Disappointed With Schwarzenegger

Re “Tax Breaks Intensify State Fiscal Debate,” news analysis, Jan. 24: We agree that all Californians should be asked to do their fair share, including our largest corporations and wealthiest residents, particularly those who have benefited greatly from recent federal tax cuts. Budgets are not simply financial documents; they are moral and political statements about government’s priorities and choices.

The governor and our elected leaders are making the wrong choices for California’s children by taking any discussion of taxes and needed reforms out of the equation in their approach to balancing the budget. We urge our governor and elected leaders to support a budget that makes better choices for California’s children, helping the more than 1.7 million children who already struggle with poverty, and the more than 750,000 children who lack any type of health insurance.

Beth Osthimer

Director

Children’s Defense

Fund, California

Los Angeles

*

Regarding the Jan. 22 news analysis, “Gov.’s Trust Is Limited,” on Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s schizophrenic concerns about being a man of the people, it is obvious that this governor is just another political animal in the pay-to-play world of California politics.

His bluster and celebrity are all that he has. I had hopes for him, but once again I find we have a governor without any central principle by which he tries to lead. Money pays for him. Money gets what it wants.

“No new taxes” we hear while the state begins to mirror the financial and moral bankruptcy of that other great pay-to-play politician, President George W. Bush.

Gee, why doesn’t the governor simply cut taxes so he can be more like his mentor? Then we can all start selling apples in the street together.

Patrick O’Brien

Mammoth Lakes