More than one tear has been shed

In response to the letter from Adah Forbes (Letters, May 8): This letter expresses my feelings exactly.

The beautifully written reports Kent Davy has written on his wife, Joel's, valiant fight against cancer I have shared with my English professor daughter and all the people at my office. More than one tear has been shed. They have both been in my prayers daily.

God bless you, Kent and Joel.

Mary Walker

Escondido

Consumers to blame for high gas prices

It is becoming ludicrous to see all the conspiracy letters concerning gasoline prices. Seems as though everyone needs a simple lesson in Economics 101. First, we have a capitalistic economic system. This means that a company is allowed to make all the profits they want and only the behavior of the consumer can lower these profits.

Today there are only one-third of the refineries that existed 25 years ago. The oil industry knows that with all the NIMBYism and radical environmentalists it is virtually impossible to build modern and more-efficient refineries. … California insists on having a different gasoline formula than other states, which drives up the costs and does nothing to improve the environment. …

Furthermore, at today's dollars, gasoline is no more expensive than it was 25 years ago. Next: The consumer has shown no inclination of reducing its consumption of gasoline. …

They don't want nuclear power that is so successful in Europe and Japan. They don't want any oil drilling but prefer to finance the terrorists in the Mideast by purchasing their oil. So I have a suggestion: Stop your bellyaching and change your behavior; otherwise, the CEOs of the oil industry will laugh themselves to bed every night.

Joseph Kraatz

Oceanside

The perfect solution to our border problem

Solution to the problem of illegal immigration from Mexico, and an easier way to control the U.S. southern border; the perfect solution, which will make everyone happy, well, almost everyone: Since Mexico only exists as a country due to U.S. benevolence toward a defeated enemy … and since the majority of Mexican people can't stand their own country … I suggest the United States annex all of Mexico and claim it as part of the United States. That would make Mexicans ññ Americans! Now they have no need to risk their lives crossing into U.S. territory. They are part of it!

As for work, the slaveholders in the U.S. (corporations and businesses hiring illegals and paying them slave wages with no benefits) can now set up businesses in the newly created states of the U.S. that once formed Mexico. There would be all kinds of opportunity and this would preclude the new Americans from having to uproot and move north of the Rio Grande. …

Finally, the United States' southern border with Mexico … would no longer exist because there is no Mexico or Mexicans. … That would make it far easier to protect from potential terrorists, drug smugglers and, of course, illegal immigrants. … Think about it and I am sure you will agree this is the perfect solution!

Jon Bell

Vista

Sharpton vs. Imus

Last month, Don Imus made his idiotic, insulting, ignorant remarks about the Rutgers women's basketball team. Although Imus apologized profusely for his remarks, both publicly and in private to the young ladies he insulted, he was fired after a campaign led by Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson.

This week, Sharpton made snide remarks about presidential hopeful Mitt Romney not being a real Christian, the inference being Mormons aren't real Christians like the good reverend. So now Sharpton has apologized. Too bad he doesn't have a real job to be fired from after his insensitive, insulting, ignorant remarks. I mean, what sponsor's ads can be pulled if you don't have a real job?

Frank Bodden

Carlsbad

Why I hate hate crimes

Hate crimes. They sound so evil. But, wait a minute. Isn't a crime a crime? All crimes should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.

However, hate crime laws should be opposed by all sensible Americans because: 1. They create unequal treatment under the law. I have a hard time explaining to my heterosexual grandma why someone who mugs her will receive less jail time than someone who mugs my transsexual co-worker. 2. They punish thought and speech, not just behavior. 3. They destroy the free speech rights of priests, pastors, rabbis and anyone else who believes that sodomy and other such acts are immoral, unhealthy or unnatural because they can be accused of inciting hate for simply stating their opinion or presenting what the Bible says about homosexuality and the like.

David Engel

Escondido

We brought it on ourselves

Mr. Gary Walker (Letters, May 10) seems to have forgotten about the fact that Americans have also been victimized by our own citizens. One example is the bombing of the Oklahoma Federal building by Timothy McVeigh. There is also the fact that several universities received packages that caused injury. This was the work of Ted Kaczynski (Unabomber).

In addition there have been a number of school shootings in recent years. Most of those were done by American citizens. The sad thing is that we brought it on ourselves. We did not cry foul when our Supreme Court made the decision to remove prayer and Bible reading from the classroom in 1962 and 1963.

Stephen Johnson

Vista

Quiet zone tax like Boston Tea Party

Taxing the few to achieve quiet zone improvements in Oceanside is like taxing the residents who live near a convenient freeway ramp. Cities and counties don't do that. Similarly, when a new airport is needed, the governmental body in charge doesn't go after just frequent fliers to fund the project. And carpool lanes are not paid for by only its users. Why? There is a benefit to the non-carpool commuters.

My point: Infrastructure improvements benefit a wider citizenry than those in proximity, or those who make a somewhat greater use of the improvement. Highways and airports benefit the entire community and general fund taxes are appropriate to fund such improvements. Quieter trains will benefit many Oceansiders. … Don't tax a few for the benefit of many. …

The City Council should create an atmosphere that visitors and residents alike will find tranquil. One hundred-plus train whistles a day, multiplied by numerous crossings, are a detriment to many of the positive, forward-thinking decisions made by the City Council in recent years. The return on investment will come from the increased visitor spending that will result from Oceanside downtown being perceived as an attractive and safe place to visit.

Lee Pryor

Oceanside

Should our troops leave or stay?

Most everybody agrees that the war in Iraq is an extremely bad situation for which the White House offers no obvious successful solution. After four years of costly effort in lives and dollars we are still using troop surges as an excuse to stay the course, but the situation continues to worsen into a deeper civil war with increasing devastation.

The Iraq Study Group stated that the war cannot be won by military action but only by a political agreement between the Sunnis and Shiites. It is up to the Iraq people themselves to stop the killing and destruction, and the U.S. troops are only permitting the Iraq government to delay the settlement process at the expense of more U.S. lives and dollars.

Those that back the Bush administration present a very dark picture of what will happen if we pull out of Iraq, but they never face up to the price we will pay for many years if we stay the course. If we pull out, the U.S. will save lives and dollars and the Iraq citizens will be forced to resolve their problems themselves. There is one possible proposition, which could result in a successful resolution in Iraq, but the White House, which has been wrong about most everything else, has rejected the proposal to separate the Sunnis and Shiites.

Herbert Pairitz

Carlsbad

Scientific sources and global warming

After I pointed out the discredited qualifications and specific funding sources (Exxon Mobil) for the experts cited by Sandee Enriquez (Letters, April 20) from privately published mass-marketed books (not peer-reviewed scientific journals), she now responds (Letters, May 8) with a bizarre rant about the "billions of dollars" going to "greedy scientists" from wealthy environmentalists. Again, follow the money and power trail. The word "greedy" is far more applicable to Big Oil executives in corporate offices and the Bush/Cheney oil administration, who have the power and profits from your $3 a gallon gas.

She dangles simplistic questions, knowing that the readily available explanations to any one would exceed 200 words. Instead of responding to my specific points about her own discredited sources, she whines about people not taking hours to read multiple books that are not peer reviewed and have been clearly discredited.

To be fair, if Enriquez can't or won't defend her own sources, cite specific examples of billionaire scientists rolling in piles of money from profiteering environmentalists with deeper pockets than oil companies, or cite credible, peer-reviewed sources, I'll understand. In similar fashion, Marcy Young (Letters, May 5) cites popular media publications, not peer-reviewed scientific literature.

Douglas Dunn

Escondido

Crisis in Israel may reach our shores

Due to many appeals to the Israeli Supreme Court, hundreds of Sudanese who fled the conflict in Darfur were released from Israeli prisons after serving 13 months for entering Israel illegally. These Sudanese claimed they entered Israel from Egypt because of its close proximity and because they were treated with hostility in Egypt.

Israel, founded in the shadow of the Holocaust, has felt a responsibility to harbor refugees. However, the Israeli government now fears that their nation is in danger of being overwhelmed by large waves of refugees from Sudan and elsewhere in Africa, claiming they do not have the capability to deal with "all of Africa's refugees."

Our government should watch this situation carefully, and all U.S. citizens should be concerned. Why? Due to our close relationship with Israel, and the many bleeding hearts in our government, the possibility certainly exists that the flood of Sudanese refugees in Israel could eventually be accepted into the U.S. on a temporary basis that would most certainly become permanent.

Back to prison for illegal entry. I believe our government should adopt such a policy. Maybe it would work to deter illegal entry, maybe not, but it's worth a try.

Leon Smith

Oceanside

War deja vu

In reading David McCullough's great book, "1776," I was struck by the notion that things never change. A British newspaper called the war against the Colonies "unnatural, unconstitutional, unnecessary, unjust, dangerous, hazardous and unprofitable." Another paper wrote about "a foolish, obstinate and unrelenting King George."

Oh for the wisdom of a George Washington, who saw things as they were and not as he wished they would be.

Linda Knight

Carlsbad

Dog no longer a 'Giveaway'

The letter in today's Letters to the Editor section (Letters, May 9) expressed my own reaction when I too saw the photo of a dog walking on the pier last week.

Several months ago, I was in that area with my little Yorkie and decided to park my car and take him for a walk on the pier until I saw the "No dogs on the pier or the beach" sign. So much for that.

Some of your readers may recall the ad in your "Giveaways" column about nine months ago regarding the 6-year-old, six-pound Yorkshire terrier. … I was the fortunate one who received Gizmo. His owner was a Marine leaving for Iraq for the third time, and had some misgivings about his future. …

Unfortunately, I never actually met the Marine. I went to his address to see the dog, and his wife chose me. Apparently, they were recently married and she had no idea where the dog tags were, who his veterinarian was, etc. When I telephoned the next day, their telephone had been disconnected.

In any event, Gizmo is the light of my life at this time. There is one problem. I am a senior with some medical problems and, undoubtedly, Gizmo will live a lot longer than I will. But when that happens, don't look in the "Giveaways" column. Gizmo is now worth a million dollars, right?

Gerrie Chicoine

Oceanside

Fresh from the Web

Boycotts and Bike to Work Day

Readers respond to our May 14 story about two events scheduled for this week that could have an impact on our gas consumption: Tuesday's national gasoline boycott day and Friday's National Bike to Work day.

How soon we forget

Invent the wheel: "Yes, we went through all this in the early 1970s. Everyone switched to small cars and the speed limit was lowered to 55. Gas prices dropped and gas consumption for the country was cut in half. Then there was no gas shortage and we had cheap gas. So, after several years people switched to big, guzzling trucks, SUV cars and now Hummers! So, we did not learn our lesson - conserve!"

Enduring pain

What Denial!: "Thinking that one day of not gas buying will make a difference is pure folly. Get economical cars - until then, just live with three-dollar and soon four-dollar gas. We are the most wasteful country in the world and we are paying for it at the pumps."

David versus Goliath

Carter: One must think of it as a personal thing. Plan to accomplish 3 or 4 tasks in one trip. We hop in the car and go to the store for one item because we are bored. We should enjoy our homes more and make it 'a fight between me and the oil companies.' "

Won't take off

bike to work?: "How many people work within a decent distance of home? I have a small commute and it's 25 miles each way!! A good try, but not realistic."

Like to bike

RCH: "Any distance under 30 miles is a reasonable bicycle commute. To drive that distance is about 30 to 40 minutes anyway, so to adding another 1/2 hour is not bad. Plus, you get the benefits of feeling great and being healthy. I have a friend that commutes to Sorrento Valley from San Marcos. He will drive to work, ride his bike home, then ride back to work in the morning and drive home. He cuts his gas consumption by 50%."

National City out of running for Chargers

Readers respond to our May 14 story about National City backing out of the running to house a new stadium for the San Diego Chargers, leaving Oceanside and Chula Vista as the only county contenders. Oceanside officials say this doesn't change their game plan.

Insomnia

No Chargers In O'side: "Come on Chula Vista - you can do it. Lock this down quickly. This O'side resident is losing sleep over the possibility of Goat Hill being used for this monstrosity!"

Head on south

Go Chargers! " … all the way to Chula Vista! No free lunch for Spanos! Want land? Buy it like anyone else! What a novel concept. But that golf course is 'parkland,' which also means 'for sale' in Oceanside."

Don't hold back

What about progress?: "Please explain to me how a stadium can lower property value? Have you looked at the surrounding community that the current stadium is on? And anyone that has lived in O'side longer than 20 years knows the majority of O'side's crime is located in specific areas. With the stadium built at Goathill, the current crime situation will diminish. Why? Because of increased police patrols, that's why. If the voters allow the stadium to be built, don't you think the city will take every step to ensure the safety of its investment? And the surrounding community benefits from the increased police presence."

Nonprofits team up to solve homeless problems

Readers respond to our May 14 story about the directors of about 25 social service organizations getting involved in the Alliance for Regional Solutions, which formed about four months ago to find a solution to the region's homeless problems.

Get off the couch

Escondeeter: "It's thrilling to hear that the local 'social service professionals' have decided to do something constructive this year instead of just sitting around dreaming up new slanders to hurl at elected officials. Hopefully they'll decide to share the wealth and locate their regional solution in a community that hasn't had the 'opportunity' to experience the 'benefits' that go with having a large 'economically diverse' population. Rancho Santa Fe would be nice."

Come together right now

Come on: "Come on, North County leaders. You each point to each other saying the problem requires a regional solution. Well, here is a great opportunity for a regional approach. Now if the city leaders and nonprofit leaders get together on this we may actually see some progress."

Work for a solution

Solve the problem?: " ..until these people want to get up off the curb and work, it's not solvable."

Noted absence

Kristi: "San Marcos and Carlsbad needs to join the group! Where were their leaders?"

An article Monday about legislation that would require most pet owners to get their dogs and cats spayed or neutered generated some comments:

See for yourself

Roberta: I work at a local animal shelter. For those … opposed to the bill, I invite you to please visit your local animal shelter and see for yourself all the animals … discarded daily. …

Sorely needed

Margaret: … Unfortunately, there is a growing majority of people in CA that do not spay/neuter and the result is the killing of hundreds of thousands of dogs/cats every year in this state. This legislation is sorely needed. …

Peoples Republic

JSten: Chalk another one up for the Peoples Republic of Kalifornia. … Let's pass another law … no one cares about and threatens a big fine (or a little one) that no one will pay except the random schmuck … dumb enough to get caught. Oh, and those 15 dogs in my backyard, they are for breeding. …

Why needed?

Well: If they pass this law, why do we need to build the megamillion dollar animal center in Wildomar?

Long overdue

It's about time: … You don't see what I see, backyard breeders pumping out puppies to make a quick buck, … This is long overdue.

Corruption involved

QUENT: … Trash this stupid bill before it gets any further. I wonder what corruption may be involved here. I wonder how much the vet association has contributed to the campaigns of the politicos pushing this thing.

Anti-hunting bill

Gretch78: … This is and has always been a bill designed to eliminate sporting dogs, hunting especially. …

Santa Cruz success

shirley: The spay/neuter law has worked with great success in Santa Cruz where it has been in force since 1995. …