Proposition 8 on trial; the governor and the budget; the governor and the schools

Prop. 8 and the public

Re “Supreme Court bars video of Prop. 8 trial,” Jan. 12

The U.S. Supreme Court issued a ruling that clearly indicates where it is likely to stand should the issue of marriage equality reach it directly. In what apparently was an 8-1 decision, the court ruled that broadcasting a U.S. District Court trial on the legality of Proposition 8 was unacceptable. Openness in the District Court proceedings thus will be denied to the general populace, and the activities and arguments of the trial will be publicized only via the filters of the media.

The struggle for fairness and equality still faces a long, uphill climb. This is yet another sad day for the people of California.

Ron Streicher
Pasadena

Re “Novel testimony likely at Prop. 8 trial,” Jan. 11

Shame on Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and Atty. Gen. Jerry Brown for not backing Proposition 8.

Homosexuality may be legal in the eyes of man, but is it moral in the eyes of God? Bill Tam, an opponent of same-sex marriage, asked a judge to remove him from the lawsuit because he feared for himself and his family.

Legalized marriage for same-sex couples is hardly conventional. Prejudice on either side should be closely scrutinized. Judges must stay levelheaded and prevent undo coercion.

This is all the more reason to uphold the actual law and not something made up out of personal preference.

Anna Koepke
El Sobrante, Calif.

Andrew Pugno, lawyer for Proposition 8 backers, stated in his argument against broadcasting the civil trial that “supporters of Proposition 8 are fearful about being questioned about their personal, political and religious beliefs on the stand and having that televised.”

Perhaps individuals who are so concerned about making their personal beliefs public should not be advocating the enshrinement of those beliefs as public policy.

Mike Lambert
Studio City

Budgeting for less

Re “Gov. again seeks steep budget cuts,” Jan. 9

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger stated, “Children are my priority, and they will always be my priority,” as he unveiled his 2010-2011 budget for California.

Among his proposals is the complete elimination of CalWorks, the state’s safety net program for about 1 million poor children. Should this come to pass, California would be the only state in the nation and the only place in the industrialized world without a safety net for kids.

Paul Tepper
Los Angeles
The writer is executive director of the Western Center on Law and Poverty.

I am so weary of listening to all the verbal hand-wringing by our bloviating politicians as it relates to saving “precious taxpayer dollars.”

I would be more than happy to pay more taxes so that I no long have to worry (or read about) more teacher layoffs and whether the DMV will be open on Fridays.

During these “tough times,” why don’t we all just recognize our obligation to ante up?

Steven Schilling
Sierra Madre

Re “Governor signals intent to go after speeders,” Jan. 9

No wonder California is in bad shape. Based on a proposal to install radar cameras, the state already knows how much money it will make and spend? What kind of budget planning is that? Or is that part of the new math taught in schools nowadays?

It would be like me going out and buying houses and cars on the notion that I might win the lottery.

Maybe the governor and the state’s Department of Finance should take a class in Farming 101, where they might learn about not counting their chickens before they are hatched.

Raul Perez
Chino

Some thoughts on education

Re “Gov. signs school bills,” Jan. 8

In response to Schwarzenegger’s “Race to the Top” plan, I suggest all parents in California demand a complete overhaul of California’s schools so they operate like schools in Scandinavia, Germany and Japan.

In those countries, if a child has shown the propensity for academics and going the university route, he is primed in the professional fields. But not all children fit this category. The other students learn a skill, trade or vocation as well as the basic skills of math, reading and writing that they need to survive in society.

Not all students need to go to college. There are so many other opportunities for them, but not if we do not supply them in their school years with the confidence and the skills they so desperately need and crave.

Lauri Markson
Agoura Hills
The writer is a high school English teacher.

Re “Eased rules urged on firing weak teachers,” Jan. 9

Schwarzenegger is continuing his monomaniacal attack on educators by proposing to allow school districts to ignore seniority during layoffs, purportedly to make it easier for school districts to fire “weak” teachers.

It seems strange that Schwarzenegger, one of the weakest governors our state has had, would be setting his sights so far from home when it comes to getting rid of unqualified state employees.

With the state capital in gridlock, an absence of policy and leadership coming from the governor’s office and a budget meltdown largely resulting from the Governator’s tax cuts, it seems outrageous that we can’t immediately fire an underperformer whose incompetence is destroying the entire state.

Let’s have a rule change making it easier to fire weak governors.

Randall Smith
San Diego

Police officers have rights too

Re “It’s a police matter,” Editorial, Jan. 9

The Times editorial about the use of “compelled statements” from police officers under department investigation will no doubt serve as a standard to those who prefer convenience over law.

There were reasons why the “peace officer bill of rights” was created, and they had nothing to do with “thwart(ing) investigations of possible crimes.” Eliminating the rights of police officers under California Government Code 3300 will only ensure that officers are once again trapped in a disciplinary environment dependent on the instability of office-seekers, who wrestle with objectivity, and those police administrators who balance integrity against personal success.

And could we also get one thing straight? Nobody in the law enforcement business is emulating the LAPD. There are many innovative and effective police agencies throughout the nation that routinely complete their mission without waiting for the LAPD to create a tactic, interpret a trend or grant an audience.

Dan Milchovich
Covina
The writer is a retired captain in the Inglewood Police Department.

Healthcare in India

Re “In India, cancer patients rough it,” Column One, Jan. 8

It is hard to believe that some people actually are forced to live on the streets as they undergo treatment for cancer.

I just hope Gov. Schwarzenegger doesn’t read your article. He might get some ideas to make more budget cuts in the healthcare field.

Charles Jones
Woodland Hills

This is like America. In Los Angeles, do you not have lines of people early in the morning waiting for free medical care?

We have billionaires who pay little if any taxes -- just, no doubt, like in India -- enjoying multimillion-dollar homes in gated communities while many outside cannot eat or get medical care. I go to church on Sunday and pray for God to take care of all.

Edward P. Pita
Houston