California’s budget woes; overtime for L.A. sheriff’s deputies; the Polanski case

Taking the blame

Re “The budget blame game,” Editorial, Dec. 23

I guess I need to ‘fess up -- all of California’s problems are my fault.

The recession, prison overcrowding, illegal aliens, global warming, the DMV, welfare cheats, politicians (in general), budget woes and even the potholes in our roads.

Yes, it is all my fault. Through my callous actions and inactions I have caused all the problems the Golden State faces. Blame me.

Now that blame has been fixed, can you please begin to work together to repair the damage I have caused and make this once-great state great again?

J. Matheson Norris
Santa Barbara

The governor and the state budget

Re “Gov. to seek U.S. help for budget,” Dec. 23

It’s impossible to say which is the most discouraging development:

1. That voters in California are stupid enough to have elected a bad action movie actor to act (badly) as governor.

2. That California government could become the first to be destroyed by Republican anti-tax fanaticism.

3. That the poor and disabled are forced to suffer each time their situation diminishes, left to hope the wealthy will send a rising tide their way.

4. That Schwarzenegger’s ultimatum likely is inspired by the climax of “Conan the Barbarian,” a poorly written scene that didn’t work even with loud Hollywood special effects.

5. That the rest of the country and the federal government will react to California’s refusal to help itself with the justifiable contempt we deserve.

Carl C. Slate
Sherman Oaks

The Times reports that the “historic healthcare reforms” are about to cost California up to $4 billion, at a time when the governor is asking the feds for $8 billion in aid.

We are asking for a lifesaver and getting tossed an anvil.

David Goodwin
Los Angeles

Overtime for L.A. County deputies

Re “Massive overtime paid to L.A. County deputies,” Dec. 23

Thousands of deputy sheriffs work diligently to protect lives and property in Los Angeles County. To pick a relative few and criticize them for working approved overtime serves no purpose.

We agree that excessive overtime may cause an eventual deterioration of the quality of any work. Reporting nearly 3-year-old data is also counterproductive. The county auditor’s report covers a time period between March 2007 and February 2008. A hiring program during that period resolved many of our staffing shortages and the related overtime issues reported by the auditor.

Providing quality public safety services for Los Angeles County is an important responsibility that we take seriously. We invite the county auditor to ride with our deputy sheriffs to learn more about the vital services we provide, which sometimes require overtime.

Steve Remige
Monterey Park
The writer is president of the Assn. of Los Angeles Deputy Sheriffs.

Wrapping up the Polanski case

Re “Court sees way to end Polanski case,” Dec. 22

The Times reports that the judicial system has outlined a way to potentially keep Roman Polanski from serving more time for his confessed rape of a 13-year-old.

Polanski has been a fugitive of justice for over 30 years. His 1 1/2 months of incarceration appear not to reflect the seriousness of his crime. Why isn’t the D.A.’s office doing more to get him returned so he can be sentenced?

I think that if he were poor, or not had the support of the Hollywood crowd, Polanski would be in prison now. It appears that being rich and white does have its privileges.

Jerry Vogler
Los Angeles

Bureaucracy and the Forest Service

Re “Fire records raise questions on aircraft delay,” Dec. 21 and “Rep. Schiff to seek inquiry into Station fire response,” Dec. 22

I have been associated with the U.S. Forest Service for many years. I was a uniformed volunteer for 17 years, and I was employed for 28 years by an agency that had a close working relationship with the agency. During the course of that employment, I conducted an in-depth study of a specific area of Forest Service operations.

I feel I am on firm ground with the following observation: No governmental agency on the face of the planet ever brought incompetence to such a staggeringly high level. If there is a wrong way to do it, they’ll find it, and then brag about it.

One does not work with the Forest Service, one works around them.

They have the entrenched mind-set of tree farmers, and anything that gets in the way of that goal, public included, be damned.

Truly, if you just disbanded the Forest Service, without replacement, we couldn’t be any worse off.

Ed Kirste
Victorville

Douglas’ 1950 loss to Nixon

Re “Politics’ unfair sex,” Opinion, Dec. 22

The best thing that ever happened to Helen Gahagan Douglas was her 1950 loss to Richard Nixon.

That allowed hagiographers like Sally Denton to portray her as a victim. Which she was -- but of her own folly, not because of anything done to her.

I am old enough to have been quite familiar with her poorly run campaign, which she lost by almost 20 points.

The Korean War was in full swing, despite Douglas’ reported insistence that communism posed no threat to Americans -- and days before the election, the Chinese Communist army swarmed across the Yalu into Korea to kill thousands of American troops. Given those circumstances, a 20-point loss sounds like a pretty good result.

Arthur O. Armstrong
Manhattan Beach

With apologies to the late Texas Sen. Lloyd Bentsen:

Sally Denton knows Helen Gahagan Douglas. Sarah Palin, you’re no Helen Gahagan Douglas.

Bob Ginn
Arcadia

Schools’ verdict on valedictorians

Re “District to stop naming valedictorians,” Dec. 23

Regarding Huntington Beach’s decision to end the valedictorian and salutatorian recognitions, I’m sure they’ll next demand (with equal wisdom) that the International Olympic Committee eliminate the unfairly exclusionary practice of awarding gold, silver and bronze medals to the top athletes and instead just give all participants an aluminum ingot.

Randy Peterson
Laguna Hills
The writer is a graduate of the Huntington Beach schools.