Letters to the editor
Sophomoric slur
I was surprised to see the sophomoric slur about the President becoming an Aztec in the Reader Opinion section of the December 20 edition. This is the sort of inane innuendo I might expect to see scrawled on a public restroom wall, not in the editorial section of the Sentinel. Despite strong opinions I would hope that the public discourse about politics and politicians would rise a few levels above this sort of comment.
John York
RamonaGlobal warming is melting our glaciersOur glaciers are melting fast, faster than 20 years ago. It seems like our government isn’t too worried about this serious problem. One group that is trying to help is the EPA. They don’t have a big budget, which makes it difficult to get things done.Our government does not have extra money lying around to go to groups like the EPA. But our glaciers are melting because of global warming. Scientists say global warming is from man-made items like exhaust from cars. Other scientists say that global warming would be happening anyway.Some people think it’s not that big of a deal, but there are two serious problems. The first is the animals who live on the glaciers. If all of the glaciers melt, the animals will have nowhere to live and will die. The second problem is every time the glaciers melt, more water is put in the ocean. If too many were to melt, the ocean would rise, causing mass flooding on the coast, and this would cause major damage to many homes and families.The EPA tries many things to help with the environment. In my opinion, it is too late. For instance, the EPA tries to encourage people to purchase hybrid cars because they use little to no gas, which produces minimal exhaust into the air. Only a few percent of people who own cars, own hybrids.Hybrids cost a lot more than a regular car, so in this tough economy, people will stick to the original cars. These cars could be more efficient if they were out 30 years ago and much cheaper because then people would have transitioned into buying cars long ago, and so hybrids would be more popular and common today.The EPA is doing everything it can to help with global warming. If our government really wants to protect and help our environment, it would pass more strict laws to reduce greenhouse gasses. It would also help the EPA if it had a larger budget so it could make a bigger impact on global warming and other issues.We need to find a solution, and it is not only up to the EPA. It is up to us as a country to do what we can to fight this phenomenon.
Kent Michitsch Jr.
Senior
Ramona High SchoolPros and cons of incorporationA current issue going on right now in the town of Ramona is the question of becoming a township or remaining a part of San Diego County. As a pro, of course, Ramona would be its own independent incorporation, thus would have the authority to control the town as a whole on its own. If Ramona became a township, it could conduct planning and zoning independent from the rest of the county, which is a plus in the fact that it allows for independence of the town to perform in the people’s best interest. In addition, Ramona would be able to create its own police department rather than have a branch of the San Diego County Sheriff Department, which might allow for more focus on criminal issues within Ramona. Though there are police officers that are assigned to work in the Ramona branch and monitor the goings-on of the town, it seems it would be much more efficient to have our own local law enforcement set up to handle all things Ramona 24/7.There are cons to becoming a township though. Once independently incorporated, costs are all maintained by the town itself rather than financially depending on the county to perform tasks such as fixing the roads and sidewalks.Another costly addition to being an town separate from the county is the prosecution of misdemeanors, which is currently covered by the county itself. The township would also be issued more paperwork from the state, which means more staff and equal more expense.Though the sound of more jobs always seems to be the best option, the amount of paperwork may be a hefty thing to acquire just starting out. The biggest issue for us “Ramonans” I believe is the idea that there would be a loss of sense of community if this small town became its own incorporation.That is an important aspect of living in Ramona, for while there is much mockery of this rural town of “countryfolk,” those that have remained in Ramona enjoy the way it is right now.Me personally? I think there are benefits and disadvantages to becoming a township which would need to be taken under further consideration.If it was possible, I think becoming our own township would provide a lot of opportunity and power in the decision-making of what happens in our town and how it happens. And even if we did become incorporated, I think the people of Ramona would continue to have a strong sense of community because that’s the most recognizable quality of Ramona, and the small-town feel isn’t created by dependence on the county but by the open, friendly, and supportive people living in it.
Heather Stegon
Senior
Ramona High School