Letters to the Editor

Re "Will settlement help homeowners dig out of a hole?" (Editorials, Feb. 10): In the short-run, helping homeowners with negative equity will help the economy in the short run by preventing foreclosures, bankruptcies, and personal misery.

Re "Economy burdened by weight of government" (Viewpoints, Feb. 10): Rep. Kevin McCarthy verges on the dishonest when he states America will soon have the highest corporate tax rate at 39.2 percent. From the Congressional Budget Office: "Corporate tax receipts as a share of profits are at their lowest level in at least 40 years."

Re "Economy burdened by weight of government" (Viewpoints, Feb. 10): Rep. Kevin McCarthy points out that the U.S. fell from first to is fifth in competitiveness, and blames big government. Countries ahead of us include Switzerland, Singapore, Sweden and Finland have national health care, good public education, and solid national retirement programs.

Re "Tax proposal turns spotlight on lawyer" (Page A1, Feb. 10): Throwing good money at a broken school system in this state is like tossing a gallon of water on a burning house. For years, people have been screaming that we need to put more money into the California school system, all the while turning a blind eye to the over-paid salaries at the administrative levels.

Re "Reuse contaminated land for renewal energy sites" (Viewpoints, Feb. 9): Our son is a freshmen student at CSU Monterey Bay, formerly Fort Ord. How wonderful it would be for these young people to get real work experience by designing, building and installing solar panels on the campus. There are plenty of cemented areas leftover from the army base, ready for solar ground panels.

Re" Council schism perils arena" (Page A1, Feb. 9): Political consultant Chris Lehane, in promoting using parking revenue to help finance a new arena, is quoted in the Bee making a curious and telling statement: "The more unified Sacramento is, the stronger the city's position will be in its discussions with the NBA when it comes to getting a deal done that represents the best interests of the public."

Re "Mortgage deal will include California, N.Y., sources say" (Page A1, Feb. 9): I feel sympathetic toward people who suffer under foreclosure, but when I read articles like this, I get frustrated.

Re "Comcast stiffs fans of classic movies" (Editorial Notebook, Feb. 7): Thank you Ginger Rutland for so clearly articulating my thoughts regarding Comcast's decision to remove Turner Classic Movies from the full basic cable package.

Re "Trash firm has record '11 haul" (Business, Feb. 8): Republicans keep telling us that California has a horrible business climate with too much regulation and a tax rate that is too high. That's why Waste Connections Inc. was forced to move to Texas.

Re "Ruling against Prop. 8 could be hard to overturn" (Editorials, Feb. 9): As a teenager, I frequented a rather sleazy pool hall near my high school. When my father discovered my visits, he declared the place off-limits. I protested, saying "But Dad, everyone goes there." My Dad responded, "That doesn't make it right".

Re "White House seeks to ease outcry over contraceptive rule" (Page A10, Feb. 8): I write this as one of millions of Catholics who believe strongly in the individual right to birth control. What if every health organization invoked religious freedom to limit services needed by their women staff and their families?

Re "CSUS must redefine the possible to thrive in tough budget era" (Viewpoints, Feb. 8): Alexander Gonzalez wants to redefine the possible.

Re "Mortgage deal will include California, N.Y., sources say" (Page A1, Feb. 9): Attorney General Kamala Harris has signed on to the settlement with the largest banks.

Re "Power to the pedal" (Living Here, Feb. 9): I commend The Bee and Blair Anthony Robertson for their continued quest to make cycling appeal to the masses. But they created a faux pas. Photos accompanying the article show the cyclist not wearing a helmet.

Re "Group ready to fight part-time Legislature" (Page A4, Feb. 8): We should make legislators part-timers, like those in Texas, who meet every other year for 120 days, cover business for two years, then go back home to their jobs. California is one of only five states with full-time legislators.

Re "Wolves would destroy state's deer herds" (Letters, Feb. 5): The question at the end of the letter asks: "Why should one predatory species be given licence to destroy another species?" That made me think of the human species.

Re "Nurses are well-paid" (Letters, Feb. 8): The purpose of the nurse's sympathy strike had nothing to do with our wages. We are well paid after years of fighting for fairness. We are now supporting our co-workers. Without nurses, patient safety efforts would cease to exist.

Re "Nurses are well-paid" (Letters, Feb. 8): Obviously, letter writer Michael Baumgart hasn't spent time lately in a hospital or emergency room. I'm well-versed in the workings of both, and nurses earn every penny they're paid.

Re "Comcast stiffs fans of classic movies" (Editorial Notebook, Feb. 7): Comcast committed a dastardly deed by taking Turner Classic Movies out of its standard package and forcing fans to now purchase HBO, Encore or Cinemax, pay extra.