Garbage solution

Re: Linda Nelson's July 16 commentary, "Keep other folks' trash out of Simi":

I thank Nelson for a very intelligent response to the garbage dilemma. Let's hope some wise eyes in high places read it. Maybe we need to get a petition going.

— Carolyn Ackmann, Simi Valley

Story is still evolving

Re: your July 14 article, "Cancer forces Tasmanian devils to breed earlier":

This article quotes zoologist Menna Jones as saying, "We could be seeing evolution occurring before our eyes."

There is no information in the article suggesting early reproduction occurred in a single individual and then spread through its offspring, which would be micro-evolution. This is more likely a case, similar to Easter Island finches, where the observed changes (beaks in this case) were genetic variations favored by particular environments (multiyear climatic oscillations for the finches) and not an example of evolution.

The Tasmanian devil species population may already have the genetic material to breed at younger ages, and the current environment, the cancer, is favoring genetic material producing earlier breeding.

Much more data are needed to use this as an example of evolution.

— Rodney Sinclair, Thousand Oaks

Put teeth in traffic laws

Re: Bob Fitch's July 16 letter, "$20 isn't enough":

I agree with Fitch. The fines should be much higher for drivers caught illegally talking on cell phones. As for suspending licenses, that would be worthless.

Sept. 14, my 12-year-old son was struck and killed as he rode his bike to school. The driver had been driving on a suspended license since May 2007. He was cited and sent on his way. This irresponsible "citizen" decided that day to go to the Department of Motor Vehicles and take care of matters. ("Oh-oh, I just hit a kid on a bike. I'd better take care of this pesky suspended license.")

Did I mention he was cited the week before for — you guessed it — driving on a suspended license? When he appeared in court, the case was dismissed. There was no fine.

If we are going to have these laws, they should have some teeth and be enforced.

— Stephen P. Hansen, Simi Valley

Raise cell-phone fine

Re: Bob Fitch's July 16 letter, "$20 isn't enough":

One must agree with Fitch. A law is a law, especially one involving the safety of everyone who takes to the overcrowded and already unsafe roads on a daily basis.

Notwithstanding the mere pittance of the fine he refers to for using a handheld cell phone while driving, Fitch failed to point out the amount of time an officer must spend in order to collect the $20 fee.

During the first two weeks of this "fundraising campaign," officers reported writing 2,525 citations for this offense. This equates to $50,500. No wonder our state's in trouble. Well, I guess we can always rely on the lottery. After all, as Fitch mentioned, "It's all about playing the odds."

— Sandy Unsworth, Simi Valley

Profiting from debt

Re: your July 20 article, "Lenders profit richly off consumers' debt":

This was a fascinating look at what is probably the biggest problem underlying the American economy. Using consumer debt as "a perpetual earning asset" for lenders has essentially put the American public in a lifetime financial straitjacket.

The 2005 bankruptcy reform bill, promoted by President Bush and correctly noted in your story as a bill that "benefited credit-card companies and hurt their customers," passed the Republican-controlled Senate by a vote of 74-25.

Sen. Hillary Clinton did not vote. Sen. John McCain voted for the bill and Sen. Barack Obama voted against it. As Bill O'Reilly might say, who's looking out for you?

— John R. Kordosh, Simi Valley

Failure to think ahead

Re: your July 16 article, "Proposal may hike water, sewage rates in Ventura":

This proposal is for a 14 percent increase in water and sewage rates to pay for rising operating costs and upgrades and to cover the replacement of aging pipes. There have been several major proposals presented to six out of the seven Ventura City Council members, of which two are significant: the commercial/apartment project at the Ventura Harbor and the hotel project across from the Ventura County Fairgrounds.

Had these projects come to fruition years ago instead of ruminating in the hallowed halls of our fair city, perhaps — no, assuredly — we would have had extra revenue from a transient occupancy tax, developer fees and general increase in revenue that could have been banked for the replacement of the aging pipes. Most assuredly, they did not age overnight.

Ventura was fortunate enough to have Kinko's corporate headquarters in our own backyard, but no more. What business has our fair city brought in to replace this loss of income and loss of jobs? Kmart has closed and cost the city those jobs. How long will this location remain empty?

And while it is easy for people to protest and petition against a Wal-Mart or any business that is the "disflavor of the month," it is difficult for those thrown out of work.

"Time for change" or same-old, same-old: a proposed public-safety increase, a 911 fee and now a 14 percent water and sewage increase. What's next?

— Irene V. Henry, Ventura

Vets don't need red tape

Re: Martin Schram's July 18 essay, "The VA's mystery caller":

As an ex-Marine and Vietnam combat veteran, I want to commend Schram for his insightful indictment of the Veterans Affairs help-desk issue. His essay encourages me to read his new book.

Being a firsthand witness to the bureaucratic ravelings of the VA system, I can attest that the slow, long ribbon of red tape that a vet must travel to get help is getting longer and slower — and redder. And, yes, it all starts in Washington, D.C. It's always a challenge to determine who's in bed with whom in our nation's capital, and the mind boggles to think of all the agencies and politicians that must be coddled just to get one lousy piece of legislation tabled.

I strongly believe the combination of red tape, poor funding and weak management stifles the ability of the service reps to serve properly. The collective attitude and work ethic at these help desks are constantly compromised. Sadly, the veteran suffers.

While the fat cats in D.C. stay busy scratching each other's backs, veterans, especially these young ones now returning, are busy trying to scratch out a simple existence of survival with little or no help. If there were a nondeferment draft that required children of political privilege to serve, you can bet the ranch that help for veterans would improve immensely.

Our military leaders are experts in preparing our young troops for deployment and battle. Please take a moment to imagine that same expertise being implemented to prepare them for survival upon their return.

— Joe Paquin, Fillmore

Learning about Seabees

Re: Scott Hadly's reporting from Iraq:

Hadly's accounts of his time with our local Seabees in Iraq have been most informative and well-written. I have lived in Ventura County for more than 30 years and have not really understood what the Seabees do. From now on, I will pay closer attention to their mission in our armed services. Thank you for giving such a fine reporter an opportunity to not only show the Seabees' "stuff," but also his skills as a professional, local journalist.

— Julie Rischar, Oak View

A good laugh

Re: Bill Vaughn's July 10 letter, "Fooled by environmentalists":

Vaughn's letter certainly did one thing: It separated those of us who love a good laugh in the morning from those who never laugh at all.

— Charlotte Craven, Camarillo