Take that, you grocery haters

After reading all the hateful letters from readers toward the [grocery] strike, I am surprised that all of you college-educated people have even acknowledged my existence for the past 24 years.

I have been a checker at Vons. Yes, I make $18 an hour, but with only 24 hours, it is not a lot. With all that education you would think you could figure out that all the welfare money that the Wal-Mart workers and second-tier grocery workers are getting is being paid by your tax dollars while the guys at the top are laughing all the way to the bank.

I chose this job for the flexible hours that let me raise two great kids. I had no desire to be a 50-hour-a-week working mom so we could live the good life because, as you have shown me with your hateful letters, money doesn't buy happiness.

Gina Callen

Escondido

Beware global cooling, not global warming

Those folks who may be fearful of global warming and whose knowledge of this hypothetical threat may be based primarily on media sensationalism and junk-science such as Al Gore's doomsday documentary, "An Inconvenient Truth," should stop worrying because history will surely prove that the world could be entering the next ice age.

That's right. According to a special report by the Business and Media Institute (May 11, 2006), which searched 30 major publications and news headlines from 1850 to 2006, it found that records of climate show that the world has experienced five noticeable changes in climate over the past 150 years, indicating that today's dreaded global warming is right on schedule to be wiped out by global cooling.

This revelation is not good news for the global warming worrywarts, and especially for men like Al Gore, who has become rich and famous by distorting the truth in order to create a phony crisis meant to scare the people. It is also bad news for the global power brokers who are desperately trying to peddle the Kyoto Treaty, bringing with it all kinds of outrageous regulations and a global carbon tax meant to cripple our economy and weaken our nation.

Darrell Beck

Ramona

This invasion is same old, same old

Will it never end? The city of Vista is once again studying what to do with the new flood of illegal aliens on the horizon. The ACLU is watching the situation very closely. La Raza is on standby readying their orchestrated rallies, if needed. The schools and hospitals in the area are worried because they are so overworked taking care of the illegals now, they might not be able to handle the new flow of undocumented aliens applying for free medical care and infesting the schools with their offspring. The new consortium of clergy is contemplating a sanctuary program for the new undocumented flood, and the Minutemen are getting their people ready for a counterdemonstration.

The schoolchildren are looking forward to a no-school day as they will march in support of these illegal aliens. Will it never end?

Oh, by the way, did I mention that it isn't the Mexicans I am addressing, but the Japanese beetle's infestation in Vista. Sorry about that, friends.

Phil Epstein

Carlsbad

July 4 threat to San Diego's beaches

San Diego's beaches face a threat this July 4, but with your help, it can be reduced or, better yet, prevented altogether! Every year millions crowd beaches throughout San Diego County, and too many revelers leave behind a big mess that makes San Diego's treasured coastline look more like a dump. Last year, Surfrider Foundation volunteers at seven beaches throughout the county picked up over 8,000 pounds of trash, including over 45,000 cigarette butts. This is not the way is should be. This is not the San Diego we love.

Please remind your readers how simple ññ and important ññ it is to properly dispose of trash from their beach visit. Tips for reducing trash at the beach include consuming less and buying products that do not have a lot of packaging; taking less to the beach and using trash bags or cans during your celebration; bringing home any trash or recyclables that you cannot dispose of properly; and, finally, spread the word to respect the beach. Doing these things will preserve our San Diego County coastline in a way that all will enjoy.

For more information about this year's Surfrider Foundation Morning After Mess beach cleanup, including how and where anyone can help, visit www.surfridersd.org.

Ken David

executive committee,

Surfrider Foundation

San Diego chapter

Security first, then we'll talk

Until we have security and some semblance of border control, most Americans will not support any benefits, amnesty, or whatever he wants to do to help the illegal immigrant. … Security first. Then we will listen to other changes.

Bush needs to impress upon us that he cares more about us than he does about illegal immigrants. Some of us have relatives waiting years to get in, and the people he supports can walk across. They must get in line like everyone else!

Here is my proposal. … 1. Enforce the current laws. Support and reinforce the officers working the border. Support a federal law directing local police and other law enforcement to take action to detain and initiate deportation of those here illegally. Jail employers of illegal immigrants. 2. No benefits for those in the country illegally. 3. Initiate a constitutional amendment to stop the anchor baby phenomenon. 4. Build the fence. 5. Change the immigration quotas to reflect real needs justified by industry and/or states. … We will support something logical, fair and needed after our security is taken care of. …

Silas Mariano

Oceanside

The Israeli lobby must be incompetent

Your paper often publishes letters concerning the nefarious activities of the so-called "Israeli lobby" in directing U.S. foreign policy in the Mideast. Let us assume the writers are correct and U.S. pressure is exerted via the lobby. Since the failed Oslo peace process was initiated, thousands of Israelis have been killed or wounded. U.S. pressure, using the concept of "land for peace," has resulted in Israel surrendering land, yet there is more war and no peace. U.S. pressure resulted in Israeli withdrawal from south Lebanon and Gaza; missiles are now fired into Israel from both locations. U.S. pressure resulted in a limited Israeli response in the 2006 summer war, emboldening Israeli's enemies. The Israeli prime minister has a popularity rating near zero percent. U.S. pressure calls for more Israeli concessions even after the Hamas takeover. Political pressure is preventing sales of the newest U.S. interceptor (F-22) to Israel.

I can safely conclude that the Israeli lobby, if it exists in other than as a figment of an overactive imagination, should be fired forthwith for gross negligence and incompetence.

Harold Bernard Reisman

Carlsbad

Immigration bill would have hurt workers

The so-called immigration reform bill that was before the U.S. Senate would have been disastrous for construction workers in California and across the nation ññ union and nonunion alike.

Credible estimates place construction work as the third-largest employment sector in the U.S. for undocumented workers ññ approximately 14 percent of the construction workforce has entered the country without the legal right to do so. It is now common practice for large contractors who do business throughout the world to move construction workers … around the globe like indentured servants. If this immigration bill became law, these international contractors already were planning to use the new guest worker program to drive down wages and benefit standards for construction workers throughout the nation.

To date, the Senate debate has not focused sufficiently on the U.S. labor market and its workers. Speaking for the 350,000 construction workers and the unions affiliated with the State Building & Construction Trades Council of California, this bill was beyond salvaging. … Not only would it have destroyed the economic pathway to a middle-class life for skilled union construction workers, it would have ultimately drove down the living standards of all working Americans.

Robert Balgenorth

president, State Building Trades Council

Sacramento

Global warming theory is phony

In response to Brian Schultz (Letters, June 22) and Marshall Byer (Letters, June 23), nice try. Show me an actual analysis proving that sufficient carbon dioxide exists in the stratosphere to form a glasslike shield around the Earth, thereby acting like a greenhouse.

As one climbs Mount Everest, the amount of available oxygen becomes less with elevation, as does the concentration of carbon dioxide. Due to gravity exerted by Mother Earth, there is an envelope of gaseous substance called "air" surrounding the Earth known as the atmosphere. Fact: Air pressure decreases with increases in altitude. Therefore, the density of atmospheric gases gradually decreases with increasing distance above sea level. At 10 miles above sea level, the atmospheric density is only 2/35 of the density at sea level; at 30 miles, it is less than 1/7,000 as dense as at sea level air (almost zero atmospheric density). The approximate composition of the atmosphere by volume is 78.03 percent nitrogen, 20.99 percent oxygen, 0.94 percent argon and 0.031 percent carbon dioxide. Please note: 0.031 percent of zero is zero.

The global warming theory is phony and gaseous diffusion is affected by gravity forces. These are facts, not theory. Space limits.

Archie McPhee

Fallbrook

Our Minutemen are selective racists

Local Minutemen supporters almost daily paraphrase Teddy Roosevelt by repeating his "Our flag is red, white and blue and our language is English." When red, white and green flags flew in central San Diego recently and people sang in a foreign language and ate ethnic food in Little Italy, the vigilantes didn't go into their U.S. flag-waving routine the way they do when Mexicans celebrate Cinco de Mayo. They didn't turn up June 5 when Filipinos filled the Oceanside Civic Center Plaza for a celebration hosted by the Filipino Cultural Association and a spokesman said, "We want to teach our kids who are born here about their culture so they won't forget."

When Mexicans who were born here want to do the same thing, the Minutemen tell them to go home. Minutemen advocates [seem to] want all people of Mexican descent to disappear and say they are responsible for an increasing local crime rate. The crime rate is decreasing, according to recently released FBI statistics. The Minutemen have been joined by a resurgent Klu Klux Klan and neo-Nazi groups who have added Hispanics to their hate list. The few local Hispanics who support these [groups] have not disavowed them; they know what they are and should be ashamed.

Joseph Grant

Oceanside

Death row housing

I think that the French had it spot on with Devil's Island. Just drop off all of the [death row inmates] on a remote, deserted island with zero chance of escape and let them fend for themselves. I'll bet Scott Peterson would last maybe one day.

Ed Larsen

Fallbrook

Saddam treated more fairly than our own soldiers

I find it unbelievable that military judges issued two opposite rulings regarding evidence jurors will be allowed to consider during the murder trials of Trent Thomas and Marshall Magincalda ("Marine's case may include discussion of war stress," June 16). Both cases stemmed from the same incident, or both Marines should be allowed to defend themselves equally. This must have been a weak case. Otherwise, investigators could have proceeded based on forensic and ballistic evidence without resorting to coercion and threats to obtain incriminating statements.

Jurors absolutely have the right to know that the prosecution is relying primarily on testimony from a Navy corpsman who also faced life in prison, but served just 10 months as a reward for turning against his brothers in arms. … Keeping this information from the jury is an obstruction of justice. …

How can we ask these Marines to die for freedom and the principles of democracy, one of which is the right to a fair trial, and then tell them the Constitution doesn't apply to them? Saddam Hussein was treated more fairly than our own soldiers and it's a complete disgrace!

Laurel Eve Kaskurs

Oceanside

9/11 collapse due to fire and plane

In response to Dwain Deets (Letters, June 3), the National Institute of Standards and Technology did not say the collapse was due to fire alone, as he claimed. It said it was due to a combination of the damage from the planes and fire. The source Deets claims is questionable quotes [from] NIST on Pages 39-40.

Furthermore, this statement can be verified at http://wtc.nist.gov/pubs/factsheets/faqs_8_2006.htm, which is from the same NIST that Deets cites. Here is a full quote from the aforementioned link, "The collapse of the WTC towers was not caused either by a conventional building fire or even solely by the concurrent multi-floor fires that day. Instead, NIST concluded that the WTC towers collapsed because: 1. The impact of the planes severed and damaged support columns, dislodged fireproofing insulation coating the steel floor trusses and steel columns, and widely dispersed jet fuel over multiple floors; and 2. The subsequent unusually large, jet-fuel ignited multi-floor fires weakened the now-susceptible structural steel. No building in the United States has ever been subjected to the massive structural damage and concurrent multi-floor fires that the towers experienced on Sept. 11, 2001."?Nice try.

Victor Chabala

Oceanside

9/11 head directed investigation

Victor Chabala (Letters, June 19), responding to my April 20 letter, says, "Clearly, the 9/11 Commission is as much the Bush administration's as Rush Limbaugh is liberal." The former commission consisted of five Republicans and five Democrats, including Republican Thomas Kean as chairman. What made the commission an instrument of the Bush administration was its executive director, Philip Zelikow. Republican Zelikow, a friend of Condoleezza Rice (then national security adviser) and a Bush administration insider, directed the investigatory staff of about 75 people. Zelikow apparently chose what matters would be, or not be, investigated. A number of important matters, such as the collapse of Building 7 of the World Trade Center on 9/11, were apparently excluded from the investigation by Zelikow.

Mr. Chabala chooses not to face the reality that the Bush administration has misled the American public continually on important matters during its six and a half years. Why, therefore, should anybody accept without questions its account of 9/11/01?

Harold Weber

Oceanside

Citizenship a privilege, not a right

Why hasn't the government addressed the serious immigration problem of "automatic citizenship?" A child born in this country, of illegal parents, is a citizen. Citizenship should be a privilege, not a given. - Why doesn't the United States government amend the Constitution to require that at least one parent of a child born in this country be a citizen for the child to be a citizen? This action would stem the flow of familial immigration.

Jean Alm

Temecula

'Free night' a disservice to America

I have never been so disappointed in attending "our national pastime"! I started attending baseball games when I was a kid. I started playing in Little League when I was 8 years old. Since then, I have always enjoyed the wonderful snacks at the concession stand … you know peanuts, Cracker Jack and hot dogs. Then, before the game could begin, all were asked to rise, remove their caps and solemnly witness the presentation of our national flag and the national anthem.

I recently attended the Storm baseball game in Lake Elsinore. It was "free night" at the ballpark. None of the concession stands were open. Neither was the souvenir shop. No peanuts, Cracker Jack, hot dogs, sodas or ballcaps.

No attendants in the parking lots. No stadium broadcaster. Oh yeah, there was no presentation of our national anthem, either.

We are at war with terrorists worldwide! Our servicemen and -women are serving and dying every day! Baseball is our national pastime. Certainly, the very least we can do is remember them and honor their sacrifice by singing our national anthem, "The Star-Spangled Banner."

The "free" theme of the evening was ill-thought and a big mistake professionally. It is truly sad to witness our nation continue to lose its moral character. Freedom is not free! What were you thinking?

Michael Christensen

Menifee

'Silent' war with Mexico is under way

Some time ago I wrote of a war with Mexico. We are at the start of it now - a silent invasion. These illegal immigrants come for many reasons. Not all are seeking work. They come with the sanction and aid of the Mexican government. Many stores and shops from Texas to Oregon are accepting Mexican money.

Our second-rate congressmen and -women we elect cannot understand what is happening. While they argue about amnesty, a fence or more U.S. Border Patrol agents, more are crossing daily.

I have many American friends whose ancestry is from south of the border. They entered the country legally. I do not know any Mexican-Americans.

Our legislators cannot grasp the fact these illegal immigrants have committed a crime and they are criminals.

As I said before, their goal is to return the entire west to Mexico.

Oliver Kerr

Sun City

A welcome surprise

We would like to thank the gentleman and his son who honored our military service by surprising us by paying for our lunch at Richie's Diner on June 25.

Anthony Petrello

Murrieta

Church-state separation is important

Simply put, the First Amendment was designed to guarantee religious liberty by keeping religion out of government. In that way, individuals would have the freedom to believe -- or not believe -- and practice what they choose.

Historically, when religious groups have gotten hold of political power, they discriminated and persecuted other religious groups.

Our Founding Fathers were aware of the role religion played in the 30 Years War, the English Reformation, the English Civil War, the Protestant Reformation, the Counter-Reformation, the French Wars of Religion, the persecution of heretics, the Roman persecution of Christians and then non-Christians, and the Crusades.

Why is the wall of separation important? Suppose the majority of Americans believed in a religion where women had to remain out of sight of unrelated men. In public, they would have to be completely covered from head to toe and be escorted by a male relative. They could not drive, work or practice a profession that places them in public.

Suppose American religionists pushed for laws reflecting their beliefs. These laws would be enforced by the federal and state police and violations could be punished by public beatings, jailing and beheadings.

This is the religious government of our Saudi friends and our Taliban enemies.

Think again. Would you want a government based on the Torah, the Koran, the Book of Mormon or would you prefer to be able to vote for a Jew, a Muslim or Mormon without fear that their religious beliefs would be imposed on you?

William D. Hidalgo

Temecula

Abandoning friends has consequences

I would like to comment on Jack Fennessy's critique (Letters, June 22) of my criticism of the "get out now" people. His very cavalier dismissal of the comparison to the Vietnam debacle because he didn't remember "any real logistic problems or military problems in withdrawing 500,000 men from Vietnam" would have been laughable if it weren't so tragic.

In our effort to withdraw immediately, we abandoned hundreds of thousands of our allies to the North Vietnamese, resulting in the slaughter or imprisonment of them and the slaughter of more than 2 million Laotians. A look at the current reports from the U.N. Human Rights Commission will reveal the inhumane treatment in Laos of the supporters of the U.S., with gang rapes, killings and use of them for medical experimentation by the current communist government.

The fact that there will be reprisals against Iraqi supporters and others should we "bug out" is not a "ridiculous assumption"; it is predictable and expected by most military experts. At the very least, the U.S. will be confirmed as a paper tiger and ignored when we attempt to influence any immoral regime in the future. It doesn't take a military expert to recognize the tragic results from abandoning friends when the going gets tough.

Paul R. Puma Sr.

Murrieta

Board has no control over quarry

I agree with the Delnays (Letters, June 28) that the June 20 South Coast Air Quality Management District board meeting was accurately reported. However, that agency has little or no control over the outcome of the Liberty Quarry dispute and at most can only offer an opinion.

From what I know, it can only censure or fine a party who violates the standards. This would be a great thing for Liberty Quarry, because their history has shown they would rather pay fines than conform. It would also be beneficial for the air quality control board, because those fines levied for excesses is a source of livelihood. Far better that both parties be disappointed. The outcome must be no quarry at any price.

Norvin G. Snook

Temecula

Teen's letter campaign heartwarming

On June 24, I read in your paper such a heartwarming story that I was compelled to comment on it. With all the vandalism, nastiness, disrespect and general bad behavior we read in the paper most days, that is perpetrated by some of our youth, this story was truly a welcome one.

What I am referring to is the story of an Orange County teenager, Shauna Fleming, who took it upon herself to collect a million letters to be sent to our troops to let them know that they are not forgotten. Well, she collected about 4 million letters in a relatively short time and sent them on to Iraq and Afghanistan to our men and women in the armed forces.

I just want to thank her and tell her that I am so proud that young people like her do still exist.

Erika Hornisch

Temecula

Fresh from the Web

Enforcement effort continues against illegal immigrants

Readers respond to our July 1 story about immigration arrests in Escondido as part of Operation Return to Sender, a specialized team of officers who focus on arresting people with criminal records and those who have been ordered deported by an immigration judge.

A small bit of help

The Truth: "Praise the God of Heaven. This may be the smallest bit of help to the legal American person. Don't fog the truth with talk of tears and crying, that is what Mexico has done to its people not the United States. I am sick and tired of hearing what the U.S. is doing to protect itself and how much it violates the rights of people. If I go into any country in the world illegally, I could be at the least arrested and deported, at worst thrown in prison. There is no immigration issue at hand. It is the invasion of a foreign people into a land they do not belong."

Tearful stories abound

Tears At Home: "Parents, spouses and children in the home country also cried when the illegals came here leaving behind loved ones. ENFORCE THE IMMIGRATION LAWS! The author should spend some time in family court. A lot of tearful stories there too!"

Boycott illegal employers

paolo: "I don't blame Mexico, I blame U.S. employers who hire unauthorized workers. How about a boycott of illegal employers? The only real solution."

Absurd raids

Eddie W. SD Law Student: "This is absurd. You can be deported for crimes that'll only get you probation. Not all of these people are illegal, some are permanent residents. Most of these people cannot afford a decent lawyer and so they get convicted of offense they didn't do or would have got off/or charged with a lesser crime, as well as that fact that they can't afford a decent immigration lawyer."

More people seek help from regional food banks

Readers respond to our July 2 story about how business is brisk at food banks in the region as rising costs of living and shrinking household budgets drive more and more people to seek free groceries, officials with some of the local organizations said last week.

Just move

Greg in Oceanside: "Unfortunately the cost of living is going up and living here in California is not cheap. So, one solution may be that people to relocate. There are plenty of places around the country where the cost of living is more affordable. Many of the indigent are that way because of poor choices they've made, and sacrifices they didn't make."

More harm than good

Concerned-1: "Welfare breeds weakness. There is a real need for food banks and for temporary assistance for people in need. But, giving away food to supplement someone's income causes more harm than good for society."

Try some compassion, common sense

Ridiculous!: "Asking the poor to move to a more affordable area is simply ridiculous. Many of them have invested their entire lives here with family & friends. These people are already stressed and you're suggesting a pathway to nowhere for them. Plus the cost to move is clearly out of reach for people who can't afford food. Try a little compassion and common sense. If we had universal health care, rich companies paid their fair share of taxes (many pay nothing while earning billions of dollars) and we required developers to build inclusionary housing, much of this financial pressure would be relieved on the poor. And did you notice the rich getting richer and the middle class is continually eroding? Wise up! "

Who pays for the move?

Bill2: … Granted, there are a lot of places in this country that have lower costs of living. Just how are these people supposed to move themselves and their few possessions to these affordable areas? Is he willing to help some of us low income people move from his paradise? …

Free food

Pablo: "How do I get some of that free food?"

Just cause

Steve: … I've been out of work for almost six months and my (unemployment insurance) will end. I can't find a decent wage job anywhere ($15) without a 50-mile commute. Everyone needs a handout once in a while and it should be provided with just cause.

Hunter remains upbeat about presidential campaign

Readers respond to our July 2 story about U.S. Rep Duncan Hunter who, despite having raised a comparatively paltry $1 million and being near the bottom among other candidates in national polls, remains upbeat about his quixotic campaign for the 2008 GOP presidential nomination.

Put Hunter at Homeland Security

Hector: "Hunter should volunteer to replace Chertoff today. Does anybody have any faith in Homeland Security with Chertoff running it? I don't. The plan is really simple. Hunter could have SSA inform ICE and FBI of suspected identity thieves who could work with local police to arrest try and convict the thieves and their false ID suppliers. Put them in jail for a while say until the fence is completed then deport all who were illegally here. Hunter could do that in 12 months and be elected president in 18."

Moderates needed

John E: "Hunter is too far off-center for my tastes. This country's overly polarized major parties need to give us unity-building moderates."

Don't stop believing

Tonya: "I would love to see Duncan for president or even vice president. Good Luck Duncan, don't give up!"