County should back a local candidate
I wonder if anyone can answer this question. Has any resident of Lake Country ever been elected to a State Office. If not, why not. Both parties in Lake County need to work together and pick and back a qualified person for a state office who resides in the County. They should go to their parties officials, and demand their backing of such a person. If their request is not acted upon, the Lake County members will vote as a whole against the present
incumbent holding that office each time a vote is held, until their request is met. I am sure a highly qualified person can be found within Lake County to run for such an office. Its time that the citizens of the lake, level the playing field as to their worth within the state. It can be done, using the power of the people and the numbers to back it up.
Jim Hall
Clearlake Oaks
Prop. 9 will make prison crisis worse
Proposition 9 will only make California”s prison crisis worse. Lake County Democrats and the California Democratic Party recommends a “No” vote on Prop. 9, the Criminal Justice System, Victims Rights, Parole Constitutional Amendment and Statue.
We all want to insure that victims of crime, particularly violent crimes, have rights and input into the parole system prior to the release of convicted felons. These rights are protected and have been a part of the California Penal Code since 1982. In fact many of the provisions of Prop 9 have been law for years.
But buried inside this poorly-written proposition are provisions that will cost the state and counties large sums of tax money. Money we don”t have. Provisions like mandating unnecessary additional bail hearings for nonviolent crimes. Provisions that increase the standard parole denial period to 15 years up form its current maximum of 5 years. Provisions that prohibit the early release of prisoners to comply with court-ordered reductions in jail and prison populations. This alone could cost the state untold millions of dollars as we are forced to build new jails and prisons. Prop. 9 also restricts the Parole Boards flexibility to use non-prison responses when paroles make technical violations of parole when no new crime has been committed.
Worst of all Prop 9, as poorly written and unnecessary as some of its provisions may be, can only be changed by a three-fourths vote of both state legislatures. Normally state statute requires a simple majority vote in both houses. That means if Prop. 9 were to pass it would be virtually impossible to change any part of the law as the needs of the state”s prison and parole system change in the coming years. Don”t be fooled by law and order get-tough shouting; Prop. 9 is bad law and deserves a “No” vote on Nov. 4.
Becky Curry
Kelseyville
Cure suffering; don”t cause it
This October, in honor of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, do something that will really help save lives ? contribute only to health charities that don”t fund inhumane, irrelevant animal experiments.
Humans and animals both feel pain, fear, joy, and love, but there are many physiological differences among rats, rabbits, dogs, cats, pigs, and people, and meaningful scientific conclusions cannot be drawn about one species by studying another. As former National Cancer Institute director Dr. Richard Klausner said, “We have cured mice of cancer for decades, and it simply didn”t work in humans.”
Compassionate, modern charities, such as the Avon Breast Cancer Crusade, American Breast Cancer Foundation, The Cancer Project, and The Breast Cancer Fund, know that non-animal methods are the best way to combat cancer. See www.CaringConsumer.com for more information and a free list of cruelty-free charities.
Heather Moore, senior writer
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals
Don”t forget to write!
The Clear Lake Observer*American welcomes letters responding to articles and opinions that have appeared in this newspaper, as well as on topics of general interest. Letters can be sent to letters@clearlakeobserver.com or mailed to PO Box 6200, Clearlake, CA 95422. Please include complete name, address and telephone number. Anonymous submissions will be discarded.
