Is California Ready to Hand Its Woes to the Terminator?

Re “Rise of the Politician Could Be the Sequel,” June 29: Garry South, former chief political strategist for Gov. Gray Davis, asked what Arnold Schwarzenegger knows about water, how sales tax is administered ... anything.

Fair enough, but we already know the mess the current leadership has given us in the areas of the budget, energy, education, immigration, smog, traffic congestion and workers’ compensation insurance. The classroom in “Kindergarten Cop” could have managed things better.

Rand Christensen

Anaheim

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If Schwarzenegger runs for governor of California, he can rightfully be viewed as the Golden State’s version of Minnesota’s Jesse Ventura: a face and a name but little more. Jesse looked great, growling at the cameras about his agenda; but when it was all said and done, he had little to offer in the leadership department. I wonder if Arnold realizes that if he is elected, the people of California are going to expect him to actually do something to solve the state’s problems. Decision-making does not get a second take. Carefully crafted images do not a true leader make.

Jamie Nestor

Yorba Linda

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The casting call for governor reads: brains, not brawn; tact, not taciturn; and arbitrator, not Terminator.

Lillian Goldman

Los Angeles

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“The recall would throw the state into chaos.” So argues the June 29 commentary “Mr. President, Urge Republicans to End Davis Recall Bid.” California sinks deeper into financial chaos each day that Davis remains governor. Our last hope: “Total Recall,” followed by “Terminator 3.”

Randy Horton

Oceanside

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Re “Ho-Hum ... What Crisis?” editorial, June 30: Why is the only tax you suggest to quell the state deficit a sales tax?

Sales taxes are regressive taxes and hurt the lower classes more than the upper classes. Why should we pay more than our fair share, when the rich receive a disproportionately high amount of services from the government? Perhaps an exponentially increasing income (including investments) tax would be in order.

Craig Lennon Kysar

Sherman Oaks

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An easy, obvious solution to our financial crisis in California is to use our offshore natural gas. Selling drilling rights would probably pay off the deficit. And royalties, like Alaska gets, would go a long way toward paying for needed services. Further, there is no ecological danger from gas -- it doesn’t hurt anything even if there is a leak. Why not keep jobs here instead of exporting jobs to import gas from some other country?

We don’t want another shortage problem to raise our costs as happened with electricity. Now is the time to unlock California’s best asset for short- and long-term relief.

Dick Ettington

Palos Verdes

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Heaven save us from principled politicians! We need horse traders and car salesmen who can wheel and deal. Don’t those in the state Legislature understand that we pay them to run the government, not stop it?

Arlene Wade

Hermosa Beach