LETTERS

Re “U.S. may ease state budget gap,” Jan. 23

As The Times reports, California could receive up to $11 billion from the most recent stimulus package, enough to wipe out 25% of its budget shortfall. This one-time infusion of funds, intended to provide a stimulus to our economy, would simply be used for the state’s ongoing operating costs.

This would be like giving a drug addict more drugs rather than curing his addiction. These one-time funds should be used for one-time, shovel-ready projects. The bottom line is the state has to fully wean itself from its addiction to overspending.

Lynn Hughes

Laguna Beach

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Re “Did you listen, Sacramento?,” Column, Jan. 22

Invoking President Obama’s inaugural address, George Skelton believes that the solution to California’s budget woes is to adopt “the notion of individual sacrifice for the common good.”

Fat chance. Our out-of-control Legislature and bond-addicted populace are the ones who spent us into this mess. Those who have benefited from their largesse are the ones who need to shoulder the pain of the cuts. Those of us who’ve lived our lives responsibly, who’ve voted against unreasonable taxes, ill-advised bonds and poorly conceived propositions, have already done our part for the common good.

I, for one, refuse to sacrifice for the common good of a voting populace too stupid to realize, even now, that we cannot tax and spend our way to prosperity.

Wade Major

Malibu

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Bravo, George Skelton!

In his address, President Obama said: “The question we ask today is not whether our government is too big or too small, but whether it works. ... Where the answer is yes, we intend to move forward. Where the answer is no, programs will end. And those of us who manage the public’s dollars will be held to account.”

In addition to raising taxes, California’s legislators on both sides of the aisle need to cut those pet programs that have the least effect on the lives of everyday citizens.

Maggie Ikezaki

San Diego