Some Victory!

Deputy Atty. Gen. Charles Getz, who argued the state’s case in the El Cajon malathion spraying trial, is reported to have said the court’s decision was “a victory for the environment, period.” (“El Cajon Gets Its Second Dose of Malathion,” June 5.) Orwellian Doublespeak of the first order!

I was struck by the similarity of his attitude to that of an American officer present at Ben Tre, Vietnam, in February, 1968, who is reported to have said, “It became necessary to destroy the town in order to save it.”

If the governor and his minions continue their chosen course, they will not only degrade our shared environment in known and unforeseen ways, they will also erode the public trust in our government, demonstrate the arrogance of unaccountable bureaucrats and seriously impact the public health. For what? The shelf life of an avocado in an export market?

DANIEL TARR

Co-chairman, Green Party

El Cajon