Legislation

I read Mr. Harris Sherline’s column about our legislators and their pay and found it very informative. He mentions that there doesn’t seem to be anything people can do; I think there might be a solution.

In San Diego, we are pushing “Amendment 28,” which states Congress shall make no law that applies to the citizens of the United States that does not apply equally to the Senators and Representatives, and Congress shall make no law that applies to the Senators and Representatives that does not apply equally to the citizens of the United States.”

This could be applied to the state and local governments as well. Food for thought.

Kerry Weber

Escondido


Carcass class results

The Cattlemen Association hosted the Beef Carcass results for the 2012 Santa Barbara County Fair at Lompoc High School on Sept. 11.

Thanks go out to Rocco Roberts, Fred Hayes and the cooks. Attendees were treated to barbecue tri-tip sandwiches and a presentation on Harris Ranch from Mark Clement. There were a total of 66 entries this year, up nine from last year. Participants were praised for raising quality products and reminded that quality is 70% genetics. The beef judge was applauded for making the tough decision to issue more than a half-dozen red tags at fair to animals that were not market ready. A Nipomo FFA member took first place with a grade of Prime Low; 77% of the entries graded choice, 21% graded select. Since 2009, no entries have graded standard.

Valley 4-H members Kelsea Spry received a merit certificate, 6th overall; Amanda Tomasini received a Gold Seal merit, choice plus, 10th overall; and Jake Jacobsen received a merit certificate, 15th. A total of eight youths from Valley groups entered and all placed in the top 50%.

Amanda Tomasini

Solvang


Vote Walter

Our freedoms aren’t slipping away. They’re being gobbled up by government run amok. We are overregulated and overtaxed.

Rob Walter is running for State Assembly because he wants to return us to the type of government for which our Founding Fathers fought and died.

Vote for Walter and he will work in Sacramento to make California once again the golden state of opportunity. Check out his website (www.robwalter2012.com).

Dick and Gretchen Kieding

Solvang


School bond

It is difficult to vote against school bonds because no one wants to be labeled as anti-education or against kids, but this nearly $20 million bond is one you can vote against and still care about our kids and community.

As a parent of kids at the high school and an alumnus, I am all for maintaining our high school – but not in this manner. I believe the school board and superintendent have the best of intentions. They are all good folks and are asking you to make an informed decision on Nov. 6 by your vote.

After researching the details, it is too big, too expensive and not needed at this time. It spends nearly $20 million on items that are not critical. That is correct; the repairs proposed on the ballot can be done for less than $950,000 according to the school’s own Facilities Master Plan published in 2010.

Just where does some of this nearly $20 million bond debt go?

Payoff of existing district debt – $6,302,944.

Replacing classrooms that were put in from 1996 to 2008 – $7,147,440.

New technology endowment fund and upgrades – $3,000,000 and $1,000,000 respectively.

A windmill – $30,000.

These few add up to $17,480,384. Are these dire needs?

This nearly $20,000,000 bond amount was calculated by the bond sales group as the maximum passable that voters would tolerate without too much questioning. It was not determined by the actual critical needs at the school.

The bond consultants and those placing the bond will collect approximately $1,000,000 in fees on the issuance of this bond alone. This is enough to pay for more than the critical needs. I am shocked at how much money there is to be made in the school bond and government construction business. I never knew until researching this bond proposal.

Furthermore, there are no plans, no drawings and no bids of the items. How can anyone make an informed decision to spend $20 million plus interest when there are no plans or bids to review?

If Measure L passes, the long-term burden will be on property owners, our children and grandchildren to repay this debt, which far outweighs the benefits. It is OK to vote no on Measure L and still be a good person, care about kids and our school.

Allan Jones

Solvang


Recognizing the truth

Overcoming the negatives (of which there are many) in our culture now requires a good amount of intelligence and common sense while thinking and going about our daily lives.

Humanity has reached a point that is commonly known as critical mass. Decisions need to be made both for ourselves, our birth country and/or our country of residence, and for the entire population of our planet.

The decisions that need to be made are as diversified as the number of citizens of every country that exists. A few many think that no improvements are required nationally or globally. These citizens compromise a small minority of individuals in the U.S.

Perhaps the most important matter to be recognized is that representative government fails to work functionally when the common citizens of any country gives too much political power to large national and/or state governments. When this happens, our society loses any positive social ethic in which to grasp throughout our lives.

We are now in a position in which the long-accumulated political power of governments in general must be taken back by the citizens (the same dysfunctional politicians always get elected, whether the incumbent or the challenger) in order to restore a society that no longer allows politics to be practiced by Congress, the Judicial branch and the president.

Ray Gattavara

Sumner, Wash.


Presidential election

It is difficult for me to understand all of the excitement created by Bill Clinton for his support of President Obama.

Clinton says that a vote for Romney would be for the “same kind of leadership that got us into this mess in the first place.” It is well documented that Bill Clinton fought hard for mortgage lending reform to enable more home ownership across America. I’m referring to a Sept. 30, 1999, article in the New York Times headlined “Fannie Mae Eases Credit to Aid Mortgage Lending.” The article reported that under constant pressure from the Clinton administration, Fannie Mae had loosened credit requirements on loans it purchases from banks and other lenders so it could “increase home ownership among minorities and low-income consumers.” It described the purpose of this program as encouraging banks to “extend home mortgages to individuals whose credit is generally not good enough to qualify for conventional loans.”

The Bush administration gave numerous warnings to Congress that these risky loans would cause trouble in the future. The rest is history and the sub-prime meltdown put Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac into bankruptcy costing billions to the taxpayers. So now we have Bill Clinton telling us that the Republicans under President Bush caused the sub-prime meltdown. I don’t think so.

Michael Purling, retired

Santa Barbara


Death and taxes

No more taxes! California Gov. Brown and Molly Munger’s tax initiatives include the idiot tax. California already has the highest taxes in the nation, and these taxes are for unions and illegal aliens.

No more new taxes or bonds on California. Stop killing jobs in this welfare state – it will be the final nail.

Kevin O’Connor

Santa Barbara