Letters to the editor

America’s step forward

Editor,

Where do we go from here? That depends upon how far and long the majority of Americans will support the efforts of President-elect Barack Obama in his efforts to rescue our sinking economy and head toward the road to recovery.

Across the nation, car and truck drivers forced gas prices down at the pump to less than half in less than a year. That type of cooperation and many tougher sacrifices will have to be made for Obama to keep his "Yes We Can” pledge.

It’s a given that he will reach across the aisle in Congress for Republican support. If they refuse his offer, the public should recognize it as the typical answer from the "party of the rich,” putting its own selfish needs ahead of the majority.

Case in point: Democrats regained control of Congress following the 2006 elections based on their promise to bring our armed forces home from Iraq. Their efforts failed due to vetoes by President Bush and support from the GOP to prevent an override of his veto. Instead of placing the blame on the guilty parties, most of the public "low-rated” the Democrats for their efforts.

Hopefully, the injustice will be corrected and Obama will bring our troops home with his majority in Congress.

Jack M. Rogers

San Mateo

A true representative

Editor,

As I recall Patricia Gray has run a number of times for Congress both against Tom Lantos and most recently Jackie Speier. Not only did she run, but she lost by significant margins. That being said, I would say that more people in the district agreed with the views and votes of the late, lamented Congressman Tom Lantos and now agree with the views and votes of Congressman Speier. For Ms. Gray to say that the congresswoman is ignoring the wishes of thousands of her constituents must mean that she is paying attention to the tens of thousands in the district who voted for her and not Patricia Gray. We are lucky to have a congresswoman so responsive to the needs of her constituents and the needs of the country and all of its citizens.

Jon S. Levinson

San Carlos

Apples and oranges

Editor,

Bailing out the auto industry is not what it seems. The problems facing the auto industry are unfunded mandates. The auto industry has signed union contracts giving employees, laid-off employees and retired employees huge benefits, such as retirement, medical coverage and extended severance pay. All of these benefits run for years into the future. Unlike the banks, these are not one-time loans. These are not caused by the subprime loan situation. They are caused by years of mismanagement. Simple arithmetic tells you that they could not meet the contractual obligation and they did them anyway. They were counting on a government bailout. They are now waiting for us taxpayers to foot the bill.

Keith C. De Filippis

San Jose

Archaic budget

formula must change

Editor,

I find the attitude of the Republican members of the state Assembly and Senate unreasonable and unworkable regarding the state budget. All they want are cuts to vital programs and no increase in taxes. There are times when we have to bite the bullet and now is one of those times. I’m afraid that their stand will really destroy this state. I’m a property owning, tax paying, native Californian who sincerely hopes that the legislature comes to it’s senses before we all go down the tubes.

It’s time to do away with the two-thirds rule and come into the 21st century.

Joanne Bruggemann

Redwood City