Letters to the editor: The death of Moammar Kadafi; Darwin and economics; ending the two-thirds voting rule to raise taxes in California

Doing in evil-doers

Re “Another feather for Obama the hawk,” Oct. 21

Despite the Republicans’ continued sniping, President Obama has proved himself as commander in chief.

Both Osama bin Laden and Moammar Kadafi have been killed, with no loss of American lives and minimal impact on the local civilian populations. Compare these facts with the costs of removing Saddam Hussein and our continued, seemingly pointless wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and it seems obvious which president (and which political party) should have more credibility on issues of the military, national defense and thwarting terrorist plots.

Let’s remember these facts in 2012.

Myra Sosin

Irvine

The riches of Kabbalah

Re “Mysticism and money,” two-part series, Oct. 16 and 18

I’m amused by the outrage unleashed by The Times, the Internal Revenue Service and others over the vast wealth accumulated by Kabbalah Centre gurus Philip and Karen Berg.

OK, so their followers shower them with Beverly Hills homes and “free plane rides, jewelry and trips to Europe and Mexico,” and their center’s assets had soared to more than $260 million by 2009.

So what? Compare them to the pope, with his splendid robes, palaces and luxurious travel. Few people express ridicule or horror, but he makes the Bergs look like small-timers. If suckers such as Madonna and Roseanne Barr want to wet the Bergs’ beaks, it should be nobody’s business except their own.

As the great George Carlin said about organized religion, God is “all-powerful, all-perfect, all-knowing and all-wise, but somehow, just can’t handle money.”

Al Ramrus

Pacific Palisades

Regarding the welder from Australia participating in a Kabbalah class on Skype who, when he cut his weekly tithe in half, was told by his furious teacher that he must write “I’m in debt to the cosmos” on a piece of paper each day but instead quit: Applaud him.

This series speaks volumes about the

Kabbalah Centre.

Larry Nichols

Los Angeles

On the origin of economies

Re “Darwin the economist,” Opinion, Oct. 18

Robert Frank’s article relating Charles Darwin’s observations to the workings of an economy is artificial at best.

First, unlike people, plants and animals do not make moral judgments or have ethical values.

Second, markets, if not capitalism itself, are a human concoction. They do not exist in nature, and Darwin certainly never came up with any indication to the contrary.

Third, competition actually exists less and less in our economy, as large corporations now rule over most every sector.

At least on competition, Frank does have the good sense to recognize that it does not necessarily promote society’s well-being.

Still, Frank shows how divorced from reality mainstream economists have become.

Luis Suarez-Villa

Irvine

Frank is correct that Darwinian natural selection explains economics. But regarding his questionable thesis that free enterprise is often not beneficial, his analog is way out in left field.

If it were true, as he alleged, that the bull moose evolved excessively huge antlers to the point of evolutionary disadvantage, then it would not have survived. And yet, here they are.

The bull’s antlers, even when flailing around in dense undergrowth, are still a formidable weapon against predators. Even if he gets stuck (a rarity), still his massive body and deadly hooves could defeat would-be predators. That is why they mostly stick to attacking smaller moose.

May I suggest a revival of the Bull Moose Party, founded by Theodore Roosevelt, whom some thought would get stuck because of his excessively large ego? They were wrong, and so is Frank.

Martin L. Henriks

Woodland Hills

Two-thirds rule works just fine

Re “End minority rule,” Opinion, Oct. 18

State Sen. Kevin de León (D-Los Angeles) finds that the two-thirds rule makes it too difficult to spend more of the taxpayers’ money, as if our problems can be solved if we only spent a little more on things he feels are important.

If a new “need” cannot be funded through the existing or reprioritized revenue stream, or if a proposed cut in services cannot be saved by trimming lower-priority programs and you can’t convince two-thirds of the Legislature that a new tax is the only way to go, I submit that the priority is simply not high enough.

If anything is un-American, it is the way our Legislature has created the mess we’re in.

The senator should learn to deal with reality, like the rest of us.

Scott Perley

Irvine

De León and other state lawmakers still don’t get it. Voters don’t mind paying taxes if they feel they are getting their money’s worth. Thanks to Times investigations, we have seen example after example of how our tax dollars are being wasted.

If students can be deprived of a decent, inexpensive education, or the poor and elderly can be notified of a cut in assistance, why can’t retired public employees get notice that their pensions will be reduced?

Before we tear down this wall, we need to be assured that it won’t be built again.

Joseph Jaurequi

Whittier

After reading De León’s article, I sent a letter to the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Assn. stating: “I am withholding any further contributions to HJTA until I see his support for a policy change to eliminate the two-thirds rule for tax increases and replace it with a simple majority rule.”

Jim Throgmorton

Seal Beach

Pot prohibition and reality

Re “Doctors’ pot stance is sick,” Column, Oct. 20

George Skelton parrots the usual mainstream prohibition position on marijuana: We have to protect people from the dangers of pot by making it illegal!

Of course, the real result is that it’s much easier for a 20-year-old to buy pot than alcohol. To get alcohol, one has to con someone into going to a store because that’s the only place alcohol is available. But marijuana can be purchased in the home of a friend — indeed, that’s about the only place it can be purchased.

Of course, the prohibition Skelton favors does have the effect of pot farms being planted on remote hillsides, guarded by vicious dogs and armed men. Curiously, one does not face the same risk from hidden distilleries or breweries.

Bob Burket

Santa Monica

Skelton ends his column with a list of the side effects of cannabis. These side effects are no different from those of alcohol. The gist of the California Medical Assn.’s stance on marijuana prohibition recognizes this, and I see no reason why alcohol and tobacco should be legal and regulated while cannabis is not.

Sandra Wolber

Granada Hills

Medical maze

Re “What the doctor ordered,” Opinion, Oct. 16

H. Gilbert Welch says it all.

My dementia-plagued brother-in-law gets hauled to the urologist, psychiatrist, cardiologist, emergency room or dermatologist for constant tinkering at the insistence of well-meaning relatives. His wife visits the urologist, neurologist, cardiologist, nephrologist, pulmonary specialist and infectious disease specialist.

It’s amazing that the Medicare system gives approval for all these visits, including visits to new specialists when the family loses faith in their present ones. I suspect it’s because they are not in an HMO, where such visits would be scrutinized.

These relatives rarely see their internist, who might bring order if given a chance to counsel them.

Joanne ORoark

Santa Barbara

Jobs’ world

Re “Distracted? Don’t blame Steve Jobs,” Opinion, Oct. 16

Many people blame Steve Jobs for making the world a “lazy” place. Jobs created products that made searching for information easy. The way we use these tools, and our lack of self-control, is not Jobs’ fault.

Indeed, wasting all your money on unnecessary things makes it your fault, not the person who gave you the money. The same applies to technology.

Jobs gave us useful tools; the way we use them is our decision.

Jonathan Estrada

Los Angeles