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Anger over San Onofre; voters should weigh in on new plant

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Where’s outrage in San Onofre debacle?

Regarding “New Onofre deal sought” (April 16): The idea of owning a business is that you can make a profit if you are willing to lose your investment, right? Pretty basic capitalistic principle.

So if, through bad management or bad luck, the owners (stockholders) lose money, they are supposed to eat it, right? But if you have the right friends, as apparently does Southern California Edison, your pals can extort the customers into covering the screw-up.

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  • E-mail letters@sduniontribune.com
  • Mail: Andrew Kleske, Reader Outreach Editor
    San Diego Union-Tribune
    P.O. Box 120191
    San Diego, CA 92112-0191.

If we can’t find a law that would put the regulators in jail, shouldn’t they at least lose their jobs, like immediately?

Where is the outrage? What a society of sheep we have become.

Rich Luskin
Mission Valley

Voters should have say on new plant

Regarding “CPUC backs new Carlsbad plant” (April 7): To put it into perspective, this new SDG&E/CPUC proposed peaker gas plant will cost San Diego residents significantly more than a new stadium for the Chargers.

And it doesn’t require a vote of the people who are expected to pay for it.

Dennis Griffin
Carlsbad

Russia is a bigger threat than we admit

It wasn’t long ago, during the Obama/Romney debate, Romney was ridiculed when he said Russia was the biggest threat to world peace.

The current debate over Iran nuclear capability has allowed Putin (“Russia to sell missiles to Iran, clouding talks,” April 14) to continue his quest to reopen the Cold War and regain much of old Russia. He has played us and continues his aggression in the Ukraine.

He has little regard for a weakened NATO and considers our president to be weak. His latest insult to the current administration is a willingness to supply Iran with anti-aircraft missiles. Our greatest threat to our nation is not Iran, North Korea or even Russia but our unrealistic foreign policy.

Peter Malaspina
Cardiff

We need to teach our children compassion

I read the U-T article regarding the two transgender teens who committed suicide (“LGBTQ center hit hard by transgender teen’s death,” April 11). What a waste of two beautiful young people gone from this world needlessly.

A child’s self-esteem is so fragile and lack of decency and outright cruelty of the bullies makes me wonder about parenting today. Those responsible should be held accountable. Both the children and parents.

I blame it on ignorance and lack of any compassion. Teachers in the school system step up, and urge administrations to require a course requirement for graduation – one that educates children and parents about how brains given us determine our sexual preferences. Compassion is learned.

Janet Steiber
Oceanside

PETA does more than most people realize

If Lin Tarter (“SeaWorld an easy target for PETA,” April 10) hates PETA, that’s her right.

But before she and others continue the PETA-bashing featured in recent editorial letters, they might demonstrate more knowledge of the organization.

Tarter asks where PETA is for farm animals, rodeos and slaughterhouses. The answer is, PETA is where it has always been for all animals.

PETA has active campaigns for animals in factory farms, laboratories, entertainment, military operations, the clothing industry, classroom dissection, sport hunting, puppy mills – you name it.

SeaWorld is currently newsworthy, but PETA constantly works for the liberation of all exploited, abused and neglected creatures.

Jane Cartmill
Encinitas

We can’t just bury our used fuel forever

Simply burying the nation’s nuclear waste deep inside Nevada’s Yucca Mountain (“On Obama, Sen. Reid and San Onofre’s nuclear waste,” April 11) is typically American. We have a throwaway attitude in this country that includes everything from food to razors to diapers to spent nuclear fuel. That behavior must change.

There is no reason that nuclear waste cannot be reused. France, Great Britain, Japan, India and Russia all employ some form of nuclear waste recycling.

It is not perfect, but in time, like anything else, it will be improved upon. Reusing spent nuclear fuel is a financially and ecologically intelligent approach that sure beats throwing it away like we do almost everything else.

Neil Proffitt
Oceanside

The real losers were the victims involved

U-T writer Karla Peterson, in the “Winners & Losers” column (April 12), included South Carolina police officer Michael Slager as a loser because he is a white man charged with murdering a black man.

Slager is accused of murder. The losers here are the man he allegedly murdered, Walter Scott, and his friends and family.

This comment by itself may seem odd. However, taken in context with the other winners and losers, I believe it’s a point made.

Kevin Andersen
Del Cerro

Glad to see yoga program will continue

Regarding “Appeals court upholds school yoga” (April 4): It is great to learn that Encinitas’ public school yoga program was upheld by the court and will continue.

The exercise of yoga is a great workout for the body and mind, and, yes, we can leave the spiritual part out.

The state ruled that schools are practicing this exercise in a secular way, neither bringing religion in nor restraining an individual’s religion. Much research supports the benefits that yoga provides for our children. Stress is a major component of being a student, so why take something away that is working? As a community, we need to find ways other than prescribing pharmaceutical drugs to help our students focus, so they can become successful. Stretch, breathe and relax.

Jamie Morales
Vista

Desalination answer to water shortage

The solution to the projected shortfall in water supply is staring us in the face.

According to the insert in our water bill from the Olivenhain Municipal Water District, the Carlsbad Desalination Project coming online in November this year will deliver approximately 7 percent of the county’s water demands.

A 7 percent increase in supply, from a modestly sized facility as I recall, and built in, I think, less than 24 months. The governor wants users to decrease the amount consumed by 25 percent.

Or, we could enjoy the lifestyle many of us have chosen by living here despite other costs, and increase the supply. The technology exists, it apparently can be in place fairly quickly, and we can focus our angst on other issues.

Bill Stoops
Solana Beach

Eating meat a choice we should protect

Regarding “Meat industry is very water intensive” (April 14): The author states that “we can easily eliminate the animal products we eat.” It is each and every individual’s right to choose what to eat, whether it be meat or non-animal meals.

No individual or government has a right to tell or push anyone to stop eating meat because it is not cost-efficient for their state or country. Common sense says fix the water problem, instead of removing meat!

Our governor and our president need to figure out a way to find efficient and effective ways of providing clean water to our nation, such as building desalination plants. Perhaps golf courses and hotel lawns shouldn’t be so green!

Meat has been part of the diet of the human race since the beginning of time, and will continue to be. Get real!

Jeanette Weeks
Carlsbad

Government going too far also a hazard

The Oceanside smoking ordinance (“Oceanside bans smoking in restaurant patios,” March 19) is an audacious measure toward community health.

Nearly 800,000 Americans lost their lives last year to heart-related illness, largely due to cholesterol buildup.

So why hasn’t Oceanside set an ordinance banning fatty foods? Quite simply, the choice to eat a burger and clog up your arteries is ours to make.

Similarly, the choice to light a cigarette is ours. Understandably, the health-conscious don’t want to be exposed to smoke. Fortunately, no one’s forcing us to patronize smoking-friendly restaurants. Those who do so accept the risks. We understand that smoking is hazardous, but dictating what a private citizen can or cannot do is more so.

Sonny Whitaker
San Diego

Home development is unwanted in Fallbrook

Regarding “7,000 new homes proposed,” April 12): I find it beyond belief that on one hand the county and state are asking for 25 percent reduction in water usage while water companies are advising home developers that they will provide the water for 7,000 new homes.

Is the U-T aware that Fallbrook recommended a no on these developments in 2013 on a 14-to-1 vote, yet the county supervisors voted to allow them to continue? Where is the U-T story on that?

So I am supposed to let my lawn and trees die and home value be decimated so these people can continue to destroy the rural character of our area with congestion, drought and make millions while they do it?

I have already reduced 40 percent. No deal.

Shawn Wetherald
Fallbrook

Lessons learned from One Paseo efforts

Because of the actions of the majority of San Diego City Council members who declined to listen to the voices of the citizens, and were willing to cave in to the money and manipulation of Kilroy Realty, the reputation of San Diego as “America’s Finest City” has been tarnished.

The City Council’s actions, which prompted the subsequent referendum movement, have encouraged Kilroy to demonstrate how deceptive, desperate and unethical it is. Two false “petitions,” and hiring “blockers” to prevent people from signing the referendum, clearly demonstrate its total lack of interest in the welfare of the citizens. It has one clear goal – huge profits.

Come election time, the voters of our city will be reminded of whose interests the City Council truly represents.

Shelli Chosak
Carmel Valley

Good to have helpful neighbors

We would like to publicly thank the eight to 10 good Samaritans who came to our aid when a load of slippery, heavy tigerwood planks broke through their banding and spilled out onto El Camino Real at La Costa Avenue. They braved busy Friday, March 13, noon-hour traffic.

They placed about 60 to 70 11-foot boards back onto our trailer. They all have our deepest thanks for their 20 minutes of generosity and derring-do.

Roger & Louise Schmitt
Encinitas

Happy an old favorite is back in print

You’ve brought back “News of the Weird” and The (almost) Back Page.

Yay! There’s always so much depressing news in the paper. This section always makes me smile.

Sherman Blench
Escondido

We should be more focused on this threat

The recent formation of Islamic fundamentalist groups terrorizing vast regions of North Africa and the Middle East by enforcing the rule of strict sharia law should be a wake-up call to anyone who does not wish to be controlled by a theocratic government.

Organizations such as Theocracy Watch, Americans United for Separation of Church and State and the Freedom From Religion Foundation are the vanguards in the establishment of firewalls against the incursion of any religious fundamentalism into our governmental venues.

None of the above named organizations want to abolish religion; they simply want it to remain in its rightful private place.

Warren Dunn
Oceanside

Beachgoers beware of nails in fire pits

On Monday, I saw Drasko Bogdanovic, a state park lifeguard, picking up at least 3 pounds of 2-inch rusty nails out of a fire pit left in the sand after the weekend.

We hear about the hazards in the sand and grass at Mission Bay. People need to know rusty nail hazards exist all over the dry sand at Ponto Beach, South Carlsbad. Thank you, Drasko, for collecting the old charred wood studded with nails.

Alexandra Kendzior-Fuller
Carlsbad

City seems to be ignoring reality

Encinitas continues to amuse. A bag ban, yoga war, Spock Week, and, in the face of a 15 percent water cut by Metropolitan Water District, a school pools proposal.

Brett Haring
Vista

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