America is a for-profit business

Let's get a couple of things straight. This country is doing just fine when you consider what it actually is, as opposed to what we have been persuaded to hope it is. Prosperity is breaking out all over. That is because the country is in the business of businesses.

Put out of your head all the high-minded slogans about mom, home and apple pie and realize that this is a capitalist country, which is to say it is a for-profit business. The reason we are in the Middle East is for oil so we don't use up our reserves until we deplete theirs.

Business runs the country by buying the politicians they want to represent them so they can make a profit. Illegal aliens are welcomed because of the bottom line (profit). Diversity, equality and justice are all set up for profit. Two Border Patrol agents are [in] prison because they interrupted the lucrative, illegal drug trade, which is big business here in our business state of America. Let's quit kidding ourselves, it is not personal, it is business.

Fred Schuster

Vista

Send Valentine roses to Carol Lam

If ever San Diegans had a sweetheart in government, it is Carol Lam, San Diego area U.S. district attorney, whose prosecution brought down the corrupt "Duke" Cunningham. Her Herculean and focused prosecution not only brought down the crooked congressman, but opened a Pandora's box of other corrupt officials and power brokers.

Apparently Lam's investigations were generating too much heat for White House and Pentagon friends involved in profiteering and corruption. For this she was fired by Attorney General Alberto Gonzales. Carol's last day in office is the day after Valentine's Day. This sweetheart of integrity and ethics has been kicked out. But people who love, respect and admire her are going to honor and thank her here in San Diego: They will be sending her hundreds of roses on Valentine's Day. We will keep you posted how you can participate in this outpouring of valentine gratitude to Carol.

Such a public response as this to a public figure is extraordinary. It has never happened to any of our local congressmen, sadly. This is not the end of Carol Lam's public service. Such a superior public servant is destined for much higher service, and we will support her.

J. Howard Crews

Fallbrook

Casa a nonconforming use for area

The writer Ned Randolph managed to find a couple of area residents who weren't opposed to Casa de Amparo ("Shelter for neglected youth draws support, concerns," Jan. 29). What about the hundreds in the area who are adamantly opposed to it? (Hardly objective journalism.)

The area is rural residential. It's approximately one block from an elementary school and less than a block to a liquor/convenience store. The residents would be kids from dysfunctional homes, up to age 18, many of which have parents in jail and/or drug addicted. Many of these people would be visitors to the facility. Not exactly conducive to a secure residential environment.

This proposed facility is a nonconforming use for the area. Who would want to have this type of project foisted onto their neighborhood? As a parent with two children, I wouldn't want it next to us. Casa de Amparo has many more suitable sites available to it.

Rob Peterson

president

Twin Oaks Valley Property Owners Association

San Marcos

Rep. Issa does represent this constituent

Ms. Gina Lovin of Vista wrote (Letters, Jan. 30) about her belief that Rep. Issa "certainly doesn't represent this constituent." Actually, he does ññ whether Gina likes it or not. Hope she doesn't lose any sleep over this fact. Referring to her diatribe against this most approachable representative, I'd like to discuss briefly her Item No. 5.

She mentions that Issa voted against government control of pharmaceutical prices. Perhaps she would grace the rest of us by telling us why anyone would go into business knowing that whatever the product was, its sale price would be determined by the government? …

Finally, if she is still reading this letter, I'd like to know of any college student who didn't make money by attending classes. It's a great deal, Ms. Lovin; check any study that compares the earnings of a college graduate with someone who doesn't pay his dues at school. The problem is that someone has to pay for the lecturers, the classrooms and the administrations. The obvious answer is that the student, who is the beneficiary of this training, should pay a fair share of these costs ññ if not all of them ññ during his productive life. But I expect … Gina would expect "them" to pay for these costs. "Them" are us taxpayers.

John Schueler

Oceanside

Woo Kaiser instead of Chargers

I have an idea. Instead of wooing the Chargers to occupy the golf course, why not try and persuade Kaiser to build another hospital here! Their hospital in Mission Valley on Zion is just too inconvenient for most North County residents.

It would also draw members from Orange County. It would certainly attract a better class of people to move here, like doctors, nurses, pharmacists, etc., and, with the nursing program at Palomar, it would be able to hire from there.

Less traffic, less alcohol and a nice building setting on a hill. The transportation system would be just as convenient for the patients and families that had to be there as it would be for the Chargers. Think about it.

Pat Humphrey

Oceanside

Airport could be a community treasure

The airport will never be worth anything if it doesn't have the support of the community and elected officials. The airport has proven to be a valuable asset when recently used by Oceanside Fire Department to put out a string of fires in the San Luis Rey River.

If the city put some effort into some modern upgrades and up-to-date amenities, it may entice a positive response from the community and pilots from around the country to use it. Who wants to use an area that looks dilapidated? Fix it up, make it look nice and advertise to bring people in. Once a year, have a city air show with vendors and area merchants. In other words, do something with it, other than letting it sit there and rot.

I do have one idea that may help the city save some money on their electric bill. The airport runway lights and rotating beacon aren't required to be constantly on from sunset to sunrise. There is a common feature known as "pilot controlled lighting" typically used at self-controlled airports in which the pilots turn the lights on when needed and automatically shut off after a short period of time.

Kevin Graff

Oceanside

Ownership determined; questions remain

Now that the palm trees belong to MiraCosta College, I ask, why did it take one whole year to determine the ownership of thousands of trees sitting on college property for over eight years ("MiraCosta trustees claim ownership of controversial palms," Jan. 17)?

The recent claim of ownership does not change or correct the damages that the investigation related to their presence has caused. The entire palm tree matter should have been handled to protect the good name of the college and the reputation of those alleged to have been involved. Many faithful employees have left the college amid much dissatisfaction; some have been forced into early retirement, and a well-respected vice president has been placed on leave, seemingly without due process. …

Why have the trustees completely ignored important issues like the no-confidence vote in the superintendent/president? Their duty is to respond to these issues as soon as possible. The problems will not go away simply because they refuse to address them. … The lifting of the gag order proposed recently by Trustee Strattan must be considered and approved to allow trustees to express themselves and respond to their constituents.

Alicia Bedwell

Carlsbad

What are we not being told?

We are being told that Spanos and company want to build a stadium with private funds. What is not being said is how much the taxpayers will pay for the city to buy up homes and businesses through eminent domain so the Chargers can develop the land for their own use.

Lynn McGrath

Oceanside

It is women who are left with the problem

I find it very interesting that Mark Christopher and so many other men have so much to say against abortion (Letters, Jan. 12). There is no way for any man to realize the need for abortion in this crazy world we live in. How many times have they been raped, forced by a religion to have yet another child when they can't provide for the ones they already have? How many times were they left alone with children to raise? How many times did they trust a man to help and he abandoned them?

The women are left with the problem as men merrily ride on their way to yet another willing (or not) woman used by them. How many men realize the horror of sexual abuse as a girl? Believe me, I know about sexual abuse. … I was a victim. Fortunately, I did not get pregnant. You see, I am 77 years old and times are not changing for women. There were no abortions, which could have helped me had I become pregnant, and I would have never been believed when I explained. Years later, after much therapy, I was still not believed by family.

So, Mark, next time you are thinking against abortion, remember my life.

Maralyn Johnson

San Diego

Neocon plan goes on

As we march inexorably toward Israeli-lobby-dictated war with Iran, there is one thing we should fully know: President Ahmadinejad of Iran did not say "Israel must be wiped off the map." No matter how many times The Associated Press and other sloppy media repeat this, and advance it as a reason to go to war with Iran, it is not true.

What Ahmadinejad did say is much more sensible: "Iman (Khomeni, leader of Iran revolution) said this regime occupying Jerusalem must vanish from the page of time," like the Soviet Union or the Shah of Iran. This is a word-for-word translation of Ahmadinejad's statement in Farsi (Norouzi, Aljazeera.com). Ahmadinejad advocates that Israel honor the right-of-return U.N. resolution for Palestinians and have a vote of all Israeli-Palestinians as to whether they want a binational state or two separate states.

Of course, this would probably be the end of the Zionist regime and the beginning of true democracy in the area. It would behoove the many august media to check their data a little better before advancing new propaganda for war. Of course, even taking back this alleged off-the-map hoax will change little. The neocon plan goes on.

Bob Harvey

Del Mar

Our leadership cares little for its people

Maj. Gen. Smedley D. Butler (retired) spoke correctly in 1933, and it has been true from the time man has been warring with other villages, states and nations: "War is conducted for the benefit of the very few, at the expense of the very many!" The above quote coincides with Hermann Goering's famous statement at the Nuremberg Trials in 1946. The Nazi Reichsmarshall and Luftwaffe chief said: "Of course the people don't want war. But, after all, it's the leadership of a country who determine the policy, and it's always a simple matter to drag the people along … All you have to do is tell them they are being attacked, and denounce the pacifists for lack of patriotism and exposing the country to greater danger."

President George W. Bush Jr. in the State of the Nation in 2003 [said] that Saddam Hussein in Iraq had WMDs. This constituted a direct threat to the United States security and, therefore, we needed to attack Iraq as a defensive action from (WMDs) weapons of mass destruction! … Think about all of it, and I hope you realize the above statements have pointed out how little the leadership in this country thinks of its people when it comes to making profits for corporations. …

Butler was correct in saying: "That war is a racket where the profits are counted in dollars and the losses in lives!"

Gary Myers

Oceanside

Idea falls short of reality

In regard to Leon Smith (Letters, Jan. 23), I couldn't believe what I was reading. He said that at 75, you should turn in your driver's license, and that younger drivers shouldn't be able to obtain a license until the age of 25. How could the younger set get back and forth to work without a driver's license?

Besides, at 75, some of us are more than proud of our driving record. I'll put my spotless record beside his anytime. His thinking falls short of reality.

Faith Barnhart

Fallbrook

Butler was a Marine to respect

As a child in the '30s, I recall Gen. Smedley Butler's name being revered by WWI veterans. Joining the Corps in '43, I learned why. The citizen soldiers I was honored to serve with admired him, also.

There is one Marine I have grown to respect even more: Lt. Daniel Ellsberg, who, along with Tony Russo, let the American public know the truth during the Vietnam War.

I thank the North County Times for the Saturday notice that informed me he would speak in San Diego at 2:30. I was able to join hundreds of others to hear the truth that is so rare of late. He still serves us better than so many in the Pentagon. If you don't think so, read James Carroll's "House of War" or Gerald Nicosia's "Home to War."

Emil Buff

Oceanside

U.S. dissolving into Russia

Russia is degenerating back into totalitarian rule under its autocratic ruling class. Consider this Jan. 30 New York Times article at http://tinyurl.com/39byrt, which says, "Each (government) agency must have a regulatory policy office run by a political appointee, to supervise the development of rules and documents providing guidance to regulated industries." They also recently fired many of the local prosecutors that might investigate crimes committed by the ruling class, and replaced them with political cronies. See http://tinyurl.com/2zjuay for details.

So the political commissars are once again deciding what is truth and what isn't, and the top politburo cronies are once again free to loot the country without fear of prosecution. Frightening, isn't it? We must do something before that country dissolves completely into totalitarian rule.

Oh, wait. My mistake. It's not Putin corrupting Russia. It's Bush, in the U.S.A. Never mind, go about your lives. Don't worry your pretty little heads about it. Keep shopping!

Douglas Crews

Oceanside

Without a doubt

Without a doubt, I thought I had the loony left figured out, that is, until I read the Sunday batch of Bush-bashing letters (Letters, Jan. 21), specifically, the satire written by Stephen Carter of Escondido, "Criticizing Bush is patriotic."

There it was, folks! This fellow seems to actually believe that he can offend a rock, then he actually apologizes to said rock, and if that doesn't scare you, think about it now, their ilk vote.

I guess since Stephen is in the apologetic mode, he should apologize for all the pain he may have caused to all those paper clips he bent, without a doubt.

Fidel (Jay) Jiron

Oceanside

Annexation a good idea

Thank you, Temecula City Council, for considering the annexation of land south of Old Town. My husband and I are San Diego State University alumni and we both care about the future of the studies done on the irreplaceable Santa Margarita Ecological Reserve. We are also deeply concerned about the probable impacts Liberty Quarry would have on our beloved city, if approved. We like to say, "Temecula is wine country, not mine country!"

Anne Idler

Temecula

Marine killings were reaction not planned

Concerning our Marines "murdering" innocent civilians in Iraq and planting military evidence in their bodies and homes to excuse their killing.

No one who has never been in a war fire fight with all its horrors, mayhem and death, has the right nor the knowledge to judge what goes through the mind of these young soldiers. Marines respond by instinct and training in a chaotic fire fight; they surely do not plan ahead for revenge, setups, retribution after a fight, but fight everything in front and around them.

As it can often happen in war, after the battle is over unfortunate mistakes are realized. And the fear itself makes one "fix things" to excuse the massacre: planting an AK-47 next to a body in a hole, planting a bomb, AK-47 next to the house, windows, etc.

The point is these brave young soldiers did not plan in anger to murder. But they killed as a reaction to utter disorder and compulsion and later great regret. That is war.

So, Mr. President, pardon these sons and husbands, the valiant cream of our men. If not now for political reasons, for sure when you leave office.

Gilbert Marrero

Temecula

Cartoon is funny, touching

Cartoonist Patrick McDonnell does much for all types of charitable causes, not just animals. Coming from the East, I only subscribed to The Californian over the other competitive newspaper because it does carry the comic strip "Mutts." This strip is sensitive, funny, at times touching, and always has some food for thought.

Maryellen Smith

Sun City

Pets much more than just animals

I applaud Garnet Sherman (Letters, Jan. 30) for standing up for the rights of our animals. Some of us out here truly believe our animals are not just animals but extensions of our families, and we treat them as such!

Those people who believe that a dog is just a dog or a cat is just a cat are missing out on a lot in their lifetime. These animals give unconditional love and companionship to us, and what do some people give them in return? Chains that bind, no shelter from the rain and cold or heat and sun and above all, a lack of understanding and the love that goes along with it.

God loves his animals and has allowed us the privilege of caring for them. They can't work for food or shelter. They depend entirely on us. And sometimes we fail them. Shame on us!

Bravo to Mr. Sherman and cartoonist Patrick McDonnell ("Mutts") for their support! And, thank you, Californian, for allowing us to view the cartoon strips of Mr. McDonnell. I know I speak for many, many animals lovers when I say adopt a pet, but don't just stop there. Love them, care for them. They ask for so little in return for giving us so much.

Diane DiCarlo

Temecula

Pray for our Marines

The Iraqi people are killing their brothers and sisters, also precious children.

The vultures and jackals have their eyes on the oil bone. Plus the Iraq people only know life controlled by a dictator and dictators will not allow one leg to stand on, democracy.

The more troops we send and announce the plan, the more the vultures will send their terrorists into Iraq.

Please pray for our Marines to receive freedom.

James Dimitriadis

Murrieta

Web Comments

School mourns as investigation begins

Readers respond to our Feb. 2 story about students at the San Dieguito Academy mourning the death of classmate Ryan Hwang, as sheriff's traffic investigators continued to look for the cause of the crash that killed him.

Safer streets

Safe streets Now!: "I have talked to Encinitas traffic engineers several times about the unsafe streets in Cardiff, specifically Santa Fe and Birmingham. They seemed oblivious and nothing has been done. No sidewalks, no crosswalks and speeding drivers cutting through local neighborhoods makes for more traffic accidents and deaths of pedestrians like this case. Where are the traffic commissioners? Why can we not have safe walking paths for children going to school?"

Protecting whom?

Wow!: "One of the last comments by Encinitas sheriff's Sgt. Webb: 'This is the first we are hearing about it,' referring to kids, speed and showing off! This has been going on since the beginning of driving! Hang around any high school and this is what goes on! There needs to be more of a police presence. And to comment a sidewalk would not have made a difference, well maybe the high curb on the sidewalk may have made the truck bounce back away from the kids. Sounds like Webb has too many friends at City Hall!"

Scary scenario

Laura: "Didn't Encinitas have a 'safe sidewalks to school' program? Funny that for all the block grant monies that the city gets that they can't provide sidewalks or improve the area around the I-5 interchange. Then there's the open campus policy at lunchtime, lots of inexperienced drivers making haste."

Less lanes

no change: "I sent an e-mail to the City Council yesterday requesting that they put concrete barriers along that section of I-5 to make a protected sidewalk area - why does there need to be 4 lanes there?"

La Mesa mayor lashes back at Wood

Readers respond to our Feb. 2 story about La Mesa Mayor Art Madrid, angered by comments by Oceanside's Mayor Jim Wood at a San Diego Association of Governments meeting, sending a sharply worded letter to the board chairwoman, suggesting the Wood's comments illustrate how the regional body is becoming bitterly divisive.

Cool it, Madrid

Veritas: "Mayor Wood is correct. The Marines deserve a seat due to their numbers, size of base and economic value to the region. Hot head Madrid has gone mad with his power."

Keep O'side afloat

Former Oceanside Resident: "Woods should step down. He's part of the problem with Oceanside. So much potential for that city and it's people like him and Chavez that keep it down."

Our apologies

Oceanseer: "Dear Mayor Madrid: You must forgive our dear Mayor Wood. He has struggled for years with foot-in-mouth disease, a condition we residents have grown to know and love about him. He means well. He just isn't the sharpest knife in the drawer- - 'cept when it comes to payback."

Written in stone

The Grim Reaper!: "Epitaph on the tombstone of Wood's political career: "Didn't play well with others.""

Citizenship app fees may double

Readers respond to our Feb. 2 story about officials for U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services announcing that they want to increase application fees for U.S. citizenship as well as fees for permanent residency applications and some nonimmigrant visas.

Color of money

Jay: "Great! So people trying to immigrate legally have to pay more to make up for the losses of those who jump the fence with impunity. Sounds fair. If we had that system in 1900 or so I'd be living somewhere on the South Side of Dublin Ire - not that there's anything wrong with that."

Better deal?

Paul: "What do the coyotes charge to escort illegals over the border?"

Drop in bucket

Broken Borders: "Who cares whether the fees increase when the vast majority of immigrants choose to ignore the laws, don't or cannot fill out the paperwork and haven't the funds or patience to deal with the process? Consider the estimated number of illegal immigrants who are already in the US with the minuscule number of applications officially processed. Common sense tells you the system is broken!"

Pointless

Ed: "Why does this even matter? Look around. Most of the 'immigrants' around here haven't even bothered to come into the United States legally, much less thought of becoming a citizen."

Readers said this about an article on a peer leadership class at Elsinore High School:

Positive publicity

William: It is about time that the kids from EHS start getting some positive pub. Very few people know how special EHS students are and how big their hearts are. This is only the beginning. Hey, how about that second year principal Jon Hurst? He has the school headed in the right direction.

Amazing youth

Danny: Thank you for showing the positive things students are doing. We have some amazing young people in our community who are committed to growing, learning and making the world a better place. It is good to hear about them. This story inspired me and made me proud to be a part of Elsinore High School.

Time to care

Proud Parent of An EHS Student: WTG Mr. Lymon! It's teachers like you that CAN make change! Thank you for taking the time to care!

Readers wrote this about an article on two men being ordered to stand trial in a liquor store robbery where the clerk was killed.

Another tool

What a great use of technology: Using cell phone towers to track the locations of murder suspects is just another tool to help captured criminals which in this case are terrorists that go around murdering other people on behalf of their gang.

Applaud efforts

Lori: The comment from law enforcement may not have been very professional, but most people (judges included), do not ever see what a shot up dead body looks like, or feel the grief a family goes through when a loved one dies by violence brought on by these gang members who have to prove themselves "bad" to be accepted, or to get their drug money. This also includes innocent little children who were in the wrong place at the wrong time. I applaud law enforcement in their day-to-day struggle in dealing with gangs and respect them for having the courage to face these thugs who usually carry better weapons than they do. I have seen the mayhem, violence, destruction and vandalism gangs create and support the efforts of the gang/narcotics task forces.