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Your letters: May 8, 2008
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Fence not a sideshow'
Re: John M. Crisp's May 1 commentary, "Who are these 12 million illegals living in the U.S.?":
Crisp has it backward. He thinks that the border fence is a "sideshow" diverting us from his "humane-amnesty" solution to illegal immigration. To use his words: "A fence along our border with Mexico may seem like a solution to our illegal-immigration problem, but it's a sideshow, a distraction from the thorniest of immigration issues: the 12 million or so illegal immigrants who already live here."
If your house (country) has a leaking pipe (open border), what do you do first? Do you squabble about how to clean up the water (comprehensive immigration reform) or decide to fix the leak (build a fence). Until we stop the flow, we can't fix the problem. If we build the fence and enforce our current immigration and labor laws, the problem is solved.
Crisp's "humane amnesty" is the real sideshow in the debate.
— Ed D. Roberts, Ventura
Media gloomy on Iraq
On the recent fifth anniversary of the Iraq war in March, The Star courageously editorialized on the front page of paper instead of on the Opinion page. On two successive days, these headlines and stories gave us The Star's views on Iraq: "War, and global fallout for U.S., will outlast Bush" (March 19), and "As conflict continues, vigils gain support, protesters say" (March 20). Each story was gloomy and pessimistic.
This is The Star's way of commemorating our soldier's sacrifices and accomplishments in Iraq over the past five years. Relentless negative media coverage like this has been very effective. According to The Star itself, "Since 2003, the percentage of Americans who think the Iraq war is not worth fighting has grown steadily, from about 27 percent to 63 percent" (lead editorial, March 21). Mission accomplished for the media.
Negative coverage of Iraq has been remarkably successful in blackening America's image in the world, demoralizing the American people, and strengthening the resolve of al-Quida, You and I know virtually nothing of the accomplishments of our troops in Iraq because it is not reported. We know nothing of the desires of the Iraqi people for their own country because it is not reported. Our view of our troops and the Iraqi people is filtered through the lens of media disdain for both.
A balanced evaluation of Iraq war effort, examining its successes and failures, is conspicuously absent in The Star and in the major media. This is not an accident. It is doubtful that any of the wars America has fought to preserve its freedom and democracy could have been won with the media coverage of today. This constant barrage of negativity is devastating to our military and our country. You and I and our nation suffer for it.
— Mike Nelson, Santa Paula
Soccer shouldn't be dodge ball
Recently, I was running on the sidewalk of the park at Kimball and Telephone roads in Ventura when a badly aimed soccer ball missed the goal and smacked me in the head. And then another ball immediately flew my way. I was glad that the second one didn't hit me but I was not amused. It was an adult men's team playing and if I had been a small child, that first ball could easily have knocked me over or broken my nose. The nets that were placed between the sidewalk and Kimball to keep balls from flying or rolling into the street should be placed on the inside of the sidewalk instead.
That would keep the balls from landing in the street and from hitting someone passing by on the sidewalk. It's a bit much to expect every player to hit the goal every time and people passing by shouldn't feel like they're part of a dodge-ball game. To top it off, none of the players was courteous enough to even holler an apology.
— Karen Bates, Ventura
Who'll do the work?
Here are some facts that seem to have been ignored by many of the right-wing hatemongers that want to blame the so-called illegal immigrants for many of the economic problems of California and the United States.
The first thing they should consider is that if California were a by itself a country, it would have the entire world's sixth-greatest economy. And what is the No. 1 business of this great state's economy? Agriculture — and as much as 90 percent of that work force are so-called illegals.
So my question is: How can it possibly benefit California to bankrupt its biggest industry?
U.S. Rep. Tom Tancredo, R-Colo., got his state's other right-wing politicians, along with Arizona's, to pass some of the harshest anti-immigration laws in our nation. But as a consequence, they are now trying to pass a state guest-worker program inasmuch as many of their farms and ranches are going belly-up. Why? Because no one else wants to do that dirty, back-breaking, hard work. Tancredo's answer is to let the middle- and lower-class workers to do it, those who have been laid off because of the economic disaster caused by the Bush administration and agreed to by Tancredo and the other Republicans in Washington who went along with whatever President Bush wanted.
Now, for Ventura County, one of our biggest industries is strawberries, and I'm sure when we get rid of these illegals, all the people who have been laid off by Countrywide, Washington Mutual and real-estate brokers — just to name a few — won't have a problem being bundled up and bending over picking those strawberries at a chilly 7 in the morning.
This truly might happen — when pigs fly.
— John L. Thawley, Santa Paula
District has no leadership
"Future litigation will not be productive and will only pull away valuable resources from our districts that are under siege from the governor's proposed budget cuts. Let's agree to put the money into the classrooms and not into the attorneys' pockets, once this decision is made."
So said Pleasant Valley School District trustee Sandra Berg shortly before she didn't get the result she wanted from the State Board of Education's ruling on unification. She has since joined several other "concerned Camarillo citizens" in a lawsuit against the state's decision. So much for keeping one's word, and so much for leadership by example.
Someone please help me understand how someone so duplicitous remains on the Pleasant Valley school board year after year.
Do we need to be reminded of the school-closure fiasco Berg helped orchestrate? Do we need to be reminded that once again our school teachers have been duped by this board and once again will see their already insulting wages eroded, with no raise on the horizon? And what will this board do? They'll likely blame the governor's budget cuts as the reason they can't pay teachers what they're worth, just as they've tried to blame Oxnard — and now the state board — for this unification disaster they themselves have created.
While this may come as news to Berg and other PVSD board members, true leadership is about taking responsibility for one's actions and leading by example. This entire board has lost my confidence and my trust. I urge you to join me in voting to replace each one of them in November.
— Dave Stephenson, Camarillo
Low-tech lifestyle
Re: your May 5 article, "Technology's march of obsolescence":
Cranking windows by hand in our 1998 Mercury Tracer may be out of style, but it intrigues our young granddaughters. They enjoy this rare hands-on option in their electronic life. Of course, they had to be trained to "handle" this retro leverage.
My wife and I appreciate those window cranks because we can close a window even after shutting off the engine — unlike the "late penalty" in our other car with its electric winder.
Of course, as the author of the book "Poor Richard's TIPS from the Great Depression" (see reference in "Literary Notes" of your May 4 Books section), I've also cranked a phone, wound a watch, choked a car, threaded film, mowed with a reel mower, milked cows by hand and participated in an array of other obsolescence. And I've even had to use a crank to start car engines.
Now, by owning a car with crank windows, are we contrarian — or just cranky about change?
— Richard Londgren, Thousand Oaks
How to help public schools
Re: Sally Hibbitts' May 7 letter, "Dunn does it again":
I wish to respond to the propaganda written by Hibbitts.
First, the fastest way to reopen Meadows and University schools is to retire trustees Dolores Didio and Dorothy Beaubien, then elect trustees who will listen to the parents and reverse the closure vote.
Second, I voted to oppose a resolution critical of the governor. The resolution offered no solutions, just criticism. Critics are a dime a dozen.
To increase funding for the public schools, we need to increase state revenues. Here is how to accomplish this mission:
— Sacramento must make it easier for business to make a profit.
— Reduce the $10 billion spent annually by the state providing goods and services to illegal immigrants.
— Stop passing bonds. The interest expense is rising faster than the percentage increase in spending on public education.
— Encourage parents to return to the public schools. Parents would do that if they felt like they were being listened to, and if the schools promoted traditional family values compatible with our community standards and our faith.
Trustees Didio and Beaubein should honorably retire. The board has forgotten who pays the taxes that make the public schools possible. The tail must stop wagging the dog.
— Michael A. "Mike" Dunn, Newbury Park
(The writer is a trustee with the Conejo Valley Unified School District. — Editor)
Posted by DinTN on May 8, 2008 at 3:17 a.m. (Suggest removal)
CHUCK BALDWIN NOMINATED PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE OF THE CONSTITUTION PARTY 2008!
Website up soon: www.baldwin2008.com/
http://www.newswithviews.com/baldwin/...
"We will close our borders and ports. Illegal immigration STOPS the day we take the White House!
We will not provide amnesty to anyone. There will be no welfare for illegal immigrants! We will end birthright citizenship! There will be no more anchor babies!"
"It is absolutely ludicrous to say we are fighting a war on terror half way around the world when we refuse to secure our borders and ports. If I were President, I would immediately seal our borders. I would also see to it that employers in America who knowingly hire illegal aliens are prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. In plain language: any employer who consciously hires illegal aliens would go to jail. They would not pass Go; they would not collect $200; they would go straight to jail."
Posted by johnmuir96 on May 8, 2008 at 5:37 a.m. (Suggest removal)
John L. Thawley, Santa Paula
please take the time t read the great story "grapes of wrath"
this will prove to you that AMERICANS will do any type of work
I personally will pay higher amounts for products and services , and keep illegal people out of the country.
When illegals clog our schools, hospitals and jail its time to put a bounty of their capture
Posted by bombero42 on May 8, 2008 at 7:01 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Mr Nelson's letter is an example of those who cannot admit they made a mistake in voting for Bush. The truth that they are partially responsible for the deaths of 4000 soldier and the wounding and permanent damage to ten of thousands more American soldiers is too painful to look at. So they go off on idiotic tangents like thinking we are really winning the war and are really doing good over there. The papers are telling the story that is really happening, not the fairy tales that people like Nelson want to believe.
Posted by Oranges on May 8, 2008 at 7:07 a.m. (Suggest removal)
More proof that Dunn needs to go. CVUSD is in big trouble with this nut job.
Posted by Freedom1 on May 8, 2008 at 7:16 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Great letter Ed D. Roberts. Unfortunately, none of our politicians are listening. No matter who becomes President in 2008, amnesty and citizenship will be the reward for breaking the laws of this country and an open invitation for more to follow.
Posted by shaver_one on May 8, 2008 at 9:22 a.m. (Suggest removal)
1. I hope all these people who advocate building a fence are talking about a 'virtual' fence. Fact of the matter is, if you build a 30 foot, the next thing to be build will be a 33 foot ladder. The borders need to be secured. But, a physical wall or fence is not the answer. You can climb over, or dig under an actual barrier.
2. I find it interesting that the right-wing readers of The Star always accuse it of being leftist and communistic...while, at the same time, the left-wing readers call it neocon propoganda. The only thing I can deduce from these equal and opposite opinions, is that The Star is fairly well placed down the middle.
3. Good news does exist in Iraq. According to Bush's own criteria for "success", we have won. Saddam is gone. No WMDs exist in Iraq to be used against the US or our allies. A government has been freely elected. The Iraqis have a constitution. Sectarian violence is down to levels that are manageable by the Iraqi Security Forces.
Bad news also exists in Iraq. The US is still there fighting, and dying.
Posted by shaver_one on May 8, 2008 at 9:29 a.m. (Suggest removal)
oops:
"...if you build a 30 foot wall..."
Posted by turchotk on May 8, 2008 at 10:03 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Dave Stephenson: Kick out Sandra Berg and what replace her with the likes of John Alamillo again. I don't think so. Yes PVSD missed a beat on the school closures, but the bottom line is they can do a heck of lot better job than Oxnard Union High School District is doing in the long run. Bottom line end of subject. If you don't like it then move to Oxnard. Bring your best Spanish speaking techniques and your personal side arm for protection. You'll need both from what I've been reading lately.
Posted by JohnAlamillo on May 8, 2008 at 10:39 a.m. (Suggest removal)
turchotk-
Not sure what I did to you or to your children during my run. If a different opinion on the ability of a certain district to:
a. Manage their own
b. Make reasonable and rationale decisions
c. Not make the same mistakes again and again
created some animosity towards me then for that I will not apologize. If, in fact, I harmed your child while a trustee please tell me how so it won't happen again.
Please be assured, you will not find me on the ballot come November. It's more important to stop the nonsense and that needs to be done by citizens. I will support other candidates to replace the likes of your friend Sandra Berg.
And to the letter, nice job Dave. Not one to mince words are ya'!
Posted by JohnAlamillo on May 8, 2008 at 10:54 a.m. (Suggest removal)
turchotk-
To finish, what are you talking about regarding the comparison of OUHSD to PVSD. You seem to have some pent up racial hostility.
The best argument against democracy is a five-minute conversation with the average voter.
Winston Churchill
What long run are you talking about?
Posted by LP_Estates_Mom on May 8, 2008 at 12:59 p.m. (Suggest removal)
turchotk: Interesting comments.
But I really hope that you were kidding with the part about "If you don't like it then move to Oxnard. Bring your best Spanish speaking techniques and your personal side arm for protection. You'll need both from what I've been reading lately." You *were* just joking, right?
If PVSD "missed a beat on the school closures", did they miss two more beats on no teacher raises, and stalling a unification vote in November as pointed out in Mr. Stephenson's letter?
I think Mr. Stephenson should have added a link to Mrs. Berg's letter, though. Here it is: http://www.venturacountystar.com/news...
What happened to "Abide by Unification Ruling"?
The State Board of Education's ruling was to vote in November 2008 on unification.
Posted by JohnAlamillo on May 8, 2008 at 1:46 p.m. (Suggest removal)
And while we need links, here's the one to the type of responsible, reasonable, attentive advocate for education turchotk seems to admire.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=dQCjJlok-pg
Posted by momtemocepac on May 8, 2008 at 3:57 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Dave Stephenson: THANK YOU!!! I couldn't agree with you more. Sounds like you may be a great canidate to replace Berg.
Posted by bombero42 on May 8, 2008 at 4:34 p.m. (Suggest removal)
The idea that Americans will do the farm work is silly for several reasons. The farm workers in the depression were desperately poor and that was 70 years ago. Americans are way to spoiled to do that hard work. Also, in most areas that work is seasonal. Few Americans would be willing to live the unsettled life of the migrant farm worker.
The other problem is the wages, like the $19 per hour mentioned. Our farmers have to compete with farmers around the world who will take over the market if our farmers have to substantially raise wages. We would end up with few farmers. Farming is a multi-billion dollar industry in California. It would be a big mistake to drive them out of business.
Posted by Educator on May 8, 2008 at 5:21 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Just in case Ms. Berg tries to deny that she is involved with the latest litigation....
She may not be one of the named individual citizens, but she is clearly part of the Camarillo Unified PAC, also named in the lawsuit. Money flows freely between them, she has lobbied and fundraised on their behalf, and her picture is on their website and mailers. (Don't worry, I've made copies, in case they suddenly disappear.)
Posted by Educator on May 8, 2008 at 5:40 p.m. (Suggest removal)
turtchotk: "Bottom line end of subject." Why? Because you said so? What exactly have you been reading lately that suggests PVSD can do a better job than OUHSD?
Posted by JohnAlamillo on May 8, 2008 at 6:41 p.m. (Suggest removal)
kimstep-
Ms. Berg also traveled to Sacramento as a spokes hole for CU. According to the financial reporting, available at the elections dept., CU paid for her to attend as many as 4 SBE meetings.
Posted by Adrienne on May 8, 2008 at 10:12 p.m. (Suggest removal)
The unfortunate part about this democratic race is that the populace is voting against Clinton strictly because she’s a woman.
Equaling McCain, She’s the only democrat that could win the Presidential Election, 2008.
Democrats are chumps; they’re giving away the presidential position by means of the “Obama Allure”.
Yet, the allure is ONLY because he’s a man and not a woman.
P i t i f u l
Posted by davestephenson on May 9, 2008 at 6 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I’d like to respond to Mike Dunn’s comments.
Mr Dunn claims that parents would return their kids to public schools if ‘the schools promoted traditional family values compatible with our community standards and our faith.’
Just what exactly does that mean?
If I correctly recall my high school Basic American History course, I was taught that our public schools, as a government institution, enjoy separation of church and state. This generally accepted doctrine would, I imagine, preclude a public school from actively promoting values compatible with faith – any faith.
I would suggest that public schools should serve one primary purpose – teaching and supporting our children to excel academically. It’s up to parents to model and teach whatever values and faith we choose. Though I consider my values to be ‘traditional’, I don’t want anyone – especially public school board trustees – to presume they have the authority to define these for me or anyone else.
Further, I am frankly very tired of certain individuals who, in trying to promote their way of life to others, use the term ‘our family values’ or ‘our faith’ as a disguised way of inserting their view of how we should live into our schools, and onto our children.
Posted by caskier on May 9, 2008 at 1:33 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Davestephenson,
understand your point, but I think it is a slight over-reaction. I believe what most parents want, and hopefully you agree, is schools that uphold our community values - that is values like respect for others and others' property. Today's schools tolerate too much freedom and do not enforce rules that help all students learn. There is a growing lask of respect for others. This is why many parents chose to pull their students from public schools and place them into private schools - environments that achieve effective learning by promoting respect of others over individualism and personal freedoms.
Posted by davestephenson on May 9, 2008 at 3:47 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Caskier - I agree, thanks. And yes, perhaps I over-reacted. Who is to say though that a school needs to promote 'traditional' family values to accomplish what you mention? And who's to say this has anything to do with Mr Dunn's 'faith'?
I also find that, the older I get, the more I too complain about a growing lack of respect among children. I think my parents did the same...
Posted by JohnAlamillo on May 10, 2008 at 9:43 p.m. (Suggest removal)
It amazes me how someone like turtchotk comes in, spouts off and disappears into the cracks like a c---roach. Never bothering to answer question or even defending their position. Weak.
Posted by jbh50 on May 11, 2008 at 7:06 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Mike Dunn,
Spot on. I understand that the demographics for Conejo Valley show an increase in student population while at the same time the CVUSD is experiencing a decrease in enrollment. The reasons are as obvious...you mentioned a few. As a consumer, if a product is not performing well I shop elsewhere and replace the product.
The CVUSD product is being replaced. If CVUSD is so concerned about the budget "crisis" due to lower enrollment, then begin changing the product. As a community we can do our part to start the "change" by dumping Didio and Beaubian and demand a new administrator (superintendant) that actually will give a rat's a$$ about the kids.
Posted by aloparc on May 13, 2008 at 3:52 p.m. (Suggest removal)
CVUSD school board recently approved another 7 years of the fuzzy math program called Everyday Math for grades K-5 even though a majority of 5th and 6th grade teachers(who receive the students without proper skills) voted to get rid of it. (4th grade spilt 50/50)
Don't expect CVUSD enrollment to improve much until the district votes to improve the manner in which this core subject is taught in K-5.
The K-3 teachers in one school refused to allow any other program to be used in the district. The tail is definitely wagging the dog.
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