Idled vehicles rev up a nerve

Re "New state vehicles sit idle" (Page A1, Oct. 26): As a former Seabee and heavy-equipment operator, I can say this article exemplifies what is wrong with state government. Why does Caltrans need to "design" equipment? Not to mention "assemble" same?

There are many specialized manufacturing companies that do this. All are very competitively priced, as well. I would also like to know why they need the extended warranties. No maintenance is done by Caltrans?

Considering that many laws regarding vehicle mechanical defects are rarely enforced, what makes Caltrans so special? Never mind that many state vehicles do see a lot of personal use. Explain that!

– Andrew Mattson, Sacramento

Scouts prepared to discriminate

Re "Today's Scouts know high-tech has merit" (Our Region, Oct. 25): The Scouting organization discriminates against gay men and youths by prohibiting leadership to be public with their lifestyle. How 1950s is that? No wonder its membership continues to wane despite its efforts.

Sending a message to gay youths that their value as a gay adult is diminished fosters feelings of low self-worth. No wonder gay youths have the highest rate of suicide when organizations such as the Boy Scouts of America tell them they aren't important and they should hide who they are.

Boy Scouts of America needs to step into the 21st century, embrace diversity (not just print a manual in Spanish) and truly inspire children to be leaders for futures to come.

I write this with sadness – I am an Eagle Scout and a gay man. The Scouting years were some of the best for me, but I'm saddened that the organization that meant so much to me as a kid perpetuates hate, discrimination and violence through its policies. If it can't embrace diversity, is it any different from the Ku Klux Klan?

– Phillip Weichel, El Dorado Hills

All's right with Sen. Feinstein

So Sen. Dianne Feinstein issues a press release detailing her new-found support for the public option in health care reform, and her realization that insurance companies may not have our best interests at heart.

Welcome to the fight, senator. Glad we were able to move the center enough to enable you to take a stand without risking anything.

– Jonathan Wieder, Berkeley

Feinstein should push for green

Re "State is rated tops on energy efficiency" (Business, Oct. 23): When it comes to energy efficiency, California is No. 1. But before we congratulate ourselves, let's think about how we can use our success to influence the rest of the country. And while we're at it, the more energy we save here, the more money we save and the more jobs we create for California.

A recent report from the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy found that strong energy efficiency provisions in federal clean energy and global warming legislation would create 121,500 jobs in California, while saving consumers money and reducing our energy use and pollution.

Now it's up to Sen. Dianne Feinstein to jump-start our economy by supporting strong clean energy and global warming legislation by joining Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., in co-sponsoring the Save American Energy Act, which calls for utilities to become 15 percent more efficient by 2020.

– Michael Kantor, Environment California

Matsui event not as described

Re "Conservative feels left out of health reform debate" (Another View, Oct. 25): Somebody's got to toss in some accuracy. I, too, attended Rep. Doris Matsui's town hall meeting. Questions were not chosen from cards submitted by the audience. The 800 attending were invited to write their names on cards to be drawn from a box. If randomly selected, the person was given the liberty to say whatever at the microphone.

Everyone – except single-payer advocates – was at the table, especially the industry that wastes 30 percent on administration, denies care to increase profits, raises premiums by 7 percent to 15 percent annually, and forces Americans into bankruptcy. So we'll subsidize more of this and call it competition? Sounds like a bipartisan plan to me.