PUBLIC FORUM.

Ineffective fence

Re ``Border fencing cost up'' (Dec. 30):

A long fence will be ineffective as long as restaurants, carwashes, construction and textile companies continue to hire illegals without monitoring and penalties. Additional incentives Mexican nationals have for crossing the border besides work is to try to have their children so that they can receive benefits for the children who are granted citizenship.

Laws like Special Order 40, which mandates only INS agents can ask for documentation from suspected illegals in effect weaken the effectiveness of a fence. As long as the Democrats who for the most part run the state want the illegals for political dominance, a fence is a waste of money. California is an automatic Democratic 55 electoral votes and Feinstein, Boxer and the rest of the California Democrats want to keep it that way.

-- John Gonzalez

Saugus

Fresh start

Re ```Attic' almost eludes anti-mansion rules'' (Jan. 3):

Reading about the contractor trying to skirt the building codes in Sunland-Tujunga by overbuilding an easy-to-convert windowless second floor in a McMansion scheme and then crying ``they're singling me out'' reminds me of an old joke that has remained the same for decades with only the profession being changed.

First it was politicians, then used-car salesmen, then lawyers. Today it goes like this: What do you call a developer at the bottom of the ocean? Answer: A good start.

-- Chuck Heinold

West Hills

Slip-sliding away

Re ``Getting away with it'' (Your Opinions, Jan. 2):

If I recall correctly, Richard Nixon resigned from the presidency. Bill Clinton denied anything and everything to the bitter end and remained in office, impeachment or not. Sounds like it was Bill that got away with something, not Richard.

-- Alan D. Kaliff

Lancaster

No comparison

Re ``Warped priorities'' (Your Opinions, Dec. 31):

There can be no comparison between the two men. Gerald Ford was president of the United States of America and the commander in chief and the most powerful man in the Free World.

James Brown was an entertainer, a felon, woman abuser and a druggie. With all his faults, the American people accepted him for his music. There are other great men that the American people respect and are proud of for what they were, such as Martin Luther King Jr., Cesar Chavez, to name a couple.

-- Dorothy Dee

Sherman Oaks

When in doubt

Since the election, many people have written, claiming to have been duped by Measure R and its meaning. How were they duped? Did they not read the proposition, listen to the debates on the subject, take a few minutes to investigate and understand the information they received?

If they claim to have been duped, then they voted in favor of the proposition and have themselves to blame. Maybe the next time they go to the voting polls, they will be better-informed. Stop being led around by the nose and listening to what the politicians and self-serving groups tell you to do. These people have their own agendas and care less about your ideas and feelings. When in doubt, look to the past and you will see the answer.

-- Ron Roth

Northridge

Campaign financing

Re ``Public short-changed by influence of special-interest cash'' (Our Opinions, Dec. 29):

Regardless of our political affiliations, if we average Californians ever hope to see government responsive to us instead of private special interests, we need to work for and support public financing of campaigns.

It's cheap (less than $10 a year per voter), it's constitutional (U.S. Supreme Court says so), and Arizona and Maine have already proved it works. What are we waiting for?

-- Craig Dunkerley

San Jose