Letters for June 28, 2012

Puffing for Palau

Re “God, festivals and taxes” by Jeff vonKaenel (SN&R Frontlines, June 14):

This is a textbook “puff piece” At least 50 percent of the questions by Jeff vonKaenel include his own opinions (“I’m very excited”; “We need to increase our taxes”). No hard questions about the homeless (Safe Ground); firm evidence of lasting service program successes; whether Muslims and Hindus are encouraged to participate in Season of Service; whether one can be “Good without God” and still participate; Palau’s personal income, as well as issues of morality surrounding income inequality and the redistribution of income; the question of the morality of present wars; military spending; gay rights; immigration; our moral responsibility in regards to global warming and world population growth; and the moral necessity of fighting greed.

Evan Jones
Sacramento

A pox on both choices

Re “No pass for Romney” by Bob Mulholland (SN&R Guest Comment, June 21):

Nice try, but attacking the messenger is a weak excuse of an argument.

What Americans deserve is more of a choice than two less-than desirables. Sure, people are gullible. You can tell them a third party will never make it, and they’ll go on believing, but to expect a different result from the current parties is a sure sign of insanity.

Personally, I’d rather stay true to my conscience and vote for someone I can believe in. I’m a Libertarian, by the way. Be sure to jump on that.

Peter Schultz
Carmichael

An alphabetical situation

Re “Is it OK to pee in the shower?” (SN&R Streetalk, June 21):

Q: Is it OK to P in the shower?

A: Only if there’s a Q at the toilet.

Curtis Fritz
Davis

Protects workers, too

Re “Notes from the underground” by Raheem F. Hosseini (SN&R Frontlines, June 14):

Good lord! I thought The Sacramento Bee was the main publication for propaganda in the Sac area, but we may have a strong contender here.

I don’t know how one can refer to that neighborhood as “pale-skinned,” when it has had such a noticeable population of black residents for decades. Still does, too.

The ordinance doesn’t require proof that anyone is authorized to work in this country. That is required by state and federal laws. This ordinance only requires that they bring whatever documents that they would tender to an employer with them when soliciting for immediate hire.

I might point out that the author of this article plainly ignored the main component of the effort, which was to inspire the employers to show that they have worker’s compensation insurance when hiring. This is as much for the worker’s protection as it is to encourage above-board hiring and business practices.

Davi Rodrigues
Sacramento

Stockholm syndrome?

Re “No pass for Obama” by Phillip Fujiyoshi (SN&R Guest Comment, June 7) and “No pass for Romney” by Bob Mulholland (SN&R Guest Comment, June 14):

Finally, in [Phillip] Fujiyoshi’s piece, we hear from someone who isn’t suffering from Stockholm syndrome. I felt like I was the only one paying attention.

[Bob] Mulholland’s article seemed to make sense, but then I had a thought: Isn’t this the same logic that people who get abused in a relationship use to stay with their abuser? “They are nice to me most of the time.”

T. Garcia
Sacramento

Exports are a good thing

Re “No pass for Obama” by Phillip Fujiyoshi (SN&R Guest Comment, June 7):

We all are entitled to our own opinions, but sometimes opinions such as those presented by Phillip Fujiyoshi, are factually inaccurate.

We need to understand the U.S.-Korea Free Trade Agreement for what it is before criticizing. KORUS is an integral part of the president’s efforts to increase opportunities for U.S. businesses, farmers and workers through improved access for their products and services in foreign markets. The KORUS agreement supports the president’s National Export Initiative goal of doubling U.S. exports in five years. It would also promote the further integration of the U.S. and Korean economies and enhance the competitiveness of U.S. businesses in the world’s 12th largest economy. The U.S. International Trade Commission estimates that the reduction of Korean tariffs and tariff-rate quotas on goods alone would add $10 billion to $12 billion to annual U.S. Gross Domestic Product and up to $11 billion in annual merchandise exports to Korea. The agreement will support tens of thousands of American jobs.

No other president in U.S. history has had his every effort to move this country forward filibustered and obstructed by a do-nothing Republican congress which has as the No. 1 goal ensuring that the president serves only one term—as stated by Sen. Mitch McConnell, the majority leader. Not jobs, not improving the economy! It’s quite evident that they are seething with hate because a black man is the president!

Yes, Mr. Fujiyoshi, your vote is your vote, but the comments you have made are totally baseless and devoid of actual facts. Unfortunately, I don’t have space to refute each of your claims.

Michael D. Coleman
Sacramento

Down to embarrassment

Re “No pass for Obama” by Phillip Fujiyoshi (SN&R Guest Comment, June 7):

I agree with many of Mr. Fujiyoshi’s points. I can’t believe we have willingly given up so many civil rights in the last decade since 9/11.

The saddest part is, even with all of [President Barack Obama’s] faults, he is still a better choice than Mitt Romney. We as a nation should be embarrassed by the democracy we have become.

Kevin McKenna
Rancho Cordova

Correction

In the review of Teatro Nagual’s production of Anna in the Tropics (“Light up and savor” by Patti Roberts, SN&R Stage, June 21), the photography credit was left out. The photo is by Barry Wisdom, and the credit has been added online.