PUBLIC FORUM.

Why vote?

Re ``Turnout, turnoff'' (March 10):

While it's true that many of us are lazy for not voting, it is also true that many of us are increasingly fed up with the political/legal system in our society. Why vote when one judge can change an election? Why vote when elected officials cater to billion-dollar corporations? Why vote when Wall Street scamsters make bigger and bigger fortunes while honest hardworking people get nothing?

Our lawmakers destroy our institutions, bulldoze our cherished buildings and sell us out for a cushy pension. Why vote?

- Frank Dookun

Reseda

A second chance

Your headline ``Apathy wins'' was a perfect way to describe the election. And I was one of those who did not vote. Fate struck me down with the flu on voting day, and I so much wanted to contribute my vote toward removing that Hahn guy from office. It is good there is another chance.

- Norman R. Carney

Lake View Terrace

Simple answer

Re ``Apathy wins'' (March 10):

The political pundits will have a field day discussing this primary election for days, weeks, months and even years. Yet the answer is very simple. The race to win a playoff spot for mayor was not very compelling. The voters were given a choice of five ultraliberal Democrats. What kind of choice is that? Who cares? One is as good (or bad) as any other.

It looks like the Republicans felt disenfranchised and stayed at home in droves.

- W. Bob Turner 

Sherman Oaks

Vote or be quiet

I was one of the 27 percent who voted. Frankly, I feel that anybody who did not vote should not express their opinions in this paper or anywhere else. They have no right to express their views unless they do it at the polls. Have some wine with that whine and crime.

- Susan Metzger

Reseda

Double standard

Re ``Foreign language ballot'' (Your Opinions, March 13):

I wonder if Bill Rosenblum's grandparents or great-grandparents spoke the native Indian language when they migrated into this country to settle. Since they are the only original true Americans, the rest of us are immigrants born here or migrated. Bill, how about speaking the native Indian language? I think that's fair.

- Angela Coker

Van Nuys

Call this democracy?

Re ``Turnout, turnoff'' (Editorial, March 10):

Most of us already know that playing musical chairs with any of these candidates wouldn't change a thing in L.A. government, nor would their promises. Political correctness is what rules in this city. Perhaps the Democrats didn't show up because they knew a Democrat would win and the Republicans didn't show up because there was no one worth showing up for.

Gerrymandered districts and corrupt politicians equals union representation, not democracy. As long as all you have to vote for is the lesser of two evils (and you're not even sure which one that is), why bother? Talk about democracy! In a city where up to a third of the people that we encourage and allow to live here can't even legally vote and a system that is always breaking the law, should we expect a democracy?

- James T. Streeter

North Hollywood

Why I didn't vote

My apologies for not being one of the 28 percent of eligible voters to participate in the L.A. mayoral election - I previously hadn't missed a single opportunity to vote.

You see, I'm now living in a place where people actually care enough about their community to go to the polls, the cost of living is about 25 percent less than L.A., and everyone's rights are respected. You may also want to ask the state government why you cannot buy my 40-plus-mpg VW turbodiesel there too.

- Alan Tong 

Springfield, MO

Radiation problem

Re ``Some claim a raw deal on radiation'' (March 11):

The solution to the ``radiation'' problem at Santa Susana is: if you fear 9.2 picocuries per gram (that is 0.000000000092 curies per gram), don't buy a house there. The Realtor is obliged to reveal this horrible number to you; so look elsewhere.

Sitting at the corner of Devonshire and Topanga, you probably get more radiation from the Rocky Point hills than that, and I know I do from the scary radioactive watch face on my wrist. There's this thing called the ``inverse square law,'' which is why I can reside in Chatsworth with perfect equanimity about the horrible radiation down the street.

- James F. Glass

Chatsworth

Write on!

Re ``Computer generation sweats SAT pen essay'' (March 10):

As a student, I have to say that changing the SAT college exam is a sensational idea. Not only will this elevate a student's SAT score, but the test change will bring up their writing skills as well. These days employers are as concerned with the writing skills of their employees as any other attribute.

- Patricia Balleser

Reseda

Paying to be boss

Re ``Arnold gets muscle for reforms'' (March 7):

I know our governor does not like the way we run California and is taking the issues to the people. Even if his very best friends are willing to pay the people to stand on streets to sign the new petitions, has anyone told the governor that special ballots cost money for the taxpayer? Who does he think pays for the polling places and the information sent to every voter? We do, the taxpayers.

If he is so worried about the economy, then please stop spending our hard-earned tax dollars just to get his way.

- Barbara McNally

West Hills

Which countries?

Re ``Ten Commandments'' (Your Opinions, March 10):

I am compelled to rebut Steve Duhm by assuring him that my thoughts and determinations are my own alone, and are not influenced by any publication, broadcast or even smoke signal from ``the left'' (especially them). I guarantee that no amount of repetitions by the aforementioned have any effect on me whatsoever. I promise.

I do have a burning question for you, though: What are the countries that you believe follow God's laws? Entire countries? I have racked my brain and cannot think of a single one. So please let me know at your earliest convenience.

- Kathryn Durfee

Agoura

More should be done

Re ``Revving up education'' (Your Opinions, March 10):

I am also a student at Van Nuys High School and I noticed many of the problems mentioned about the school as well. More should be done than just paying teachers higher salaries for having to deal with the poor conditions of our classrooms.

Instead, more funds should be allocated to the school itself. Teachers and students have much to worry about besides faulty desks, leaky roofs and other conditions that impair the quality of education. Not only should the teachers be paid more, the school should receive more funds to create a positive learning environment.

- Bryan Bai

North Hollywood

Educational politics

Re ``Progressive Valley charter school in jeopardy'' (March 5):

Your reporter writes that students at VCCS are graded on ``how well they play together... .'' Students are not given letter-grade assessments because they are looked at as whole people. VCCS fosters an environment of collaborative learning and student empowerment.

Your writer came to our school and saw a room packed with over 100 articulate, passionate parents who are not willing to see this progressive, viable school be a casualty of educational politics. We will fight for this school because our children are taught life skills, critical thinking, conflict resolution in addition to reading and writing and arithmetic.

- Jamie C. Olivas

Van Nuys