Long lunch breaks deduced

Re "Lunch breakaway" (Living Here/Outbound, Oct. 22): OK, so let me get this straight. Twenty-four people from the Department of Justice go on a daily jaunt, starting their journey before 11 a.m. (note the clock in the photograph).

They change their clothes, ride about one mile through downtown traffic to the bike trail, then ride 13 miles in one direction, then return along the same path. Upon returning to the office, I would assume they change their clothes and return to work without lunch.

Now, if my math is correct, they have just spent nearly two hours on this trip, counting preparation time and all.

Since most lunch periods are one hour, and 20 people using up one hour daily over their scheduled lunch equals about 100 hours a week not worked, who's paying for it? The employees, or the taxpayers?

– Derek Dunbar, Sacramento

Swim or sink, 'captains'

Re "U.S. to cut execs' pay in bailouts" (Page A1, Oct. 22): Chief executive officers like to call themselves "captains of industry." In the Navy, if the ship goes down, frequently the captain goes with it.

If the federal government had not stepped in with massive sums of money, many more of the financial companies would have failed as well. Actions taken by those companies were directed by the CEOs. Perhaps it is time for those CEOs to retire since they almost destroyed their organizations. They all have golden parachutes, anyway. Get new people in charge who may be able to change things for the better in those companies.

The argument that limiting pay for the CEOs and top officers would cause them to leave for other companies is shaky at best – unless another company wants people who are proven to almost destroy a company while feathering their own nests. I wouldn't want to hire someone who almost caused a multibillion-dollar company to fail.

– Don Brazell, Roseville

Klamath agreement defended

Re "Klamath agreement helps dam owners, not fish" (Another View, Oct. 18): Hoopa Valley Tribe Chairman Leonard Masten's drubbing of The Bee's excellent editorial supporting the proposed Klamath Hydroelectric Settlement Agreement ("Klamath pact could be a start toward peace," Oct. 4) was unfortunate.

Indeed the Hoopa have shown impressive leadership in addressing Trinity River issues. However, the tribes that have fished the main-stem Klamath since the beginning of time – the Yurok, Karuk and Klamath tribes – have all worked hard to develop the pending restoration and dam removal agreements that will serve to increase river flows, remove dams and provide much-needed restoration dollars to the Klamath.

Rejecting this agreement will not provide water or remove dams any faster.

– Arch Super, Happy Camp

He's got that helpless feeling

Re "It's a rich persons' country" (Letters, Oct. 22): I applaud Marlene Aderman's letter to the editor. She squarely hits the nail on the head.

Our citizens today are often criticized as being uninterested or complacent when it comes to matters of public policy. It's more like feeling helpless. Even with the power of the Internet and writing your elected officials, you are stymied by big money.

I believe that most people, regardless of whether they are Republican, independent or Democrat, are willing to put country before money or politics. The only problem is: Where do we turn and what is the remedy?

– Thomas Hagen, Cameron Park

Medical marijuana to the rescue

Re "Pot-gate: Obama's rule smells" (Letters, Oct. 22): Wow, letter writer Jim Quinnan, are you living in a hole up in Auburn? Where were you when California passed Prop. 215 in 1996? Voters realized we needed to support and defend the crimeless act of smoking for medical relief.

I've had many surgeries and problems only to be given prescriptions for pain/swelling/nausea and told not to drive due to these drugs. How did I function throughout the day? I didn't. Therefore I tried medical marijuana and had more relief then all the prescribed drugs from my doctors – at a much lower cost.

– Kari Stevens, Roseville