PUBLIC FORUM.

Protecting teens

Re ``Teens at risk'' (June 16):

Teens are faced with overwhelming pressure today. Being a parent and now a grandparent, it seems that teens are not grounded in reality now. They see too many violent movies, they play too many violent video games, they hear too many violent rap songs, and they live in families that are too dysfunctional. Add teen alcohol and drug abuse, and you have a teen who loses a reason to live.

Even though many experts say they have the solution to helping teens pass through their growing years successfully, teen suicide is a complex problem. However, there is evidence that children and teens who are raised in strong and loving families, where spending time together in activities each day is important, develop a respect for each other and themselves.

- Timothy L. Stanley

Rosemead

Stay the course

The established bureaucrats are fighting Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger against changing the way our state government works. The taxpayers of California want change. Isn't it time to fight the unions and take our state back?

The way that they are fighting the governor is wrong, and the voters of this state will have their say. Why are they afraid of letting us, the voters, decide? If the governor's reforms are not passed into law, the very people who got California into this current mess will be allowed to continue inflicting more damage.

We cannot let that happen. The people of California need to stand together in support of the governor's reform agenda. When the special interests voice their opposition to the governor's reforms, we must express our support for the governor louder. The governor is fighting for the people of California and we need to make sure he knows that we are on his side.

Stay the course, Governator.

- Willie Conroy

Northridge

Not a good idea

Re ``State budget puts seniors at risk'' (Their Opinions, June 13):

Last year, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger wanted to slash the In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) program by deleting the domestic part of the program. It wasn't a good idea.

Now, he wants to slash IHSS salaries and return them to minimum wage. Again, not a very good idea. Fact: Seniors do better in their own homes.

I am a former family caregiver to my dad, who had Alzheimer's disease. IHSS paid me minimum wage to take care of him.

Caring for my dad was a full-time job. I couldn't have an outside job. Based on a minimum-wage salary of $6.75 an hour minus the ridiculous share of cost that came out of my check, the money wasn't enough.

It's time to send our governor and state legislators a very loud and clear message. Even at salaries of $8.10 an hour, the state will still save money. Nursing homes cost more money, plain and simple, and sometimes the care leaves a lot to be desired.

- Eden Rosen

Burbank

Restoring greatness

As lifelong Californians, we have witnessed the systematic demise of our great state by the Democratic demagogues. The highway infrastructure is a disaster due to the reassignment of gasoline taxes to the general fund to be spent by our so-called leaders on special projects including but not limited to housing and health care for illegal immigrants.

The public employees' pension fund is an abomination and the envy of every hard-working taxpayer. It deserves to be brought in line with the private sector. State government has grown to gargantuan proportions with no end in sight. We elected Schwarzenegger because of his vision and leadership, and we will continue to support his efforts to return California to its former greatness.

- Henry and Susan Koops

Santa Clarita

Face the facts

Re ``Immigration laws neither fair nor just'' (Their Opinions, June 16):

I appreciate Domenico Maceri's piece on immigration. I can almost see the letters that the Daily News will get disclaiming this piece line by line. Let us face the facts: Anyone who has posed the question ``What part of 'illegal' don't you understand?'' will not give any credence to this article.

When you have a governor of the great state of California calling the Arizona Minute Men ``terrific'' and many of the talk-radio clowns constantly trying to whip their lockstep worshippers into an angry frenzy over ``illegal aliens'' you realize a person of Maceri's intelligence and integrity might not be given much credibility.

- John Rowe

West Hills

Maceri's forte

Re ``Immigration laws neither fair nor just'' (Their Opinions, June 16):

Thank God, Domenico Maceri only teaches foreign languages. His forte does not lie in common sense and constitutional law. How dare he compare illegal immigrants to people breaking the speed limit or using an illegal substance? Does he actually expect people to believe such rantings?

- Richard Detanna

Granada Hills

Support reform

In recent history, several administrations and legislatures have led the state of California down a slippery path to bankruptcy. A major factor in this has been the public employee unions' requirement that all employees receive equal pay regardless of performance.

The citizens of California, recognizing the pending disaster, threw out former Gov. Gray Davis, and elected one who promised to clean up the mess. Now that he is attempting to do just that, he is facing severe, organized opposition.

Successful businesses have a system of merit pay for their employees. Workers who perform strongly are rewarded with better pay. Predatory unions require equal pay regardless of performance. The strong public employee and teachers unions have strangled California with that system, and are spending large amounts of money on misleading media ads to defeat the very necessary special-election measures. Don't be misled by the false advertising. Support the governor's attempts to do what we elected him to do.

- Melvin Young

Newhall

Show some respect

Re ``Arnold hit by college protest'' (June 15):

I am a supporter of all that our Constitution stands for, but I am not sure that our Founding Fathers would have been proud of those who were exercising their right to free speech at the Santa Monica College graduation on Tuesday.

Where does it say our constitutional right to freedom of expression supersedes all laws of manners, common decency and respect for our fellow man?

The faculty who held protest signs or stood with their backs turned while the governor spoke took focus away from the students who beat the odds to get to their graduation day. This was a day to celebrate their achievements, but all anyone is talking about is the protesters.

William Shakespeare wrote, ``Discretion is the better part of valor.'' Just because you can do something, doesn't mean that you should. Let graduation be about the graduates. The next day you can write a letter, start a campaign for change, or run for governor. Until then, show some respect for those who will shape, lead and contribute to the future of this great country.

- Lori Gardner

Tujunga

Destroying nations?

Re ``Remember, danger hasn't been wiped out'' (Their Opinions, June 16):

I was shocked to read in Thomas Sowell's article the phrase, ``when we had the power to destroy any nation posing such a threat.''

How can someone write that? When you destroy nations, it means you kill everybody, including innocent people. Governments do not necessarily represent views of their people. I am not sure why Sowell insists on ``destroying nations.'' Do people living in these nations deserve to be destroyed? He mentions nations that threaten America. Who can threaten America? Our annual defense budget equals that of the rest of the world combined.

Terrorists are not part of any government. Osama bin Laden represents his opinion. To pose a threat to someone you have to say that you are going to attack him. Do you know any country that threatened to attack America?

- Andre Plessis

Winnetka

Foreshadow

Re `'Jackson cleared on all counts in molestation trial'' (June 14):

How telling the lyrics:

Beat it, beat it, beat it, beat it

No one wants to be defeated

Showin' how funky, strong is your fighter

It doesn't matter who's wrong or right

Just beat it, beat it, beat it, beat it ...

- Bob Ginn

Arcadia