Monster High dolls as role models; managing one’s finances; and fixing Social Security

Golly, what dollies!

Re “Look out, Barbie: Mattel’s Monster High is in session,” Business, Aug. 13

While searching for the comics, I happened to notice the front page of the Business section. I had to stop and stare for a few seconds, so shocking was the photograph I saw: dolls wearing boots with heels so high that their feet are almost vertical; skirts so short they are really more like underwear; heavy makeup and mean smirks on their faces.

Even though the Monster High girls are dolls, they are examples. When I was 5 or 6, I looked up to my Kit and Molly “American Girl” dolls. They were my friends — and still are.

If 5- and 6-year-old girls today look up to their Monster High dolls, when they are older these examples from their past, combined with peer pressure, could make them become monsters themselves.

Natalie McDonald

Westchester

First, try a check register

Re “Big banks resisting changes to debit card practice that spurs overdrafts,” Column, Aug. 13

Last time I checked, as long as I keep enough money in my bank account to cover my expenditures, I do not have to worry about the order in which my debit card transactions are processed or about any type of overdraft fees. I don’t work for a bank, but I do have to maintain a household budget. That’s my responsibility, not the bank’s or anyone else’s.

David Lazarus quotes U.S. District Judge William Alsup: “These neat tricks generated colossal sums per year in additional overdraft fees.” I think it’s a neat trick when accountholders try to float charges, knowing full well there is not enough money in their accounts to cover these transactions.

Here are two options: Use a check register and record all your transactions as you make them, or use cash. I opt for the former and somehow manage to know what my balance is at any given time.

Let’s foster an attitude of responsibility instead of trying to manipulate the system and blame someone else for our choices.

Gaby Merthan

San Dimas

Social Security isn’t the problem

Re “Fixing Social Security,” Editorial, Aug. 14

For roughly 50 years, Social Security operated as a pay-as-you-go system with modest reserves. Yet there was no outcry about a “looming” crisis of reserves running out.

In the 1980s, people began to worry about a shortfall. The payroll tax was raised and the enormous trust fund reserve, invested in U.S. Treasury bonds — currently $2.5trillion and growing —began to accumulate.

Over two decades from now a shortfall might occur that could easily be addressed with either a 2% increase in the payroll tax or an expansion of the payroll tax to include wages above $106,800 that are currently exempt from taxation.

This calls for “fixing”?

Might it be better to focus on the truly serious problems at hand: massive unemployment, unending foreclosures and predatory financial interests that continue to live off the fat of the land while ordinary people suffer from an economic malaise that shows no signs of ending?

Connie Haddad

Yorba Linda

The cap on payroll taxes for those earning more than $106,800 a year should be eliminated.

Why is it a “transfer of wealth” for those high earners to be taxed at the same rate as the rest of us, but not a “transfer of wealth” for more than two-thirds of U.S. wage-earners to pay a Social Security tax that’s higher than their income tax?

Sandra Wolber

Granada Hills

More on the mosque issue

Re “Making a mess of a mosque,” Opinion, Aug. 17

Something is very wrong here. Jonah Goldberg, a popular conservative writer, suggests doing what conservatives in this country have fought long and hard against: He suggests that bureaucrats use political muscle to stonewall a legitimate business enterprise. I thought conservatives wanted enterprise to be free of opaque regulations that he describes.

He suggests that government do its part to hinder a religious organization. I thought conservatives wanted to keep government from telling religious communities what to do.

He suggests using union connections to, well, do anything — that is certainly not a conservative value!

Goldberg has gone from respected conservative to shadowy Chicago alderman.

Paul Prunty

Cypress

Something’s fishy here

Re “Is engineered ‘Frankenfish’ coming to the nation’s table?,” Business, and “Genetically modified crops pop up in the wild,” Aug. 14

Hopefully, readers who were salivating over the prospect of genetically engineered salmon took the time to read The Times’ story on genetically modified crops in the Science section of the same day. If gene movement is potentially destructive in seed crops, imagine what an itinerant fish could accomplish.

Kathleen Masser

Los Angeles

Silencing the press in Mexico

Re “Under threat, reporters go silent,” Aug. 16

Why isn’t Mexico branded a terrorist state? The Mexican government is impotent against the cartels. The cartels rule — threatening reporters, editors and their families with death if they report the truth about what’s happening. That should be impetus for the government to say “basta” and assert itself. But no.

All reporters in Mexico, including those in The Times’ terrific bureau, need protection now, and freedom from threats always.

Damiana Chavez

Los Angeles

Beach town goes too far

Re “Huntington Beach to charge fees if out-of-town drivers cause accidents,” Aug. 18

Huntington Beach gets 10 million to 13 million visitors during the summer. Presumably a substantial part of them pay hotel taxes, sales taxes and exorbitant fees for parking and other services. The city receives a share of all of the tax revenues charged, and its local business and working communities benefit greatly from the money spent.

The benefits received from those out-of-town pests must outweigh the costs. The expense of responding to accidents is the cost of doing business.

If Huntington Beach is unhappy with tourists spending large amounts of money there, it should discourage people from coming. That way its citizens can enjoy their city in quiet, but poor, solitude.

Darrel Miller

Santa Monica

It’s hard to be a green renter

Re “Is your apartment a greener-upper?,” Aug. 15

One thing that would make apartment living a lot greener is not being adequately addressed by the city of Los Angeles. In my building, all of our trash is collected in one bin: green waste, recyclables and trash.

Many of us would like to separate our trash as the single-family residences do, but we cannot, unless we sneak our old newspapers up the street to someone’s blue trash can.

Landlords can, but are not required to, request blue bins. When will the city make landlords get on board with recycling?

Michele Hart-Rico

Los Angeles

Little sticks, big headaches

Re “Trees into chopsticks,” Opinion, Aug. 15

Granted, disposable chopsticks are an increasing environmental problem in China, but what about disposable plastic utensils that are so prevalent in the Western world?

A more balanced discussion might provide a comparison of the threats of both types of throwaways to the environment. At least the disposable chopsticks are biodegradable, whereas the plastic utensils are not.

John Jung

Cypress

All about skin

Re “It’s, how you say, 2 too much,” Aug. 14

I enjoyed the article about topless beaches in France. The issue of wardrobe choices and shifting social acceptance of such choices recalls the recent controversy in that country over a woman’s choice to wear a burka.

Seriously, what is the difference between a topless sunbather and a burka-clad beachgoer?

Rosamond Arthur

Santa Monica