Letters to the Editor 2/06

Dunes dispute

Neil Havlik, San Luis Obispo’s natural resources manager, couldn’t be more wrong in his assessment of the dunes driving (“Community’s actions count,” Dec. 31).

“It certainly looks like a major contributor to the local economy,” he writes.

And how’s that, Neil?

Show me the documentation, which has long been in dispute.

“I am reluctant to simply try to cut off the (vehicle) use completely,” he writes, instead preferring “to look at reasonable anti-pollution measures now and look forward to the day when there won’t be gas for such activities — or it will cost too much.”

Like what? Reasonable to whom? Any indication of when the gas decline can be expected?

Later in the piece, in direct contradiction to his own words on the dunes driving, he states, “Our open spaces — public and private — are one of the things that everyone loves about our county.” Well yes, but I don’t think you can have it both ways.

I think Havlik needs to reassess his job description because when it comes to the dunes, “natural resources manager” just doesn’t seem to fit.  That area should be open and accessible to all without the stink, noise, pollution and danger imposed by motor vehicles.

John Winthrop

Cayucos

Church, state, prison

The separation of church and state came to mind when I came across the article “Prisons poised to offer food prepared to Islamic standards” (Jan. 27). Among the many concerns with this is where do the folks want to separate the church and state?

The church is being, or has been, removed from the public sector of our state; government offices and buildings, schools and the legal system.

Now during these economic hard times, the state considers spending more money on meeting religious needs in state prison. There is hypocrisy here.

If the state allows spending to meet religious needs, they may also consider bringing back the church to the state.

Our schools can have the Bible, Torah, Quran and other writings available for students to read and let them consider for themselves what they have to say. We should promote education, not indoctrination.

Let the universities present creation versus evolution and discuss the matter openly. What are people so afraid of? Could there be something to this “church” thing?

Glenn Lubak

Atascadero

Thinking alike

I got quite a chuckle out of reading a letter to the editor from Scott Jenkins (“2012 hoopla,” Jan. 14). He takes two men to task for not thinking for themselves and for thinking differently than him.

Jenkins says “It seemed they had brainwashed themselves to be afraid of everything and anyone different than those that believe like themselves.”

In other words, if they think like Jenkins then they would all think alike and we could all move forward hand-in-hand like in China or Russia.

Roy Barnard

San Luis Obispo

An opportunity

The recent Tribune article stating that the Democrats are not going to “push” for quick passage of their health care bill makes the election of Scott Brown in Massachusetts the victory of this new decade for sure (“Democrats pull back on health care bill,” Jan. 27).

Whatever Brown does or doesn’t do from here on out, his election has provided all with the opportunity to make some studied and rational decisions about health care issues versus the giant push that seemed to be happening when the Democrats were sure they had enough votes to get it passed without close scrutiny.

Sometimes life works!

Carol Kiessig

Templeton