PUBLIC FORUM.

Resist the bad tax!

Re ``Fighting gangs may get taxing'' (Jan. 24):

This absolutely biased property tax to be borne by property owners is a slap in the face of responsible citizens.

Gangs inherently are bred in the renter section of the population and overwhelming in the homes of illegal immigrants and nonsupportive parents.

Pitting responsible parents/homeowners against illegal immigrants and irresponsible parents may likely further racial discord, which is at an all-time high.

Property owners should refuse to permit this biased tax.

-- Robert Bowman 

Sylmar

Bill not bogus

Calling Assemblyman Richard Alarcon's sex-offender bill ``bogus' is insulting to the Sylmar residents and the Sylmar Neighborhood Council.

This bill was not made up by Mr. Alarcon for ``campaign'' purposes; it was brought by the people of Sylmar and their neighbors who sat in meetings with state parole, police, as well as representatives for the local elected officials. In the research, we found that certain communities, like Sylmar, are carrying a large burden of these individuals.

Alarcon's office was the only one that came through and helped us introduce new legislation. This was before he decided to run for City Council and was still our state senator. He did not forget his promise when he went to the state Assembly.

-- Tammy Flores 

Sylmar Neighborhood Council president

Rhetorical B.S.

A summary of President Bush's recent State of the Union address: Good rhetoric, but plenty of bull. Bush provided a nice list of problems but very few solutions And the solutions he presented are basically unachievable. But didn't they sound great? And placing all of the responsibility for his alleged goals onto the next administration -- and all the risk onto the next generation -- is just beautiful.

On the bright side, since Bush took office, even the atheists and agnostics are beginning to pray again.

-- David Fritz

Reseda

The Cooperator

In his State of the Union speech, President Bush made clear that he still considers cooperation to be a one-way street. He asked the Democratically controlled Congress to cooperate with him on his agenda while offering no cooperation with them on their agenda. He also spoke up against earmarks as if the idea were coming from him while failing to mention that the Democratic Congress had already passed such legislation.

The good news is that the people have become wise to Bush's deceptions. Only a diminishing minority will fall for his rhetoric at this point.

-- David Holland

Northridge

Warmer is better

Our governor, our two senators and a herd of others are going to protect us from the hazards of ``global warming'' by promoting new laws and regulations, which will make our life more difficult and take more money out of our pockets. Would common sense lead them in a different direction?

Historical records and climate research shows that when the planet's temperature was warmer than the present temperature, there was sufficient food for everyone, the economy approached full development and the population increased. When it was lower the food supply was scarce, the population decreased and violence increased.

-- Bill Zelenka

Granada Hills

Democracy defined

Re ``A democratic republic'' (Your opinions, Jan. 24):

Rick Kellis essentially argues that the terms ``republic,'' ``democracy,'' ``representative democracy'' and ``democratic republic'' are synonymous. The three authors of the essays of the Federalist Papers would be crestfallen to learn that their endeavors were wasted. At least 31 times they referred to democracy or related words and deliberately rejected the concept of democracy.

Article 4, section 4 of the U.S. Constitution guarantees ``to every state in this Union a Republican form of government.'' Benjamin Franklin summarized that we had been given, ``A Republic, if we can keep it.'' Kellis was not their contemporary or he could have corrected them.

-- Jack Schlicht

North Hills

Going national

Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa plans to end urban poverty across the country? I guess the politicians in California can forget about him campaigning for governor. Somebody better tell Hillary and Obama that Antonio is coming.

-- Louise Clarke Stone

Sunland