Sarah Palin and Paul Revere; the difficulties of caring for terminal relatives at home; job prospects among the long-term unemployed

It’s Revolutionary

Re “Sarah Palin, contrite and not,” June 6

In her latest misrepresentation of our history, Sarah Palin is pandering to the gun lobby and gun enthusiasts. In her world, Paul Revere was warning the British “that they weren’t going to be taking away our arms.”

The historical fact is that few colonials even possessed firearms. There was a chronic problem arming the militias. It was only when they were mass produced that guns were mythologized as “American as apple pie.” Like the marketing of cigarettes, it was so chic, so good for digestion, that it worked.

The incessant rewriting of history by those with agendas is nothing new.

Michael Jenning

Van Nuys

The burdens of the caretakers

Re “The line between care and killing,” Column One, June 2

Maria La Ganga poignantly illustrates the courage many must develop when caring for a terminal patient. Better to examine our thoughts now than repetitively play out the base emotions in a courtroom, as Stephanie Hernandez’s case illustrates.

My dad died at home last year; he was 87. My husband died at home in 2003; he was 55. Neither had been bedridden long enough to undergo the extreme physical breakdown outlined in the story. The mental and simple physical breakdown of a family member is enough to sear one’s memories.

However, my limited experience only served to achingly enhance the mental strain I experienced thinking of this young girl facing a court battle after all the other life sacrifices she had made to care for her great aunt.

Susan Randall Davis

Bristol, Vt.

This should be a wake-up call to all caretakers.

As caretaker for my ex-husband, I am concerned for my own safety. When he finally passes on, will I be arrested?

We caretakers are not trained nurses. We do the best we can with the knowledge and time we have. What else can we do? We cannot override their decisions. If they choose not to eat, we cannot force them. If they choose not to have us turn them in their beds (to prevent bed sores), we cannot force them. And if I don’t force them, I can be arrested. This makes no sense.

I’m glad Hernandez was found not guilty, and I hope she has her daughter back soon. Shame on the system that felt the need to punish Hernandez.

Anne Pichler

Pomona

Tackling unemployment

Re “The silent jobless,” Opinion, June 2

After the abject failure of expensive government policies designed to stimulate job growth, Robert Reich suggests that the unemployed should demand even more government “action.” Is he kidding me?

Reich is surprised that there has been no clamor for a “new WPA,” a “second stimulus” and “stronger safety nets.” This is because Americans now know from experience that more government spending will push more people deeper into dependency.

Government needs to stimulate growth by reducing the economic and regulatory burdens on business and letting our country’s entrepreneurial talents shine. This type of action will create jobs and allow the unemployed to escape the deleterious effects of long-term government “help.”

Richard Newell

Trabuco Canyon

My husband and I both lost our jobs in 2009. My husband defied the odds by deciding to take a one-year assignment 2,000 miles away (because the job market in California was too bleak) to improve his skill set before finding a job back home.

I read job-search books, hired a career coach, networked, marketed myself and received more than one job offer. We were both keenly aware that simply waiting for government action would keep us in the “long-term unemployed” category, and we took it upon ourselves to improve our situation.

Those looking for work should continue learning new skills, market themselves to companies that value their talent and to work hard and never give up. This is a faster and more effective way to gainful employment than waiting for policy change.

Huihua Zhu

Huntington Beach

This should be required reading for Republicans. They keep pushing for tax cuts to create jobs.

The Bush tax cuts took effect in 2003 and were extended last year for two more years because of pressure from the GOP. So where are the jobs?

Robert D. Lloyd

Palm Desert

What will Weiner do?

Re “Weiner admits tweeting lewd photos,” June 7

Hopefully, Republicans in Congress won’t exploit the Rep. Anthony Weiner (D-N.Y.) debacle, as within a short amount of time, another member of Congress, perhaps a Republican, will be immersed in a scandal.

But perhaps more of the “people’s business” would be done if individual lawmakers weren’t acting mischievously behind closed doors.

Of course, they aren’t to blame; I’m sure that a psychotherapist will diagnose Weiner and his ilk as suffering from a new disease, perhaps CDSSBD (Congressional Deviant Sexual Stress and Behavior Disorder). It’s not their fault; it’s ours.

Come on, Congress. Stop acting like adolescent teens and get to work.

Dean Anderson

Stevenson Ranch

Weiner admitted that he lied. He says that he takes full responsibility for his actions but that he will not resign. In other words, he is not accepting responsibility for his actions.

As Americans wait for the Democrats and the media to come down on Weiner as hard as they did on former Rep. Chris Lee (R-N.Y.), we will be experiencing yet another “teachable moment” brought to us by the left.

There are some moments that are really difficult for me to stomach, and this is most definitely one of them.

Donald E. Wiggins

Yucca Valley

Hang in there, Rep. Weiner. You apologized and vowed to correct the inappropriate behavior.

You have been a champion for the rights of working-class Americans. Don’t let Andrew Breitbart and the rest of the right-wing vultures drive you from office over this unfortunate series of events.

Continue your heroic efforts to save Medicare and to act as a spokesman for the less fortunate among us.

Bob Constantine

Placentia

Spilled milk

Re “Schools may stop serving strawberry and chocolate milk,” June 5

The most disturbing aspect of this article has nothing to do with flavored milk. It is that the Los Angeles Unified School District Supt. John Deasy can’t take action on the kind of milk served at lunch without the approval of the school board.

If the board is micromanaging the schools to this extent, it is easy to understand why L.A. Unified has trouble improving its students’ education.

Jim Freed

Santa Monica

Too many favors

Re “Greuel seeks parking records,” June 2

Thank you, L.A. City Controller Wendy Greuel. Sadly, the “Gold Card Desk” is likely the tip of the iceberg when it comes to waste and favoritism in city government.

It is not taxes themselves we abhor; it is that what we pay is so often misused. I hope this is the beginning of the end for this kind of insider easy-living.

Jeffrey C. Briggs

Hollywood