PUBLIC FORUM.

A Democrat if ...

Re ``Kerry, Bush spar over crack'' (Nov. 1):

You might be a Democrat if, like John Kerry, you think our Hispanic and black and white and yellow and red troops are dumb and stupid for being in the military; if you think giving aid and comfort to the enemy by bashing the troops is the best way to show your support for the troops; if it doesn't bother you that Democrats have just viciously hurt the parents of our living and dead military personnel and all of our veterans, of which I am one.

You might be a Democrat if you're going to vote Democrat on Tuesday no matter that your party is filled with anti-American Americans who want us to lose the war against people who want to kill you and me, our kids and grandkids.

-- Max L. Huber

North Hills

Uneducated military

Re ``Kerry, Bush spar over crack'' (Nov. 1):

Sen. John Kerry is being criticized for saying that those who do not achieve academically may find themselves ``stuck in Iraq.'' His statement happens to be true. One of the requirements of No Child Left Behind is that all high schools where testing falls below the norm must submit names of students to military recruiters.

In addition, in order to meet recruitment goals, academic standards for acceptance into the military have been lowered. The military has long been that place where frustrated parents have sent their wayward sons or daughters to be ``straightened out'' in lieu of sending them into the streets. This appears to be another example of the present administration believing Americans to be fools and easily swayed. We'll be swayed right into the polling booth next week.

-- Michael Menchaca

Santa Clarita 

Here John goes again

Re ``Kerry, Bush spar over crack'' (Nov. 1):

John Kerry is right back in Vietnam again. First he calls our troops killers. Now the troops in Iraq are stupid.

Our troops are volunteers. The highest level of troop re-up in our history. Many of them volunteering for a second and third tour because they know what is at stake and how important their job over there is. John must apologize to the troops. Where are all the Democratic leaders who say they support our troops?

-- Doug Anderson

Simi Valley 

Republican attacks

Re ``Kerry, Bush spar over crack'' (Nov. 1):

The renewed Republican attacks on John Kerry are an ugly attempt to cheapen the patriotic self-sacrifice of individuals who happen to be their political opponents. Kerry displayed heroic bravery rescuing his shipmate from certain death and got wounded. Now these ugly people attack him for having received a lucky wound -- but it could have been an unlucky wound as well. He ran the same risk of grievous injury as the soldiers the draft-dodging Bush administration now has thoughtlessly and without a plan left exposed in Iraq for more than three years.

No, Swiftboaters -- the only ones who are dishonored by political swiftboating are those that would stoop to belittle the wounds of others in the call of their country. Shame on you.

-- Martin J. Kotowski

Sherman Oaks

No on Measure R

Isn't it a violation of ethics for our elected officials -- the Los Angeles City Council -- to hide a term-limit increase in a ballot initiative calling for ethics reform?

If the City Council and the League of Women Voters think elected officials are more ethical when serving 12 years instead of eight, draft an initiative and get it on the next ballot. Make a good argument for increasing term limits and present it to the voters. Let us be the judge. That would be ``ethical.'' That would be ``responsible.'' But don't insult our intelligence with your shifty tactics. My 2-year-old has more sense than that.

-- Donna Connolly

Van Nuys

Brewer's contract

Re ``Brewer to get $1.2 million, four-year pact'' (Oct. 31):

The L.A. school board has agreed to spend more than $381,000 per year on its new chief, David Brewer. That is a lot of money; but he is in a position to save the 700,000 students currently enrolled in the LAUSD, half of whom may never see graduation if current trends persist.

There is a problem with Brewer's contract: If the new Council of Mayors refuses to ratify future extensions granted by the board, he will be deemed to have been ``terminated without just cause.'' Taxpayers would have to foot the bill for unearned income for the remainder of his contract even if there is ``just cause.'' This does not promote much-needed accountability, and is contrary to the best interests of LAUSD students. Such ``poison-pill'' tactics are unconscionable when being offered at public expense. We welcome Admiral Brewer to Los Angeles and offer the full support of the business community.

-- Bob Scott

Chairman

Valley Industry & Commerce Association

A win to win contract

Re ``Brewer to get $1.2 million, four-year pact'' (Oct. 31):

More than $350,000 a year? If the LAUSD had any sense, it would pay the new superintendent (aka Admiral Brewer) the same as Tiger Woods and of course he would have to win (no student dropouts and no low test scores) to receive his second salary. Of course, you and I both know this isn't going to happen as the school teachers union won't allow it.

-- Bob Ginn

Arcadia

Our ballot measure

Re ``City chiefs to get 5% bump in pay'' (Briefly, Oct. 28):

If the City Council was able to put on a ballot measure to tie their salaries to the increases the judges receive, it seems to me the people of Los Angeles can put on a ballot measure that changes their salary to $70,000 per year, with a chance to earn bonuses up to $70,000.

The neighborhood community councils could lead the way by putting this measure on the ballot and the neighborhood community councils could decide the amount of bonuses each City Council member would receive. I would like to think this would force the City Council members to actually have to work with the people who live in their district.

-- Jeff Trovatten

Encino

Pro and con 

Oh, my gosh, what a complete study in contrast I noted on Page 3 of the Oct. 31 Daily News. Dennis McCarthy's article highlights a group of women who volunteer their time and resources to help the needy. They are known as DOLLS, an acronym for Dedicating Our Loyal, Loving Service. They work anonymously without fanfare and have touched the lives of hundreds in the Valley.

The article next to McCarthy's is about how our politicians get more and more. Why is it that Los Angeles has the highest-paid City Council and mayor? Perhaps our citizens need to pay closer attention to the ballot measures.

-- Beverly Triggs

Granada Hills

Winning the election

Simple, to win an election, your party controls the machines. With ``touch-screen'' voting, there is no paper trail, no incriminating evidence of theft. This is only one of the many shortcomings of electronic voting. For instance, any programmer can rig up a program to make you think that you are voting for candidate A while the machine registers a vote for candidate B. That is why, in the last election, we saw last-minute swings in votes ... with Republicans always the benefactors.

Then there is the fact that, of the three companies that offer computer voting, two are owned by Republicans and one by foreigners. Democracy, voting, is now in the hands of partisan computer programmers. What a shame.

-- Ron Lowe

Grass Valley