Riot police try to avoid a petrol bomb during clashes in Athens, Friday, Feb. 10, 2012. Thousands took to the streets of Athens as unions launched a two-day general strike against planned austerity measures on Friday, a day after Greece's crucial international bailout was put in limbo by its partners in the 17-nation eurozone. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis)
ORANGE, Richard Callahan: As the United States once again prepares to increase its debt ceiling, the question arises, ?Mr. Obama, are you learning from Greece??
When Greece entered the European Economic and Monetary Union it found borrowing easy, spent recklessly and neglected the private sector of its economy in favor of more public-sector growth. Despite early warnings, it continued on this path.
Greece has a huge debt payment due but lacks funds to retire that debt. In order to stay solvent Greece must ask for monetary assistance from other countries in the monetary union or default on its debt. A default means Greece must stop using the euro as its currency and could face an economic collapse.
However, the European Monetary Union will demand spending cuts if it helps Greece. These cuts (described as not enough) include a 20 percent to 25 percent reduction in the minimum wage, reduced government pensions and elimination of 150,000 government jobs on top of its 20 percent national unemployment rate.
Mr. Obama, take note: The United States can take a minor inconvenience now and reduce spending and borrowing, or continue on its reckless path of borrow-and-spend and face a catastrophic reckoning in the future, like what is being played out in the Greek riots, with their destruction of property and political unrest.
Mr. President, the choice is yours, or perhaps ours, come November?s elections.
The legend will live on
RANCHO SANTA MARGARITA, Gary G. Laux: Regarding Whitney Houston: Heroes are to be honored and recognized. Legends, however, will continue to be recognized and honored, forever.
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YORBA LINDA, Bob Johnson: The word ?tragedy? has been repeated many times on television newscasts and news in reference to Whitney Houston?s death. It is sad to hear of any death, however, the word ?tragedy? should be reserved for situations such as the death of the 3-year-old little girl, who was killed by a hit-and-run driver [Local, Feb. 10], the murder of the homeless men, the murder of the two children by their father in Utah, the children dying of disease, etc.
Deaths involving the death of innocent victims at the hands of others, or death by disease and by starvation around the world are certainly more tragic than Houston?s, especially those of the young, whose lives are cut so short.
?A beautiful moment?
BREA, Mr. and Mrs. William Gage: Michael Goulding?s photo of the three beautiful young dancers waiting in the wings during a ballet competition struck my wife and I as one for the books [?Swirls of artistry,? Local, Feb. 13].
Their poise, concentration and faces as they wait are beyond belief. What do they see? What are they thinking, and what dreams must be there?
Absolutely beautiful. A most candid and poignant moment caught in time.
GOP needs a top gun
LAGUNA HILLS, Stan Haugh: While the slate of Republican candidates are busy destroying each other, it is time to look for another candidate. A proven leader such as former Gen. David H. Petraeus, director of the Central Intelligence Agency, who obviously has executive skill, would be the perfect pick. Teamed with a brilliant young conservative like Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., as his vice-president, they would be a formidable duo.
The president must be replaced before his wealth distribution policies drag us into economic collapse. He has seduced many with his programs designed to buy him great personal favor. We must reduce the size of government but everything Obama does is designed to enlarge government.
Obamacare casualties
BREA, Lloyd Schwengel: I agree with the analysis by Jennifer Marks that forcing people to have children they don?t want would contribute to the number of dysfunctional ?non? families, (the ?non? is my addition since most abortions are for single women, not families) [?Obamacare changes,? Letters Feb. 13].
However, why should taxpayers be forced to pay for it? I suggest that since most abortions are now legal, that any person who wants one, be allowed to have it at her own expense. If the public has to pay for it, a mandatory sterilization process should be included. That way Marks? concerns could really be taken care of.
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SAN CLEMENTE, Earle McNeil: Obama has decreed it: Pregnancy is a disease and should be treated as such [?Obama adjusts birth control policy,? Nation&World, Feb. 11]. Yes, we are all products of a disease. Obama plans to make sure that it does not happen to any of us by insuring that we all pay, either by taxes or by insurance increases. Obama does not give credit to the tenacity, strong will and intelligence of the American woman.
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HUNTINGTON BEACH, Jodi Horist: I?d trade all my ?free? birth-control and abortion pills any day of the week for the return of my First Amendment freedoms.
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GARDEN GROVE, Susan Ann Barry: If the birth-control measures the president proposes were in effect in 1961, we might not have the problems we now have in Washington, D.C.
Crazy pay scales
LAGUNA HILLS, Richard Nolan: The average salary of U.S. state governors was $130,595 last year, according to the Council of State Government?s compensation survey. A U.S. Army general or Navy admiral makes about $144,000, using 2012 military pay tables. Orange County school district superintendents make an average of about $232,000. Now, the Register reports pay for O.C. schools is down 3 percent [?Payrolls shrink,? Front Page, Feb. 12]. Pardon me while I cry for our poor school administrators.
Whoever thought a high school superintendent should be paid $100,000 more than a state governor or military general?
So cities are laying off
HUNTINGTON BEACH, Ronald C. Wickham: Several cities are reported to be implementing layoffs resulting from loss of funds due to Gov.
Jerry Brown dismantling the redevelopment apparatus [?Redevelopment is dead ? sort of,? Orange Grove, Feb. 13]. Why are redevelopment funds used for paying salaries of city staff who have nothing to do with redevelopment?
I rarely agree with anything that Brown does but it appears he got this one right. The loss of funds is yet another instance of government misallocating public monies meant for one thing and used for another thing altogether.
An O.C. cowboy mentality
SAN CLEMENTE, Don Moery: It is reported that an O.C. sheriff?s deputy shoots a Camp Pendleton Marine in the back as the Marine walks back to his SUV during a traffic stop, killing him [?2 daughters in back seat when Marine fatally shot,? Local, Feb. 10]. The Marine is now dead.
Shoot first, and ask questions later, that?s the way it is in Orange County. The deputy will be enshrined as a hero in the war against crime, and everything is back to normal.
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