PUBLIC FORUM.

The common good

Re ``Double-decker road rage'' (Nov. 27):

Are we going to let the NIMBYs and naysayers continue to control the freeways and transportation in this city? I seems to me that a multilane, double deck going down the center of the freeway is a smart and progressive idea.

It is the responsibility of Caltrans to bring all options to the table for full and open-minded discussions. If having a few locals yelling at them for a couple of hours is too much for them, maybe they should find new jobs or get thicker skin. Let's insist that Caltrans does what's good for everyone, consider the new technologies now, or we'll never get out of our transportation hole.

- David Hall 

Winnetka

Roadway economics

Re ``Double-decker road rage'' (Nov. 27):

If people don't like double-decker freeways towering over them, why not tunnel beneath the freeways and build the deck below the freeway. They could start at the port in Long Beach, and as they tunnel, they could build a high-speed train down the center, and use the track to transport the dirt by train to a barge at the port.

They could use the dirt to create islands in the port for more docks, which would help L.A. handle even more freight (or build mini islands for luxury condos). The Romans understood the importance of good roads to having a prosperous economy. America made a great move when it was inspired to build the original freeway system. Today's leaders need to think big like the Romans did, building roads that can build an economic empire.

- Joe Wagner

Woodland Hills

Double-deck duty

Re ``Double-decker road rage'' (Nov. 27):

Los Angeles originally had an extensive freeway plan. There were to be freeways at about four-mile intervals, including four freeways through the Santa Monica Mountains.

Unfortunately even though population continued to grow, public opposition brought a halt to most new freeways. Now we have dreadful congestion, especially on the routes between the Valley and the Los Angeles Basin. Since adding new freeways is now prohibitive, we must increase the capacity of the ones we have via such solutions as double-decking.

- Thomas E. Locke

North Hollywood

Suck it up

Re ``FEMA deadline could burden local services'' (Nov. 25):

My heart, like the rest of the nation, went out to everyone displaced by Katrina. On Jan. 7, it will be almost 4 1/2 months since the disaster and FEMA is going to cut off their hotel/motel vouchers. What a shame.

Just how long do they expect to live off the teat of the government? They have the time to apply for rental assistance, cash assistance, food stamps, health insurance through county welfare and every other giveaway program in existence. Nowhere in the article does it mention anyone taking the time to look for a job. At what point do you suck it up and take responsibility for you and yours.

- Gary E. Skogen

Littlerock

Truth comes last

Re ``NBC didn't break for accident news'' (Nov. 25):

Let's see if I understand what happened: NBC covered the New York Parade and the M&M float crashed, injuring at least two people. Rather than tell the truth or at least say we are checking on the facts, NBC just lies and shows last year's tape of the same M&M float.

NBC and the other news media giants proudly proclaim themselves as the protectors of the truth. It seems that telling the truth is the last thing these hypocrites do.

- James J. Menotti

Sunland

Call me right

Sid Conkwright, along with Gene Moscoe, calls me a liberal and accuses me of saying that ``Bush lied.'' I have had several letters in the Daily News going back to 2000, and in not one of them do I say that Bush lied. I am on record as saying that Bush and his administration are incompetent and manipulative.

Considering the secret meetings with energy executives, the manipulation and rewarding of bad WMD intelligence, the expanding gap between rich and poor, the growing national debt, poor postwar planning, the sliming of bona fide war heroes by chicken hawks, the tax breaks and rewarding of outsourcing, the defense of torture, the hiring of incompetents (Brownie?) and on and on, my criticisms have been correct. Call me any name you want, but you can't say that I'm wrong.

- Chuck Heinold

West Hills

Wrong and wrong

Re ``Retreat on retreat'' and ``Same intelligence'' (Your Opinions, Nov. 25):

Jack Schlicht and Sid Conkwright should spend less time memorizing GOP talking points and more time getting their facts straight. Democrats didn't fail to support what you called Rep. John Murtha's ``defeat and retreat proposal.'' They rejected GOP Rep. Duncan Hunter's sham resolution, pushed by the GOP to try to force a Democratic vote for ``retreat'' instead of Murtha's proposed redeployment.

Democrats didn't have ``the same intelligence'' as the administration when voting to authorize war. The Democratic fight for phase two of the prewar investigation started because Congress did not have all the same intelligence; recent bipartisan demands for prewar Presidential Daily Briefs prove it.

- Marcy Rothenberg

Porter Ranch

What Jesus said

Re ``Which gospel'' (Your Opinions, Nov. 27):

In answer to Denis Cremins: Jesus supported the death penalty in Matthew 26:52. There he restated the principle establishing the death penalty in Genesis 9:6. Cremins is right that Jesus did not support a war, but he did say that if his kingdom were of this world, then his servants would be fighting (John 19:36). Since President Bush's ``kingdom'' is of this world, he leads fighting forces.

Jesus did not support torture or express support for ``tax cuts for the rich,'' but the questions are irrelevant because President Bush does not support them either. He pushed through tax cuts for everyone and supports interrogation by discomfort and methods similar to fraternity hazing - but not torture.

- Gregg Frazer

Castaic

Truly repentant 

If ``Tookie'' Williams really wants to be a role model, the best thing he can do is show contrition, apologize to his victims and take his just punishment. How great it would be if he were to tell all the young thugs to stay out of trouble lest his fate befall them. I would know that he is truly repentant when he admits responsibility and shows others that his evilness was, ultimately, his own demise.

- Ron Mossler

Northridge

Hurting ourselves

Re ``Gas price gouging'' (Your Opinions, Nov. 21):

California drivers are not being price-gouged by gas companies; we are price-gouging ourselves. If you don't think this is true, just try driving about 5 mph over the speed limit. The rest you can figure out for yourself.

I am definitely opposed to the high gas prices because it hurts me as much as anyone. But it is frustrating to know that we hold the solution and refuse to do it. Slow down; the life you save might be mine.

- Billy Cruce

Quartz Hill

Money talks

The Democrat Senatorial Committee, led by Chuck Schumer, is out-raising the Republicans' Elizabeth Dole by 2:1. As of the last report, the Democrats raised about $18 million to the Republicans' $9 million.

I throw Republican fundraising solicitations in the trash. Why? First - Chaffee, Specter and Snow. Second - pork barrel spending. Third - failure to extend tax cuts. Fourth - illegal immigration.

- John B. Laing

Sylmar

Turkey talk

I hear that George Bush pardoned the White House turkey. I am so happy for Scooter.

- Emy Lenoir Blackwell

Granada Hills