Letters to the Editor 9/2

Dumbed-down nation

Senator Sam Blakes-lee, a local boy, wants to cut services to the needy in California. He represents the “Greedy Old Party” and the only constituents he cares about are the mega-corporations and the top three percent of income recipients in the nation. Bush’s tax cuts should not be extended for this elite few. These people do not create jobs. Ask Alan Greenspan and Warren Buffett.

The Republican Party wants to dumb down our nation by cutting education, health care, social security, Medicare and other social programs that help the poor and the shrinking middle class. None of these services should be “for profit.”  They are essentials and should be set up as strictly “nonprofit agencies.” 

Blakeslee’s obstructionism and divisiveness has resulted in the “fearful fifth” that follows Glenn Beck and Rush Limbaugh. They don’t share facts and they make up hateful ghost stories that the uneducated eat up. They seem to love fear and hate and want endless war. 

These conservatives, who spent like drunken pirates on wars, want to divide our country through misinformation and feed hate based on old prejudices. They appear to want to start another Civil War. Wake up people and vote in November!

Scott Jenkins

San Luis Obispo

Obama agnostic?

A recent article in the newspaper said President Barack Obama was not concerned that nearly one-fifth of Americans believe he is Muslim (“Nation Roundup,” Aug. 30). The same article emphatically stated he is a Christian. I don’t know if he is Muslim, but he certainly does not meet the criteria of a Christian.

Just because he had a Muslim parent does not make him any more Muslim than having a Christian parent makes a person a Christian. It is a personal choice.

President Obama said in several speeches that our individual salvation depends on the collective salvation of others. That is not personal choice or a Christian belief.

He does not attend church, yet the Bible says to have fellowship and communion with other believers (that doesn’t mean on the golf course). He dismissed the National Day of Prayer ceremony because he didn’t want to offend anyone, but openly celebrated Ramadan in the White House. We are told he prays everyday, but to what God?

I believe President Obama is more agnostic than Christian and I would prefer he claim that than to say he is a Christian just to appease people, rather than not live like one.

Adrian M. Hurtado

Cayucos

Didn’t forget

Regarding the picture of Annie and Chuck Hoage that ran on Sept. 1:

They say that elephants never forget. Obviously, neither do dogs. Great picture.

Tony Evans

San Luis Obispo

Power to reach out

My thanks to Bob Cuddy for his article and apology regarding Annie the dog (“To all involved in this mess, take a good look inside,” Aug. 31).

While I frequently disagree with Cuddy on many issues, I admire his willingness to stand up and take responsibility for his part in this unfortunate incident. I sincerely believe that Cuddy had his heart in the right place.

My only hope is that the others responsible for this terrible incident (Chuck Hoage and Dave Congalton) also make a public apology for their bad judgment. It’s nice to see one person realize how their power to reach out to the public can have a very negative impact. Thanks again, Cuddy!

Michelle Tasseff

San Luis Obispo

Irresponsible

Yellow journalism is as old as publishing.

Manufactured emotion is used to illicit a dual response: sales and outrage. Bob Cuddy enjoys the sales (notoriety) but not the responsibility of the outrage (“To all involved in this mess, take a good luck inside,” Aug. 31).

He was the one who brought the saga to our doorsteps. He affected change by exposing a misdeed. Isn’t that the dream of every journalist?

He doesn’t celebrate Annie and Chuck Hoage’s reunion. Why did he write about the situation to begin with? Did he assume the public had long ago tuned out his opinion?

Was he just worried about a deadline?

That defines irresponsible journalism and I will no longer read his columns. But Cuddy’s insincere sob-sister approach to his civic responsibility is not the worst of his “crimes.”

He then played the “terrorism” card.

I am a veteran. The father of my three sons still serves in the American military. I am offended by Cuddy’s careless analogy to an enemy we are fighting with our country’s youth and economic future. When he designated this group of concerned citizens on Facebook as such, it offended everyone. The press should “free” speech, not “chill” it.

Karen Harris

Paso Robles

Horrific infringement

Fundamentalist, hate-filled Christians are rabble-rousing Americans against all Muslims. I hope no one will fall for this abominable un-American garbage against free choice of religion.

Although no records were kept on what religions the victims of 9/11 were, it is estimated that between 200 to 300 innocent Muslims were victims of that horrendous attack.

To not allow the Muslims to have a center near Ground Zero is a horrific infringement of the rights of Muslim Americans, as well as all of us who cherish every one our constitutional rights.

Roy Berger

Arroyo Grande

Bush legacies

Outcries from the far right have veered from President Barack Obama’s supposed mishandling of the nation’s problems to his supposed responsibility for them. They ignore the obvious: that the banking crisis, the bailout path, the runaway risk-taking of industry “leadership” from Detroit to Wall Street to conglomerates like BP and the deadly, costly and heartbreaking debacle in Iraq are legacies of the Bush administration.

Remember? That’s why we elected President Obama and a predominantly Democratic Congress less than two years ago. In that short time, health care reform has passed, the financial markets have reversed their tailspin, the auto industry has been resuscitated, the stimulus package has created some jobs (although not as many as hoped), financial reform has been legislated and combat troops have left Iraq.

Whether one regards these accomplishments as positive or not, surely this must be acknowledged: In the face of an economy gone sour and a strong obstructionist sector of Congress, the current administration has accomplished several of the goals it was elected to achieve — something that eluded the previous administration’s do-nothing, things-are-fine-as-they-are, head-in-the-sand approach.

This November, please vote for legislators not bound to join the lockstep march backwards.

Richard Strasburg

Morro Bay

Health of hundreds

I moved to Oceano for a carefree retirement. I built a house, bought a dune buggy and I walk on the beach. Every morning, I get up and clean the dust from Pier Avenue off the windshield of my car. I knew about the beach entrance and the crowds on holidays. I use the beach for my dune buggy.

Then I heard about PM10 and started talking to my neighbors. I found out that six people on my block have breathing problems associated with the dust from Pier Avenue. Then my wife started to have a dry cough.

I would not have built here if I knew about PM10 and I am sure the people of the Mesa would not have moved there if they knew. But we are here and the only practical way to stop it is to close the dunes to vehicles. Think Love Canal.

Some groups on the Mesa are starting to get lawyers and I think that we in Oceano should get one, too. Would you want to live here now? Why move if all we have to do is close the beach? Are a few days on the dunes more important than the health of hundreds of people?

Terry Sweetland

Oceano

A real sacrifice

Regarding Joan Kennedy’s Viewpoint titled, “The face of a state employee” (Aug. 28):

Thank you, Tribune, for giving it a prominent place on your editorial page. State employees have been doing more than their share in helping to stem the deficit in state funds.

As Kennedy pointed out, the majority of these workers are not people in cushy, high salary jobs. Giving up a percentage of their paychecks is a real sacrifice and they deserve our thanks.

Jean Huot

Morro Bay