- Sally McKee, Sacramento
Whither the public's watchdogs?
Re "Big Oil gets senatorial scolding," May 22: Hidden in this article is a message to us all. That is, our national government is doing nothing to prevent the gouging of our pocketbooks.
The dastardly idea of Reaganomics, "trickle-down economics," has led us into paying $4 a gallon for gas, $2 for a cup of coffee, $5 to $10 for a sandwich and $1 for a candy bar. It is clear that our governmental representatives don't have the stomach to challenge or stop this looting of our wealth.
Until people are fed up enough to bring their own coffee in a thermos, make their lunch and wash their own car, will these lazy-(un)fair bandits get the message that we are done with them.
There is a reason that antitrust laws were put into place at the beginning of the last century. It's a myth to think that big corporate business will look out for the public if the marketplace is unregulated. Get smart, people – do as much for yourselves as you can because current government representatives are not going to look out for you.
- Benjamin B. Fuentes, Folsom
It's time for Economics 101
Re "Bush proposes global food aid," May 2: President Bush simply doesn't get it. It seems he is busy trying to buy his legacy (rather than earning it).
News flash: America doesn't have unlimited funds. At least I don't. Economics 101 introduces the concept of guns vs. butter. Simply put, if you choose to spend money on one thing, you can't spend the same money on something else.
At some point, money is finite. It's all about choices. If Bush insists upon subsidizing Big Oil, increasing farm subsidies, tax cuts for the rich and spending hundreds of billions of dollars killing people overseas, then we don't have the money for funding feel-good projects such as AIDS in Africa, $770 million for food for the overseas starving poor (not to be confused with our poor) on top of the already pledged $200 million.
He is spending like a drunken sailor – way outspending Democrats. You need to pick and choose what you spend money on. Most children learn at a very young age that you cannot buy every item in the toy catalog. Bush wants it all. Apparently, he is one child who got left behind.
- Mark Crittenden, Shingle Springs
When researchers are in peril
Re "Research details withheld," May 21: The University of California is highly responsive to public information requests regarding the university's research enterprise, and believes strongly in the public's right to know how the university conducts its research activities, including its research involving animals.
UC provides responsive details about the nature of its research and animals involved as well as other cumulative, comprehensive information.
Unfortunately, experience has shown that disclosure of certain specific information about individual researchers and their work has endangered their personal safety, as evidenced by the fact that UC employees and their families have been the targets of arson, bombings, vandalism and intimidation.
Thus, UC's responses to requests for information balance the need to ensure the safety of our employees with the public's right to institutional transparency.
The university does not tolerate acts of violence and harassment toward our researchers, many of whom are in pursuit of new technological and medical discoveries that can save lives and improve the health of millions of Americans.
- Christopher Patti, Oakland
Office of Strategic Communications,
University of California
