On keeping the red-light cameras
The Opinion page on Sunday, July 15, presented a conflict between North County Times staff (“Red light cameras not worth cost“) and its ex-managing editor, Rusty Harris (“Cameras, safety and freedom“). While both recommended ending the use of red-light cameras, they presented opposing views on whether the cameras were effective. Staff noted “studies of the efficacy of red-light cameras certainly suggest the lives are saved.” Staff also noted, “the public safety improvements of red-light cameras are real.” Harris, on the other hand, stated, “there is little though, to support his (Mayor Sam Abed) belief that the noxious red-light cameras actually save more lives.”
Staff, in reaching their conclusion that the red-light cameras should be shut down, used logical arguments as to their cost-effectiveness in Escondido. Harris, with an obvious ax to grind, ranted on about free societies versus dictatorships. I suspect he must have gotten a ticket.
Neither staff nor Harris offered any suggestions on how to improve operation or application of red-light cameras, such as increasing the penalty for blowing the signal completely, or reducing the penalty for right-turn or left-turn violations that occur just as the light turns red.
Ironically, if the city fathers wanted to solve their budget problems using traffic enforcement, they could simply enforce the law requiring a full stop at stop signs. Some drivers don’t even slow down.
I say, keep the cameras.
Jack Anderson
Oceanside
Pit bulls get bad rap
Why is it that when a pit bull bites someone, it makes news headlines as an “attack”? I think there is entirely too much sensationalism regarding these incidents. Both major San Diego County papers published articles after the latest such incident.
Unfortunately, a 10-year-old girl was bitten on the arm in Vista and had a 2-inch laceration. Both stated she was “attacked by a pit bull.” I understand the reputation these dogs have earned as ferocious, blood-thirsty killers, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. I wonder how many dog bites occurred in the county yesterday that weren’t even mentioned because the breed of dog was not a pit bull or pit mix?
I feel it is unfair that these dogs generate so much negativity from media outlets. Pit bulls are not born to fight or violent by nature. The point is, these dogs suffer tremendously because of the reputation society has so ignorantly placed on them. They are strong dogs with powerful jaws, but so is a German shepherd. Just like a German shepherd, though, a pit bull can be trained to be aggressive or friendly. Irresponsible ownership is to blame, not the breed of dog.
Tyler Garner
Vista
Small business owners deserve respect
The president has glossed over the most important attributes of the small-business owner. While intelligence and hard work are important, even more important is the confidence and willingness to “risk it all” when investing both owned and borrowed assets to start the business.
Most of us don’t have the courage to take that risk. It’s that courage that sets the business owner apart and entitles him/her to the profits they make. Don’t forget, the profits have to reimburse the original investment and pay for the risk taken and assets borrowed in addition to ongoing operating costs. Small-business owners deserve our respect and appreciation for the services/products they provide. Denigrating small-business owners as elitist or greedy is a disservice to everyone.
Michael Concannon
Escondido
Driving concerns
No. 1: Motorcycles. So there I am in slow traffic, creeping along on the freeway. I’m listening to the news, and weather and traffic reports on the radio, when all of a sudden a motorcycle whizzes by me. Just then, the traffic lady on the radio is saying that a motorcycle is down.
Coincidence? Maybe, but there is hardly a day that goes by that there isn’t a “motorcycle down.” I have seen a motorcycle hit by a car, and it’s terrible.
No. 2: Turn signals, or the non-use of. It’s worse than when I reported this before. People are just not signaling when making turns. Be aware the next time you’re out driving. I’d guess half the drivers don’t use their turn signals, and that’s dangerous. Don’t they know that they paid for them in the price they paid for the car? They should use them or return them to the dealer.
Stuart Goodman
Oceanside
President’s recent taxation speech
Here’s a ‘60s slogan: “If you hate the police, the next time someone is robbing your house, call a hippie.”
What about a 2012 version?
The president’s most recent taxation speech on July 9 belongs in the fiction section. There’s a flimsy difference between outright lies and devious omissions.
He left out:
1. 49 percent of Americans pay no federal income tax.
2. The much maligned wealthiest 1 percent pay about 44 percent of all federal income taxes.
3. Wealthy people directly and indirectly employ many people and fund universities, libraries, hospitals and museums for the public good.
4. Through Earned Income Credit, our officially designated poor get a refund bigger than their withholding tax.
5. While still whining about the mess he inherited, he forgot to mention a near $5 trillion increase in the national debt on his watch.
6. Though promising to be a uniter, President Obama constantly incites hatred against successful Americans.
7. The president does not mind receiving large campaign donations from the loathsome 1 percent.
The president’s seemingly calm, reasonable speech was actually a cheap, divisive political stunt. So: “If you hate millionaires, the next time you need a mortgage, call a food stamp recipient.”
Don James
Escondido
Join Obama in his fight
President Obama has fought to re-create a country where you can make it if you try. Most Americans used to have health care when they were sick, be able to afford the education they wanted, pay reasonable taxes for their income level, find a job that allowed them to provide for their family, provide for their retirement, take a vacation, and in general, feel secure about their and their children’s future.
In 2008, Democrats, independents and Republicans came together to elect President Obama because they felt our country slipping away. We all knew recovering our country would not be easy. We did not know that we would be hit with the worst economic crisis of our lifetimes and that our American dream would slip even further away.
It has been a fight. President Obama fought for health care for all, education for all, jobs for all, and a future for all, but Congress continues to fiddle, beholden to those who benefit mightily from things as they are, such as insurance companies, huge banks and many corporate CEOs.
We have a choice. Join Obama in his fight for us, or be blinded by many who portray him dishonestly.
Pat Wallace
Oceanside
Carlsbad outsourcing
Reading the article on Carlsbad’s future of outsourcing (“City considers outsourcing parks maintenance“) made me physically ill. Have we not learned from Washington, D.C., that outsourcing is not the answer?
We have a wonderful community that is full of pride in its locals. The workers that would be cast aside are locals. They went to our schools, their parents reside in Carlsbad, they are the future of this community.
Carlsbad needs to pay for quality. An “anonymous” bidder does not care about our future. This campaign by City Hall began with an article that was planted a year ago, and now they are firing another shot. A “done deal” is next.
Support local families. Stop outsourcing our future.
Amorosa Fiumara
Carlsbad
The greatest of the GOP
Gary Walker labeled progressives as “a cancer, a lethal and virulent malignancy in the body politic,”July 5. Walker then proceeds to contrast progressives with the soaring greats of the Republican Party, trumpeting the inspiring names of Newt Gingrich, John McCain and the Bushes.
I wonder how Walker could have forgotten the GOP’s most preeminent paragon of Republican values, humility, modesty and diffidence – Donald Trump. Certainly Walker should not have dismissed that other great Republican, universally acclaimed for her conservative family values, celebrated modesty and legendary scholarship – Sarah Palin. These greats must all be given full credit for leading the Grand Old Party into its present state, and securing its reputation for generations to come.
May God continue to bless the Grand Old Party with equally great leaders in the future.
J. Howard Crews
Fallbrook
Church tax exemptions
A straw man argument is called a “logical fallacy.” It attempts to hide one’s true motivations by putting up an example that sounds equivalent to what one is arguing and then destroying it. Such is the argument of Warren Dunn (June 25). The “straw men” here are threefold: “Social Security and Medicare,” the “lush lifestyles of so-called religious leaders” and (our paying for these through) “property and sales taxes.” From this fallacy, anything that affects these must be bad.
Dunn’s motivation appears atheistic and a desire to hurt Christian influence.
Church tax exemptions were recognized by our founders as outside the control of Congress and government. “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion,” thus not required to pay taxes.
According to IRS Code 508(c)(1)(A): “Mandatory exceptions. Subsections (a) and (b) shall not apply to “churches, their integrated auxiliaries and conventions or associations of churches.” And, that churches do not need to “notify the secretary” (contact the IRS) to be treated like a tax-exempt organization. …
Irvin Forbing
Escondido
Slashing food stamps
A July 14 editorial in the New York Times reports and comments on the Republican majority in Congress voting to slash $16.5 billion dollars out of the budget for the food stamp program, which has provided free school lunches for 280,000 of the nation’s poorest children (“More pain for the working poor,” www.nytimes.com). These are the same congressmen who apparently believe it is OK for corporations and the nation’s richest people to avoid paying fair taxes by hiding substantial parts of their income in the Cayman Islands and other tax shelters.
I have written to Darrell Issa, who misrepresents the 49th Congressional District where I live, asking where he stands on these issues. He has never given me the courtesy of a response to letters I have sent to him in the past.
I urge the editors of the North County Times to investigate and report on this issue.
Bob Fisher
Encinitas
Leading the masses, but to where?
In announcing his candidacy for Oceanside City Council (“Chip Dykes running for City Council” June 30), Chip Dykes says he’s about “motivating the masses and leading the masses.”
In the same report, he talks about disagreements with his “fellow city councilmen – and women.” As a member of the masses, I’m reminding Mr. Dykes: you don’t become a “fellow councilmember” until we out here in the masses elect you.
Some other facts. In three startling displays of political unity, the masses in Oceanside twice rejected rent decontrol, an idea he supported. The masses also rejected Prop. F, which he supported.
He tells us (the masses he is going to motivate and lead) that he will use “different standards” to deal with disagreements. In the Pendleton Patch, he extols his listening powers. To whom? Those in the masses who have shouted their disfavor with measures he supports? No, I suspect Mr. Dykes “listens” and uses the same standards as those who promote gutting the equity in our homes and unlimited rent hikes for folks on fixed incomes, ignore our river and water supply contaminated by a garbage dump, and threaten us with the menace of having privatized emergency medical care arrive after the coroner has been called.
Mike Croghan
Oceanside
