An investment in rail future

Kudos to California for voting to pass Proposition 1A, bringing a much-needed high-speed rail system to the state. With it, California has proved once again that it sets the trends for the nation.

We've shown that we are committed to reducing our global-warming pollution. The high-speed rail will move more people for less energy and will do so without clogging roadways or crowding airports. We've decided to boost our economy with 500,000 new jobs and infrastructure investment.

And we made the choice to improve the quality of life for all Californians. We finally will have a cleaner, faster and safer transportation alternative to connect Sacramento to the rest of the state. This truly was an investment for our future – I can't wait to see everyone on the train.

– Michael McDonald, Sacramento

Reality check on the rails

Re "Want to play RT planner?" (Editorial notebook, Nov. 1): About a year ago, the wife and I flew to O'Hare airport in Chicago. When we asked about getting downtown, we were told that the train was about $7 each and a taxi would cost about $60. We opted for the train.

After a 10-minute walk, with five bags in tow we boarded the train. The train car was smelly and dirty. As we traveled, I felt vulnerable to the other passengers: rowdy teenagers, raggedy people drinking out of paper bags and questionable others who were eyeing us and our bags.

When the day arrived to return to the airport, I was more than happy to pay $65 for a clean, safe taxi.

My point is that if taxpayers are going to fund light rail, the first priority should be to reduce the number of car miles driven by commuters.

The best use of limited funds would be commuter light-rail lines to Elk Grove and Roseville. And forget about light rail to the airport and Cosumnes River College.

– Dennis G Diede, Elk Grove

If you're going ... head to Idaho

I understand that the state in which I was born and raised has passed Proposition 2. That's the initiative that requires farmers to give chickens room to stretch their wings. Up here where I live, we have already heard that if Proposition 2 passed, then several egg farms were either going to go out of business or they would have to relocate to other states because they would be unable to afford the new pens.

Well, for all of those farmers now facing this hardship, I have a proposal for you that could benefit us all … move your farms to Idaho.

The people up here are pleasant, and they would certainly welcome their new neighbors as well as the new influx of jobs they would bring with them to the Gem State. Moreover, the land values up here are such that you could sell your farmland in California and buy farmland here in Idaho, and still have plenty of money left over to establish yourselves here in our fine state.

So I would like to thank all of you who voted for Proposition 2, thank you for the new neighbors, and most importantly, thank you for the new jobs.

Thank you, California.

– Joe Gandolfo, Boise, Idaho

An anti-family victory

The secular progressives of the far left have scored another victory in their quest to destroy the traditional family unit. First, they convinced parents that disciplining their children was child abuse and would stifle the child's personal development. Now, with the passage of Proposition 4, they have convinced parents that it is all right to have a child make a serious decision on taking a life without their knowledge.

The level and depth of the secular progressive success can be seen when parents think it more important to have farm animals run free than it is to notify parents that their daughter is about to undergo an embryo life-ending procedure.

– Anthony J. Arjil, Placerville

Which is more important?

Let me see if I have this straight: According to the enlightened voters of California, it is more important for a chicken to be able to spread its wings (Proposition 2) than for a parent to be informed that another adult is performing a surgical procedure on his/her minor daughter (Proposition 4)? What has happened to common sense, morals, and ethics in this state?