PUBLIC FORUM.

Spanking taxonomy

Assemblywoman Sally Lieber repeatedly uses the words ``spanking,'' ``beating'' and ``slapping'' interchangeably. I assume she has no children.

Spanking involves hitting legs or buttocks with one hand, belt or switch. The hand hurts the mother more than the child.

Beating involves hitting anywhere, with whatever is handy, and leaving a scar or bruise, or causing death.

Slapping is using an open hand to smack a face.

Spanking is the parents' choice if it does no physical harm and the child knows why. One should not spank a child under 3 years old.

Lieber should check her facts before making legislative suggestions.

-- Lynette Grismore

Valencia

Their lips are moving

Defense Secretary Robert Gates has said: ``The president has made it clear, the secretary of state has made it clear, I've made it clear ... we are not planning for a war with Iran.''

Well, considering the lying and lack of planning prior to the ongoing war in Iraq, my guess is we're going to war with Iran!

-- Eddie Johnson

Panorama City

Man poisons dog

Re ``Man is arrested in dog poisoning'' (Feb. 3):

I can well appreciate the desperation felt by Larry Rothfork, who for too many years has had to listen to the incessant barking of his neighbor's noisy boxer.

I have a neighbor who leaves her dogs outside, unfed, oftentimes for over 13 hours in a day while she is off at work and play -- uncaring about what others have to endure by her thoughtlessness.

While we do have enforceable laws regarding barking between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m., this is not enough. Along with those who work nights and need to sleep during the day, everyone deserves a quiet environment at home at any hour.

It is time to revisit the barking-dog laws in Los Angeles.

-- Lisa Freedman 

Valley Glen

Lazy nonvoters

Re ``Mandatory democracy'' (Our Opinions, Feb. 5):

Note to Assemblyman Joe Coto, D-San Jose: Registration is no solution to the lack of election participation in California. Folks who do not vote sit at home waiting for an engraved invitation and the limousine to take them to their polling place. These folks will not even make the effort to complete and mail an absentee-voter postcard.

I say we adopt the Hawaiian answer to this situation: no vote, no grumble.

-- Louise Clarke Stone

Sunland

Fat cats win

Re ``United front defeats council'' (Feb. 4):

The headline may claim it was a united front that tried to deny living wages to airport hotel workers, but reading deeper into the article you'll see that city matters are decided by fat-cat lobbyists who will promulgate any position for a buck.

Harvey Englander and Arnie Berghoff make out like bandits. As Englander said, ``And we were prepared to spend anything it took in an election.'' That's right, folks, including $3 million of our taxpayer money so airport hotels can continue underpaying and stealing tips from poverty-level employees. What do the lobbyists care? They got paid.

-- Marshall Abernathy

Woodland Hills