WikiLeaks and the release of classified information on the Afghan war; CalPERS problems; and Timothy Geithner on tax policy

WikiLeaks and us

Re “A whistle-blower with global resonance,” and “WikiLeaks wasn’t wrong,” Editorial, July 27

WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, an Australian hacker, may end up being one of the best things to ever happen to our American democracy.

It is not for politicians and bureaucrats to decide what American citizens and voters need to know. In the last 75 years, we have seen a sharp increase in the use of secrecy laws to cover up illegal activities, corruption and incompetence rather than to protect information that safeguards national security, as originally intended.

The George W. Bush administration was particularly guilty of this. Now, finally, we may get to know the truth as it happens — not 25 years in the future, too late to be of use in voting decisions.

I plan to add WikiLeaks to my browser favorites.

Mark Temple

Huntington Beach

WikiLeaks’ ignoring the word “classified” on war materials that they leaked will help those who wish to kill us. This is all that the terrorists need to step up their attacks on our soldiers and our country.

When Justice Hugo Black and the Supreme Court ruled in favor of publication of the Pentagon Papers, as quoted in your editorial, they were talking about our government and our people, not the whole world.

How can you think that openness to our enemy is the perfect answer? We are in a war. The Times’ logic escapes me.

Jean Solomon

Los Angeles

The WikiLeaks files prove that we have “Charlie Wilson’s War” redux.

We have replaced the Russians, Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence agency has replaced us, and Hamid Karzai has replaced the communist puppet.

The previous war destroyed the Soviet Union, and this one is destroying us. Declare victory and get out.

Larry Severson

Fountain Valley

May the WikiLeaks Papers be this generation’s Pentagon Papers — and end a hopeless war.

Bill Dyer

Venice

History has shown us that when we wade deceitfully into foolhardy military engagements, the truth will out.

I am old enough to recall the Pentagon Papers and the sad finale, seven years later, of the Vietnam War.

And, as a long-retired Wall Street banker — an alumnus of one of the outfits deemed “too big to fail” — I’d like to see Assange train his forensic wizardry on behavior in the banking sector, which remains a threat to national security. I doubt the Fed will be equal to the job.

David Johannesen

Topanga

BP’s CEO won’t fall far

Re “BP’s chief is expected to be gone this week,” July 26

The Times reports, “Fairly or not, Hayward became a target of public rage.”

Fairly or not? Really? Hayward is the Marie Antoinette of our time. I am curious what it is about Hayward that makes him so valuable that such a “clueless,” awkward and tactless person was allowed to be the face of BP while continuously insulting us with his insensitive, bumbling conduct.

Indeed, Hayward is being replaced as CEO. But it has been reported he will have a role with a BP joint venture, undoubtedly with another large salary and posh status.

If BP wanted to show sincere regret for the spoiling of our natural resources, it should be off with her (his) head — the complete sacking of Tony Hayward. But apparently it could not even give us that small measure of satisfaction.

Vicki Stern

Sherman Oaks

Tax dollars — and sense

Re “Let some tax cuts end, Geithner says,” July 26

Since capitalism in the U.S. has brought us to this point, where 2% to 3% of the population controls the majority of the wealth, why would anyone who is not in that group think capitalism is working for the common citizen?

In 1960, a middle-class family could own a home and send children to college on the income of one wage-earner. Then came the Reagan tax cuts and it took two wage-earners in the middle-class family to achieve the same. Now the American dream is almost out of reach for the middle class.

Where has capitalism taken our democracy? To the rich only, if the Bush tax cuts are allowed to remain.

Shelly Lapides

Santa Susana

Treasury Secretary Timothy F. Geithner argues that allowing tax cuts to expire for the high-income producing is “the responsible thing to do.”

Geithner forgot to pay his self-employment taxes for four years and deducted the cost of his kid’s summer camp from his taxes. He does not seem qualified to define responsible.

Michael O’Guin

Rancho Santa Margarita

CalPERS can’t hide

Re “Probes may open books at CalPERS,” July 25

I applaud The Times for its quest for the truth regarding the California Public Employees’ Retirement System’s investments.

The taxpayer continues to pay the bill for the mismanagement of this out-of-control organization, and the time for effective oversight is now.

Allowing CalPERS to hire its own firm to conduct an audit is like asking the fox to guard the henhouse.

It is unconscionable that California taxpayers are forced to pay for the public “servant” entitlement programs. Why do we have to pay the price of poor management of CalPERS funds? In the private sector, if your financial advisor makes bad decisions and you lose retirement money, you don’t go to the state and get reimbursed for losses.

While on vacation recently, my wife and I met a retired firefighter from Ventura. He boasted that he retired at 55, makes more in retirement benefits today than his full-time compensation had been and that his pension goes up every year.

We must stop this insanity before we end up like Greece.

Randy Bick

Upland

What is the matter with California’s public employees? They should be screaming and pulling their hair out over this mismanagement.

If taxpayers have to pick up the tab for losses, CalPERS should get out of the employee investment business.

Ralph Altabet

Los Angeles

Isn’t it just free speech?

Re “Fervor fueled by hate,” Opinion, July 26

The fact that supposedly fewer illegal immigrants are attempting to cross the U.S.-Mexico border these days is no reason to ignore the fact that millions of them are already here, draining the resources of those who live here legally. Should the police relax their stance against bank robbers and drug dealers because those particular crimes are on the decline?

As for not allowing the publication of the opinion of anyone deemed a “nut-job” by Gregory Rodriguez, I certainly hope he would extend this to include those of the far left in their rants against Sarah Palin. Oh, wait — that was just free speech. Silly me.

Kate Robinson

Van Nuys

On Schorr

Re “Daniel Schorr, 1916 - 2010,” Obituary, July 24

I mourn the passing of Daniel Schorr — the last of the Edward R. Murrow gang, a fellow Bronxite and fellow City College of New York alum.

To me, one of Schorr’s biggest achievements was being placed on Richard Nixon’s “enemies list.”

I will miss his comments on National Public Radio.

Sy Feerst

Woodland Hills