End Political Gridlock and Put O.C. Back on Track

* I would guess that those who cast their Yes or No votes on Measure R did so after giving serious thought about this county’s money problems and how they did not want the situation handled. They did not vote for gridlock to be caused by a few people who are feeling like Tarzan. Just because a group of people opposed a tax does not mean that they are now capable of solving complex financial problems. The people voted against Measure R, not FOR the people who opposed it.

BARBARA J. HULSIZER

Sunset Beach

* Thank you for the editorial “Time For Supervisors to Show Leadership,” (July 2).

I am outraged that the supervisors, following the defeat of Measure R, are pointing fingers and trying to pass the blame off onto [Orange County CEO] William J. Popejoy.

The Board of Supervisors needs to leave--period. My vote against Measure R was not a vote against William Popejoy. I respect and admire William Popejoy. I cannot say that about any of the five supervisors. The arrogance and gall of the supervisors keeps getting worse.

PAT WORRALL

Fountain Valley

* With the sweet smell of success (defeat of Measure R), many citizens are clamoring for privatization because they believe that will bring down the bloated bureaucracy and save us millions of dollars. However, the intellectual must prevail over the visceral. (Just so you know, I also championed the defeat of R.)

We, the taxpayers, need to very judiciously approach the concept of providing the best necessary service for the least, but responsible, cost.

If a filter of watchdog (oversight) committees, selected by lot, is not put in place, the problems associated with bureaucratic waste and purported fraud on the taxpayers by oversized government will be replaced by an equal fraud on the taxpayer known as political pay-backs and laissez faire at its worst. And we, the taxpayers, will be just as badly hurt financially and socially.

We need to get the power and the money back to the people. But populism does not succeed if it becomes anarchy or the demagogic despotism of survival of the fittest. Balancing all interests through careful intellectual thinking and coming to a consensus resolution is much better than decision-making by shibboleths.

THOMAS M. WHALING

Irvine

* Now that the taxpayers have spoken, perhaps Mr. [William J.] Popejoy should look at the salaries and pensions that government workers command and bring them into line with what other companies pay. This should more than make up for the $1.7 billion shortfall over the next 10 years.

SAMUEL J. COHEN

Irvine

* Measure R did not pass. Wall Street has promised to downgrade Orange County’s bond rating to “default,” initiating a ripple effect already being felt by other California municipalities. Sacramento is busy laying the groundwork for appointing a trustee to takeover the county. It is now beyond imperative for the previously nonexistent Plan B to be developed and implemented.

What are our elected leaders doing as this new chapter in Orange County history opens? The senior member of the Board of Supervisors, Roger R. Stanton, has spent his time posing for future campaign photographs with No on Measure R organizers and airing a personal vendetta by saying of the backers of Measure R, “I think their feet should be held to the fire for those statements they made.” Supervisor Stanton and his colleagues on the board have spent six months pointing, scapegoating and denying all responsibility for the events leading up to bankruptcy in vain hopes of getting reelected, all the while not offering any viable alternative to Measure R. Enough!

Besides a mandate against higher taxes, Measure R’s overwhelming defeat was a mandate against the current do-nothing, endless studies of the situation, business-as-usual Board of Supervisors. The voters in Orange County are anxious to complete the housecleaning of officials in office when the bankruptcy occurred. Supervisors Stanton and [William G.] Steiner will soon learn for themselves how personally devastating a layoff can be.

RAYMOND HULL

Tustin

* Re: “Angry Voters Need to Relearn Civics Lesson” column by Fred Smoller (July 5): This is the most recent in a string of commentaries in your newspaper having as their common theme the following premise: Smart voters wanted to raise taxes and voted Yes on Measure R; Measure R was defeated by 60% of the voters; therefore, voters in Orange County are dumb and hate government.

And, my dear Professor Smoller. The average voter neither needs nor wants a database of comparative government statistics to consult before entering the booth. The relative size of government or the relative amount of taxes paid matters not one iota. If the absolute size of government is perceived to be too big, or the tax bill too high, they become, in fact, too big and too high. We, as a citizenry, have been voting this way for more than 200 years with some measure of success.

One of the fundamental rights of the citizenry in a democratic republic is to dismantle its current government if it no longer serves its needs or provides for its welfare. We may be seeing the front end of such a dismantling action now in Orange County. It has nothing to do with hatred of government, just common sense and citizens’ rights.

CHARLES E. GRUBBS

Newport Beach

* Is anyone really surprised that the wealthiest county in the state, perhaps the country, demolished Measure R? If anything, Orange County has always been the paradigm of self-interest, regardless of how unenlightened the perspective.

If you doubt this, consider the following:

* O.C. is responsible for the largest portion of the $300 billion lost in the savings and loan debacle. The nation’s taxpayers will pay this loss. (It’s curious that the crusaders against Measure R were silent during this private industry fiasco.)

* O.C. leads the state in personal and business bankruptcy declarations.

* O.C. is last in the state for charitable contributing per capita. (Let them eat cake!)

* O.C. is notorious for voting against state bond issues for education.

* O.C. elects state legislators that consistently vote against state aid for natural disasters (we didn’t cause that earthquake).

Is there any benevolence in O.C.? Of course there is! However, facts indicate that the majority of O.C. voters, because of principles they hold imperative, can view with equanimity the suffering of others.

CARLOS NAVARRETE

Huntington Beach

* It was certainly no surprise when I woke up and found out the half-cent sales tax had been defeated by the voters of Orange County. However, your front page photo summed up the irony of the defeat. Bruce Whitaker, head of the Committees of Correspondence, is shaking hands with Supervisor Roger Stanton. Wasn’t one of Whitaker’s arguments against the tax that the same people who were in charge when the money was lost were still in charge? Isn’t Roger Stanton one of those people?

If Stanton comes out of this situation looking good, it will be a great injustice to all the Orange County employees who have worked diligently to find solutions to the county’s crisis. Not only did Stanton’s poor oversight contribute to the bankruptcy, he has not offered one viable suggestion to help the situation since the bankruptcy. His big accomplishment was doing away with most employees’ flex days. Of course that didn’t save any money, but we know his heart was in the right place.

ELIZABETH ESTRADA

Mission Viejo

* Orange County, I am ashamed for you, A majority of you residents are deadbeats.

Wm. S. MORTIMER

Laguna Beach

* Re: “O.C’s Anti-Tax Generals Weigh Their Next Move,” (July 4):

I read this article with great interest with the thought that the new program to bail Orange County out of the financial mess that it is in would be presented. As I expected, all I got out of the comments by the Committees of Correspondence was who would be the target for recall or discharge. I could find nothing on how the county was going to be bailed out of the mess. This, I think, proves that talk is cheap. Let us hear some constructive ideas from this group that was so instrumental in the defeat of Measure R.

JACK WINNICK

Anaheim

* Re: “O.C.’s Anti-Tax Generals Weigh Their Next Move,” (July 4):

It would seem to most thinking people that the leaders of the No on R movement would now be busy offering suggestions to solve the county’s fiscal problems. Instead they talk about who to reward for supporting their position and whom to punish via recall. The irony is that the one person who will be rewarded is Supervisor Stanton, who was on board when the fiasco happened.

Is is possible that Bruce Whitaker, Stanton et al only know how to say “no” and lack the creativity and leadership to take this county away from disaster? Recalls and elections are expensive. More productive by far would be for all those involved to resolve the problem, which is lack of money, and leave retribution to the voters at the appropriate time. Or was No on R just another political game with no substance, solution or leadership?

BARBARA TALENTO

Brea