The Times’ editorial on pot legalization; the necessity of a college degree; Fox News’ Haiti coverage

Marijuana as a cash crop?

Re “Legalize pot? Not so fast,” Editorial, Jan. 13

So, if we go by your logic of not supporting AB 390, I assume you also think that medical marijuana should be illegal in California because it is classified by the federal government as a Schedule 1 drug? Our federal government is usually a step or two behind anyway, so again, we must lead the way for the nation.

This long-overdue bill would do exactly what’s needed: stop imprisoning people for a drug that is far less harmful than alcohol or tobacco, and instead put it front and center in a place where it can be properly regulated and taxed.

Jon Stein

Glendale

Greed, once again, prevails. So now it is OK to legalize marijuana as long as a tax of $50 per ounce is imposed? Another form of entertainment that only the well-heeled can afford?

The black-market illegalities surrounding marijuana will always be in effect unless common sense is employed in its legalization.

Sandi Lopez

Visalia, Calif.

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The only crime here is the ongoing persecution of marijuana, and not fully legalizing it on both federal and state levels will secure the crime element so pervasive in its distribution. The federal anti-marijuana drug war is costing millions of dollars.

The prejudices regarding the nature of marijuana are trumping all the violence that is occurring in its name. This is twisted logic. Spark up a joint and enlighten up!

Scott Matz

Los Angeles

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Someone please explain to me why it’s OK for people who are sick to smoke marijuana to feel better, but it’s not OK for people who aren’t sick to smoke marijuana to feel better?

David Hill

West Hollywood

Thinking vs. fixing

Re “Is a college degree necessary?,” Opinion, Jan. 13

The point of going to college is to learn to think. Students are challenged with competing ideas and must learn to develop an open mind. Unfortunately, this doesn’t happen much in today’s high schools.

The emphasis on technical training in high school could be just another way of making sure that a large portion of our population doesn’t learn how to develop critical thinking skills. Sure, they would be technically skilled enough to plumb a bathroom or build a house, yet they still wouldn’t be able to tell a socialist from a communist. As working-class Americans, they probably would continue to vote against the party that represents their best economic interests.

Perhaps the answer is to have students go to college first to learn to think and then return to the technical training.

Michael Vetrie

Canyon Country

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As a retired electrician and contractor, I heartily agree with Mike Rustigan.

I have never been out of work and have always made a good living. I have often stated that we need good trade workers as well as college graduates.

So few young people are going into the trades that we are likely to be very short of workers who can keep things repaired and maintained in the years to come. Because of this, those who learn a trade will be in short supply and will consequently command excellent wages.

John Novak

Pasadena

Fox News’ Haiti gap

Re “CNN does it right in Haiti,” Column, Jan. 15

James Rainey’s column on Fox News’ scant coverage of Haiti merely shows what we all have known for years: Fox News is nothing more than a feel-good station for right-wing viewers who have little interest in anything outside their own limited agenda.

Why would anyone even turn on such intellectually impoverished programming offered by Glenn Beck, Bill O’Reilly, Sean Hannity and Sarah Palin? One loses faith in one’s fellow citizens when he discovers acquaintances who waste their time on such drivel and who ignore the responsibilities of world citizenship, much less the human and moral obligation to help those in dire distress.

Praise be given to the real news organizations. They deliver the necessary food for thought, not just bubble gum tainted by racism.

Patrick O’Brien

San Juan Capistrano

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Rainey never stops bad-mouthing Fox News and O’Reilly. The truth must hurt liberals like Rainey.

Haiti deserves assistance, but let’s not forget all the aid given to it in the past with nothing to show for it. Like most of the aid given to parts of Africa, much of the money never gets to the people.

We should limit, whenever possible, our aid to food, water, clothing, building supplies and medical assistance. Let the U.S. buy these items from American companies, at a respectable discount, and send them to distressed countries. We’d help those in need and simulate our economy at the same time.

Bob Guarrera

Laguna Niguel

The filibuster is worth keeping

Re “A job for Boxer and Feinstein,” Opinion, Jan. 14

I would ask Harold Meyerson if he would have been compelled to write a piece like this if it were, say, 2003 and Republicans were in power?

The problem with removing such a central underpinning to our Constitution and its idea of checks and balances is that your favored party won’t always be in power. There should be no reason for Meyerson to argue this point, as the Democrats have a filibuster-proof 60 members in the Senate.

The people should always be wary whenever their government takes action to “move the playing field,” and I fear that this is what Meyerson is advocating.

Nils de Mol

van Otterloo

Los Angeles

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A far simpler way to improve Senate compromise than killing the filibuster would be to change state primaries so we elect more centrist senators.

Open primary systems are politically the easiest and only sure way that legislative negotiations can be resuscitated and partisan obstructionism stopped. State constitutions should declare all local and state offices nonpartisan. Give everyone the same nonpartisan primary ballot and advance the top two vote-getters regardless of party. Candidates would have to appeal to all primary voters, more centrists would get elected, and filibusters would be easily prevented.

John W. Ellinwood

Los Angeles

Wrecking the UC system

Re “Not her mother’s UC,” Out Here, Jan. 13

All of the problems that Marjorie Miller’s daughter has experienced at UC Santa Barbara are evident on every University of California campus.

Top faculty have been leaving or retiring in significant numbers. My own former department has lost three of its most senior and most visible members in recent months. You simply do not cut the salaries of top faculty and impose furloughs on them. Private universities seem to have the money to raid UC almost at will.

During my 30-year UC career, I experienced four budget crises; the current one is by far the most severe. It may be many years before the damage can be repaired. But how many Californians, apart from people like Miller and her daughter who have directly experienced the consequences, really care?

Wayne Cornelius

Del Mar, Calif.

The writer is a professor emeritus at UC San Diego.

Yes on scanners

Re “Scanners pit privacy against security,” Jan. 13

I find the outrage over body scanners at airports ridiculous. I have no problem with a scanner that gives you only 1% of the radiation used in a dental X-ray to ensure the safety of myself and others aboard.

Although these scanners will help, the most stringent of electronic devices are not as good as old-fashioned bomb-sniffing dogs. With a muzzle, I would have no problem with that either. Anything less is a recipe for disaster.

Jordon Berkove

Guerneville, Calif.

Marriage and gay rights

Re “The marriage test,” Editorial, Jan. 15

I feel you have missed the root cause of this issue. Marriage is, by its nature, a religious issue. The gay-marriage debate would disappear if the government stopped performing religious rites.

The aspects government is concerned about -- taxation, inheritance and child custody -- are contractual functions. The government should leave marriage to the churches and provide a uniform domestic partnership contract to address the civil aspects of marriage.

Charles Edward Dunn

Pasadena

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I was nearly in tears as I read your editorial. As a gay American, I have never read a more succinct description of my social plight.

I appreciate that you point out that we face “unreasoned hatred and abuse.” As a teenager, I struggled to find self-respect, and, sensing the hatred, I tried to take my life. As an adult, I struggle to feel welcome to fully take part in society.

People who oppose giving gays equal rights should know that their position encourages depression in others. Where is their conscience?

Dale Palmer

Altadena