Letters to the editor

Much ado about elephants

It does not surprise me that animal activists are complaining about the new Elephant Odyssey at the San Diego Zoo. These activists will not be satisfied until each elephant receives its own 10-acre plot, has a pampered chef and gets their nails manicured once a week. My advice to the San Diego Zoo is to ignore the ridiculous cries of a small group of pampered elitists who have nothing better to do with their time. Zoos are a wonderful thing and they are here to stay.

San Diego

The great fly mystery

Regarding “Pretend you are Obama” and the article about fly infestation in the White House, both pieces published June 18:

Apparently experts are unsure of the origin of the fly infestation in the White House. I suggest they first check the president's shoes, and if not there, his speech writer's shoes may yield a clue. My understanding is that most cattle farms have a similar infestation, particularly near the bull pen. At any rate, I'm most certain the problem should not be attributed to Bo, the First Dog, no matter how culpable and easy a fall guy he may be.


Set climate example

I am writing in response to the June 9 article, U.S. seeks tougher climate steps from China. California has long led the nation in developing, promoting and implementing clean and renewable energy initiatives. As climate change prevention becomes a concern worldwide, California should continue its leadership role. By mandating that utilities get at least 33 percent of their energy from renewable resources by 2020, California can triple its use of clean energy and set a standard for the rest of the U.S. and for the world. If the U.S. is urging other countries such as China to cut greenhouse gas emissions, we must be willing to do the same, and change can begin right here in California.

La Jolla

Bail out California ...

If the U.S. government provides emergency aid to so many private companies that only questionably deserve it, why doesn't it lend a hand to California too? Not only can the state not be blamed for engineering this financial crisis, but the feds are much more likely to get repaid if California restores its prosperity, and the sooner the better.


... hey, wait a minute

If AIG was too big to fail, where does that leave California? I can't wait to pay interest on a loan to California from the U.S. government with my California tax dollars while paying interest to the U.S. government for money borrowed from China to loan to California with my federal tax dollars.


A new credit scheme

Thank you for the June 16 article “Credit card issuers opt to cut a deal.” For months I have been listening to commercials about people getting away with paying less than half their income tax bill. Now you say I can do the same thing with credit cards? I was just about to cover my entire $8,000 bill for this month, but I have a better idea. I'm going to offer the bank $4,000 and see how that flies. Why not?

Ocean Beach

What magic pill?

So, with the president encouraging better health habits, we now need another weight loss pill.

Let me offer another solution, (for which I will ask only $100,000):

Fewer calories, more exercise!

Please, please, please! The majority of obesity issues are the result of lifestyle choices! Get it?

La Mesa

The measured rip-offs

More dear to my heart than the propane rip-off is the ice-cream rip-off. The traditional half-gallon first became 1.75 quarts, with no price reduction of course, and now the new standard is 1.5 quarts. The first change was a 12.5 percent price increase and the second 14.2 percent for a combined increase of 25 percent so far over the original price. They are not alone. My Dial soap bars used to be 4.5 ounces and now, with a curved piece shaved out of the bottom, are 4.0 ounces, an 11.1 percent increase. Illegal, no; ethically dishonest, you bet. The message to these corporate scammers: be a man and face us squarely, honestly and openly to raise your prices instead of being like some stealthy thief in the middle of the night.