PUBLIC FORUM.

Medicaid prescription drugs

Re ``State to sue feds over Medicare'' (Feb. 2):

What could be better evidence that Medicare Part D is poor legislation that the fact that the states are suddenly paying millions of dollars more for Medicaid prescription drugs than they were paying when it was a state-run program?

It's a sad day when the federal government illegally forces the states to pay for a federal program, especially since it's been a failure from the day it stated on Jan. 2, 2006. It's clearly obvious that the current federal administration cares nothing about the poor and elderly in its effort to reward the health insurance and pharmaceutical industries for the lobbying money they have provided to its cohorts.

- Melvin H. Kirschner, M.D.

Van Nuys

General Motors layoffs

Here's a company, General Motors, whose financial condition is so precarious that filing bankruptcy isn't far off, that continues to build that behemoth gas guzzler monster - the Hummer.

What stupid CEO makes that decision? Does laying off 30,000 employees help them finance the Hummer? Just doesn't make any sense, does it?

- Earl D. Horwitz

North Hills

State of the president

Re ``Bush vows to end 'addiction to oil''' (Feb. 1):

As a 76-year-old grandfather, I don't appreciate this poor excuse for our president speaking to us as if we are children. This is an unsuccessful oilman, whose daddy had to bail him out of every oil deal he ever got involved in - except Iraq and daddy can't help him out this time.

I am waiting for one honest Republican politician, who isn't in denial and who cares for our nation more than his or her political party. So far - zero.

- Bob A. Greene

West Hollywood

GOP usually wrong

Re ``Not all blacks are born to be anti-Republican'' (Their Opinions, Feb. 2):

Thomas Sowell is at it again. This time he cannot understand why blacks and Jews are overwhelmingly Democratic. Could it possibly be that the Republicans are usually wrong when it comes to tax policies, government debt, attempts to destroy Social Security, cutting aid to the most vulnerable of our citizens, preventing the government from negotiating prices with the drug companies?

I honestly could go on forever itemizing their faults. Apparently black Americans and Jewish Americans are a lot smarter than Sowell thinks and that is why they are Democrats.

- Albert Cohen

Sherman Oaks

'Future date'?

Re ``Unnecessary resurfacing'' (Your Opinions, Feb. 1):

Last spring, before the mayoral election, several of the streets in our neighborhood were resurfaced. On the day our street was supposed to be done, a sign was put up saying it was canceled and would be done at a ``future date.'' Although not as good as repaving, a resurfacing would have been very welcome on our horribly disfigured street.

Needless to say, we have yet to see the ``future date.'' Alan Pollack is very correct with his observation that streets that are in excellent condition are kept up while others are left to get progressively worse. Is it who you know? Please tell me who to call so I can at least get a cosmetic resurface ... what gives?

- Barbara Burr

Arleta

Atheism as conclusion

Re ``Atheism as religion'' (Your Opinions, Feb. 1):

It's been said, if atheism is a religion, then bald is a hair color and not collecting stamps is a hobby.

- Damian Carroll

Van Nuys

'The truth'

Re ``Many can't save'' (Your Opinions, Jan. 31):

After 21 years as an investment counselor, and meeting with more than 1,000 families, the irrefutable truth that the reason people (99 percent) don't save is because they put unnecessary things ahead of what's important. Cell phones, constantly eating out, the latest fashions, and so on. Fifty dollars to $100 a month invested in equities starting at 25 or 28 years old would grow to a million or more by age 65 to 70 years. Here's some advice: personal responsibility!

- Curtis Cooper

Castaic