Different perspectives on border issue
Do you think something could be done to help Mexico to use its resources so that the country could improve its standard of living? With all the foundations (such as Bill Gates', etc.) helping countries in Africa and Asia, something similar could be done in Mexico. Mexico has extensive resources such as agriculture, minerals, oil and gas, beaches, and of course the fine people.
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Some groups in Africa have given amounts as small as $50 to women who have gone on to start their own small businesses and have done very well. There must be a vast market in the world for Mexican agricultural products alone, but are they being properly promoted? It does sound rather simplistic, and we would have to go through the Mexican politicians, but it would be a start in the right direction. There is no excuse to have a Third World country across our border. We need to help it if possible.
MARTHA OLDSTROM
San Diego
Completely exhausted with Congress' failure to grasp American attitude and national sovereignty, and knowing that nothing educates better than being at the center of an issue, I propose that all 535 members of Congress go to the border, cross to the Mexican side and see things from that perspective. Then we seal the borders. Problem(s) solved.
PATRICK SCOTT
San Marcos
'Nothing to hide'advice apply to all?
When ordinary Americans found out about the domestic spying program and protested loudly, our government told us that if we had nothing to hide then we had nothing to worry about.
Then we found out our phone calls were being monitored by our government. Again we were told that if we had nothing to hide then we had nothing to worry about.
Now that the legislative branch of the government has fallen victim to its offices being searched without its knowledge by another government branch, why doesn't the same advice apply? If members of Congress have nothing to hide then they have nothing to worry about.
KEN NOLTIE
San Diego
Protectionism only makes oil situation worse
Your recent editorial “Sunsets with Big Oil/Congress panders with coastal drilling bid” (May 19) exposes the editorial board's apparent lack of understanding of economic realities.
Increasing the domestic supply of oil through drilling and exploration would provide enormous economic benefits that outweigh any risks to the environment. Not only would it contribute to stabilizing the rapidly escalating prices of gasoline and natural gas, it would provide good union-scale job opportunities for California residents, including San Diegans. A share of royalties from new drilling leases would also provide a much-needed revenue stream for our cash-strapped state government. The Union-Tribune fails to concede that new control technologies and a 37-year track record of safety indicate that coastal drilling is actually very safe these days.
Despite this fact, the Union-Tribune lambastes the petroleum industry and a handful of enlightened congressmen with conjecture and hyperbole. The economic reality is that California can and should move beyond this monomaniacal obsession with protecting the tourist industry at the expense of all others. Modern industrial production must be increased if California is to avoid becoming something more than a two-class society with a Third World economy.
California has the highest gasoline and electricity prices in the nation, and these are directly related to environmental extremism and other forms of protectionism that seek to shut down all but the cleanest of industrial activities. “Our way of life” is not threatened by “Big Oil” but rather by millionaire politicians and well-heeled environmental extremists like Gov. Schwarzenegger who can easily afford to fill their $60,000 Hummers and Land Rovers with $6-a-gallon gasoline.
We should encourage the oil companies to reinvest their “windfall profits” into exploration which will lead to abundance, rather than imposing further restrictions on the beleaguered auto industry.
Mandatory conservation measures such as those enshrined in the ultra-idiotic Corporate Average Fuel Economy standards program don't work – Americans have circumvented this lunacy by purchasing SUVs instead of fuel-efficient cars. High energy prices are threatening the national economy. Alternative energy sources such as solar, wind, geothermal, hydroelectric, and of course nuclear power, are part of the solution, but increasing industrial production and resource extraction are important parts as well.
RUSSELL F.H. GIBBON
San Diego
Establishing English as national language
Regarding “Racism surfaces in immigration debate” (Opinion, May 24):
Ruben Navarrette's piece regarding English as our national language is uncharacteristically paranoid. He sees a world of difference between the Senate amendment declaring English as our national language and the amendment declaring English as our common and unifying language. In fact, he feels that those favoring English as our national language are racist and “Latinophobic.”
Navarrette's semantic license suggests a hypersensitivity not displayed in his usually thoughtful columns. Consider this: Our national language (English) is our common and unifying language – and vice versa. They mean the same thing.
EDWARD SHOAN
San Diego
As a Latin-born Spanish speaker, I have never felt discriminated against in any way. On the contrary, I am happy that at least Congress did something toward declaring English the official language of the United States.
I am an American and a very proud American. I am asked often where I am from, because of my accent. I always respond, I am an American, but I was born in Costa Rica. I do think that English should be the official language of the United States. And I do belong to English Only, an organization promoting just that.
So, not all of us have a complex of inferiority and feel threatened by English or taking a strong stand against illegal immigration. When you seek citizenship out of your own free will, it should be out of complete loyalty and love to the country that opens its arms to take you in, and with the best interest of that country in mind.
ANA ZUNIGA MAUS
San Diego
Transit monitors are a good idea
Regarding “Let's instead call it 'corporate transit'” (Letters, May 20):
I am a full-time student with a full-time job. I ride the bus and trolley at least twice each day.
I have been on trolleys and buses that were equipped with the televisions, and I can safely say that they were not the least bit annoying. In fact, as someone who rarely has time to catch the news or the weather, it was nice to get that information in a convenient format.
As far as Abelardo Bernal's claim that Transit TV is an encroachment on our spiritual and intellectual sovereignty, I have two words: Lighten up. He must not recognize that the Metropolitan Transit System faces a sharp budget shortfall and that the advertising would generate substantial income. Beyond that, MTS is currently not compliant with regulations that stipulate that next-stop information must be announced visually and audibly, a problem that Transit TV effectively resolves.
I say go ahead with Transit TV. It's about time that MTS provided more amenities for its passengers instead of chipping away at them. One needs to remember that this is public transportation, not a chauffered limousine service. It won't kill you to live with a little advertising.
JOHN MOSS
San Diego
