Orange County Crisis Response

Re “Bulletin: The Sky Isn’t Falling,” Commentary, Dec. 26: In his Reaganesque “It’s morning in Orange County” column, Rep. Christopher Cox (R-Newposh Beach) says “we” are going to work ourselves out of the mess that “we” have gotten ourselves into in Orange County. Cox says “we” don’t intend to ask for any state or federal bailout and “we’re” not going to, by God, raise taxes.

I’m sure things will work out for Cox and his rich pals, but how will the average citizen even find a lawyer to get back money entrusted to the county if Cox and his fellow conservatives have their way? Doing his part for the “contract” on America, Cox is the author of a soon-to-be introduced bill that would make it almost impossible for small investors to win class-action lawsuits against brokerages who invested their hard-earned money in Orange County bonds. Cox claims lawyers who represent small investors are nothing more than “ambulance chasers” seeking to preserve a gravy train of frivolous litigation.

Cox’s plans for his Securities Litigation Reform Act include: A party to a suit must have a $10,000 stake in the security, and to prove fraud, investors would have to prove that they were lied to intentionally. Finally, Cox thinks that investors who lose lawsuits should have to pay lawyers’ fees for the defendant.

Cox and his string-pullers conclude that Orange County will miraculously rebound from this disaster and we probably will, despite Cox and his fellow conservatives’ plan to stifle the average citizen’s legal rights.

ROBERT EMBICK

Dana Point

* Orange County officials are considering selling the airport and privatizing government departments in order to save large sums of money (Dec. 28). Why does it take the loss of almost $1 billion of taxpayer money before government officials decide they must run government more efficiently? Why can they trim $120 million from the county budget now, but only a few months ago were looking for ways to increase revenue?

Until the investment loss, the inefficiencies of the county remained hidden. We need to insist that our elected representatives at every level of government spend our tax dollars wisely. Government spending (and taxes) can be reduced if our officials are properly motivated.

TOD BERLINGER

Santa Barbara

* The managers in charge are reckless. To this end they gamble with the security of those who have placed faith in them. The result is disaster.

They run to the cover of bankruptcy to escape paying deserving creditors. They discard loyal employees and lock the purse against the poor: This, to steal back from the laborer and the needy what little cash is left, to salvage themselves from the effects of their own misdeeds.

It’s so inspiring to see government finally being run like a business.

KEN BURKETT

Los Angeles