Robert Citron

Re “Citron Says He Did Not Calculate Risks,” Jan. 18: Both Robert Citron and his assistant, Matthew Raabe, acknowledged that they didn’t know what they were doing and that their county supervisors failed to regulate their activities. With debacles like this, is it any wonder why a political party which promises to dismantle government can get elected?

C. M. SHAPIRO

Beverly Hills

Citron expresses sorrow and regret over the “financial crisis that has arisen.” It did not “arise.” He created it. Citron campaigned that he had plenty of experience and qualifications when he ran for public office.

What he and other politicians must realize is that political office is a responsibility--regardless of who can be blamed for negative outcomes. Once and for all we must require Citron, the Orange County Board of Supervisors and all our politicians to cast their over-inflated egos aside and accept the responsibility they were elected to assume.

KENNETH W. GORMAN

Manhattan Beach

Uriah Heep returns! Per Orange County’s erstwhile treasurer, “I’m an ‘umble man.”

EDWARD FRESCHL

Palm Desert

Merrill Lynch and company acted in their self-interest rather than disclose Orange County’s financial weakness to their clients and to that part of our society that pays taxes to Orange County. That’s the bottom line.

Alley-cat ethics in one prestigious financial house call into question the credibility of all others. No investment houses need a “used-car” sales approach, nor “get-rich-quick kids,” because they are the first-line guardians of the value of this nation’s currency. That’s the bottom line too!

BARBARA BURBY

Garden Grove

ROMAN GENN for The Times