SOAPBOX (Cont. from page 12) Coincidentally, in a year that a bond measure is introduced, CUSD is making facility improvements, perhaps to show some concerted effort to fix facilities. Take the two-story, 24-classroom project at SCHS that will commence construction this fall. CUSD fails to publicize that this project costing $14 million is not a result of sound fiscal stewardship by CUSD; instead, Talega taxpayers are funding $8 million of this project with special taxes CUSD over-collected from homeowners in excess of what was needed to pay the Mello-Roos debt. CUSD only stopped this practice after a taxpayer revolt. CUSD has allocated the remaining $2 million in Talega’s excess special taxes to a similar project at San Juan Hills High School. When completed, Talega taxpayers will have funded $20 million at SCHS and $20 million at San Juan Hills High School, and now they seek $1 billion more.
SOBER LIVING GIVES SHORT-TERM LIVING A BAD RAP JERRY QUINLAN, San Clemente
For several years, I have provided a healthy family-vacation facility by the beach in the Pier Bowl, which has been diminished by exposure to the sober living facility three doors up the street on Monterey Lane. This is so sad. What would be the next idea, placing a cigar smoking area in a child’s bedroom?
WE NEED A PRESIDENT WITH VIRTUE, INTEGRITY SANDRA WEAVER, San Clemente
I am responding to the guest opinion by Jim Kempton in the Aug. 18 edition of San Clemente Times: I am not affiliated with any political party and have always considered myself an Independent. I have voted for both Republicans and Democrats in my lifetime. I was delighted to find someone who expressed my thoughts perfectly! Jim said “we have traded leadership for entertainment.” The media, in my opinion, has become an entertainment venue versus a news and information venue. If it bleeds, it leads. They love scandal. Donald Trump has made the news almost daily with his outrageous rantings and ridiculous promises. And he has won the support of enough of us to bring him to the Republican contender for president of the United States. Why? I believe there are two reasons. No. 1, many Republicans will vote for anyone running on the Republican ticket, no questions asked. Second, he is appealing to those passionate about the issues he raises, especially the immigration issue. He will build a wall (or have Mexico build it), and he will send all the undocumented people back. They are hearing the emotionally charged rhetoric spewed out with no real plan of action. Those who agree with his ideas on immigration and other issues don’t even think about how San Clemente Times September 1-7, 2016
he might accomplish these things nor do they seem to mind the vulgarity and rude insulting language that comes so naturally to him. Jim outlined the challenges of several of our past leaders and their flaws. He said he disagreed with many of the former candidates for office with regard to their policies but would not have been concerned if one of them became our president. “But now there is someone running who has nothing in common with these fine men,” Jim said. Jim asks “if any one of these men had said any one of the dozens of things espoused by the GOP candidate, what would we think of them? “The Intelligence Committee said he is already a threat to our nation and many conservative businessmen, generals, congressmen, mayors and leaders of the GOP say he is unfit for office.” We had 12 Republican nominees throw their hat in the ring and who was the last man standing? GOP leaders recognized his inadequacy for the presidency and tried unsuccessfully to prevent him from becoming their candidate for president. The thing I really can’t understand is how anyone, regardless of political affiliation, can honestly support a man who is so egotistical, rude and vulgar in his speech. While he touts himself as a good businessman, he has said that he “tries to pay as little taxes as possible.” The president of the United States needs to be able to communicate with leaders of all nations with respect and integrity. And we expect him or her to have a working knowledge of foreign affairs. We face many far more serious problems today than ever before. Terrorism and the environment are just two of them. Our Republican candidate for president said regarding ISIS: “ISIS is making a tremendous amount of money because they have certain oil camps… They have some in Syria, some in Iraq. I would bomb the s--- out of ‘em. I would just bomb those suckers.” And on global warming he tweets, “it’s really cold outside….man, we could use a big fat dose of global warming.” Let’s put our political biases aside for this election and look at the choices we have for the next president of the United States. Many of us do not like either candidate. But let’s remember that it is we, the people, who are really responsible for the health and wellbeing of our country. It is up to us to choose our leaders. What qualifications should they possess? What kind of personality traits do we want to see in a world leader? Finally, remember that we are a government of the people and by the people and by letting our voices be heard loud and strong, we can create a world that works for everyone. Our leaders in Congress will listen. To submit a letter to the editor for possible inclusion in the paper, e-mail us at letters@sanclementetimes.com. San Clemente Times reserves the right to edit reader-submitted letters for length and is not responsible for the claims made or the information written by the writers. Please limit your letters to 350 words. Page 25