ROTC making a comeback on college campuses; possible government regulation of junk food; ways to reduce prison overcrowding

Bringing back ROTC

Re “Campuses welcome back a ‘60s outcast,” June 1

I was a member of the “outcast” Naval ROTC at Stanford. At the time I was opposed to the Vietnam War, and 30 years later, I was opposed to the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq. But I remain strongly supportive of ROTC programs.

National defense is a public good, and ROTC programs enable more students to help bear the substantial personal and national cost of it. The United States faces a danger from terrorism for the foreseeable future, and we should provide more opportunities for all members of society to participate in the defense of our country.

It is heartening that Columbia, Harvard, Yale and Stanford have recently recognized the value of ROTC and have voted to consider the return of ROTC programs to their campuses.

Dan Caldwell

Malibu

Good food can be hard to find

Re “Curbing a junk-food appetite,” Editorial, May 29

With obesity on the rise, curbing junk food through voluntary advertising regulations could possibly help.

However, many of the residents in communities of color and low-income areas live in food deserts: geographic areas where access to affordable, healthful food options is restricted due to the absence of nearby grocery stores.

Without access to good food options while surrounded by fast-food outlets, it’s no wonder we have an increase in obesity-related illnesses. Access to healthful foods should be a right, not a privilege.

Valerie Belt

Pacific Palisades

You are to be commended on this common-sense editorial, especially the paragraph in which you write, “All in all, voluntary guidelines are a better idea than hard-and-fast rules.”

This country was founded on a lot of common-sense philosophies to preserve God-given individual rights and freedoms. Except for obvious intrusions by one person on the rights of another such as theft, murder and so on, laws should be limited. We already have a plethora of stupid laws on the books.

Common-sense guidelines offered for parents must remain voluntary because, as you mention, these “well-intentioned” guidelines are often flawed.

To make a long story short: Good editorial.

Frank Diani

Goleta, Calif.

Punishment and prisons

Re “Too costly for prison,” Editorial, June 1

In your thoughtful editorial concerning medical parole, The Times correctly points out that “prison serves many purposes in the mind of the public.” The University of Miami’s Michael McCullough, who has researched and written extensively on the subjects of revenge and forgiveness, makes the point that one of the primary roles of governments is to ameliorate the innate human desire for revenge.

In California, we are spending more than $10 million a year to keep incapacitated prisoners locked up for the sole purpose of continuing their punishment, while we cut funds for basic services. How can this possibly be justified?

Laurel Gord

Venice

Re “Don’t fear the prison decision,” Opinion, May 29

Jeanne Woodford and Barry Krisberg offer a voice of reason after the Supreme Court’s ruling on prison overcrowding in California. The state could take a cue from New York on using smart policies before there’s a crisis.

New York’s prisons have seen a decrease of more than 12,000 inmates since 1999, due in no small part to the success of its alternatives to incarceration and reentry programs, the largest such network in the country. Among the 10 most populous states, New York had the lowest crime and incarceration rates in 2010, according to the Pew Center on the States.

By diverting appropriate individuals to community programs and helping those returning from incarceration to become productive members of society, programs like those in New York keep communities safer, costs down and prison populations at manageable and humane levels.

Paul N. Samuels

New York

The writer is director and president of the Legal Action Center.

Iran’s not alone

Re “Iran’s victims,” Opinion, May 28

It is true that the Iranian regime is brutal, but it’s a regime over which the United States has no direct influence. At the same time, the United States has decisive influence over the governments of Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Morocco, Israel and many others that are carrying out shocking crimes, according to human rights organizations these authors cite.

If the United States wants to convince the world that it’s concerned about human rights and democracy in the Muslim world, then it should force the governments under its direct influence to stop committing crimes as bad, and often far worse, than those happening in Iran. This wouldn’t require sanctions or wars but simply cutting off our own participation in those crimes through our military aid.

When we ourselves act morally throughout the world, then we might dare to criticize the crimes of others. To do otherwise is the sheerest hypocrisy.

Feroze Sidhwa

Boston

On 4 cylinders

Re “Leaving the V-6 behind,” May 28

This story brought back 73 years of motoring memories for me. But during these years I left a majority, or probably all, eight-cylinder engines behind.

Five years ago I decided to exchange my V-8, in good shape and well tuned, for a new four-cylinder passenger car. For the sake of fuel economy, I would endure slower uphill climbs and less responsive acceleration. To my surprise, my new car outperformed the V-8 in both of these categories.

Today I drive a four-cylinder hybrid. My biggest problem now is learning how to control its speedy accelerator.

David N. Hartman

Santa Ana

German power

Re “Germany: Phasing out nuclear power,” May 31

Kudos to Germany for recognizing and acting on the devastating potential of nuclear power and pulling the plug.

According to the article, Germany is planning to take 11 years to achieve its goal of phasing out nuclear power, but it has already closed 40% of its nuclear power capacity.

I would very much like to see further articles on Germany’s progress in replacing atomic power with renewable energy sources. Let’s assist Chancellor Angela Merkel in Germany’s “becoming a test case for other countries,” and I hope this will include the U.S.

Joyce Leanse

Santa Monica

Tuna’s time

Re “Fish’s protected status denied,” May 28

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s denial of endangered classification for the blue fin tuna is an ecological crime.

The NOAA says it will revisit the matter in 2013. Many knowledgeable organizations, including Greenpeace, Sea Shepherd and others, fear that by 2013 the blue fin will be all but extinct.

With the BP oil spill in their spawning grounds, few large fish remaining to spawn and juveniles not yet of sexual maturity, the blue fin will go the way of the cod of the Grand Banks. This can’t wait.

Ronald Colby

Mar Vista

Geek is good

Re “Revenge of the geeks,” May 28

This article describes my geeky life pretty well. Abuse from schoolmates diminishes as you move on to college. It reverses to appreciation in the job years, for what you can do that others can’t do.

The well-employed geek’s revenge is saying to his previous tormentors, “I’ll have fries with the Big Mac, please.”

Sam Kay

Granada Hills