Letters to the Editor 1/19

National worries

The Gallup Survey people have some bad news for Tribune letter writer Linda Seeley, the Occupy Wall Street crowd and President Barack Obama, with regard to the gap between the rich and the poor in this country.

On Jan. 12, Gallup released the results of a recent national poll that asked respondents, “What would you say worries you most about the national economy at this time?”

The top three results were jobs/unemployment, national debt/federal budget deficit and continuing economic decline/ economic instability. They combined to represent 52 percent of all replies.

And what about the “divide between rich and poor?” That response placed 18th on the list, garnered 2 percent of respondents’ replies.

These results would seem to indicate that all of the emotion (and news coverage) generated by the above-mentioned people have had virtually no effect on the vast majority of American people, who see that blaming any segment of our society, in this case “the rich,” for the failures of our national government is misdirected and unproductive.

Robert Olson

Nipomo

Diverse successes

As Cuesta College administrators begin to consider the Community College Student Success Task Force recommendations (Opinion of the Tribune, Jan. 15), I hope they will do so in light of the three honored alums, Jay Asher, Michael Thibodeaux and Dee Torres, who spoke at Cuesta’s Opening Day Event on Jan. 13.

Each alum spoke movingly of his or her unique experience as a Cuesta student. As I listened, I realized that their journeys toward attainment of their degrees at Cuesta were not necessarily marked by what the task force would consider “successful student behavior.” It seems that these individuals may have indeed “wandered” and explored before finding what it was that would ultimately lead them to their notable successes.

Their stories and experiences were markedly unique, and by no manner fit into the rigid task force’s student-success model. Today, Cuesta’s three alumni are contributing in equally unique and inspirational ways to our community.

Success must be measured as more than a percentage of completed degrees or certificates, and it cannot always occur in a neat, linear fashion with the stopwatch all the while ticking nearby. I hope Cuesta and California’s other 111 community colleges will remember their diverse student success stories, past and present, as they weigh in on their roles for student success in the future.

Madeline Medeiros

Los Osos

Community service

I would like to thank the Arroyo Grande Valley Kiwanis for its outstanding community service projects.

One of those projects during the holiday season entailed decorating the trees on Grande Avenue with lovely brightly colored garlands. What a delight, and so appreciated.

Shirle Osterman

Oceano

The game of politics

With election hysteria threatening us again, I offer advice to all candidates and would-be candidates. Politics is simply the game of getting elected and re-elected. Forget about making the world a better place to live in. Leave that goal to school teachers, preachers and such. Focus on getting votes.

To do that you need to advertise, and that costs lots of money. It doesn’t matter where money comes from — corporations, unions, individuals. Concentrate on those who have it. Promise them anything, but get their money.

Find people who are half blind because they want one thing more than anything else. Tell them you’re with them 100 percent. You don’t have to believe in what they call their “cause.” Just let them organize and get out the vote for you. They’ll be eager to.

After you’re elected, make a couple of slight moves to help these singleissue folks and then forget about them until the next campaign. Then go through the same song and dance. Do these things and you’ll find happy, enthusiastic voters to support you through many elections.

John Severson

Morro Bay