Coastal Post Online

MARIN COUNTY'S NEWS MONTHLY - FREE PRESS
(415)868-1600 - (415)868-0502(fax) - P.O. Box 31, Bolinas, CA, 94924

April, 2009

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Letters to the editor
BY You & Me

Shotgun Approach To Economy--The Budget
The Obama Administration is throwing many hundreds of billions of dollars at a multitude of programs, hoping for economic success. It appears the thrust of the policies encompass Rahm Emanuel's philosophy of "not letting a crisis go to waste".
Instead of concentrating on creating jobs to spark the economy, President Obama's proposed budget is diluting our limited resources. It includes a prospective national health care system ($634 billion), promoting alternative energy sources, and making college more available to low income students. Alternative energy is important and it will create jobs, and other programs might be worthwhile over the long term in a burgeoning economy, but they pose a drain on us in the current recession. The $3.6 trillion budget will provide a deficit of $1.75 trillion in FY 2010 and annual deficits of $1 trillion for many years to come, and our national debt will go from $11 trillion to $23 trillion by 2019.

There are somewhere around 8,000 pork barrel earmarks in the proposed budget worth an estimated $8 billion. They include $2.1 million for the Center for Grape Genetics in New York, $1.7 million for a honey bee factory in Texas, $1.7 million for Mormon cricket control in Utah, $819,000 for catfish genetics research in Alabama, $650,000 for beaver management in North Carolina and Mississippi, $2 million for astronomy studies in Hawaii, $167,000 for the Autry National Center in California, $238,000 for the Polynesian Voyager Society in Hawaii, $200,000 for tattoo removal to help gang members forget their past, and $209,000 to improve blueberry production in Georgia. These earmarks should be axed. It looks like and smells like the same pork barrel politics of prior administrations, except the weight of the thundering elephants has been replaced with the misguided socialistic wanderings of the donkeys.

President Obama plans on paying for half the health care costs from increased taxes on families earning more than $250,000 per year, and these families will see a significant decrease in allowable itemized tax deductions for charitable contributions and mortgage interest. These actions will depress charitable contributions during a time of great need and will hurt the housing market. The programs are a means of redistributing money from more successful families to the less successful, which runs counter to our free enterprise system. They should not be implemented.

The Administration has to cease exploiting our economic fears, including the media campaign to the American people, which is designed to enable it to implement very expensive domestic social programs. Long term social programs should be debated after the turnaround of our economy.

Donald A. Moskowitz
Londonderry, NH

Mosquito Vector Control
As many of you are aware, a letter was sent certified mail last week by the Marin-Sonoma Mosquito Vector Control District to all households on the Do Not Spray List in Marin and Sonoma Counties. The letter announced the implementation of a new Adult Mosquito Control Notification Program, which would replace the Do Not Spray list.

As a member of the Board of Trustees representing District 4, I am writing to assure you that the Board never voted for or approved the elimination of the Do Not Spray list. While I am excited about our new upgraded advanced notification system, the two programs should be complimentary and the Do Not Spray list should be maintained. As our regularly scheduled board meeting was cancelled this month, we have called for a special meeting to address this issue in a timely manner.

Fortunately for West Marin residents, the West Marin Control Coordinating Council and the District signed an historic five-year agreement that prohibits any chemical spraying in our area, except in extremely limited circumstances (available at: www.bcpud.org/wmmcc.htm). Nonetheless, this does not excuse the need for a long-term Do Not Spray list for all residents of Marin and Sonoma counties. I wholeheartedly support the list's maintenance, if not expansion.

Frederick Smith
West Marin Representative, MSMVCD
Executive Director, Environmental Action Committee of West Marin


Hate Crimes - Victims And Perps
With "hate crime" legislation coming before Congress again, we should take a look at this issue to make sure we understand what it involves.

What makes a "hate crime" different from other crimes? The proposed "hate crime" legislation seeks to judge the "evil" of a crime based on who committed the crime and who was the victim, rather than the nature of the crime itself. This divides people in to classes of those protected under hate crime law and those who are not. These "classes" will be based on categories such as race, sexual orientation or maybe even religion.

For example, if an individual in group A (a non-protected class) commits a crime against an individual in group B (a protected class), that would be considered a hate crime since individuals in group B are considered potential victims of hate crimes. But, if an individual in group B commits the same crime or one even worse against an individual in group A, that would not be a hate crime since group A is not a protected class. Only protected groups can be victims of hate crimes!

To take this even further, if an individual in group B commits a crime against another individual in group B, that would not be a hate crime because only non-protected groups are capable of committing hate crimes. Likewise, if an individual in group A commits a crime against another individual in group A, that is also not a hate crime because only individuals in protected groups can be victims of hate crimes.

The same standard is set in the concepts of "hate speech." If group A speaks in a negative fashion about group B that is hate speech. This is the case even if what group A said was 100% factually true. It would still be hate speech. But, group B can say anything they desire about group A and that is simply "free speech."

Not only are these protected species of people able to have a different legal standing than the unprotected species, they will also become eligible to receive assistance based on who they are rather than based on their need.

Does this sound fair? Does this sound like equality?

Fair or not, hate crime laws have nothing to do with equality. Hate crime laws are simply a means to some political end. But then, where will all this foolishness end?

Steve Casey
Stonewall. LA

Now Fighting Global Warming Is Up To You.

Representatives of the coal, utility and auto industries in the Senate have refused to exercise leadership on climate change. It's time for President Obama to use his executive power through the Environmental Protection Agency and take action on global warming.

On Wednesday, 26 Democrats joined Republicans in the Senate and voted to ensure that the filibuster will be used to block any meaningful climate legislation this year. The rule passed prohibits Congress from using the budget reconciliation process to pass real action on climate. Any truly effective bill will surely suffer death by filibuster because there are more than 40 Senators committed to deferring any real action on climate change that would threaten the coal, oil, and auto industries.

This betrayal by Democrats on one of the most important issues of our time is deeply disappointing. However, President Obama doesn't need Congress' help to take a very important step: Regulating carbon.

During the Bush administration, EPA administrators rejected scientists' findings on the dangers of carbon. But on March 20, the Obama Administration's EPA finally submitted a long-awaited "endangerment finding" to the White House. Now with this finding, President Obama can order the EPA to reduce carbon emissions, including those from coal burning utilities.

Ask President Obama to approve the EPA endangerment finding and regulate carbon emissions now.

Kate Stayman-London
CREDO for Working Assets

Shotgun Approach To Economy-The Bailouts

The President is using the last $100 billion from the $700 billion bailout for banks to continue to loan money to them, and he desires an option for another $250 billion. The optional $250 billion should not be approved and the $100 billion in loans should have significant restrictions.

The President instituted a $75 billion program to allow troubled homeowners to refinance their mortgages. They are mostly mortgages approved by conspiring banks for low income people with poor credit ratings, which were instituted under the Clinton Administration and continued in the Bush Administration.

After providing $17 billion in loans to the automobile industry the incompetent auto executives are back for another $20 billion, but thankfully the Administration is placing restrictions on future loans. The auto CEO's have annual compensation packages worth tens of millions of dollars. The average hourly pay of the unionized workers, including hourly rate and all the extravagant fringe benefits is approximately $75 per hour compared to $45 per hour for non-union workers at foreign manufacturers with plants in the U.S. The U.S. auto industry has to reorganize, manufacture small, fuel-efficient vehicles and cut the salaries of executives and get the pay of hourly workers close to $45 per hour. However, the government should not be running any private corporations, and should not be firing employees of these companies.

Despite the dire and gloomy economic predictions of Barack Obama and some of his staff from November 2008 through February 2009; the incompetence of the Detroit auto industry; and the greed of Wall Street, AIG and various large banks across the country, we will overcome the financial difficulties and prevail as a country because of the hard work, tenacity, stamina and wisdom of the American people, but we have to stop bailing out banks, the AIGs and the auto industry.

Donald A. Moskowitz
Londonderry, NH


Mandate For Reversing Environmental Neglect

There are no reasons why economic improvement measures cannot focus on environmental preservation-- and every reason why they should. Americans have a mandated duty to assist the third world nations in their pursuit of ecological friendly development, while surviving the conditions resulting from the global warming and pollution--for which we bear much responsibility.

Robert Settgast
San Rafael


Retail Anarchy
With the economy in a downward spiral, unemployment at an all time high, and foreclosures at the forefront of everyone's mind, these are undeniably hard times for the American people. Sure, there are the tried-and-true tips to help people save money -- i.e. eat at home instead of out at restaurants or skip that cup of coffee at the overpriced coffee jaunt - but these are only "nickel and dime" solutions. To truly be financially savvy, consumers have to look at the big picture. But what is the big picture you ask?

The big picture is that while big-box retail stores, chain outlets, and other brand name corporations appear to be helping out shoppers by offering generous incentives, such as rebates discounts, and sales, they really are just out to prey on the average, unsuspecting consumer. Admittedly, it is a pretty basic concept, but it is one that the American people have yet to grasp.

"Stand-up economist" Sam Pocker delves into this hard-hitting concept in RETAIL ANARCHY: A RADICAL SHOPPER'S ADVENTURES IN CONSUMPTION (Running Press; 978-0-7624-3439-8; April 2009; $14.95; Paperback), and the result is a sharp, satirical, and amusing account of consumers' nonsensical habits and the stores that feed upon them.

With a dash of vitriol and a dose of sarcasm, Pocker exposes the sheer insanity of marketing schemes, the plague of rude cashiers, and shows how the "little guy" can rise up and beat the system by outsmarting the stores with their overly-complicated rules for rebates, discounts, and sales. The average reader may not want to get 48 cans of Pepsi for free, but they will certainly cheer on the guy who has the nerve to try it!

A one-of-a-kind journey into the consumer-driven coma America has succumbed to, RETAIL ANARCHY covers such thought provoking questions as:

¥Why does no one blink when they are charged three dollars for a cup of coffee?

¥Why do grown men sleep on the street overnight to buy video game systems?

¥How do dollar stores cheerfully charge a dollar for a 25 cent pack of gum?

¥What are the pitfalls of brand name loyalty?

¥And how do you get an entire car-full of pudding for free?

Sam Pocker is an author, filmmaker, and tours the country as a "Stand-Up Economist." He does not have a diploma touting his experience in the field of economics or a resume brandishing the names of top financial firms, nor does he need these. He has a well-researched, tested theory and a desire to begin a legitimate consumer revolution, which will in turn bring about a positive change in our culture and economy.

The message in RETAIL ANARCHY is simple, "America, wake up!" There is no better time then the present to take a good, hard look at today's modern consumer culture and discover what we as individual consumers can do to change it for the better.

If you would like a copy of "Retail Anarchy" for review, for additional information on the book, or to speak with Pocker, please do not hesitate to contact Melissa Appleby at (215) 567-5374 or via email melissa.appleby@perseusbooks.com

Sam Pocker
retailanarchy.com

UN Should Focus On Countries Without Human Rights

As you know next week, at the same time as Holocaust Memorial Day, the United Nation's Durban Review Conference will take place in Geneva, Switzerland.

In 2001 Israel was singled out and internationally isolated by participants who defined Zionism as racism and denounced Israeli self-defense measures as war crimes. There are many more examples of blaming Israel for World's problems. But there are no countries in the World, who will call on Iran, Sudan, North Korea and Syria for promoting genocide and threading other countries to wipe them out from the face of the Earth.

Next week UN should be focusing on countries were Human Rights don't exist, like Saudi Arabia, N. Korea, Iran and others. UN charter is to promote freedom and peace, not hatred and be a puppet of rogue nations

Sam Grozman
San Jose, CA 95131-3053

No Class, Mr. Hilton
Miss USA beauty contest judge Perez Hilton, a gay activist, proves the point of the people who voted for California Prop 8 that there is a difference between the gay world and the straight world. When it comes to Miss USA beauty contest, I don't see how it makes sense to have a gay man be a judge any more that a straight man should be a judge at a gay male beauty contest. It is just plain wrong for Mr. Hilton to impose his gay values as a test question for gay political correctness in a female beauty contest. It is also unprofessional in his role as judge to go on national television and call her a b***h and a c**t. So as far as I'm concerned Carrie Prejean won. I don't recognize Mr. Hilton's vote. If he can't control himself he has no place in a position of responsibility.

I'm Marc Perkel - And I approved this message!

Marc Perkel
San Bruno, CA.

Remember In 2012
Republicans and conservatives can't stand it that President Obama and the collective soul of the American people are chanting "let the good times roll again." Iraq is fading from Page One to the obituaries.

The GOP "tax cuts for the rich" will go down as one of the biggest boondoggles of all times. What America got was a recession, record deficits, and a sagging economy. It seems like Rush Limbaugh and Sean Hannity are taking on the likeness of Joseph McCarthy.

Postscript: Four years from now in the 2012 election, will Americans remember what Bush and the Republicans put them through for eight years?

Ron Lowe
Nevada City

Abortifacient!
I am disappointed with the Food and Drug Administration for allowing 17-year-olds to get the "morning-after" pill without a doctor's prescription.

The pill's action is not merely "contraceptive" but "abortifacient" since the drug prevents the implantation of a fertilized egg in the uterus. Contrary to some, pregnancy begins with fertilization - which could take place within a few hours after intercourse - and not with the implantation of the blastocyst in the uterine wall. This was established 120 years ago by Wilhelm His, the father of human embryology.

Only if this pill were to be taken several days before the moment of ovulation, which is rare, could it sometimes function as a typical "contraceptive". Further, it seems sufficiently clear that the woman who uses this kind of pill does so in the fear that she may be in her fertile period and therefore intends to cause the expulsion of a possible new conceptus.

The morning-after pill also leads to increase promiscuity, risky sexual behaviour, disease and long-range hormonal side effects.

The moral gravity of procured abortion is apparent in all its truth if we recognize that we are dealing with murder. For both scientific and moral reasons the morning-after pill should be banned altogether.

With respectful and cordial best wishes I remain,

Sincerely Yours,
Paul Kokoski
Hamilton, Ontario, Canada

Corporate Collusion
In a move that has become standard operating procedure for this administration, President Bush recently decided to side big business over hard-working American investors. This is yet another example of the administration's corporate cronyism and refusal to acknowledge basic facts.

In its next session, the U.S. Supreme Court will consider the case of Stoneridge Investment v. Scientific-Atlanta, which will determine whether investors can recover investment losses when fraudulent corporate collusion is proven. Last week Bush killed the SEC's recommendation to file a "friend of the court" brief on behalf of investors.

This case stems directly from the Enron scandal which rocked the country's economy. Securities and Exchange Commission Commissioner Paul Atkins said at the time that the scandal's cost to U.S. households amounted to nearly $60,000 each on average and the loss of about $5 trillion in market value. Yet Bush chooses to conveniently forget the incredible impact of this scandal just five years after its devastation, and supply his corporate cronies with a "get out of jail free" card.

The case will determine whether Enron's shareholders can receive damages from the banks and brokerage houses that colluded to enable Enron's massive fraud on the American public. Bush's plea for the Solicitor General to side against investors in this case reveals his complete disregard for America's investors.

Evelyn Williams
Cazadero

No Torture Right Now
Like Bush, Obama says we don't torture. However not a single person who tortured is being prosecuted, nor has anyone so much as lost their job.

I think that for Obama to effectively pardon those who committed these crimes sends the wrong message. It just says that we are probably not torturing anyone right now. Not that torture is wrong. Crimes like torture are not something you can just sweep under the rug. We need to show the world we are serious.

Marc Perkel
San Bruno

Subscription Happy
I am happy to give you a subscription cheque. In a time of half-employment I'm spitting mad that the way of the world is all computers and non-reading except electronically. I'll never join in and am therefore out of the loop. But at least I try to think and I want to know why and how we can change things.

Your paper is exciting. Thanks
Carol Thoermann
Alameda

New Truly Fit To Print
I received my Coastal Post in the mail this month and with it came more of the news that truly is fit to print. Unlike the other local rags, which all basically take the AP news feed, you give your readers something to ponder.

The situation that the Coastal Post finds itself in due to your stance on Israel and the Palestinians is to be expected. The truth has an unerring way of causing some of my Jewish friends to become overzealous and downright disrespectful of our First Amendment freedoms.

As a Marine engineer who has served in this latest fiasco called Operation Desert Storm and the post operations of the US military, I am pissed at our lack of values for freedom that we are supposed to uphold. The bailout is a conspiracy to demote the dollar and go to the Amero. Enclosed is a check to keep your paper going. Also enclosed is some more news. Good luck with the Zionist. I am a pro Israel supporter, but not at the expense of our own country.

Jim Anderson

Stop Dumping Your Fishwrap Paper
Kindly stop dumping your fishwrap paper at my front door. Your stupid anti-Israel crap is a big turnoff.

Michael S. Hollander
San Rafael