Letters to the editor: Vladimir Putin’s political plans; Israeli settlement expansion; relief from rising healthcare costs

Russia’s strongman

Re “Putin’s back, unfortunately,” Editorial, Sept. 28

Vladimir Putin’s right to run for a third term as president of Russia is highly questionable.

Such an idea would have never visited Bill Clinton, since the 22nd Amendment to the U.S. Constitution says: “No person shall be elected to the office of the president more than twice.” When a group of legal scholars was preparing a draft of the Russian Constitution adopted in 1993, they were looking at the 22nd Amendment as an example. As a result, Russia’s Constitution reads: “One and the same person may not be elected president of the Russian Federation for more than two terms running.”

There was no doubt among the drafters that the provision had the same meaning as the 22nd Amendment, and that was later confirmed by Russia’s Constitutional Court.

Now, no one dares remind Putin that he is going to run for a third term in violation of the Constitution.

Vladimir Bogorad

Chatsworth

The writer was Russia’s assistant minister of justice from 1987-92.

While Czar Putin was mysteriously taking down many of his dissenters and enemies, President Dmitry Medvedev sought to assert his independence by firing Putin’s ally, Finance Minister Aleksei L. Kudrin.

Now Putin says that he will run for president next year.

We cannot afford to lose another ally in Medvedev, and now it seems that Putin will use the same Constitution that freed the Russians from the bonds of communism to put the shackles back on his

people.

Mikhail Gorbachev, a reasonable reformer, was the last Soviet leader. If he sees Putin as a threat, then we know Russia is in for a long, dark winter. It is a shame that 20 years of Russian freedom are coming undone.

Howard J. Meyer

Brooklyn, N.Y.

Settlements as a stumbling block

Re “Israel defies U.S. on housing,” Sept. 28

Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton calls the Israeli government’s approval of 1,100 new housing units in East Jerusalem counterproductive. I would say this is part of Israel’s repeated, unmitigated and arrogant slaps in the face to the United States, the United Nations and to the entire Arab world. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu acts with impunity.

What I have the most trouble accepting is why our nation continues to stand with Netanyahu — and how we can consider the Palestinians’ attempts at self-determination to be less valuable than those

of Egypt’s, Tunisia’s or Libya’s.

Netanyahu ignores the fact that building new settlements, whether in the West Bank or in East Jerusalem, violates international law. Is Israel above the law?

Marilyn Goodman

Santa Monica

Israel defies the U.S.? How would The Times describe the actions of the Palestinians, who for the last 30 months have refused to engage in peace talks, choosing instead to seek statehood through the U.N. in direct defiance of repeated U.S. requests to return to the bargaining table?

It’s time to reject the claim that Israeli settlements are the main obstacle to peace between Israel and the Palestinians. That myth was shattered when Israel pulled all of its settlements out of the Gaza Strip, only to be followed by an unending barrage of rocket attacks into southern Israel.

Bruce Friedman

Los Angeles

What more will it take for the U.S. to cut off aid to the rogue Israeli government? It is essentially saying: We are happy to take your billions of dollars, but we don’t care if you ask us to uphold the rule of law.

The article states, “The Gilo project will expand the development to the south by several hundred yards, absorbing additional land claimed by Palestinians.” This is theft.

Elke Heitmeyer

Sherman Oaks

The high cost of healthcare

Re “Healthcare’s rising costs,” Editorial, Sept. 29

The Times succinctly states that “Americans can’t afford to wait long for relief” from rising healthcare costs.

I recently had my carotid arteries scanned. The contractor who performed the procedure said he no longer performs diagnostic procedures outside Orange County because the insurance companies are paying him half of what they used to. In the meantime, my premiums have increased 38% over the last three years, my office co-pays have risen and my deductible has climbed to $1,000. You don’t need an MBA to figure out who is receiving the difference.

What amazes me is how many average Americans who, like me, continue to be fleeced by private insurers, are adamantly opposed to a public option for healthcare delivery. Medicare’s overhead is a far smaller share of costs than private insurers’. If putting everyone on Medicare is socialized medicine, sign me up.

Matt Giorgi

Brea

Healthcare costs are definitely a severe problem, and the more subtle results are disturbing.

In my case, I am a sole-proprietor small business and an Anthem Blue Cross customer. I have increased my deductible to $5,000 to help reduce my monthly payments. Consequently, in my family of four we rarely visit the doctor unless the problem is life or job threatening. In essence, I am paying for catastrophic care. I am sure mine is not the only insured family that suffers through an illness to save money in

this economy.

I am in complete support of our state’s and federal government’s attempts to rein in these astronomical medical costs.

Bob Bruton

Torrance

Book dumb

Re “Banned in Bakersfield,” Opinion, Sept. 27

I thought I was the only one whose book was banned recently. I was dismayed and at the same time honored that I might be in a league with the likes of Henry Miller.

My novel, “Rosie’s Gringo Palace,” is set in the Bronx.

One resident in a small community in California thought my novel had too many “F-words.” How can you write a novel about the Bronx without using the “F-word”?

A copy of the book had been given to the local library in advance. An author discussion was arranged. On the morning of the event, it was canceled. Without reading the book, and based on one influential woman’s misguided opinion, the librarian banned it.

It is frightening that one person can prevent a discussion of a book that deals with subject matters that are so problematic in

today’s society.

Irene Tritel

Palm Springs

For cinephiles

Re “Movies the old-fangled way,” Column, Sept. 28

Thank you for Steve Lopez’s column in praise of the independent video store Videotheque in South Pasadena. A couple of things he didn’t mention: Instead of simplistic classifications such as “comedy” and “horror,” Videotheque uses cinephile-friendly subcategories like “Mel Brooks” and “Euro-Italian horror.”

Also, in addition to poor selection, Netflix’s streaming service offers poorer image quality than DVDs.

Netflix is obviously hoping that enough users trade convenience for better image quality and selection so it can do away with its DVD rental service entirely. Stores like Videotheque are our last bastion against this insidious trend.

Matt Frey

Sierra Madre

Love of learning

Re “Online teaching’s disconnect,” Opinion, Sept. 28

Although I can well understand its allure, and in some instances its practical advantages, online instruction vitiates the essential human connection between teacher and student.

I don’t want my students to hide behind the anonymity of a computer.

I want them to show up in the classroom, as I did every day throughout my own formal education, where they are brought into personal contact with, are made vulnerable to, the aura of other first-class minds. Anything else lacks spontaneity and verve.

Dale F. Salwak

Glendora

The writer teaches English at Citrus College.

Turnabout

Re “Chumash expansion plans upset neighbors,” Sept. 25

When I saw this article, I wondered if in 1860 there was a California newspaper headline that said: “White expansion plans upset Chumash.”

Just wondering.

Ronald Soderquist

Thousand Oaks