Budget problems in Texas; U.S. demands for reform in Egypt; Hector Tobar on birthright citizenship

Messing with Texas

Re “Texas’ budget not as rosy as it seemed,” Feb. 7

I think it is irresponsible to publish stories about Republican-governed states having budget problems.

Everyone knows that only states led by Democrats can have budget deficits and require the cure of bankruptcy. To suggest otherwise would force some people to start thinking beyond the platitudes and repeated lies that so often pass for political discourse these days.

Please do the right thing and blame state employees, unions, pensions and liberals for budget deficits, while idolizing the plutocrats of the right as our overlords and the only ones who can save us from ourselves.

David Middleton

Rancho Mirage

I don’t know why I get so much satisfaction reading about Texas’ budget problems, especially when they will affect the people who can least afford them. Maybe it’s that Texas, more than any other state, tells the rest of us how great it is.

There’s the saying that everything is bigger in Texas. The state can now say that its fiscal problems are worse than California’s. How about that for bragging rights?

Luis Cruz

La Mirada

I am appalled and embarrassed by California Treasurer Bill Lockyer’s immature response to the Texas budget crisis. He is quoted as saying, “Someone just turned the lights on in the bar, and the sexiest state doesn’t look so pretty anymore.”

Lockyer sounds like a child on the playground yelling, “nah-nah-nah-nah-nah!” Good going, Bill, it makes me proud to be a Californian.

Barbara Kem Miller

Claremont

This article confirms that Texas is well on the path to sustainable feudalism, the conservative dream for America. I suggest that you don’t mess with Texas; it’s messed up enough.

David Steed

Warner, N.H.

Get behind democracy

Re “U.S. backs off call for swift Egypt reform,” Feb. 8

It is unfortunate that our country, which led the world in the struggle for democracy, is now failing to fully support the Egyptians who are demanding the end of a dictatorship.

The Arab peoples have endured a long history of oppression by non-Arab powers. Progress requires freedom not only from non-Arab powers but also from oppressive Arab governments.

The U.S. can play an important role in helping the Arab people establish democracies by withdrawing military aid from oppressive governments and backing the leadership of Arabs who are working for their own liberation.

The Obama administration is on the wrong side of history here. In the long run it is not in our interest to support repressive governments.

Julian Weissglass

Santa Barbara

I was dismayed to read that the U.S. is softening its demands for Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak to leave. We should not support a corrupt, undemocratic and brutal regime based on a few anecdotal poll statistics that sow fear of an Islamist takeover.

I think old people forget how young people think. Young people don’t want to be controlled, whether it’s by a dictator or a rigid, fundamentalist religion. But if the fundamentalist religion offers them revolution, they will take it as the better choice.

I spent two weeks in Egypt before the protests began. Never once did I encounter anti-American sentiment.

It is my belief that if we soften our stance, we will be doing members of the Muslim Brotherhood the biggest favor of their lives.

Randy Nichols

Montrose

Religion in America

Re “Mormon leader sees perils to faith,” Feb. 5

Mormon Elder Dallin H. Oaks mentions a United Methodist Church-owned pavilion in New Jersey that was “penalized” for denying access to same-sex couples.

What he fails to say is that the pavilion received a tax exemption after the church promised that the pavilion and nearby boardwalk would be open for public use. Once it started excluding people such as same-sex couples, the pavilion was no longer entitled to public funding.

Churches should not be compelled to violate their principles and should be free to observe their faiths as they see fit, but they cannot use taxpayers’ money to discriminate.

Daniel Mach

Washington

The writer is director of the American Civil Liberties Union’s Program on Freedom of Religion and Belief.

This is a perfect case of seeing a glass half-full or half-empty. You see a threat to religion, and as a secularist I see the 1st Amendment right to freedom from religion being under siege, threatened by a growing radical religious movement determined to force its beliefs on others.

The founders of this country deliberately did not create a state religion because they knew the dangers, namely the death of individual thought and reason and diminishing the right to choose what you believe in.

Jamie Dimmel

Los Angeles

Taking on a birthright

Re “It’s pure fear-mongering,” Column, Feb. 4

Hector Tobar says it is fear-mongering when people speak against “anchor babies.”

Well, new statistics from the Pew Hispanic Center show that 8% of all births in the U.S. in 2009 were to at least one illegal immigrant parent. That’s 350,000 newborns, each thanks to at least one illegal immigrant parent.

With all the huge budget problems we are having in this country, it is high time we stop playing games and face the facts as to one of the reasons we are having these problems.

Who is paying the hospital bills? If only it would stop there, but it doesn’t.

Catherine Shaffer

Pasadena

Tobar says that without birthright citizenship, he would not have been born a citizen. But when his parents applied for citizenship, they could have applied for him also.

Tobar denies that foreigners bear children here for “residency and entitlements.” He ignores a 2002 Times article about “birth tourism” by Korean women who travel here to give birth so their children can obtain a U.S. education and avoid South Korea’s military draft.

Perhaps Tobar could explain why the U.S. should continue to increase immigration, and what future he thinks this policy will bring his own offspring.

Gretchen Pfaff

Santa Barbara

Cash crop

Re “Farm insurance fraud cheats U.S. taxpayers,” Feb. 6

I would like to point out the value and the fiscal integrity of the federal crop insurance program. Crop insurance is a crucial part of the farm safety net that makes sure Americans have a dependable, affordable food supply.

The Department of Agriculture’s Risk Management Agency has taken steps to ensure the program is run effectively and affordably, including the negotiation of $6 billion in savings from the crop insurance industry in 2010. One measure alone — our secondary review of all large claims — has saved an estimated $25.7 million in improper payments since the beginning of fiscal year 2009.

The measures we take give the program a high level of integrity for the vast majority of policyholders who play by the rules.

William J. Murphy

Washington

The writer is administrator of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Risk Management Agency.

Tough leave

Re “Glendale police officers placed on leave,” Feb. 4

It was reassuring to read of Glendale Police Chief Ronald De Pompa’s tough sanctions against police misconduct. The shock of being placed on paid administrative leave will ensure those miscreants toe the line in the future.

Hey, could I be hired? I’m ready to be sanctioned — and paid!

Michael Kersey

Corona