Do your job, legislators

Re "Voters' verdict on budget fixes: No!" (Page A1, May 20): The message is clear for legislators and the governor: Do the job you were elected to perform. Step up to the hard decisions; fix this state by cutting your fat budget and stop laying off the tough decisions on the public through ballot measures.

You got the backlash you deserve. Cut the plush committees and commissions, stop catering to the special-interest unions and encourage private sector prosperity. The private sector is your only real source of revenues. I applaud the citizens of this state for recognizing the measures for what they were: pork and postponement.

– R. Judd Hanna, Mill Creek

Too big to fail

You would think in listening to and reading the morning media pundits on the day after the special proposition election that the politicians will now get "the message." The truth is, it's the people of California who don't get it, because they keep electing the same tax-and-spend liberals election after election. But not to worry. Not to worry, SEIU; not to worry, CTA; not to worry, police, fire and correctional officer associations … In fact, not to worry, California. You see, California is "too big to fail." And thusly, President Barack Obama will save us, just as he saved AIG, GM, Chrysler, etc., etc. He will use federal taxpayer money from Utah, South Dakota, Texas, Georgia, etc., etc. Yes, California is too big to fail. So not to worry, California.

– Kern Hunt, Lincoln

Causes and effect

With the budget measures defeated, we can expect a fresh round of letters railing on about how we can't cut this or that pet cause. So how about a new rule? Each such letter must contain one of the following:

• What specific program(s) they would cut to save their pet cause and why, or

• How much they individually are willing to pay to save their cause. Taxing some other group (rich? smokers? drinkers?) not allowed.

As the old saying goes, "If you're not part of the solution, you're part of the problem."

– Roy W. Hecteman, El Dorado Hills

'Take-backs' to balance budget

Re "Poizner, Campbell part ways on ballot, budget remedies" (Capitol & California, May 19): Republican gubernatorial candidate Tom Campbell's "give-back" idea is right, but his target is wrong. The 15 percent give-back should be imposed on anyone with an estate over $10 million, and/or anyone who made millions in the fraudulent home mortgage debacle over the past five years. Why not put the give-back on their dime, where it belongs? Why balance budgets on the backs of workers? Let's hit greedy paper pushers, the ones who add no value, have contributed the most to the mess and continue to reap benefits from it. Let's impose a 15 percent "take-back" from those who took more than their share in the first place and continue taking it back until the budget is balanced.

– Ernie Jay, Auburn

E-commerce could save state

To solve California's budget gap: Tax Internet sales? eBay and PayPal are in a perfect position to collect sales tax and pass it along to the state. Problem solved, except that Meg Whitman and her old company would lobby hard against it.

– Kevin Knauss, Carmichael

War on drugs breeds violence

Re "Governor stirs debate on new revenue source" (Page A1, May 9): Although I agree with the overall content of this article, as well as with Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's stance on opening up discussion, I could not help but notice the need to shift focus toward the cost of the "war on drugs" and how it is ultimately a major failure. We ought to shift focus to the briefly mentioned violence plaguing our neighbor to the south, Mexico. The cartels are not only known to be involved in major drug business with dealers in the United States but also with violent street gangs on both sides of the border. Legalization is not only a step toward resolving the old medicinal debate, but a resolution to the financial, social and civil distortion that has taken place since the substance was outlawed many decades ago.