PUBLIC FORUM POWER DEBATE.

The power debate in California is much greater than Bush vs. Davis. It is fundamentally capitalism vs. communism. First the liberals call the problem deregulation, but later we find out that production prices were deregulated, but distribution prices were regulated below cost. That's not deregulation; that's dumb regulation.

So the state creates regulations that bankrupt private distributors and then attempts to take them over. Now someone is advocating criminal prosecution of leading capitalists. Why is this starting to sound like 1917 Russia?

- Mike North

West Hills

Amnesty

Re ``Amnesty plan wins groups' backing'' (July 17):

It should be obvious by now that each new ``amnesty'' provides a powerful incentive for more waves of illegal immigrants, who come here with the reasonable supposition that one day, they too will be granted amnesty. And meanwhile, as a current study shows, each illegal immigrant is a burden on taxpayers.

Liberals love illegal immigration because it expands the welfare state, providing new clients for the bureaucrats, and new requirements for bigger budgets. It doesn't bother liberals that these illegal immigrants contribute to the ongoing balkanization of America, and of course we know they are voting - and they are not voting for Republicans.

- James F. Glass

Chatsworth

Secession movement

As a citizen of Los Angeles, I am tired of this laughable secession movement proposed by the Valley. Get real. You ungrateful people use our water, electricity and public transit, and then have the audacity to talk about poor representation. You crybabies need to wake up and realize that without Los Angeles, the Valley would be nothing more than a lump of mass west of downtown.

These people who are proposing this movement need to really look at some tough issues. Where is your water going to come from? The Hansen Dam? What about public transportation? And the only people that this ``city'' will help is the people who live in the more affluent areas of the Valley. What about Pacoima, Arleta, Sylmar or Sun Valley? Is this city going to help them? I don't think so.

- Troy Reed

Los Angeles

Valley's downtown

Re ``The Valley City's downtown: Where would it be?'' (July 16):

Van Nuys is eminently qualified to be the Valley's downtown - central location, population density, existing government buildings, etc. I'd have to vote of Van Nuys, when the Valley secedes, as it will.

Only one problem: Van Nuys is the porn capital of the world. Prostitutes openly ply their trade, even by daylight, up and down Sepulveda Boulevard, etc. I don't know what to do about it.

- Barbara Noonan

Sylmar

Their impact

Re ``It's houses, not horses'' (June 26):

I'm a lifelong resident of Chatsworth, related to one of the founding families of Chatsworth. I would've preferred 16 rather than 21 homes, but I don't object to the planned development at 22101 Chatsworth St. What protesters are feeling now is similar to what longtime Chatsworth residents felt as acres of orange trees were moved aside for homes where some of these protesters now reside.

It seems these protesters have failed to consider how the construction of their own homes has impacted the area before protesting instead of welcoming new neighbors.

- William Ditto

Chatsworth

Nation's safety

Re Stephen J. Thompson's ``Star Wars Defense'' (Public Forum, July 12):

I think during World War II, that if England had a defensive shield against Germany's V-1 and V-2 rockets, many people would have lived to see another day.

Intelligent citizens want our nation to have an effective defense against rogue nations' capability to put us in harm's way. Research, development and deployment of the missile shield needs to continue on this very important national endeavor. Also, it's not about a company's stock or money, it's about the future safety of all the nation's citizens.

- Steven W. Huston

Agoura

City, not the people

Re ``We're the people'' (Public Forum):

In his letter, Richard Allen stated, ``I blasted Los Angeles residents.'' Let me correct you. What I ``blasted'' was a city that attracts such large concentrations of paroled felons, alcohol- or drug-addicted homeless, gang members, etc., etc. Obviously, you are willing to co-exist with these dregs.

- Ronald Traynor

Canyon Country

Too few flags

In response to R.L. Mikesell, ``Rockets' red glare'' (Public Forum, July 12):

I agree with him. There are far too few American flags flying from homes on the Fourth of July, Flag Day, Veterans Day, etc. I, too, can count on one hand the number of American flags I see for blocks, but I couldn't keep up with all the Lakers flags I saw on cars - not one, but usually two per car. How many Angelenos went to an Independence Day parade? How many went to the Lakers parade?

Come on, people. Get behind the good ol' U.S. of A. Buy a flag and fly it!

- Lynne Jaeger 

Sun Valley

Clean, free power

In the desert, windmills harness the force of the wind, producing pollution-free energy from a renewable resource. The MWD currently generates power with the rise and fall of water levels in various lakes. Power is generated at the major dams along the Colorado River. All of these are renewable, clean sources of energy. Where there is moving water, there is power.

Anyone who has tried to anchor a houseboat in the Sacramento Delta knows how much force or energy the tide generates when it moves. Our coastline is dotted with numerous harbors, bays and inlets - all of which have significant tidal forces as the tide moves in and out daily. It would appear that given the technologies available today, one could easily harness that energy to generate pollution-free power from a source that will never be depleted.

- Jay Kay Patterson 

Pasadena

Absurd idea

Re ``Consider Solomon'' (Public Forum, June 4):

First, every living thing does not have a brain. Only members of the animal kingdom do. And there are even members of the animal kingdom that don't. Second of all, what distinguishes humans from other animals is our brains. Our cerebrums are big with convoluted surfaces, giving us the capability for more complex thought than other animals are capable of.

Lastly, I didn't say in my letter that there is no God, but since you brought it up, the idea of an omnipotent, omniscient being who created the entire universe is absurd.

- Josh Rivetz

Northridge

Banning cell phones

I take exception with John Reilly's June 29 letter in which he bemoans that we are ``losing our freedoms'' as a result of the state of New York banning the use of cell phones while driving. First, driving with a cell phone is not a freedom. Driving is a privilege, as the Department of Motor Vehicles keeps reminding us in its manual.

While he mentions other distractions, inserting a CD, using the ash tray, etc., using a cell phone distracts for a much longer period of time. There isn't enough space here to list all the stupid things I've seen people do while driving and talking on their cell phone at the same time. Use your cell phone in your car if you must, but just pull over to the curb and stop first, or leave the freeway.

- Susan Cashman

West Hills