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Letter to the Editor: Issue of Jan. 17, 2013

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Being the best we can be

Sincere appreciation to Dick Lyles (Jan. 10) for putting pen to paper with thoughts that many of us, as a much older generation, could only keep to ourselves and not mention for fear of alienating our children, grandchildren, neighbors and friends. It was a pleasure to read the article and recognize that many folks have the same opinion.

Perhaps the “exception that makes the rule” are your articles in the same issue about Tom Erb and Rex Rizzuti. Hope springs eternal and we will move forward with the hope that youngsters such as these two become our leaders of tomorrow.

Striving to succeed and be the best we can be trumps mediocrity every time. Or, at least, it should!

Dick Young,

Rancho Bernardo

Wing nuts on both sides

As an independent (Fox News and MSNBC give me headaches), I take issue with Mr. Firl’s assumption (Letters, Dec. 27) that progressives are more open minded than conservatives. My experience is that wing nuts are not restricted to the right.

At colleges, bastions of open discourse, progressive faculty and students actively prevent conservative guests from speaking. Some of the most racist people I know are progressives. They talk the talk but call their Realtor if a person of color moves next door. While in the Navy, progressive protestors called me a fascist. Perhaps if I was wearing a tie-dyed T-shirt and Earth shoes they would’ve been nicer.

Mr. Firl ignores the fact that progressives dance to the tune of political correctness, where the most egregious act is being “offensive.” However, free speech ensures we will be offended and offensive. How else to explain using feces to make a cross, call it art and get a government grant? Those “Thou shalls” don’t seem too oppressive, we have laws against murder and theft.

I do have one question regarding Mr. Firl’s comments regarding the Golden Rule, where you can do anything as long as no one is harmed: How does he feel about abortion?

Thomas Drzewiecki,

Poway

Oppose fee hike

Any fee on your property tax bill is a tax. Period. There is no way of disguising it.

The MAD (Maintenance Assessment District) committee has asked for a “fee” increase on next year’s property tax bills and submitted their request to the RB Community Council for final review. While a $4 annual increase may not seem that significant, consider the people who are retired and living on a fixed income, or families who have had their income reduced due to pay cuts and layoffs. As it is, the sales tax has gone up, there’s an increase in the federal payroll tax, the San Diego City Council flirting with a tax increase, and who knows what the price of gasoline will be within a few weeks? A lot of little “fee” increases here and there will inevitably add up over time.

Now is not the time for the MAD committee to ask for an increase. As a former member of the MAD committee, I don’t see any reason to increase the tax on property taxes. The water in the medians will stay on; the grass isn’t going to die. We just may have to wait longer until there are sufficient funds to finance median projects such as an asphalt median being converted to concrete or synthetic turf.

The Rancho Bernardo Community Council will hear this issue Thursday, Jan. 24 at 7 p.m. on the second floor of the Rancho Bernardo Library. I encourage the public to come and voice their opinion.

Matt Stockton,

Rancho Bernardo

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