Jun 18, 2008

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Daily News

Nancy Pelosi

Dear Editor: Last week House Speaker Nancy Pelosi commanded her minions in the House to vote against a bill that would have allowed oil drilling 50 miles off the U.S. coast. An oil rig 50 miles from the beach is far beyond the viewable horizon - much as is any hope of lower gas prices while Pelosi is running the House.

I'm tired of paying for the left's opposition to oil, coal and nuclear energy. I encourage every voter to send a copy of their gas pump receipts to Mrs. Pelosi's office at 450 Golden Gate Ave., 14th Floor, San Francisco, CA 94102.

Steve Mims,

Palo Alto



Intel allegations

Dear Editor: Dr. Daniel Ballon's guest opinion in Monday's opinion page is about as biased a piece as I've ever read. First, he characterizes the allegations of Intel's behavior from 2003 (which the European Commission is investigating currently) as baseless, since Intel was exonerated from some 1999 allegations the year before, thus leaping to the nonsequitur that Intel must forever be innocent of everything.

If it's a European vendetta upon Intel, then why have South Korea and Japan found Intel guilty of antitrust abuses already, and the state of New York is investigating also?

If AMD wants to "foist slower computers on the consumer" and wishes to blame its current financial woes on Intel, then why did it launch its private antitrust case on these issues against it in 2005, when the smaller company was selling faster chips and had become profitable?

If Europe has been so softened up by AMD with its foundry in Germany, then why not mention that Intel has one in Ireland?

If Microsoft - whose large fine Ballon laments so much - is so singled out by the EC, why did the United States also find it to have abused its monopoly in 2000?

Finally, if Brussels bureaucrats are "so eager to bully America's technology titans," then why is he complaining that its actions favor AMD, a company he neglects to mention is based in Sunnyvale?

Geoff Tolley,

Mountain View



Gas prices

Dear Editor: In an effort to cut the cost of gasoline, how about a four-day workweek? Imagine the savings in the commuter's pocketbook.

If you're thinking of the day off at either end of the workweek, forget it. Can you picture the family going nowhere on a three-day weekend? Just ain't gonna happen.

It would have to be on Gas Wednesday. Interesting, huh?

G. Ray Huard,

Palo Alto



Children's Theatre

Dear Editor: There have been several letters and articles on the Children's Theatre malfeasance situation in Palo Alto. What puzzles me most is why the former city auditor, Sharon Erickson, did not pick up on the money mismanagement that was involved.

This fiscal mismanagement was apparently going on for years and obviously some city staff and probably at least a few council members were aware of the situation.

Of course, council members and the City Manager's Office can put pressure on Police Chief Lynne Johnson to cut off the police investigation before it involved them, but still the city auditor has the obligation to urge the continuation of the police investigation despite the mayor or city manager's objection.

I sincerely hope this is not why Sharon Erickson, as city auditor, sought employment in other cities, and was hired by San Jose.

Palo Alto suffered the worst loss of a qualified, efficient employee in many years when it lost Sharon Erickson.

Donald Letcher,

Mountain View



Gay marriage

Dear Editor: After witnessing the histrionics of the Christians protesting gay weddings, all I can say is - Thank God I'm an atheist!

Scott Simmons,

Portola Valley