Davis Should Have Tried a Short-Term Solution

Gov. Gray Davis should have taken Economics 101 before he started to negotiate with power companies. The current power crisis is a good example of demand exceeding supply. Many new power plants are being built, and as soon as they begin generating power, the price of electricity should plummet.

I agree with Peter Navarro (“Power Deals Exceed Prices in Spot Market,” June 13) that the governor should have tried a short-term solution while searching for other alternatives. In other words, any signed contract should not have been made for a period longer than two years.

Mirna Peric

Northridge

California officials buying electricity have taken lessons from novice stock market investors. They buy high and sell low.

Paul Bernstein

Beverly Hills

I feel like I’m on a sleigh ride to hell and totally impotent to change its course. Your article on Davis’ long-term energy contracts had me groaning loudly enough to clear a couple of surrounding tables at Starbucks. Why I stripped off my clothes and set my hair on fire (vente in hand) was President Bush’s decision to require the unneeded ethanol additive to gasoline for Californians. Don’t we have lobbyists?

The sad truth is that the aggressive businesspeople that we need wouldn’t lower themselves to public office. They’re wealthy enough to weather the ridiculously stupid, shortsighted and inane policies created by our local and federal representatives. I can’t weather this storm.

Rob Ross

Burbank

I was shocked to learn of the number and variety of businesses whose owners assert could become deathtraps because of a minor power interruption (“Blackouts and Businesses: Dying for an Exemption?” June 14). As a matter of public safety, please publish a full list of applicants for power interruption exemptions so that we can avoid these establishments at all costs, lest we take our lives in our hands because of a popped circuit breaker.

John Brock

Redondo Beach

Re “Price for More Megawatts Is More Smog,” June 14: I get so riled up when I read how the state of California is jerking its residents around. We were on an upswing with the smog situation but still had miles to go. Now we are going up the roller coaster again, at what cost to human health? There has to be a better way, rather than letting all those pollutants back into the air, especially the diesel fuel. We are a sophisticated state (at least, I used to think so) and should have more brains and compassion than to allow any more smog to get into our systems.

I voted for Davis. I think next time I will use better judgment. I am ready to pack my bags, sell my house and get the hell out of here.

Toni Jacobson

Monterey Park

If a blackout does not cover the complete state, wouldn’t a better description be a “Gray” day?

Bill Baxendell

Yorba Linda

Isn’t it interesting how our president refuses to cap the exorbitant power charges that the state of California and its citizens have been forced to endure, because “prices caps don’t work”? This has cost us billions of dollars. Yet when it comes to the “patients’ bill of rights,” he speaks out of the other side of his mouth and demands that there be no punitive damages and caps damages for pain and suffering at a relatively low $500,000 (“White House Will Discuss Patients’ Bill,” June 14).

Does the fact that both the power companies and the HMOs are major contributors to the Republican Party have anything to do with his decisions?

Bernard Rapkin

Los Angeles