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closeCut lawmaker salaries
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has proposed a cut in salaries of state employees until the state budget is agreed upon. I believe that in his frustration with state legislators, the governor makes annual radical threats of cuts. As taxpayers, we should not continuously be threatened by an unaccountable body of untouchable politicians.
I suggest we take immediate action by ballot with assurances that the state legislators, Republicans and Democrats alike, could not block or dilute our new law. We the people would approve “The People’s Law,” whereby the salaries of all legislators are significantly reduced and each member of the House would function in a “Paid for Performance” program.
This would provide measurable goals and objectives, including a baseline requirement qualifying any further salary payments only after the state budget is balanced and signed on time.
Should the budget be balanced as required, each legislator would be eligible to receive increments of his or her approved salary based on additional, annually established and quantifiable achievements as it relates to approved programs that make our state work for the people and our quality of life.
Any member who does not meet established levels of achievement will be paid accordingly and eligibility for reelection would be forfeited.
Doug Hamp
Morro Bay
Grateful to rescuers
This letter is to the good samaritans who rescued me on July 25.
I drove into the parking lot in front of my bank. I thought I had the car in park; I stepped out of the car and started to reach back for the keys. Suddenly, the car began to roll backward. One leg was caught inside the car as I fell, hitting my head on the pavement.
I yelled, “Help!” A man and a woman raced to me; he held the car while she managed to put it in park, then set the hand brake. The gentleman helped me up. They asked me several times whether I was OK, then the woman advised me to stay still for at least 20 minutes before driving home.
The assistant bank manager came out to ask whether she should call 911. I asked her not to, but asked for a cup of coffee, which they always have available for customers. She brought it, and I drank it and thanked the couple, Moe and Norah, and they left.
I am sorry I didn’t get their last name. I hope they will read this or a friend will call their attention to it. I want them to know how grateful I am that they came to save an 80-year-old great grandmother.
Dawn E. Williams
San Luis Obispo
Thanks to fair drivers
On Sunday, Aug. 3 my husband and I attended the California Mid-State Fair for our first time.
I would like to thank the people that are responsible for the shuttle rides. They truly did an excellent job. The drivers were courteous and very pleasant.
Thank you once again.
Rebecca J. Groves
Buellton
Don’t exempt De Vaul
M any homeless and drug and alcohol programs throughout the area have routine health, building and fire inspections in addition to liability insurance.
They operate under strict standards out of concern for the welfare of their clients and liability issues. Why do Dan De Vaul’s supporters feel he should be exempt from these same standards?
As a code enforcement officer and former health inspector, I have witnessed too often the consequences of operations such as De Vaul’s. When an agency discovers violations on a property, they are obligated to address all violations.
De Vaul does not possess adequate facilities, staff and probably not the liability insurance to operate such a risky program. If the county does not insist that De Vaul correct the violations and an accident occurs, the county could be held liable. People such as Christine Mulholland, David Edge and the majority of taxpayers do not believe that De Vaul and his supporters have the right to place the county taxpayers at risk.
If De Vaul is sincere in his commitment to helping these people, he will do the right thing and work with the county.
Michelle Tasseff
San Luis Obispo
A-bombs unnecessary
From my years of teaching in a Japanese university, I learned a thing or two
through my acquaintance with students and their parents.
• Japan was defeated before the atomic bombs were ever dropped, and the suffering of both city and country people was obvious. Transportation and communication lines were destroyed by bombings. Food was so scarce that in rural areas people were actually boiling tree bark to eat. Medical care was practically nonexistent.
It is difficult to believe that leadership in America did not know civilians were hanging on by a thread, bombarded with propaganda and threats of punishment for not defending the honor of Japan.
•Many people in the U. S. still think the bombs were justified because they shortened the war. The true condition of the Japanese people at the time clearly showed that defeat was imminent without any A-bombs. Many people there believe the true reason for dropping the bombs was to see what would happen as the extent of nuclear devastation was unknown otherwise, and that the reason the bombs were dropped on Japan instead of Germany was prejudice.
These people, neglected by official history, have a right to be heard.
Jean Gerard
Los Osos
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