Be thankful for U.S. rights

Re "Chile in uproar over maid's quest for civil rights" (Page A9, Jan. 22): Felicita Pinto's struggle to define and secure her civil liberties provides an interesting counterpoint to the discontent Americans have expressed in their country as of late.

With the bitter taste of economic decline still lingering in the mouths of fat cats and small fry alike, and the 2012 presidential race shaping up to be a vote between the lesser of two evils, Pinto's quest for equality reminds us that there are still things for which Americans can be grateful.

The burgeoning civil rights movement in Chile is reminiscent of the American civil rights movement of the '60s. But that's just it – ours was 50 years ago.

So maybe we do have a long road ahead of us as we approach the 2012 elections. But articles like this remind us how fortunate we are that that road is paved with the American tradition of equal protection under the law.

– Matt Driver, Sacramento

Support free e-book library

Re "Lines drawn on Steinberg e-book plan" (Page A1, Dec. 27): I'm a high school senior, and I have two older sisters who attend college. Like many other students, the majority of their spending allowance goes to the books and random items that professors require.

Therefore, I think the digital library of free, open-source textbooks is a great idea.

I have friends whose parents say they can't go to a college because they don't have the money, but they have so much potential. It breaks my heart to see them lose that opportunity just because their parents can't afford it.

– Lavern Zhang, West Sacramento

Prosecute illegal hunting

Re "Probe of mountain lion killings halts hunting" (Page A4, Jan. 22): In addition to blowing the myth of "ethical hunters" out of the water, this article shows how recreational killing disregards laws.

Hunters cannot stand to have anyone tell them a species is protected or even have their kill quotas limited. They ignore regulations, wink and move on to the next kill. This illegal activity was reported last May, but only now is hunting being "suspended." Notice they're not in any hurry – waiting until the end of the month, probably to keep fees.

Possibly upper management at the California Department of Fish and Game will make sure the investigation report sent to the Kern County district attorney is less than compelling. Then the district attorney can claim, "Sorry, not enough evidence," and the crony perpetrators will walk free to repeat more illegal activities at the expense of wildlife that belongs to all Californians. This case should go to the California attorney general for prosecution to avoid a perception of corruption.

– Jake O'Rourke, Loomis

Senator causes needless scene

Re "Rand Paul sets off airport scanner, refuses search" (Page A8, Jan. 24): I had a similar incident at Sacramento International Airport. The scanner said there was an issue with my knee. The officers politely asked if they could pat down my knee. I obliged, they found nothing and let me proceed. I guess I should have thrown a hissy fit, caused a big scene and cried about how my rights were violated.

Hopefully Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., was flying on his own dime. I would hate to think we had to pay for his rescheduled flight. Maybe he should stop attacking the Transportation Security Administration and do the business of the people.

– Eric Jensen, Sacramento

Prosecute pepper sprayers

Re "Yolo prosecutors decline to charge pepper-sprayed UC Davis protesters" (Our Region, Jan. 21): I agree with students and graduates who question why the district attorney needs more time to investigate the police officers' pepper spray actions against the protesters. There is proof as to who is responsible for this vile act against free speech. So why must there be more investigative time to see who takes the fall from this event?

Is peaceful protesting considered to be a violent act of aggression toward public law enforcement?

Protesters have a protected constitutional right to express their ideals and demonstrate peacefully for their voice to be heard, to have their say in what is considered to be right and wrong.

– Zackery Ramos-Taylor, Sacramento

Fire UC Davis campus police

It is shocking and outrageous to know that UC Davis police used force against the student protesters, pepper-spraying them to break up the protests. I find this conduct by the police to be unacceptable and flagrant, and those cops should be fired and jailed. We the people need to take a stand and restore liberty and justice.

– Gavin Wei, Sacramento

Don't limit Internet innovation

Re "Piracy bills crafted by 'Confederacy of Dunces' " (Viewpoints, Jan. 24): While I agree that there needs to be some sort of regulations on the amount of piracy on the Internet, the Stop Online Piracy Act and Protect IP Act were not the answer.

Proponents from both sides of the argument need to find a middle ground where they can regulate online piracy while not infringing on the rights of Americans.

The Internet is one of the fastest-growing industries in the world, and limiting what our citizens have access to is limiting innovation in an area which has yet to reach its full potential.

– Rod Mackey, Sacramento

Derail high-speed train project

Re "Auditor calls rail project 'risky' " (Capitol & California, Jan. 25): The bullet train makes no sense for California. We like to drive or fly around the state. Most Californians have never ridden a passenger train, which is why we have museums for them as a quaint reminder of the past.

Europeans, in contrast, have a history of train travel within their small countries and around their region. It makes sense for them to build faster trains as a more efficient transportation system.

To bring to California a fast version of a system we don't use is a waste of money.

Politics makes necessary a train that stops all over the state, defeating the goal of fast travel in the first place.

It's time to bury this plan and not waste the $90 billion.

– Frank Blaha, Gold River

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