Driving safely in the rain; protecting gray wolves; healthcare rationing and the drug Avastin

A rule for rainy days

Re “Storms line up to pelt region,” Dec. 20

Now that our rainy season has arrived with a vengeance, perhaps it’s time to remind both motorists and, apparently, local police forces that a state law passed a few years ago requires headlights to be on if your windshield wipers are.

It’s common-sense traffic safety: Rain-spattered side windows make unlit cars disappear as they pull up or change lanes behind and beside us. Yet every street has numerous cars driving in the rain, blissfully ignoring the law and others’ safety.

If police would crack down and issue tickets with penalties as steep as, say, those dangerous and deadly seat-belt violations, California would be in the black in no time.

D.J. Fone

Encino

Protect gray wolves or not?

Re “Rocky Mountain low,” Editorial, Dec. 17

Thank you for your thoughtful editorial regarding possible legislation that would de-list gray wolves from the Endangered Species Act.

The state of Arizona, where I live, is one of the states where such an action would clearly decimate the Mexican gray wolves, possibly bringing about their extinction.

The arrogance of human beings toward other sentient beings is appalling. Your attempts to raise the consciousness of the public to this is much appreciated.

Sheri Flum

Tucson

Despite the claim by wolf-hugger environmentalists, the gray wolf was never “teetering on the brink of extinction.” There are tens of thousands of gray wolves throughout Canada and Alaska, a fact that was conveniently ignored.

Groups and individuals who slant the truth to further their agenda to restore gray wolves to the lower 48 states should be condemned. That’s not what the Endangered Species Act was intended for.

Trent D. Sanders

La Cañada Flintridge

Wolves and other predators are a necessary and important part of our environment. We need to learn how to live with them.

Predators, especially wolves, help control the numbers of deer, elk and other large animals, which, without controls, can destroy an ecosystem for many other species.

Wildlife management is a job for biologists and other scientists, not politicians who are supported by hunters and other anti-wildlife factions.

Aileen Hughes

Mesa, Ariz.

U.S. goings-on in Pakistan

Re “CIA calls home its station chief in Pakistan,” Dec. 18

It’s Keystone Kops out there. We hear about the danger of WikiLeaks, while our “allies” in Pakistan out a CIA operative. Doesn’t anyone think the entire structure is rife with transparency?

When is our government going to tell us that the situation is an unsolvable conundrum? For one, our “terrorists” are not Pakistan’s “terrorists.” Pakistan has very little concern about the Taliban’s and Al Qaeda’s operation in Afghanistan, which is why the border is so porous.

The U.S. intrusion in the area and its attempts to be a local player are destined to be unsuccessful.

F. Daniel Gray

Los Angeles

Pakistanis’ negative feelings about U.S. drone attacks made me ask what Americans would do if foreigners flew planes to kill people they decided should die (without trial or due process), especially if innocent bystanders were killed. I thought of the answer: What did we do in response to 9/11?

If we do it ourselves it’s OK, but if it were another country it would be grounds for war.

Henry Kerfoot

Huntington Beach

Healthcare and drug options

Re “Avastin is no help with breast cancer, FDA says,” Dec. 17, and “Cost/benefit healthcare,” Editorial, Dec. 18

The anti-reform fanatics have seized on the Food and Drug Administration’s doing what it is supposed to do as an example of “rationing healthcare.”

Avastin was conditionally approved pending further review in 2008. That review unequivocally showed the drugs’ severe side effects far overshadowed any possible benefits.

The FDA panel voted 12 to 1 to remove the approved use of Avastin for use in breast cancer treatment, not for the removal of Avastin from the marketplace.

I am extremely cautious about accepting any doctor’s comments about how valuable a drug is unless the physician states that he or she has not received any funds from the company that made the drug. It is a shame that The Times did not provide such assurances from physicians claiming benefits from using Avastin.

Gerald Schneir

Santa Monica

My judgment is that economics should be an ingredient of the decisions about what drugs, devices and procedures to use. A rational approach is that which Oregon took many years ago for its state-run medical plan.

They analyzed and ranked all medical options for the plan to support in terms of the benefits to the clients each option provided per dollar. Then they calculated how far down the list they could go within budget and removed the services below this cutoff. They were able to maximize the overall medical benefits to their people that were available within their budget.

I think this policy should also be an ingredient of our national healthcare services.

William Clark

Los Angeles

GOP blocking arms control

Re “Republicans stiffen resolve against nuclear arms pact,” Dec. 20

There they go again. Republican senators tried to stall the nuclear arms treaty that President Obama signed with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev in April.

It is outrageous that the Republicans continue to play political games with the safety of Americans.

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) and some of his cohorts claim the Democrats are trying to “rush” things. Sen. McConnell, if you and the legion of GOP staffers on Capitol Hill cannot read a treaty in eight months, it is time for you and your crew to step aside so citizens can be represented by faster readers.

Richard Dickinson

Glendale

Unhappy meals

Re “Suit targets Happy Meal toys,” Dec. 16

Monet Parham is suing McDonald’s because Happy Meals cause her children to “clamor” to go there. What? Can’t she say no?

Most restaurant meals, especially fast-food ones, have portions too large and way too much fat, salt and sugar. If she wants her children to eat healthy foods, she should prepare meals at home—healthy food at a lower cost.

What ever happened to personal responsibility? What ever happened to parents, not children, making decisions?

Bob Isaacson

Hacienda Heights

‘Boobies’ in class

Re “Students defend wearing ‘Boobies’ bracelets in class,” Dec. 17

Unwarranted discrimination against kids is one of the worst problems this country faces today. People have no more control over their dates of birth than they do over the color of their skin, yet people feel free to deny constitutional rights to others on that basis.

A good litmus test to determine whether or not an incident in a school constitutes discrimination against kids is to ask if it would happen in a college. Here the answer is obvious.

There is no way the administration of a college would even think of prohibiting “I [heart] boobies!” bracelets.

Josh Rivetz

Northridge