President Obama’s speech on jobs; religious tests for GOP presidential candidates; the ‘Irvine 11’ case

Economic spark

Re “Obama pitches jobs plan,” Sept. 9

As a retired newspaper reporter, I couldn’t have written President Obama’s speech better myself. If Obama would have added $447 billion in stimulus to the original $787 billion in 2009, we might not be in this mess.

I don’t think the infrastructure spending he proposed is nearly enough, given the state of our roads and schools.

And there is nothing for retired seniors like me on Social Security. We haven’t had a Social Security increase for about three years, but our costs have gone up. A one-time payment to Social Security recipients would pump some money back into the economy. I, for one, have car repairs that are needed, tires that need to be replaced, a cellphone that is dying and a TV starting to go bad. Multiply that by 52 million Social Security recipients, and there is a lot of potential spending that could help boost the economy.

Les Gapay

Rancho Mirage

It is painful to witness how easily the political establishment in Washington can turn anything into a game of political football. They find it easier to claim that nothing will work, and they do nothing but bad-mouth any attempt to solve our problems.

To my knowledge, politics never did solve any national problem. Right now, politics is our national problem.

There used to be people in Washington who loved to play ball, and they called their team the Washington Senators.

Now we have people in Washington who call themselves senators, but they absolutely refuse to play ball.

Angus Andrews

Westlake Village

How much will an unemployed person be expected to save as a result of Obama’s proposed tax cuts?

Phillip Good

Huntington Beach

Religion, politics and the GOP

Re “Religious hurdle for Romney, Huntsman,” Sept. 7

In the information age, it amazes me how ignorant some people are.

If you want to know what a church teaches, go to its website. Mormons believe that Jesus Christ is the son of God, the only begotten of the father and that through him salvation comes to man.

The Mormon Church is the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It’s named after our savior — not a prophet, not a forerunner to Christ. Jesus Christ is central to the beliefs of Mormons.

You would think that intelligent people would see the direction we’re going and compare that with what the Mormon Church stands for. They would realize that electing a Mormon with integrity and competence is what this country needs.

Gary Reynolds

Los Angeles

Mitt Romney can’t pass the religious litmus test with evangelical voters. So what? Perhaps these voters should familiarize themselves with this little nugget from the Constitution:

“The senators and representatives before mentioned, and the members of the several state legislatures, and all executive and judicial officers, both of the United States and of the several states, shall be bound by oath or affirmation, to support this Constitution; but no religious test shall ever be required as a qualification to any office or public trust under the United States.”

Then again, you can’t tell these people anything because God has already told them everything they’ll ever need to know.

Scott W. Hughes

Simi Valley

The power of pharma

Re “What the doctor ordered,” Opinion, Sept. 8

The power and control the pharmaceutical companies have over American medicine is widespread and reprehensible. At the county-funded mental health clinic where I work, the drug companies have actually been granted a conflict-of-interest exemption. The employee handbook tells us that no person may accept money, gifts of other than nominal value, excessive hospitality, loans or other special treatment from anyone our employer does business with.

Yet the drug companies are permitted to lavish the staff with free lunches to gain access to our physicians, despite the fact that these companies have been fined for illegal off-label marketing of their medicines.

People should heed the words of a former Pfizer sales rep-turned-whistle-blower: “At Pfizer I was expected to increase sales at all cost, even if it meant endangering lives.”

Ernest Danese

San Diego

It seems that doctors are more and more like auto mechanics: They know a lot that we don’t know, and they are able to take advantage of the customer accordingly.

Lynn Leatart

Sherman Oaks

It’s a date too

Re “The impulse to pay tribute,” Opinion, Sept. 8

I was saddened and horrified by the attacks of 9/11. It also happened to be my 40th birthday and my daughter’s 10th birthday.

Since then, it has been interesting to observe the evolution of Sept. 11 from an ordinary day to a noun, or, as Meghan Daum states, “a permanent national blackout date.” I was intrigued further by Daum’s comment that “expectant parents hope their babies won’t be born on it.” Of course, plenty of people have been.

Though I agree that the tragedy of Sept. 11, 2001, should be remembered with respect, it is worth noting that every date on the calendar generates grief for some and celebration for others.

Robin Pittman

Manhattan Beach

Boys of summer

Re “A more perfect numbers game,” Opinion, Sept. 7

One amazing aspect that Frederick M. Cohan could have included was the fans’ response to that near double no-hitter the day Sandy Koufax pitched a perfect game.

Starting at about the sixth inning, we stood and applauded the efforts of both pitchers after each at-bat with the same energy and volume. At some point we were converted from Dodger fans to baseball fans, realizing we were witnesses to something that we had never seen before nor could have imagined. It was a game not to be forgotten in baseball history.

I can’t resist comparing that night with fans today. A couple of generations have gone by, but when did we lose the enjoyment of attending an event for the game itself? Now, the occasional scuffle in the stands turns so ugly.

Bernie Kessler

Long Beach

Free speech

Re “Free speech rights are argued in Irvine 11 case,” Sept. 8

Advocates for the “Irvine 11” are putting up flack unrelated to the merits of the criminal charges against them: plotting to deprive others of their free speech rights. Arguing that any speech anywhere is permitted is similar to legalizing graffiti or slander.

This case has nothing to do with the defendants’ race or religion. It is quite simply that they conspired to steal someone else’s constitutionally guaranteed free speech rights. There is ample evidence that they did so, and the defense does not seem to deny it.

Perhaps they all need a quick and simple lesson: Let them see what happens when they try to exercise “free speech” by interrupting the judge.

Gary Dalin

Venice

Shady deal?

Re “Amazon deal averts ballot fight,” Sept. 9

I wish that I could be “people” just like corporations. Amazon threatens a referendum and gets a delay in implementing the Internet sales tax collection law. Can I throw a tantrum and have my government give me relief from my legal obligations?

Also, unlike many corporate “folks,” I pay U.S. taxes on my overseas income every year. I wish that I too could park those assets tax free and wait for a tax amnesty to repatriate them.

John Brock

Redondo Beach