Letters for April 19, 2012

How capitalism works

Re “Bain’s benefactors” by Darwin BondGraham (SN&R Frontlines, April 12):

Wow! Really great article.

It is funny how capitalism works. These pension funds are government funded because the teachers are essentially government workers. They have a union that is supposed to protect them. These unions take this government-sponsored funding and invest it in overseas economies. The products of these overseas economies are created in harsh working conditions that don’t have the benefits of unions or government pensions. Then the products of these overseas economies are shipped back here and consumed with the profit made by these same American government workers.

The money that is used to purchase these goods is then sent back to overseas economies that use it to perpetuate a vicious cycle.

Has anyone forgotten that this is supporting communistic governmental regimes? Does anyone notice the problems that have occurred because of lack of social systems in place in these countries?

Here we have social systems that are using their power to essentially fund the lack of social systems in other countries. This in turn is making our own social systems here less competitive in the world market.

Meanwhile, the private-investment firms could be playing the whole market for their own benefit because of the lack of government regulation. Watch the movie Margin Call, and get an idea of who these investment firms look out for.

Garrett Waters
via email

Wheelin’ is a sport

Re “Wheels of fortune” by Becca Costello (SN&R Arts&Culture, April 12):

This was a well-written article and the most factual that I have read.

As a mother of two boys who worked very hard at dance, freestyle, figures and speed, this sport has never been recognized as the sport that it is. When my younger son was turning 18, the [International] Olympic Committee considered putting roller skating in, but failed. My son and so many other young people worked very hard in case the sport was accepted.

Roller skating was an important part of our children’s lives, as well as the parents who made friends all over the country. In the ’60s and ’70s, Texas was winning most everything, and it has been on the decline. Congratulations to California for reviving the sport. I hope someday that it is considered as important as some others.

Mary Claunch-Walthall
North Richland Hills, Texas

Just wait ’til 2014!

Re “No initiative” by David Downs (SN&R The 420, April 12):

It isn’t over yet. The Jack Herer initiative (California Cannabis Hemp and Health Initiation 2012, www.cchhi2012.org) has until June 5 to land itself on the 2014 ballot. We have between 700 and 900 folks on the streets, over 500 shops and a massive online campaign growing.

We missed the 2012 deadline for this November, true, but we have Jack on our side.

What’s that mean? Jack wrote the finest legalization bill ever. Please read it on the website or visit the Facebook page for the juicy details.

The other initiatives were all compromised half-steps that deserved to fail. Jack knew herb, he knew herbalists, and he knew the vast potential of hemp for food, fuel (how big is that for a state budget?), fiber and medicine.

The idea that this is just about getting high is lame and played out. Hemp can save the planet, but only if we let it. If we ride this wave of momentum and get this on the 2014 ballot, we can be driving cars on hemp fuel, eating safe non-GMO food and ending one of the greatest human-rights violations in American history by 2015.

But it’s up to you! Nobody can do everything, but everyone can do something.

Patrick Moore
Los Angeles

Follow those houses

Re “Going vogue” by Lien Hoang (SN&R Feature, April 5):

What a great story! Who knew that this subculture—more common in the big cities—had such a following in Sacramento. Keep us posted, please, as these houses grow and develop.

Rob Heidler
Sacramento

GOP is looking down

Re “Things are looking up” (SN&R Editorial, April 5):

On the bright side, things are looking up. Optimism is the prevailing mood stirring in America. Spring is here, new beginnings, fresh starts. Unemployment is slowing down, the economy is adding over 200,000 new jobs each month, and the best business indicator of all: New-car sales are up. People are buoyant, expectant of continuing economic improvement.

But the premise of Rep. Paul Ryan’s Republican budget fix is the classic “rob Peter to pay Paul”; drastic spending cuts targeting those who can least afford it (elderly, working class, poor) to finance trillions more in tax cuts for the very rich.

There is one impediment to full recovery: the Republicans’ persistent effort to stall the economy. Why would they do that, you ask? Simple! A healthy economy means Mitt Romney and Republicans lose all the way around.

Ron Lowe
Nevada City

Fight it yourself

Re “Time to rise” by Terri Enborg-Kent (SN&R Guest comment, April 5):

May you ascend from your “illuminated” brainwashing. Unless you are willing to suit up and fight, don’t promote more war.

T. Garcia
Sacramento

Ride on

Re “Speedy delivery” by Ted Cox (SN&R 15 Minutes, April 5):

I hope that Melissa Dye follows her passion as a bike messenger as long as she can. The best job I ever had was outside. It didn’t pay much, but I loved what I was doing (plant nursery). I didn’t know it at the time, but that was my dream job. I was busy pursuing higher education and ended up in a career that is decidedly inside.

Wherever this job takes you, I hope you trust your instincts! Ride on!

Ahbra Peach
Davis

Correction

In our editorial, “Forgiveness,” which ran on March 29, we misspelled the name of the congressional sponsor of the Student Loan Debt Forgiveness Act of 2012. Rep. Hanson Clarke was also incorrectly identified as being from Missouri; he is a Democratic congressman from Michigan. The error has been corrected online.