A Budget in Need of a Superhero

Re “ ‘Broken System’ Budget Unveiled,” Jan. 11: I think I have finally figured out where we need to look for our politicians. We’ve tried lawyers, businessmen and entertainers, and where has that gotten us? They don’t think in the right terms. They are all basically out for self-protection. We need to look at successful leaders of nonprofit organizations. They are the ones who figure out how to help the most people with the least amount of money.

They are used to thinking about the “greater good,” rather than the next quarter’s profits. They know how to maintain relationships. They look to find long-lasting solutions to complex problems instead of the quick fixes. Nonprofit leaders, please step up! Our country, and particularly our state, needs you now.

April McCaffery

Valley Village

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Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger is acting like the sheriff of Nottingham. He takes from the poor to give to the rich. Where is our hero, Robin Hood?

Robert Y. Nakagawa

Los Angeles

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In all the governor’s rhetoric, one fails to hear even a hint that we have responsibility for each other in a civilized, humane society.

Instead, he speaks only of a “broken system,” broken presumably because we’ve made these “foolish” promises to help our people and now find ourselves short of money. Perhaps we should work harder and pay more in taxes to honor our promises to take responsibility for those less fortunate and our commitments to provide our children with the best education and healthcare. Perhaps Schwarzenegger must go to his corporate sponsors and tell them it’s time to pay the piper. Perhaps we must recognize that if we continue to postpone the day of reckoning with more debt, more cuts in our education and health programs and more misery for our least fortunate fellow citizens, we only hasten the day when the Golden State becomes one of the least desirable places to live in the country.

Donald Broder

Studio City

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Schwarzenegger must have been channeling Charles Dickens when he wrote this budget. Why is it that every time there are budget cuts the first to be put on the block are the poor, the old and the disabled?

The mark of a really strong governor would be one who would protect the weak -- I would go so far as too call him a superhero -- and he would ask for sacrifices across the board. I don’t see that happening in Schwarzenegger’s budget.

Consider what we Californians and American citizens are capable of. In the tsunami crisis I would bet that over half of us gave anywhere from $1 to $1 million to the victims of that disaster, as well we should have. Will we do any less for our people in need? Raising taxes may be painful, but it is certainly more decent than turning our backs on California’s vulnerable citizens.

Marion Lewish

San Diego

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Someone with Hummers and a healthy body sculpted for the movie industry is ill equipped to understand the basic needs of the average person, let alone the elderly, those living below the poverty line or in failing health.

We need to convey to our governor that, as Californians, we need to look after the health and welfare of all Californians for the state to remain prosperous and strong. California cannot be a state only for the privileged for whom education and healthcare are privately acquired on a near limitless income. And yes, this may mean an increase in taxes today rather than tomorrow.

Susan Digby

Pasadena

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It takes a really courageous governor to seek his budget cuts from the poor, elderly and disadvantaged. If this is an example of a manly man, give me a girlie man every time.

Michael Vetrie

Canyon Country