PUBLIC FORUM.

No balances

Re ``Arnold: Join me or fight'' (Jan. 6):

It appears that Arnold Schwarzenegger has gone from being the ``Terminator'' to being the ``Governator'' on to becoming the Petty Dictator. When he studied to become a U.S. citizen, he apparently missed the lessons about checks and balances, the guarantees that no branch of government would have complete control of our state or nation. He apparently believes that he should control all aspects of our state.

He seems to regard anyone who disagrees with him as an enemy whom he labels as a ``special interest'' whose butt he wants to kick. The really sad part is that his targets are the disabled, workers, educators, nurses and anyone else who isn't part of the big business ``special interests'' that he does support.

- Donna E. Engbertson

Lake Balboa

Bungling supervisors

Re ``Supervisors take county seal down'' (Jan. 6):

I sit here and read yet another chapter in the county seal saga. The only thing that comes to mind after reading today's article (regarding the removal of the county seals from the Hall of Administration Hearing Room altogether) is a picture of the ACLU fat-cats sitting in the seats at the hearing room, smoking their fat cigars and giggling at the bungling supervisors.

This has got to be one of the most notable political faux pas in county history. I certainly hope the county leaders are proud of themselves.

- Brian Jones 

Palmdale

Cutting benefits

Re ``Social Security fight 'winnable''' (Business, Jan. 6):

There is no way I am going to put financial security in the faith of an administration that continues to write bad checks. My generation would be foolish to support George W's plans to dismantle Social Security.

His plan is to cut promised benefits to retirees by nearly a third. That is unacceptable. Do not let the elitist few who will be financially sound for countless generations make poor decisions for the common men and women like you and me.

- Jeannine Shannon

Thousand Oaks 

Without Prop. 13

Re ``Revisiting Prop. 13'' (Editorial, Jan. 5):

When you buy a home, under Proposition 13, you know what your property taxes will be. Without Proposition 13, property taxes would be much higher. I have been in my home for many years and I am a retiree. Without Proposition 13, I am certain my tax bill would be much higher.

The one thing that does have me concerned is the charges that I get each year for bond issues. My current tax bill is 50 percent for property taxes and 50 percent for repayment of bond issues. What the Daily News should be questioning is not the actual property tax, but the amount of bond issues that our fine politicians and school districts have placed on ballots and have been approved by deceived voters.

- Stan Trinaystich

Monrovia

Lying to the public

Re ``Study: Schools near bottom'' (Jan. 5):

The governor promised education funding would be restored this year to get concessions last year - now he cuts education funding once again. Only those in education realize how drastic the cuts last year affected all students. The Rand Commission finds California schools lag because of inadequate funding, large class size and stagnant teacher pay. How can the governor so blatantly ignore a crisis and lie to the public?

Again, the state budget will be balanced on the backs of the most vulnerable: the children. Remember voters, that in the long term, we all lose. If we do not adequately prepare children to be productive members of our society, we all suffer.

- Chuck Trudeau

Shadow Hills

Which is it?

Re ``Blind loyalty to skin color no longer answer'' (Viewpoint, Jan. 2):

Sharon Woodson-Bryant writes of ``blind loyalty'' in terms of race. Seems she can't make up her mind if she believes in loyalty to ideals first or to race. Her example of Ward Connerly is a perfect one of a man who is an American first. That seems to trouble her.

Is a black person really good only if they are loyal to her notion of what a black person should stand for? This displays the very racism we should all be striving to denounce. We are all in this together, a fact Connerly is keenly aware of. One could learn from his example.

- Rollin Lofdahl

Woodland Hills

World War II analogy

Re ``Another war, battle''(Your Opinions, Dec. 30):

There's one critical difference between the Battle of the Bulge and the fighting in Iraq. The Battle of the Bulge came about as a result of a war the Germans started. The fighting in Iraq came about as a result of a war we started.

There is a comparison to be made between World War II and the Iraq war. Sadly, the United States is analogous to Germany in that comparison. Just as the Germans invaded Poland without provocation, we invaded Iraq without provocation.

- Josh Rivetz

Northridge

Hearts and minds

Every dollar given to help save people and rebuild entire swaths destroyed by tsunamis is a dollar spent to also fight terrorism. Nothing hurts recruiting for groups like al-Qaida when the large number of Muslims affected see hope radiating from the people of the United States, be they Christian, Jewish or Muslim Americans.

The U.S. won the Cold War not only through its military might but the often forgotten ``soft power'' that emanates from upholding our values. It's what prompted the defections that gave us crucial intelligence during the Cold War. The disaster has so stunned the peoples of this area that ethnic and religious conflicts are being set aside as communities come together. Now is the chance to build upon that spirit to promote tolerance and understanding that can keep us safe at home.

- Omar Masry

Thousand Oaks

That's been done

I remember when I thought James Hahn would be a one-term mayor. Now, I sit and watch all of the other candidates attack him. They don't try to emphasize a clear plan for what they would do as mayor. Instead, they spend most of their time attacking the incumbent. Didn't we recently have a political candidate who tried that? I think his name was John Kerry. Good luck, guys.

- R.J. Johnson

North Hollywood

Yoke of ideology

Every day I read letters from liberals which castigate Bush. Some are justified, some are not. One thing, however, is clear. The liberals are responsible for Bush's victory. They have captured the Democratic Party, and proposed a candidate who not only was widely liberal, but represented the hateful Vietnam era, when liberals almost caused the crash of our political parties.

If the Democrats had proposed a candidate like Bill Clinton, who represented middle America, he could have won by a significant margin. The day of the liberal is over. Democrats would be well advised to throw off the yoke of that ideology.

- Sion Colvin

Woodland Hills

Odor of sanctity

Not only is there a foul odor emanating from the U.S. Supreme Court with the revelation that Justice Thomas has accepted over $45,000 in gifts and Justice Scalia ruling in favor of Vice President Cheney after taking a free plane ride with Cheney to Louisiana so they could hunt together.

That odor is now spreading to the House where the Republicans are proposing that a relative can accompany a House member on a trip financed by a special-interest group or nonprofit organization.

- Jean Strauber

Encino

Fitting finale finally

When the last of the supplies are airlifted from the USS Abraham Lincoln and delivered to the intended Indonesian tsunami victims, there will finally be a legitimate reason to display the ``Mission Accomplished'' banner across her bridge.

- Don DeGrasse

Tarzana