In the weekly feature called "e-views," we invite readers to answer a question via e-mail.

Last week's question:

Do you think the Rev. Jesse Jackson's recent visits to Antioch will make a difference in the effort to gain mortgage relief for East County homeowners facing foreclosure?

I'M NOT ONE to rain on any grass-roots citizen crusade, for they signal democracy at its vigorous best. I've seen the power of rallying the populace. After all, I came of age in the 1960s with the raging civil rights movement and Vietnam protests; my wife hails from the Philippines where two presidents have been toppled by people power.

David can, indeed, slay Goliath on a societal stage if there are enough Davids. Numbers count as witness that the aforementioned movements were defined by marches on Washington and Manila involving hundreds of thousands of people. Antioch's foreclosure meetings are, undeniably, a start. They can certainly be a catalyst for lobbying action, but a nationwide movement with visible mass street protests is the essential theater that captures attention and builds critical mass.

Walter Ruehlig

Antioch

ARE YOU KIDDING? He could really help people by gifting us some of his own money to help us, but that is not likely to happen.

He is a multi-millionaire who has never worked. Where exactly is "The Reverend," a Reverend anyway? He is a nobody who simply travels

... As a man of color I find him an embarrassment and would only hope he stays out of Antioch.

Roy Maxson

Oakley

NOT REALLY. Jesse Jackson's recent visits were somewhat awakening to those who have been waiting for some help, but the effort to gain some mortgage relief for East County homeowners is still left up to the persons in need.

That is unless he has some "pot of gold" that he is going to give money from to each of those in need. The need for relief existed long before he came, and it'll continue while he is elsewhere and no longer in our area. Those mortgage holders, lenders, etc., are more driven by money than they are by political visits or those viewed as opportunists.

It is imperative that those in need of relief continue to take advantage of what is out there to help them, and what has already been set up by the government also, and not just count on brief appearances and speech making by anyone.

Like they say, "when the going gets tough the tough get going." Don't sit around waiting for someone to save you, or for miracles to happen, each one has to work at it wherever possible.

Ralph A. Hernandez

Antioch

This week's questions:

The Bay Area's busiest bridge — and the East Bay's most vital link to San Francisco — was closed for nearly a week. Did this affect your commute? How did you handle it? Were there any positives to the closed Bay Bridge?

E-mail your response to bnews@bayareanewsgroup.com. Please limit responses to a few sentences, and be sure to include your full name and city of residence. Not all responses will be published. Note: Please reply on or before Monday, Nov. 9.