The last space shuttle flight; politicians who take no-tax pledges; reflecting on ‘Carmageddon’

Stars in our eyes

Re “Space agency struggles to set new course,” July 19

It is a sad coincidence that the return of our country’s last manned spaceflight for the foreseeable future should occur one day after the 42nd anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing.

The people of the world owe all those who were part of all the manned space programs a debt of gratitude for inspiring those who would look to the skies in awe and pride in our shared achievement as human beings. I hope future generations will not be denied the thrill and inspiration of manned spaceflight, which will undoubtedly be remembered as the greatest achievement of the 20th century.

Thank you, one and all.

Roger F. Linnett

Venice

In 1957, I was a 9-year old who was rousted out of bed by my dad to observe Sputnik beaming across the October sky. The race was on. America eventually met President Kennedy’s challenge to put a man on the moon.

With the retirement of Atlantis, Earth orbit is once again out of reach for Americans. For the foreseeable future NASA will be paying taxi fare to the Russian space agency to launch and recover our astronauts from the International Space Station. After decades of exploration and development of aerospace technology, the sky over my home will look much as it did in 1957, as only Russian-built manned spacecraft will be passing overhead.

How long will it be

before America moves beyond today’s “been there, done that” malaise and once again starts to explore the final frontier?

Robert Perron

Andover, Mass.

One promise too many

Re “Take the no-pledge pledge,” Editorial, July 17

Hurrah to The Times for tackling this absurd demagoguery of Grover Norquist and his Americans for Tax Reform. Where was the leadership of the GOP when this wholesale theft of its power and prominence was

perpetrated?

As members of Congress, our senators and representatives should be among the most prestigious humans on the planet. To actually sign a document handing over their right to legislate rationally to a man who threatens to “expose” them if they refuse to toe the line is a foolish thing to do. But

to honor such blackmail with compliance is utter nonsense.

What this generation desperately needs is a reincarnation of Joseph N. Welch asking, “Have you no sense of decency, Grover Norquist?”

Gloria J. Richards

Simi Valley

All politicians take an oath of office swearing to defend the Constitution. In California, this includes the phrase, “I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties upon which I am about to enter.”

When a pledge interferes with the ability of a legislator to “faithfully discharge” his duties, hasn’t he violated his oath? When people offer such pledges with the carrot of financial support and the stick of attack, aren’t they intentionally subverting the government? You cannot serve two masters.

Chuck Almdale

North Hills

I may be getting up in years, but I remember reciting the Pledge of Allegiance in public school, and I’m pretty sure that Grover Norquist wasn’t mentioned.

To paraphrase Norquist’s infamous quote, maybe his actions and the overreaching of the House Republicans will finally result in the shrinking of the Republican Party to the point where it can be drowned in the bathtub.

Jerry Weil

Seal Beach

L.A.’s weekend without cars

Re “In ‘Carmageddon,’ some see road map for the future,” July 19

As a 33-year bus rider, I was nauseated by all the “Carmageddon” hype. Why not repeat the phrase “public transit” or “children’s services” or the word “homelessness” about 1,000 times in every media outlet? Why coddle the fuel-addicted people who won’t get out of their cars? Indeed, you just enable those folks with all the hype. Urge them onto public transit, and you solve more problems than you feed into.

The panic, the woe, the spurned SUV! Carmageddon. Get a grip.

Lee Mallory

Newport Beach

That there turned out to be no Carmageddon should not have been surprising. I recall the same kind of dire warnings about traffic and congestion in the months before the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles. It worried me enough at the time to plan my vacation during the Olympics, and I escaped to Europe. When I returned, everybody told me how easy it was to travel around the city.

The same phenomenon appears to have been in effect for the freeway closure. If you scare enough people, they’ll stay home.

Arlen Grossman

Monterey

Re “Puttin’ on the ritz at Chez 405,” July 20

Did I miss something? Have I lost my sense of humor, my spirit of adventure? I cannot believe that The Times would publicize the childish, self-indulgent “dinner party” on the 405 Freeway last weekend when it was closed for the important, potentially dangerous bridge demolition. How brave of them to avoid the workers and the police.

Oh well, maybe next year, when the second half of the bridge is demolished, instead of staying home I can plan a prank that will land me on the front page of the paper, not buried in the back of the section like this letter.

Eleanor Blumenberg

Santa Monica

Law and order

Re “Cases of fraud by deputies increase,” July 19

Our men in blue are not immune to the lure of “petty crimes” to help make ends meet. But the results can be significantly more damaging when the lawless wear badges and hide behind uniforms.

Many officers are honest and well-meaning. But giving law enforcement too much power is like putting a gun into the hands of an infant. We are increasingly besieged by laws and regulations that make criminals out of non-criminals (drug laws) while allowing corrupt cops to legally steal (asset forfeiture laws).

The time is long past to wake up and smell the coffee, preferably while it is still legal.

Gordon Wilson

Laguna Niguel

The better half

Re “New rules for banks haven’t curtailed profits,” July 20

Banking officials were adamantly against new financial regulations when the so-called Dodd-Frank financial reform bill was passed. Billions in profits reported by banks recently should cause the 95% of

the rest of us middle-class Americans and working poor to wonder: When is enough money enough?

When some in Congress argue that rescinding inappropriate tax cuts given to the rich is a “job killer,” we need to ask: Where are the jobs? Attacking Social Security reflects the same fantasy. People who live off of their Social Security spend it, whereas the rich just pocket their tax relief.

Half of us get it; how do we convince the other half?

Marcy Bregman

Agoura Hills

Death penalty

Re “Patt Morrison Asks: Donald Heller,” Opinion, July 16

As long as the yahoo element in this state has the megaphone — or, as in the case of KFI’s John and Ken, a rant-based talk radio show — the simplistic solution will endure. It’s always a pleasure to hit them with the facts, such as the nearly $4 billion spent for just 13 executions in 33 years.

Forget the moral element. Practically speaking, the death penalty doesn’t deter anyone from committing a first-degree murder, it’s absurdly expensive and many mass murderers are self-loathing anyway, wanting to commit suicide by homicide.

Why oblige them? Sorry pal, you get to think about your miserable life and the choices you made for the rest of your miserable life.

James P. Curran

Irvine