That's where you come in
Feedback from our readers
By Our readers
The bottom line
The governor's actions on high-speed rail ["Cover Story," June 6] can probably be explained by the bottom line. A high-speed-rail system would have the effect of reducing automobile usage, airline flights and gasoline and fuel consumption.
No matter how positions are spun and spurious explanations given, the interests of the automotive and oil industries in keeping the United States auto and oil dependent will prevail.
Phil Pearson,
Agoura Hills
Get it first, then revolt
Great piece by Kelly Davis on the new hires in the county Registrar of Voters office ["The Front Lines, May 30]. One of the hallmarks of an appropriate system for electing government officials is that the people who use the system, voters, understand how it works.
Electronic voting systems are so complicated, no one person can fully grasp every aspect of it. Each of the components-certification, ITAs, firmware, software, hardware, audits, statistics and security-all require experts to comprehend how the system works. If the critics of electronic voting systems are a small vocal minority, and I disagree with that premise, it's because people can't fully grasp the complexity of the systems they are being forced to use. In fact, 92 percent of Americans believe that the votes should be counted in public. Electronic voting machines count the votes in secret.
A recent unscientific CNN Internet poll showed that some 90 percent of respondents don't trust electronic voting machines. The basic principle, people understand. Once people understand how that principle of public vote counting is being undermined by e-voting, a revolution may take place.
Thank you for covering this important issue.
Ken Karan,
Carlsbad
Be brave, Dave
I just want to write to support the attention you brought to the 9/11 Truth movement ["Editor's Note," June 6]. Don't be afraid of losing credibility. I have spent a lot of energy looking into both sides of this, and I know for sure that in the scope of history, it's the journalists who plugged their ears and sang "La la la" who will lack credibility.
We owe it to ourselves, to our country and to all the lives lost to at least investigate all viable theories. Obviously, there are a lot of high-up people and powerful resources pushing their own explanation, but we have seen that before-the current administration included. It may take years for individuals to aggregate enough evidence and emotional/psychological strength to even consider the betrayal suggested, but it will be worth it.
And you are right to expect some ridicule, some judgment, because that is inevitable for a person asking hard questions. But this movement is going to work like a jackhammer: lots of little punches seem futile for a long time, and then-bam!-it cracks wide open. It won't happen without people like you and Peter Holmes contributing your punches to get things started.
I highly encourage you and your colleagues to educate yourselves on both sides of the debate and write fearlessly and frequently on this matter. The events of 9/11 are the justification for countless compromises and outright violations of civil liberties and human rights. We need to know what all of this is for, and I for one am not satisfied with the good guys/bad guys fairy tale. Enough is enough. The core Truth movement seeks to deal strictly with facts, testimony and feasibility-as opposed to the official explanation of 9/11, which is based largely on nationalist ideology, coincidence and enigma.
The highest calling of a writer is to shake up the world and face it toward a better fate. This is the biggest story of your lifetime; please do not let it get buried because you fear the judgment of moderate readers-that is a natural and understandable instinct, and it is one corrupt people have always counted on. Be brave, be authentic, be a journalist. We need you!
Again, a thousand thanks for what you've already done. I look forward to reading more.
Eliza C. Kane,
Normal Heights
Thanks-I guess
After reading your article on 9/11 Truth ["Editor's Note," June 13], I guess I just have to be grateful for what I got.
There are scores of highly educated, credentialed people who have realized the truth behind this event. I know we all lead busy lives, and how easy it is to dismiss this topic. We don't have to do the research then, do we?
Don't you think a topic like this demands our time and attention? No matter how busy we are, no matter how much we care about what others think of us?
The truth about 9/11 has been painfully slow in emerging to the surface of the world public consciousness. You'll find that many outside our borders are already aware of the truth. But it is within these borders that we have had to fight a controlled media that is acting in unison with the perpetrators of 9/11 to camouflage the truth.
And so it is even more important that anyone in the media come out and stand up for another, independent, investigation.
I hope you will at least educate yourself to the point where you can assist us in calling for that.
CF Conant,
La Mesa
Three cheers for Paris!
I want to thank you for the excellent essay about Paris Hilton ["Editor's Note," June 13]. I would like to add one additional idea. She is a perfect example of the waste that the Republicans have showered on her and all the super-rich. Did such a nonentity deserve having her taxes cut? Do any of the super-rich that have benefited from tax breaks merit them?
In addition, she is a perfect example of why we should not cut inheritance taxes, but instead, we should raise them by a considerable amount. Do we really think people like Paris Hilton should inherit multimillions of dollars while at the same time we are reducing programs that help the poor and middle class?
I am grateful for the foibles Paris Hilton exhibited. She is a poster child for raising taxes on the super-wealthy and raising the taxes on inheritances. Thank you, Paris!
Theodore V. Cook,
Mission Hills
Published: 07/18/2007
DIGG | del.icio.us | REDDIT