LAPD and the Community

* Re “Rampart Scandal Colors Jury Deliberations,” Dec. 10: I understand it must be very disconcerting trying to flog the dying horse that the Rampart story has become in the eyes of the majority of the citizens of L.A. Equally frustrating is the fact that the events that occurred came to light due to an internal police investigation and not some hotshot investigative reporter.

The desperation of Patt Morrison’s column, replete with tales of the criminal justice system spiraling out of control, is fictitious. Morrison summed it up herself when she stated, “So far, this is not a statistical surge; it is anecdotal, which is a word people use when they aren’t yet sure how serious matters are, or how serious they could get.” No, Ms. Morrison, “anecdotal” is a word you and The Times use as a substitute for the facts.

SGT. BILL HEARD

West Valley Police Station

Reseda

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* Re “Kroeker Named Police Chief in Portland, Ore.,” Dec. 10:

Congratulations, Portland! You truly have the best man for the job. Mark Kroeker is a conscientious man who will work hard to bring the community and your police bureau together in the true essence of community policing, so that you may work together, hand in hand, as a team.

Here in Los Angeles we had community policing. Now we have--well, we have Bernard Parks as chief.

PAUL MUNZ

North Hollywood

Galbraith

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* What a delight to see that even at 91 John Kenneth Galbraith is just as lively, just as witty and just as wrong as ever (interview, Opinion, Dec. 12).

If any country, no matter how rich, said every citizen has a right to decent food, clothing, shelter and medical care, no matter what they did or didn’t do, a lot of those citizens would come to the very logical conclusion, why work? As young people say today, “Like, duh.” The fact that many people, groups and parties have tried under many conditions in many countries and not one has managed to make this work should confirm the teenagers’ common sense.

Yet here is Galbraith saying, “I have long been persuaded that a rich country such as the United States must give everybody the assurance of a basic income.” This was demonstrably wrong in the ‘40s. It is ridiculous after the experience of the last 60 years. His resistance to both common sense and experience is truly impressive.

BILL PALMER

Diamond Bar

Cable Companies

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* In Sal Morales’ response (letter, Dec. 5) to a commentary on Internet-access competition, he states that competition is alive and well. Competition in Internet access will never be alive and well until cable companies have to compete for customers. Presently, our choice is limited to the cable company serving our area or no cable at all.

JEANNE EDWARDS

La Canada Flintridge