The rescue of 33 miners in Chile; the final Whitman-Brown debate; a rock show on the 101

Uplifted by 33 miners

Re “Chile lifts first miners to freedom,” Oct. 13, and “Chile revels in its triumph,” Oct. 14

The uplifting story about the rescue of the Chilean miners placed next to the story about the pervasive antics of our gubernatorial candidates could not have provided a better juxtaposition on the good and bad of the human spirit.

While the inter-

national community celebrates the amazing rescue of the 33 miners, we are forced to focus on the petulant, preening and self-aggrandizing behavior of Jerry Brown and Meg Whitman.

Neither candidate has yet to put forth truly viable proposals for putting our state’s financial affairs in order or addressing the problems wrought by a state seemingly run by voter propositions.

Partisan grandstanding has impeded effective governance, and one can only hope that our new governor and other elected officials will finally recognize that it’s the people who matter, not the politicians. We need only to look to Chile.

Sherry Stava

Camarillo

Thank you for the “above the fold” picture on The Times’ front page of the rescued miner in Chile.

This wonderful news makes me feel the same way I felt looking at the airplane that Capt. Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger III landed safely in the Hudson River — happy news that brings tears to my eyes because people are being spared a tragedy.

Carolyn Dyer

Van Nuys

This is a classic example of what can be accomplished when people opt to come together to work for the common good.

It also demonstrates the effectiveness of group think, one of the many wonderful offshoots of the NASA space programs.

Do we all have to be stuck in a mine shaft before we can understand that we are dependent on each other for peace, safety and freedom?

There is a great lesson here. Let’s not forget it when it is over.

It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out that peace, respect and harmony can’t be forced through the barrel of a gun but that unforgettable goodwill, trust and respect can be tailored to fit very nicely into the barrel of a rescue drill hole.

Jon D. Elder

Monterey Park

My first thought at seeing this was “thank god.”

My second thought was: “In America, this would be all about the lawsuits” — lawsuits for not getting to the miners sooner, lawsuits for not making sure mining was 100% safe, lawsuits for this, that and everything else.

That’s how America would handle this: sue somebody and everybody.

Harvey Lutske

Los Angeles

As the drama in Chile draws to a close, the images and lessons of this experience will remain.

It is no exaggeration to deem this a miracle, as many countries came together and moved

heaven and earth to pull off this rescue.

Congratulations to all those involved for a job well done and for being such a positive inspiration.

Brian Lattimer

Santa Ana

The 101 as a sound stage

Re “Music stunt shuts down 101,” Oct. 13

I would hope that the courts throw the book at these inconsiderate people. Thousands were greatly inconvenienced by the actions of these few, who were looking for publicity.

The stuntmen should also be held liable for costs of the police, fire and other city/state services that were used. Why should taxpayers have to pay?

It was fortunate that this traffic jam apparently did not cause accidents, delay police/fire protection or other physical harm, but the public may not be as fortunate next time.

Now there’s talk of a reality show? Let’s give these malcontents a showing of reality — by handing them the proper punishment they deserve.

Andrew Pedersen

Tujunga

The only thing more shameful than a bunch

of kids basically shutting down the 101, risking

the lives of distracted passersby and diverting emergency personnel, is your shameful lack of journalistic acumen — giving them major free publicity and encouraging other similar shameful stunts.

John Szabo

San Clemente

Putting a Nobel Prize to work

Re “Jobless research lands 3 a Nobel,” Oct. 12

The work of the Nobel laureates makes sense of the high unemployment rate, but it does not offer practical solutions.

What practical ideas do we have to get people back to work quickly and thereby lower the unemployment rate?

First, continually pursue research in and development of innovations to create new job opportunities, which also stay at home. Second, continually educate and train people with new skills to match them with more job opportunities. Third, implement one of the ideas of the laureates: continually improve matching employers with employees so more people are employed quickly.

Simon J. Simonian

Pacific Palisades

Well, that’s debatable

Re “Final debate takes a testy turn,” Oct. 13

The tumult over the comment about Meg Whitman graphically displays some of the failures of American campaigns.

“Whore” has a modern definition: “A person considered as having compromised principles for personal gain.” Thus the description might be appropriate considering Whitman’s wobbling on pensions to garner the law enforcement vote. Choosing to be offended by the traditional definition was a political gambit by a campaign running out of legitimate issues.

If this is the best we can do to have useful public discourse in an important election, then we are all truly in big trouble.

Allan Rabinowitz

Los Angeles

Although the use of the word by a staffer was an unfortunately choice, it was not as offensive as Whitman would like us to believe. As the female chief executive of a major company, I suspect she has been called much worse.

It appears she is exploiting the issue to gain sympathy and votes and to distract everyone from her own shortcomings.

It is more offensive to me as a female voter to think that anyone would believe this would affect my decision at the polls.

Christine Robinson

Canyon Country

Neither candidate has been willing to cast stones at the electorate for California’s financial bind, but finally moderator Tom Brokaw went right for the throat about Proposition 13 and its zero-sum scheme of rewards for long-term owners and burdens for new owners.

Whitman thinks the status quo is great. Brown replied that in the long term, a system of subsidized property taxes for wealthy property owners is not sustainable. Good for him. It was, perhaps, the singular moment of realism in the debate.

The addition of an assessment floor would put an end to the monstrosity of million-dollar homes having hundred dollar tax bills and level the playing field for commercial property.

Michael Gorder

Westlake Village

I watched the debate. I have a question: Why weren’t any of the other four candidates listed on the ballot for governor included in it?

John Fessler

Chino Hills

So a private, unflattering recorded opinion has been made public and now Whitman says to us, “I think every Californian, and especially women, know exactly what’s going on here, and that is a deeply offensive term to women.”

First, I think I’ll decide for myself “what’s going on here” and what’s “deeply offensive.” Second, what I find deeply offensive is that we have a candidate for governor who rarely voted for years. I think every Californian, and especially women, ought to wonder what’s going on here.

Julia Huntsman

Long Beach