Letters to the Editor 10/28

Religion and politics

The United States is probably the only country outside the world of Islam that cares about its presidential candidates’ religious faith. If one believes in the Constitution, it shouldn’t matter.

Last election, it was the possibility that Barack Obama might possibly be a Muslim that had so many up in arms. This time it is the Mormon faith of Mitt Romney. Candidates should be elected or rejected based on their stands on the vital issues as well as their leadership qualities. So what if they happen to be a Muslim, Jew, Buddhist, Hindu, Mormon, born-again Christian or a nonbeliever, for that matter? It has nothing to do with the office.

Two recent presidents, Jimmy Carter and George W. Bush, wore their religious faith on their sleeves. Both claimed to consult the Almighty when making decisions. Neither proved to be a particularly strong leader.

I can’t help but wonder how many of our past presidential candidates have been atheists or agnostics but were forced to adopt a posture of Christian piety by an approaching election.

Tom Bauer

Morro Bay

Scarecrow credit

Thank you for the tribute on the Opinion page of Oct. 21. We in the Cambria Historical Society, and specifically the Scarecrow Committee, have appreciated your coverage in advance of and about our unique Scarecrow and Harvest Festival.

Credit for the scarecrow displays must properly be given to our member, Taylor Hilden. It was she who originated the idea and inspired us to take on the project three years ago.

She has also expanded on the ideas that have spread exponentially to so many in our community in Cambria who have become involved, but also to those well beyond our region. It has been wonderful to observe all the delighted expressions of folks who have come from far and near to see and be seen with the scarecrows, and stayed over to enjoy more of what Cambria has to offer.

Thank you for the kudos, and we look forward to working with you again.

Consuelo Macedo

Cambria

Give up pay

In 2002, when the technology bubble burst, Cisco Systems CEO John Chambers and recently deceased Apple Computer CEO Steve Jobs, among others, requested their boards of directors cut their salary to $1 as a symbolic act to shareholders of their then-declining stock and to their employees, who were not getting raises.

Now that the government bubble is bursting, in the spirit of shared sacrifice, and as an immediate deficit reduction measure, I challenge all of our elected officials in Congress and the White House to forgo their taxpayer-paid salaries.

I realize that salary is only one form of compensation for the CEOs of public companies, but lawmakers enjoy significant perks in addition to their salaries as well (also at our expense).

Put that in your jobs bill, Mr. President.

Andrew J. Wright

San Luis Obispo

Confidence game

PG&E and the NRC: mix them all together, and you come up with the Nuclear Waste Confidence Game.

Its a complicated game, and its ultimate goal is how do we get rid of something nobody wants that has a lifetime of 100,000 to 250,000 years?

The government has no solution; in fact, it is engaged in various lawsuits from other plants playing the same game.

Do we want to store nuclear waste in our county?

George Sheffield

Los Osos

Great propaganda

It appears the Democratic class warfare campaign is at full throttle, thanks to the Obama administration’s directive. It is obvious that the president is in full campaign mode; he can’t run on his miserable record, so he must change the dialogue to place the blame on anyone but himself and his policies.

The president thinks that by diverting the attention of the people, by blaming all our problems on Wall Street and the wealthy, that voters won’t see that his policies are the real problem. Increasing taxes on those making over a million dollars won’t make a dent in the enormous debt that the Obama administration has run up in his three years in office, but it makes great propaganda for his redistribution policies.

If these Occupy Wall Street people want to blame the real culprits, try demonstrating in front of the White House.

Allen Litten

Atascadero

Pricey figurehead

Please tell me what the new president of Cal Poly could possibly do for $350,000 a year?

Is he paid $1,000 a signature per letter, $500 a handshake or $50,000 a speech? This is a pretty expensive figurehead. Please justify what this man has that other good teachers don’t. The cost of college is higher than ever before, good teachers are being laid off and the state of California decides to give your tax dollars to the “new” president to the tune of a $150,000 raise.

Remind me how much in debt we are in California in billions! Think of the teachers who could be hired or the students who could be assisted. I have good ideas, I can sign a letter, I can hold a staff meeting, etc. Hire me at a tenth the price!

Debbie Owen

Morro Bay