PUBLIC FORUM SENIORS' PRESCRIPTION.

It is time for a real solution to the prescription drug problem facing our seniors. President George W. Bush and his Carlyle Group friends can spend billions on a war with Iraq, yet can't find the funds to provide relief for the high cost of drugs for our nation's seniors.

The solution is to divert 6 percent of each working American's Federal income taxes to a new fund, the Free Medicine Fund. Our senior citizens deserve to get their medicine for free. Yet ... the Bushies want to pretend to fix the problem by attaching a discount card to the Medicare program that will no doubt only net seniors a 10 percent discount. That is if they can afford the initial enrollment charge that I am certain will be required. This is not a solution. It's a bunch of sunshine for us all to sit on.

- Greg Dabson

Mojave

More laws

Re ``1,168 new state laws gain teeth in 2003'' (Jan. 1):

Again, more than 1,100 new laws. Every year another 1,000 or more. We are going to have to build a warehouse to file them. Then again who will know what they are. I cannot imagine a policeman or judge reading every one to keep up to date.

Then again, no one, absolutely no one, asked me if I wanted any of these new laws or not. My elected rep's never let me know or asked my permission as to what law is being voted upon, or if I wanted it. I assume he only works with the unions and the lobbyists - not the taxpayer.

- Charles Dusheck

Chatsworth

Uglier art

If those good citizens of Encino are distressed about the appearance of the new Tarzana Library (Your Opinions, Jan. 5), wait until they get a load of the ``art'' provision for the rebuilt Van Nuys FlyAway Terminal in a couple of years.

A series of nine life-size bronze statues, modeled after the artist, will hold sandwich boards successively notifying visitors where they are in the terminal, Van Nuys, State of California, United States - clear through to the Universe. Other information has not been specified. The project, approved by the Cultural Affairs Department, will set the city of Los Angeles back a neat $272,000 - at last count.

- Jim Wildman

Northridge

You don't live there

Re ``Fledgling city councilwoman on solid footing'' (Jan 5):

Your front page praise for Councilwoman Wendy Greuel sure looked good. Evidently, you do not live in her district. My neighborhood has gone totally downhill. Calls to Building and Safety are not returned, letters are not answered. My two letters to the councilwoman's offices were not answered, nor were my two phone calls.

Next door to me, a 7,000-square-foot house is being used as an auto and motorcycle repair and body shop. The noise goes on day and night. A commercial dump container has been in the front yard for years. Down the street, where the rock band does its practice with full amplification, a room addition was constructed to within three feet of the brick wall. A remodel of a backyard carport became a second house.

- Gene Hardy

Valley Glen

Safe will do

A very interesting letter, ``Easy targets,'' by Raymond Rice (Your Opinion, Jan. 2). He writes in defense of Los Angeles regarding the Daily News and its readers complaining about the out-of-control, and compared to the public sector, overpriced, unionist-controlled government (City Council, mayor, fat-cat lobbyist, managers). The letter was thought provoking.

And then I noticed that his home address was in Simi Valley, which is among the safest places to live. That's all we were asking for, a safe place to live, minus the expensive Bandini.

- Don Segien

Canoga Park

Disappointed with USC 

In the Jan. 6 Sports Section, Kevin Modesti mentioned that only about 50 percent of his readers had agreed with him that USC coaches and players should not have invited O.J. Simpson to watch a practice. My wife and I were among those who didn't respond to that story and are embarrassed by our apathy.

Like many people we know, we were very disappointed with USC, Justin Fargas and his father for inviting Simpson. Even if Simpson wasn't convicted of the murders of his wife and Ron Goldman in criminal court, there's no question of his history of spousal abuse. USC and Fargas, who we've supported since his playing days at Notre Dame High School of Sherman Oaks, should be ashamed of themselves for tarnishing the Trojan image by associating with Simpson. He's no role model.

- Robert and Mary Ellen Villar

Sherman Oaks

Kennedy's role

Re ``Kissinger and Vietnam,'' (Your Opinion, Jan. 2):

James Steger presents a classical example of influencing and rewriting history by omission of important facts. I don't question his statements of fact about Kissinger and how past presidents Eisenhower, Johnson and Nixon were involved.

What he doesn't say is the following: Eisenhower provided military advisers and training to the South like the U.S. has done and continues to do for countries all over the world; Kennedy was the first president to commit American ground combat troops to Vietnam (this fact was conspicuously omitted by Steger); Johnson escalated what Kennedy started.

- Harold Sletten

Northridge

Architects of `Nam

I agree with Graydon Wayne (Your Opinions, Dec. 24) in his relief that Henry Kissinger resigned as head of the 9-11 investigation committee. However, Wayne is way ofase in his claim that Kissinger was ``one of the architects of the Vietnam War.''

The architects of the Vietnam War were (and I say this with great sadness) President John F. Kennedy, President Lyndon B. Johnson and Secretary of Defense Robert S. McNamara.

- Robert S. Kennedy

Camarillo

Limbaugh's right

I congratulate Duane Guernsey in his railing against Rush Limbaugh (``Derailed trolley,'' Your Opinion, Jan. 3) in that he, at least cites a Rushism to complain about. So I decided to check Rush's ``astonishing claim'' that the entire population of the Earth could be comfortably settled in the state of Texas in a 1,500-square-foot home per family.

Texas has an area of about 250,000 square miles. This area would accommodate about 5 billion 1,500-square-foot homes. Assuming four people per family, it would accommodate about 20 billion people which is more than the entire population of the Earth. So, it appears to me that Rush's claim is not so ``astonishing,'' except perhaps to ``middle-of-the-road Republicans'' like Guernsey.

- John Weaver

Valencia

Tracking immigrants

The Immigration and Naturalization Service is finally beginning to enforce the immigration laws. If we are to scrutinize one country's immigrants (legal or illegal), it would only be fair to scrutinize all countries. For those visitors that decide to come into the U.S. and decide not to leave, there are two words on your visa that state ``you must'' register before this date. Overstay your visa and you disobey the law. If caught, you must pay the penalty.

There is only one way to protect our citizens, and that is to cut immigration across the board, regardless of color, creed or religion. Beef up the INS and let them go after the illegals any way they can within the boundaries of the law. If we fail to do this, then everyone in the country is at risk.

- David Ayling

Sherman Oaks