Fired up about our priorities

Here it is with people getting laid off, being fired, prices still high, global warming, a three-year drought, crime from Wall Street and locally, no summer school, more homeless, foreclosures, welfare cuts, no jobs, a budget mess in the Capitol, corrupt politicians, identity theft – yet everyone is able to buy and set off fireworks to throw their money into smoke.

Just ask anyone back from Iraq or Afghanistan if they want to watch fireworks after watching hundreds killed, trucks and buildings demolished. The main thing is, there are fewer firefighters around now to take care of these frivolous, unnecessary fires.

– Henry Rutledge, Fair Oaks

An Independence Day thought

As our financial and political worlds disintegrate in California, we are joked about on CNN and elsewhere in the media as the laughingstock of America and the nation's basket case. Broken state government, endless gridlock, ideological warfare, bond ratings in the cellar, $24 billion in the hole and counting, IOUs next.

I believe ideology has played an oversized role in creating the mess we're in. Irresponsible, knee-jerk spending on the left, ruthless cuts and tax aversion on the right. Prolabor vs. big business, big vs. small government, progressive vs. flat tax – always a "versus." A little common sense, defined in my dictionary as "sound, practical sense; normal intelligence," is sorely missing.

What can we the people do? Two suggestions: More of you can join the growing ranks of us independents who reject ideology and seek pragmatic moderates with common sense to represent us in state government. And together we can push hard for a limited constitutional convention in California for meaningful reform. Our system is broken; too many people are getting hurt. If we don't fix it now, when?

– Bill Harder Sr., Auburn

Don't make a tough job tougher

Our son has served the city of Sacramento for quite some time as a firefighter/paramedic. When he chose this profession, we naturally worried about the dangers he would face. However, seeing his pride and how much he loves the job of helping others has lessened our anxieties.

These men and women are highly trained and continue to train so they can lay their lives on the line and compromise their health every day for you! Firefighters are a tight-knit family who rely on each other for the sake of safety. They go into dangerous situations knowing that their "brothers" will be watching their backs.

I never thought I would see the day that our son's safety would be jeopardized by politicians who are only looking at the almighty dollar. Cutting positions will leave both our firefighters and you vulnerable because the team will be smaller, the minutes getting there to help you will be longer. We all know how much waste and fat should be cut in government. This is not the place for cuts.

Please take the time to educate yourself, talk to firefighters and then contact your council members.

– Karen M. Lewis, Gridley

Unincorporated areas are a drain

Re " 'Pre-1970' deputy levels?" (Our Region, June 30): The county of Sacramento and, connected to that, the Sheriff's Department are not funded to provide services to urban areas. This is what cities are for. Cities have the revenue and mechanisms in place to provide police and other service to urban areas. Counties are structured to provide countywide service such as the courts, jails and district attorney's office. They are also structured to provide limited services in rural areas.

For years, county residents living in urban areas outside cities have been draining funds from the county. Those of us who live in cities have been required to pay for two systems, for the cities we live in and for urban services in the Un-City. Now that the county's budget is in collapse, the sheriff has been forced to pull back to cover only those things the law mandates.

When will those of you who live in urban unincorporated areas start picking up the tab for your own services? It is time for all urban areas in the county to either incorporate or join an existing city.