Canoga Park

Make my day

I see that Alec Baldwin is thinking about leaving the U.S. if the Republicans win the election this November (``GOP victory could send actor away,'' Sept. 18). Is this supposed to be a threat? Or is Baldwin just expressing his contempt for the democratic process that allows Americans to vote for the candidate of their choosing?

Either way, I would like to offer Baldwin a bit of friendly advice: Why wait? If living in a democracy is such a strain on you, you shouldn't be troubled with the possibility of moving from this country every four years. Oh, and by the way, don't let the door hit you in the butt on the way out.

- Debra Benson

Santa Clarita 

A real debate

We are cognizant that both Bush and Gore are deliberating debates. During the past several decades there have been debates and promises between Democrats and Republicans - but have any of their promises been fulfilled?

It may be about time others should be installed. Certainly a debate between Buchanan or Nader against Bush or Gore would be enlightening.

- Paul Lohmann 

Panorama

Where, not what

Re ``Let 'em kiss'' (Public Forum, Sept. 17):

Ira Hyman misses the point in his letter concerning the actions of the two young women at Dodger Stadium. The majority's disapproval of their narcissistic exhibitionism has little or nothing to do with prejudice. It has everything to do with a good citizen's respect for the feelings of others in civil society, or just plain old good manners.

As the great English actress Beatrice Stella Tanner Campbell said, ``My dear, I don't care what they do, so long as they don't do it in the street and frighten the horses.''

- Gary Inbinder

Woodland Hills

The voucher trap

Chris Weinkopf writes some excellent columns. Unfortunately, his ``Proposition 38 foes use hysteria at their peril'' (Opinion, Sept. 10) column shows he fell into the voucher trap. He did not mention the real danger of vouchers: Government regulates what it subsidizes.

In Wickard vs. Filburn in 1942, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled, ``It is hardly lack of due process for the government to regulate that which it subsidizes.'' The courts will rule vouchers to be subsidies. Schools taking them will be forced to accept government decrees.

The solution is to eliminate the public school system and let the free market provide our educational facilities. These can range from one-room schools in neighborhoods to large franchises. Charity - not legalized armed robbery - will provide for those who cannot afford it.

- Dominick Odorizzi

Northridge