Jul 17, 2008

Letters to the Editor

Daily News

Letters to the Editor: July 17 edition

60 mph bill

Dear Editor: Rep. Jackie Speier's proposed legislation to limit national speed limits to 60 mph has serious implications for state, county and city budgets. More federal laws that must be enforced by local police and handled in local courts cost all taxpayers too much money and produce too little benefit. The money to change all the highway signs will not be provided by the federal government, but will fall to local taxpayers. With our deficits as they are, why does our representative want to add to the problem?

We all need to be very careful about how our newly elected representative handles things in Washington. We do not need bigger government and the resulting "Nanny State."

Yes, 60 mph will save gas, but we do not need more laws to demand drivers do the right thing. Our current speed limits are adequate, when enforced.

Charles Caldwell,

San Mateo



John McCain

Dear Editor: John Waldman and David Brock have written an amazing book titled, "Free Ride: John McCain and the Media." I recommend it to all to read before the election. The authors show "how the mainstream media has enabled McCain's rise from the Keating Five savings-and-loan scandal to the underdog hero of the 2000 primaries to his roller coaster run for the 2008 nomination.

They illuminate how the press and TV pundits fall for McCain's "straight talk" and how the Arizona senator gets away with inconsistencies and misrepresentations for which the media skewers other politicians. This is a fascinating study of how the media shape the political debate, and an essential book for every Washington junkie.

Even public radio and TV do not report this important story of media manipulation by McCain and his handlers, so the public does not get an accurate view of the real McCain, who is not a maverick or moderate, but a loyal Republican conservative. It is a remarkable study of the gullibility of reporters.

Edith Groner,

Palo Alto



Mideast conflict

Dear Editor: Hezbollah's depravity and Israel's fundamental decency are on full display this week.

It's hard to watch Lebanon's leadership accord a hero's welcomes to Samir Kuntar and his Hezbollah compatriots without using the terms "victory" or "defeat." Kuntar is not, as his supporters claim, "the conscience of Lebanon, Palestine and the Arab nation," but a brutal, mass-murdering thug. Kuntar will be forgotten soon. I doubt Eldad Regev and Ehud Goldwasser will be so easily forgotten. Consider those who heap praise on Kuntar and then remind yourself which side you are on.

Goldwasser and Regev are the real heroes. They are home two long years after they were killed in battle, and Israel paid a heavy price not just in their deaths but to return them home. I am proud that Israel goes to such lengths to redeem its captives and pray that their families can begin to heal. Hopefully, Gilad Shalit will also be home soon. And some day we will learn the fate of Ron Arad.

Painful as it was, Israel made the right choice. Israel will move on and so will we. Will we have the courage to accept reality, not as we want it but as it is?

Steve Lipman

Foster City



Dear Editor: In his July 11 letter, Mr. Tuck portrays Ms. Marshall's perspective as "hackneyed," as being "clever inside a bubble" without perspective. His insightful conclusion is that as soon as she and the "Arab side" finally accept that Israel has a right to exist "the Arabs and Israelis will have no reason to fight" - i.e., the straw man theory.

He conveniently ignores Israel's illegal occupation and continued expansion within the West Bank lands while controlling the Palestinian population with literally hundreds of military checkpoints to protect "settlers," many if not most of whom are armed with automatic weapons. While it is true that a fringe proportion call for Israel's destruction, it is more propaganda (on both sides) than having a realistic basis - it gives Israel the rationalization to effect the harsh controls (hopefully the Palestinians will leave), and for the Palestinian extremists such threats facilitate recruitment and project some sense of hope in the eventual riddance of the oppressor.

The real threat to both is the quarter million mostly religious extremist "settlers" and their military support system - to both the Palestinian citizen, and Israel's good name/status in world standing.

Can a quarter million, mostly religious zealots, be moved back to Israel? What if they were allowed to stay, under a Palestinian government? What if our several billion dollars a year given Israel were used to "buy them out?" Tis a real conundrum.

Gilwee Walker,

Palo Alto