On proposed cuts to the Cal State system; an American soldier accused of shooting civilians in Afghanistan

Cal State’s crunch

Re “CSU to freeze spring student rosters,” March 20

My daughter just graduated from Cal State Fullerton. My brother, two sisters-in-law, husband and I are all products of the Cal State system — Fullerton, Long Beach, Northridge, San Diego and Cal Poly Pomona, with a combination of five undergraduate degrees and three master’s degrees.

I’m sure that my family echoes that of many middle-class Californians. Education is paramount to the success of the state and the nation. To be denied that is to make us second or third rate.

Though higher education is a choice, the middle-class choice to be educated in California is disappearing at the Cal State campuses. Where are our teachers, nurses and urban planners going to come from? Are those California students who are turned away supposed to jump into the diminished job market?

I’m ready to tell my daughter to start saving for the education of her future unborn children so that they can study outside California.

Susan Knight

Orange

We have many private institutions throughout California that students can attend. Cost is often claimed as a reason for not attending private schools like mine, Concordia University Irvine.

In the big picture, however, this cost complaint is not completely valid. Consider the example of a six-year span of time for the college student. At a state school, all six years may be spent paying tuition while trying to enroll in classes needed to finish a degree. The student will not earn a college graduate’s salary at all during that time.

However, at CUI, a student will pay for four years of tuition, then move into the job market and receive income for years five and six.

The net cost of education will be roughly the same, but the private school graduate will have two more years of work experience and income compared with a public school graduate.

Michael W. Schulteis

Mission Viejo

Everyone can agree on the fact that education is important.

The Cal State system is planning to freeze spring 2013 enrollment, and more cuts will ensue if voters reject the proposed initiative to raise taxes. Obviously, the Cal State system is trying to push voters to help fund education, but is this really the best idea?

To freeze enrollment would be to put tens of thousands of students on hold. These students had precise plans, and their time is limited, especially in this economy.

We do need to focus on education, but the Cal State system’s chosen method may not be the best way to persuade voters.

Austin Dang

Chino Hills

Just goes to show you how messed up this state is. The governor is strong-arming voters to raise taxes on themselves while college budgets are being slashed, but college presidents are getting a 10% raise.

Where is the sanity? Gov. Jerry Brown just loves his public employees.

Cindy Ryan

Woodland Hills

What war can do to a soldier

Re “Accused soldier a family man,” March 17, and “Suspect soldier down on his luck,” March 18

It’s a tragic situation for Staff Sgt. Robert Bales, the Bales family, the Afghan civilians who were killed in their sleep and, ultimately, the world. My heart breaks.

But how many combat tours can one person take?

The people who are accusing Bales of shocking behavior probably have not survived even one tour of duty in Iraq or Afghanistan, let alone four.

Now we read that he was “down on this luck.” Is this line of thought supposed to suggest that Bales deserves to ride the spiral all the way to rock bottom?

Ellen Switkes

Sherman Oaks

Let’s hope the members of any military court will be the rank of captain and below, be combat infantry veterans and have served three tours in Iraq and Afghanistan. Then we will have a fair and just decision.

Bob Scofield

Fallbrook

Re “Our lives are not valued,” March 17

Thanks to Laura King and contributors Aimal Yaqubi and Hashmat Baktash for the in-depth, relevant and beautifully written report from Kabul regarding the recent killings of 16 Afghan villagers, allegedly by an American soldier.

I have read many reports on these killings and, other than this one, all have focused on the soldier, not the Afghans. Thanks for publishing what seems to be a rare report.

Robbie Roy

Palm Springs

Defending the healthcare law

Re “Obama’s health reform law still a hard sell,” March 21

The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act is not a tough sell in our house. My daughter survived a bout with Hodgkin’s lymphoma at age 19 (she’s now 24), and if it weren’t for the healthcare law, she would not be insured. We lived in fear that her cancer could recur, threatening her life and bankrupting our household. Now, thanks to the law, she can be covered by the insurance offered by my husband’s employer.

When the president first proposed the changes, there were people on the opposite side of the argument who spewed hateful epithets at me. What if their families had been afflicted with a life-threatening illness?

Andrea Fields

Woodland Hills

This important healthcare reform was passed for the one-third of Americans who previously did not have access to health insurance. It wasn’t supposed to affect the other two-thirds who were happy with their healthcare.

I am a registered nurse in a nonprofit outpatient setting with patients who are mostly uninsured. The hardest part of my job is trying to find affordable services for patients who need care beyond our scope of practice. As the first benefits of the Affordable Care Act have kicked in, I have seen the positive difference it has made in patients’ lives.

We are able to give needed information to young adults to help them get back on to their parents’ insurance plans. And taxpayers don’t pay for this — the young adults or their parents do. Now they have access to health insurance.

Does this hurt any of the two-thirds who say it hasn’t affected them? Aren’t they at least pleased that someone else may not be financially ruined if they are ill?

Susan Wong

Orange

As a frequent visitor overseas and a retired hospital employee in an allied health profession, I can’t for the life of me understand my fellow Americans who are so against health reform. It is not government-run — the insurance companies are still in charge, but they will be regulated to some degree. Our premiums will go toward medical care with emphasis on quality and efficiency, and, with everybody “in the pool,” eventually at a lower cost.

This reform is a long-term fix, not instant gratification. The Western industrialized countries have had health systems in place for decades. It is about time we fix our system so we can compete in this global economy.

Diane Welch

Cypress

Citing one of the early benefits of “Obamacare,” the Times mentions that “adult children” can remain on their parent’s coverage until they are 26.

There are no adult children, only adults who act or are treated like children. There are progeny, offspring and “my kids.” Your son may be 24, but he is not a child, I hope.

Obamacare and the nanny state treat people like children. They can drink, drive and vote, but they are not responsible enough to pay their way, although that’s the least-expensive age bracket for buying insurance.

Covering adult children costs someone or something. Nothing is free. Even lunch from a Democrat.

David Goodwin

Los Angeles