KFC chooses profit over safety

The majority vote (Jerry Kern, Jack Feller and Rocky Chavez) of the Oceanside City Council has made it very clear they are at war with the fire and police departments of Oceanside. Just look at KFC's voting record in the last year and a half (and this has accelerated during the Kern recall effort). I laughed out loud when I read in the North County Times that KFC Councilmembers Feller and Chavez stated that Fire Chief Terry Garrison's resignation is not connected to their vote, which was aimed at the fire and police department's personnel ("City's fire chief resigns," Oct. 24).

Fire Chief Garrison sees the handwriting on the wall that Kern, Feller and Chavez are planning for these departments in the very near future. Top city employees don't leave positions if they know there is a future for them and their personnel in a city (we are about to see more of our good "protectors" leave these Oceanside safety and protection departments in the near future).

Thank you, Kern, Feller and Chavez, for not thinking of the Oceanside citizen's safety over MWD, business and developer financial profits. You will be remembered at voting time.

Gary Myers

Oceanside

Afghanistan facts to keep in mind

It would help the discussion of the Afghan situation if we all kept a few pertinent facts in mind, rather than couching arguments in terms of patriotism and ideology:

1. Afghanistan is on the exact opposite side of the globe from California, at the same latitude. It is an extremely expensive and difficult theater for both military and civilian personnel to operate in.

2. Afghanistan is a tribal society -- not a nation in the true sense. This means that they regard the U.S. as essentially the same as all the other invaders in their history. The natives suffer many casualties of innocents, and the invader eventually leaves after protracted resistance.

3. By definition, democracy has to grow from the people. It might be possible to impose it, but that would require a full-scale colonization of the country. Because Americans are not prepared for this degree of commitment, the argument for its imposition is insupportable.

4. Corporate interests are much better represented by the U.S. government than those of the average working person. If a government that is friendly to these corporations has control of certain real estate, petrochemical exportation from central Asia becomes a real possibility.

Philip Loizeaux

San Marcos

Clearing up confusion

Nellie Wilkerson wrote recently asking several questions (Letters, Nov. 2). I thought I might be able to answer a couple of them and perhaps clear up some confusion.

1. "Who is going to pay for the claims in the 'public' option ... ?" Well, that's simple, the government is. Where does the government get its money? They steal it from you and me, or else they create it out of thin air by printing it indiscriminately.

2. "How is smoking marijuana better for your lungs and mine than smoking tobacco ... ?" First of all, whether it's good or bad for you is not the issue. The issue is freedom. Who are you to tell me what I can or can't put in my body so long as it doesn't affect you?

Secondly, as it so happens, marijuana is not only less harmful but actually has some positive effects medically, unlike tobacco.

Lastly, the number of those driving impaired will not increase, because it is already illegal and will remain illegal. Legalizing pot won't change that, nor will it turn normally law-abiding citizens into criminals like the current law does.

Steven Holman

Escondido

Dealing with misrepresentation

In answering John Terrell (Letters, Oct. 27), I would direct him to my letter (Sept. 12), "Understanding what is written" in answering his question, "What is wrong with homosexuality?" As I have stated, Terrell does not read, nor understand, what I write. But now, it is becoming very apparent that he does not know, nor understand what he himself writes or has written.

Terrell attributes to me a more-than-once reference to a study showing a 23 percent success rate in moving homosexuals to heterosexuality. The "truth"? It was he who first referenced this study (Letters, Oct. 12, "To be or not to be -- gay"), sarcastically. I referenced this study only once, making a positive point, in replying to his naive interpretation. It was only then that Terrell went on to rip this study, but it was his reference to begin with, not mine. Why didn't he research it first before referencing it for his biased/prejudiced misrepresentation? Understanding, he did not understand the implication of his misrepresentation -- homosexuality is not inborn!

Terrell's actions emphasize the mind-set of the homosexual advocate, that being, misrepresent or twist any and all information having to do with homosexuality. Misrepresentation and distortion, the base on which homosexuality stands.

Frank Lancelotti

Oceanside

Give no amnesty

No amnesty. It's like I've said: If you come into my state and country legally and have a child, that baby is an American.

If you come here illegally from Mexico with a Mexican mother, Mexican father, the baby is Mexican and has no right to be here, any of them, and should not get one penny from this country and should all be deported under the laws.

What a mess. Look, the bank of America is closed. Just look around you: More and more illegal Mexicans daily. Mexicans are for Mexicans. Who do you think is helping these Mexican women? Other Mexicans.

It's awfully funny that we don't have hundreds and hundreds of Canadian and German women running around everyplace.

No wedding rings, pushing baby strollers with two or three kids to welfare offices, saying all these kids are American and give me my check and anything else they can get their hands on.

Back to old Mexico with much love, but you're going back to your own country, one way or the other, period. This total insanity must stop before it's too late. Sometimes I think most of you Californians are just plain nuts.

Tommy Chanick

Oceanside

Health of residents is in jeopardy

I am very concerned. I am an asthmatic and my husband has chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and cancer. I would like to know if blasting and moving what equates to about 16 football fields of rock and dirt is to the best interest of the communities around Merriam Mountain.

The prevailing wind in the afternoon is west to east. This means that Champagne Village, a retirement community of 55-plus, will get the fine particles of dust, dirt and whatever else is in the ground. We have many people, including my husband and me, with asthma, bronchitis and other breathing ailments. Is the Board of Supervisors going to pay for the doctors, treatments and hospital bills?

Why should the lives of more than 700 people be put in jeopardy? We do not like others doing things that will harm our health just so others can earn extra bucks and ruin the area. Where is the environmental report on this issue of Merriam Mountain?

Caroline Repas

Escondido

Merriam Mountains will benefit region

I applaud the Planning Commission for approving the Merriam Mountains project and encourage the Board of Supervisors to do the same. This project will dramatically improve Deer Springs Road and Twin Oaks Valley Road in the city of San Marcos. A brand-new on-site fire station will be provided as part of the community. People want to live in planned communities such as this.

When the housing market returns, this project will sell out fast and will provide families with a wonderful place to live. I hope that the Board of Supervisors is not persuaded by a small but vocal group of NIMBYs. This project will be a benefit to the region in the short term with jobs, and in the long term with quality housing.

As a native of Escondido, I support this project and hope that the Board of Supervisors will do the same.

Carl Skaja

Escondido

Interesting guests weren't mentioned

The Oct. 31 Associated Press article on White House visitors highlighted the innocuous: Oprah: two visits; George Clooney: one ("Winfrey, Clooney among first White House guests").

Yet those with an interesting money trail to and from the White House were not even mentioned: George Soros, billionaire and Obama campaign contributor: four visits; Jeffrey Immelt, head of GE, currently courting the Obama administration for green contracts while his MSNBC organization provides favorable Obama coverage: five visits.

James Jonaitis

Vista

Obvious correlation

I can't believe we're still having the debate on nationally run Obama-care. Think about how that can be. How can that be when, for the past several months, two top stories on the news have been about national health care and the Mexican pig flu?

Back in March, Obama spokespeople told us we would have 100 million vaccine doses by September. Didn't happen, right? Why aren't people making the obvious correlation? Look at all the problems the Obama administration is having delivering the pig flu vaccine! Quite a mess, right?

And the way it's been handled will be the same way they handle delivering all our health care. You really, really, really want that, eh? Plan now on voting these scoundrels out of office.

Ken Guerrero

Vista

What it costs to create or 'save' a job

I read recently that Vice President Biden was bragging that 1 million jobs had been created or "saved" using a part of the $787 billion stimulus package. I'm sure the 1 million people whose job has been created or "saved" are happy to be working, but I question at what cost.

I've read that there is still $400 billion in unspent stimulus money, and simple math means that $387 billion has been thus spent. A little more math shows that when I divide the $387 billion dollars by the 1 million jobs created or "saved," that it cost a whopping $387,000 to create or "save" each job.

Whoa! I believe that if someone gave me $387,000 I could create or "save" a lot more than one job. I think that just about any small businessperson I know could create or "save" more than one job with that amount of money.

If I were Vice President Biden or any politician in Washington, I would not be bragging about how successful the spending of taxpayers' money in the stimulus package is working.

Don Landis

Carlsbad

What Veterans Day is really about

On Nov. 11, Veterans Day, we will be celebrating a day off work with parades, memorials and picnics. The Santa Margarita Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution, encourages you to remember what this day is really all about.

Veterans Day is a time to honor American veterans for their patriotism, love of country, willingness to serve and often sacrifice for the ideals which we Americans hold dear. Please take a few moments at 11 a.m. on Nov. 11 and give a prayer of thanks to those veterans who are still with us and to those who have given their all. May God bless them, and may God bless America.

Wanda Prosser

Vista

Where was U.S. flag?

We thoroughly enjoyed the U.S. Navy band in Encinitas last week. The hundreds of people attending stood with their right hands over their hearts to the outstanding soloist who sang "The Star Spangled Banner."

Was the lack of the U.S. flag on the stage intentional?

Babette Gilbert

Carlsbad

Thankful for Glenn Beck's courage

Regarding Lynda Meggenberg's comments in her letter, "Glenn Beck is a comedian," Nov. 2: I agree, Beck isn't an investigative reporter, newsman or news journalist, he's a commentator, defined as someone who reports, analyzes, and evaluates news events, trends, etc. Beck's unearthed information disclosed the radical, left-wing Marxist individuals President Obama has surrounded himself with as czars and advisers. The facts Beck has reported on and evaluated are just that, facts, corroborated by video and speeches by said individuals.

Beck has even installed a phone line from his studio to the White House so the Obama administration could dispute any of his findings and/or opinions. To date, none of the facts Beck has disclosed regarding the Obama administration have been disputed by the White House.

I also agree with Meggenberg, Beck is a comedian. He has a remarkable sense of humor, and in spite of Obama's destructive policies, I marvel that Beck can still retain his sense of humor. Thank God for men like Beck who have the moral courage to seek the truth and reveal those who wish to destroy our beloved country.

Ronald Parker

Escondido