Wilson Inaugural, Proposed Tax Cut

Re “Wilson Seeks 15% Income Tax Cut Over Three Years,” Jan. 10:

Is he out of his gubernatorial mind? The recession has not left the majority of Californians, the state treasury is broke, essential services are being cut, or eliminated, and Pete Wilson wants to undermine the financial health of California by giving us a post-election placebo.

If anything, taxes need to be raised, not lowered. I firmly believe that we must stop acting penny-wise and pound-foolish by jumping on the tax-cut bandwagon. A hundred dollars, or so, a year per person won’t make that much difference to an individual, but it will go a long way toward educating our ignorant children and funding our cities that have been neglected over the last decade.

RICHARD HAMEL

Orange

The brief news analysis of Gov. Wilson’s State of the State address (Jan. 10) omitted an extremely important point which would surely mislead many readers. The analysis reads “(Wilson) proposes to place teen-age mothers in foster or group homes. In extreme instances, he would remove a teen-ager’s baby and place it in foster care, an echo of congressional House Speaker Newt Gingrich’s proposal for orphanages.”

What was missing from your article, but clearly stated by Wilson, was the first, and most preferable option, that pregnant teen-age girls should live with their parents. Foster care or groups homes are only second alternatives. The governor’s proposal, already in place in several other states, simply assures that parents will continue to have responsibility for their minor children, including their offspring, and that pregnancy cannot be used by a minor female as a ticket to government housing and subsidies.

JO ELLEN ALLEN

Newport Beach

In his inaugural address Gov. Wilson once again assured us that those who work hard, play by the rules and pay their taxes would not be held hostage by those who don’t (Jan. 8). I work hard, play by the rules and pay my taxes so I should be feeling good. Then why do I feel so bad?

California has always been a trendsetter in our country. As a native Californian, I’ve always been proud of that. Observers said that the governor’s speech would “spread like wildfire across the country.” Why do I only feel shame?

When I was young, I was the tallest, biggest kid on the block. In our neighborhood, that meant power. My parents carefully taught me the responsibility that goes with that power: the obligation to look out for the little guy, the duty not to have your way just because you could.

I don’t feel threatened by the illegal immigrant trying to make things better for his family. I do feel threatened by the employers who exploit and mistreat them, breaking the law in the process. Wilson didn’t say anything about making them play by the rules. I don’t feel threatened by the mother whose welfare payments mean survival. I do feel threatened by government officials whose livelihood is the public trust but who abuse that trust by shirking their duties (witness the Orange County debacle). Wilson didn’t say anything about them either.

STEVEN J. DZIDA

Costa Mesa

Two of Wilson’s stated goals are: “California will not submit its destiny to faceless federal bureaucrats or even congressional barons. . . . We declare to Washington that California is a proud and sovereign state, not a colony of the federal government” and “We will make clear that welfare is to be a safety net, not a hammock--and absolutely not a permanent way of life.”

Perhaps he should arrange to have the 500,000 individuals and business send back to the federal government the $5 billion they have received from the feds for the Northridge earthquake claims (Jan. 8). And, of course, the $2,800 average cash grant given to each of 1,400 residents of Beverly Hills cannot be considered as “welfare,” because their median income is $88,000 per year and “welfare” only goes to the poor. Right?

CLAUDE R. MARSTON

Nuevo

So our new “tough-love” governor blames the state’s problems on illegal immigrants and other poor people. How ironic that the article next to the one describing Wilson’s speech offered additional details on how leaders of Orange County’s Republican heartland managed to lose $2 billion as they stuffed their faces and campaign treasuries with investment-banker largess. If Wilson had more leadership qualities and less Machiavellian political ambitions, he would see that the state’s enemies do not hide from the INS; they instead lurk in the smiling faces of arrogance he sees in his daily professional life and his very own bathroom mirror.

STEVE D’AMICO

Los Angeles

I believe that with all the problems that California has had, Wilson has done a fantastic job. He showed that this state still belongs to America. My heart is with Pete Wilson all the way to Washington and the White House.

FRANK T. McKIM

South Gate