One man’s story illustrates a broken U.S. immigration system; Rick Santorum’s views on gay marriage; unemployment decreases

Immigration issues

Re “Desperate for his past life,” Jan. 8

This article highlights the astonishing lack of common sense in our immigration policies. Why is it so difficult for honest, hardworking people to come to this country legally?

Any person should be able to walk into a U.S. embassy, apply for a visa, pass a background check and be admitted.

Every few years, those admitted would have to check in with the government to demonstrate they’ve been employed and haven’t gotten into trouble or been on welfare. We would therefore have an immigrant population of productive working people.

Regarding those like Luis Luna who were brought to America as children, we should give these innocent kids a path to legalization. Having people like Luna in this country doesn’t hurt us in any way, and it’s stupid (not to mention just mean) to spend resources expelling them.

Barbara Beckley

Burbank

It’s very biased for The Times to show a one-sided view by chronicling the hardships many illegal immigrants face.

What about the millions of Americans who are suffering their own hardships as a direct result of illegal immigration? Why not write about our lives and how they have to compete with illegal immigrants for jobs?

By doing so, The Times would shed a much-needed light on the true victims of illegal immigration: the American people and their communities

Michael Samuels Jr.

Santa Monica

Does anyone else see the irony of the front-page story about Luna, a good student and hard worker deported to Mexico from the U.S. after living here 17 years (from the age of 3), and the second-page story about an Iraqi man visiting Disneyland who was allowed to migrate to New Jersey because he assisted the U.S. media?

What a sad state of affairs. I hope Luna gets to go home soon to his wife and family in Washington state.

Jayne Gordon

Santa Monica

Santorum’s marriage mess

Re “Santorum dwells on gay marriage,” Jan. 7

GOP presidential candidate Rick Santorum is a latter-day Rip Van Winkle: Asleep during a century of social change, he stumbles dazed and confused on his way to the presidency. His first response is anger and dismay at what he sees, so he condemns the unfamiliar “others” he fears.

Who are these “others”? Anyone who has sex not deliberately intended to make babies — so no recreational sex, you lascivious heterosexuals. With his Jesus as his supposed guide, he is a paragon of self-righteousness, though an actual Jesus may have stopped him from casting these stones.

Perhaps his frequent confrontations with the “others” will wake him up. Though so far he’s been in attack mode, which is neither presidential nor enlightened.

Robert Louis Chianese

Ventura

An imprisoned father who has abandoned his family is preferable to children being raised by loving parents who happen to be of the same sex? It absolutely boggles the mind that anyone, much less a candidate for president, could make that statement with — pardon the expression — a straight face.

Jay Soloway

Pasadena

Figuring out unemployment

Re “Jobless rate falls to 8.5% as more hire,” Jan. 7

It is encouraging that unemployment has gone down. One wonders, though, what kind of

jobs the newly hired are entering.

It is important that these jobs are paying enough to maintain a person’s need for food, clothing, shelter and healthcare. Of late, there is no restraining the price of goods and services, so incomes are effectively reduced. Also, low-paying jobs do not contribute much in taxes.

This report is good news politically for the Obama administration, but is it that good for the shrinking middle class?

Ken Johnson

Piñon Hills, Calif.

The unemployment rate for December dropped to 8.5%, the lowest in three years. How does the GOP respond?

Mitt Romney: “no cause for celebration.” Newt Gingrich: “anemic.”

I am convinced the GOP hopes for bad economic news between now and November. Wasn’t the party’s battle cry in 2010 “jobs, jobs, jobs”? Yet Congress has not passed a jobs bill since then and has instead railed against President Obama’s job proposals.

Sol Taylor

Sherman Oaks

Easy does it

Re “Arson suspect’s path to L.A.,” Jan. 7

In the post-9/11 world, it is difficult to understand how the Burkharts were able to come to and leave the United States numerous times. How did they get visas for this travel? Where did they get the money to travel to Canada and Europe?

Dorothee Burkhart was under scrutiny for crimes in Germany, and yet she and her son were able to move about quite freely.

By contrast, we have some friends who had tremendous difficulty coming to the U.S. from Britain. We have another friend whose daughter had to wait a year to enter Britain to join her future spouse.

These people are well educated, law-abiding and have good careers, and yet they did not have the freedom to move about that the Burkharts seem to have had. Something is clearly amiss with our immigration screening.

Frima Telerant

Los Angeles

Troops abroad

Re “Obama calls for leaner military,” Jan. 6

The front-page graphic that showed the distribution of U.S. troops stationed around the world was disturbing. Why do we have more than 50,000 troops in Germany, more than 9,000 in Britain, about 40,000 in Japan and nearly 11,000 in Italy?

I can see no threat to American interests in any of those countries. I think our interests would be better served if we left about 1,000 troops in each of the four countries. And even then, I think 1,000 would be too many.

Obama ought to consider cutting our foreign military forces left over from World War II.

Masse Bloomfield

Canoga Park

Enjoy the ride

Re “Loved, reviled, but hard to peg,” Column One, Jan. 6

KFI’s John and Ken cannot be pigeonholed; they’re really all over the map politically.

What makes them fun to listen to is that they both have a great sense of humor and don’t take themselves anywhere as seriously as everyone else seems to do. You may not agree with every position they take, but you’re sure to laugh at something they say during each segment.

Bottom line: They’re entertaining and make your drive go quickly; in Los Angeles, that’s no small thing.

Ken Hirsch

Playa del Rey

Protect who?

Re “Porn’s problem,” Letters, Jan. 5

Wow, I’ve been hoping someone would ban pornography — forbidden fruit is so much sweeter!

Unfortunately, and contrary to the letter writer’s view that pornography is prostitution, the California Supreme Court ruled precisely the opposite in 1988 (California vs. Freeman), so it is legal to shoot porn in California. The case resulted in everyone and his aunt grabbing a camera — to the detriment of my business.

Ironically, the adult-film business is the safest place to have sex. Actors are screened and tested monthly, and problems only occur when they perhaps wander into a bar and pick up an infection from the general public. Pornographic actors should be protected.

Suze Randall

Monte Nido