MAILBAG - July 12, 2001

Your editorial dealing with Drug Awareness Resistance Education is

both timely and important (“Dare to question the value of DARE,” June

28.)How can we have the right size government if we never evaluate how

the taxpayers’ money is spent? While the goals were lofty, the

administrators were well-intentioned, and the funding was abundant --

this program was destined to failure (as are most government programs).

Educating children with half-truths only breeds disillusionment. Kids

can look at real world examples of parents, peers, sports figures,

politicians and celebrities to find that drugs only destroy a few, while

the rest use them responsibly. It is time to cut the taxpayer support of

DARE.

If DARE wishes to survive, it will have to compete in the marketplace

with all the other charities and educational foundations. Libertarians

say that DARE is redundant. We don’t need taxpayers’ billions to tell

kids to beware of the dangers of drugs. We can do it as parents,

churches, communities, friends and neighbors.

Libertarians want to let the people decide as individuals what

programs work and what programs deserve our money. We want the government

to govern, not decide which programs to support.

I was a paperboy for the Independent back in the late 1970s. I grew up in Huntington Beach. Let’s examine some other drains on our taxes.

Thanks, Independent.

CHRISTOPHER GANIERE

Costa Mesa

Columnist right on the mark with BrewBakers

I want to thank you for the article you wrote on BrewBakers the week

of Father’s Day (“Finding the perfect gift for Dad on Father’s Day,” June

14.) I thought you captured the feel of BrewBakers very well and this

has not been easy for anyone to do.

We are a different kind of business, and it’s articles like this one

that really help us get the word out there.

Thanks again for bringing your excellent writing skills to BrewBakers

and to our readers out there. Have Fun!

DENNIS MIDDEN

Owner

BrewBakers, Huntington Beach

Residents should not have to pay for upgrades

The citizens of Huntington Beach are the last ones who should be

gouged by the increase in fees (“Pier Plaza parking rate hike to benefit

beach upgrades,” July 5.) No one should be gouged.

This is the only city I know that runs parking meters 24/7, and are

the most expensive around. I propose the city include a free “Day Pass”

in each resident’s water bill. Even if the bill payer didn’t use the

pass, they would likely give it to a friend who would use it.

And, while that person was at the beach, they would be more inclined

to visit Downtown merchants and vendors, spend some money and pay tax

that that goes to the city.

That’s my thought, but I’m not the one under investigation for

conflicts of interest or in front of the Grand Jury for hiding sewer

leaks.

TOM SIMPSON

Huntington Beach