PUBLIC FORUM POLICE FLASHLIGHTS.

Re ``Police light design on hold'' (Sept. 15):

It seems perhaps that common sense will prevail, or at least be listened to. A suspect being hit with a flashlight is unpleasant to witness, but what I've never seen reported is that LAPD has very strict and specific ``use of force'' guidelines.

LAPD patrol officers carry two batons, the one we all see and a collapsible one on their belt. If they need to or choose to strike a suspect, they have lots of choices. It's not the flashlight, it's the officer, in policy or not, with a flashlight or a baton. Let's focus on the events leading up to the use of force and training, and not the tools. And let's allow the officers to do their job.

- Tim Hampton

Simi Valley 

Need it first

Re ``L.A.'s real estate spree'' (Sept. 13):

I would like to know how, in good conscience, our city officials can spend our tax dollars on $100 million in real estate when the MTA, Sheriff's Department, Police Department, etc., etc., etc., are begging for more money in tax increases and bond measures.

I am sure that most of us were taught at an early age that you don't buy things you can't afford. Not only can we not afford it, according to Lee Baca, William Bratton, James Hahn and the rest, but our elected officials don't even know why they need it, or what to do with it once they have it. Don't forget election time.

- Vonnie Harper

Van Nuys

The real truth

Re ``Carville, Begala reveal CNN's lack of ethics'' (Viewpoint, Sept. 12):

When Bill O'Reilly said in his article that CNN's ratings have collapsed and so have its ethical standards, I could not agree with him more. All through the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, CNN emphasized, in a consistent way, mostly the Palestinian side of the story while barely showing all the horrible attacks against Israeli citizens.

My family in Israel would go though terror every day, waiting for the attacks to be shown live on CNN, but in vain. I am not saying that there is nothing to show from the Palestinian point of view - both sides had their share of suffering - but where is the balanced, real truth in it all, for crying out loud?

- Gilat Rapaport

Encino

Salt in the wounds

As one who was sent to fight in the muck of Vietnam, to battle the heat and humidity and take my weekly malaria pill, I say enough. I am tired of being vilified by the left's politics of expediency. They used us as scapegoats in the `60s, when they called us baby killers and spat upon our uniforms.

They portrayed us in films as deranged, drugged-out psychopaths. Now they are at it again. Don't they know what they're doing to us? The wounds are still raw and they're pouring salt onto them. This is not about politics; it's about truth and honor, something they need to work on.

- Allyn Anderson

Van Nuys

Facts are plain

To me, as a Korean War vet, whether the documents recently uncovered by CBS are real or forged and whether the allegations of the swift boat vets for truth are true or false are all irrelevant. The facts are plain.

John Kerry served his country in `Nam and saw combat. As such, he is a hero. George Bush served his country in the Texas Air National Guard, along with many other well-off and well-connected Texans. As such, he, as Dick Cheney and Bill Clinton, were dodgers. End of discussion.

- Patrick S. O'Malley

Tujunga

Our obligation

I volunteered for and served two years of active duty in the U.S. Army during 1964-1966, and I know I ``did my duty.'' So did many members of my family - we considered it an obligation to give something back for the freedom we enjoy.

Yet, President Bush sits in the Oval Office and tells us, ``I did my duty.'' But the evidence shows that he failed to fulfill his duty, including disobeying a direct order to take a physical and failing to show up for required service. When will he come clean and admit to his less-than-honorable service, and stop dishonoring those of us who did serve?

- Marc A. Rich

Chatsworth

Hahn's tax proposal

Re ``Tax relief'' (Editorial, Sept. 15):

Mayor Hahn recently proposed eliminating business taxes for small businesses with less than $100,000 in gross receipts. If passed, this proposal would exempt more than 60 percent of Los Angeles businesses from paying the business tax.

Mayor Hahn has already signed into law a number of business tax reforms to make Los Angeles more business-friendly - and he will keep working to keep good jobs here and attract new ones.

- Renata Simril

Deputy mayor for Economic Development

First, Novak

Republican blowhards in Congress are loudly demanding that Dan Rather and CBS disclose the source of the latest revelations regarding Bush's already well-documented draft-dodging, on the grounds that it is a ``national security'' issue because it could affect the outcome of the election. Give me a break.

If the government's going to pressure newsmen to disclose their sources, how about starting with Robert Novak, whose treasonous disclosure of the identity of a CIA field officer, leaked to him by somebody at the White House, truly put our national security - not to mention the CIA officer's life - at risk?

- Nick Dyrenforth

Chatsworth

Which direction

Current political ads dwell on ribbons, swift boats and leadership. We need to hear about issues. My party believes in jobs vs. outsourcing, affordable health care and a woman's right to choose. The Patriot Act must be modified to assure basic freedoms. We question a war in the wrong place for the wrong reason, and most importantly, Supreme Court appointments of ultraconservative justices who could bring about changes that would last for decades.

We must debate these issues or lose by default. Either candidate is qualified to lead, the question is: In what direction?

- William H. Pope

Burbank

Wrong direction

George Bush's failed health care policies have taken our country in the wrong direction. Since Bush took office, families are paying a record 64 percent more on health insurance premiums. Deductibles have increased by nearly two-thirds and prescription drug co-pays have increased by more than 50 percent.

- Daniel Barnes

Woodland Hills

Oprah's gift

There was a nice little article in ``The Buzz'' (``U'' Sept. 14) about Oprah Winfrey giving away 276 new cars to her studio audience. Why did the jaded reporter covering it have to end the report with ``No word on whether Jerry Springer will hand out motel room keys''?

What Oprah did for those 276 families who needed a car was extremely creative and generous - why pull it down with a cynical crack like that? Oprah was quoted as saying, ``We're calling this our wildest dream season ... no dream is too wild, no surprise too impossible to pull off.'' That is, unless we expect her wild act of kindness to be reported in a wildly positive manner.

- Rose Wuyts-Wilson

Glendale

Uncommonly common

It seems perplexing that the ``common man'' finds so much in common with George Bush: George Bush comes from a background of privilege and wealth, has used that privilege to get into Yale and out of armed service, has, ironically, sent thousands of kids over seas to get their legs or heads blown off, and has run up a deficit (coming off a surplus handed down to him by a truly elected president) larger than any in the country's history ($422 billion).

The only common thing I see here is Bush's ability to fail.

- Bradley J. Kayl

North Hollywood