Outrages aplenty in Golden State

Two newspaper articles this week make me wonder "What are these people thinking?"

One article is about an illegal alien, Sergio Garcia, who has passed the state bar exam and wants to practice law in California. Amazingly, the State Board of Bar Examiners thinks that would be just fine.

Unbelievable! Garcia has been in the country illegally, breaking the law every second, every day for years, and he wants to practice law! Even more unbelievable is that the state bar is OK with that. What are these people thinking? Why was Garcia even allowed to take the bar exam?

The second article is about a proposal to tax drivers in the Bay Area by miles driven, which would likely entail a GPS-like tracker on their cars. Unbelievable! What an invasion of privacy with a tracking device installed in your car. Even without a tracker, what a ridiculous idea.

We already have a fuel tax paid at the pump that accomplishes what this new tax would do. Drive more miles, buy more gas, pay more tax.

Thomas Jefferson

Livermore

Mileage tax worst political proposal ever

I think it is absolutely absurd that now on top of everything else, government and civic officials are considering a mileage tax to further burden the working people of the Bay Area.

I absolutely cannot believe it.

No wonder so many people and businesses have left California to move somewhere else so that they can afford a financially comfortable living. The Bay Area is one of the most expensive places in the United States to live in, and now these so-called leaders of ours want to burden us even more and make life harder financially for not only the working class, but also for those of us who are retired and do not have the income that we once had when we were working.

I have a better idea. Why don't all these people who are coming up with these ideas, including all of our government officials, including members of the state Legislature, U.S. Congress, city and county officials try this new plan out and see how it works for them? That would include a mileage tax on air travel to Washington D.C., Sacramento, business travel, vacations, weekend outings with the family, a night out to dinner, etc. After a two-year trial, they could report back to all of us who are working and retired and let us know how good, or not good, this pilot program is working for them personally. Better yet! How about charging these officials a tax for every foot or inch they travel? That would generate even more money!

Dan Carleton

Pleasanton

Obama's resume can't match Romney's

I read with great interest the letter to the editor submitted by Albert J. Rothman from Livermore that was published in the July 19 Times-Herald.

Let's look at his comment regarding Obama as having "smarts" and "experience" and compare that with Romney's "smarts" and "experience".

Romney, holds doctorate of law and master of business administration degrees. He graduated cum laude from his law school and was named Baker Scholar after graduating in the top five percent. He was hired by Bain and Co., becoming vice president after one year. He served as governor of Massachusetts and also successfully led the effort for the 2002 Winter Olympics. This is more than 30 years of a proven record of success in business and politics.

Obama graduated from Columbia University and Harvard Law School (note that he has refused to release copies of his college transcripts). Mr. Obama was a state senator in Illinois between 1997 and 2004. In 2004, Obama was elected as U.S. senator. In 2008, Obama was elected U.S. president.

Then there's the comment about "extremely wealthy individuals" supporting Romney. Former chairman of Cedars-Sinai Medical Center John Law gave Obama $100,000 as the hospital has lobbied Obama's administration over Medicare and Medicaid funding. Actor Morgan Freeman gave a seven-figure donor to Obama.

Clearly, Obama is far from being a better choice for president!

David Johnson

Pleasanton

Hiroshima gathering to mourn atrocity

On July 27, 1945 I was discharged from my position as a Merchant Seaman on the S.S. Walter Colton.

We had completed a voyage to Okinawa. We had suffered an attack by a kamikaze while our cargo was being unloaded. I was just 21 years old. Just ten days later, on Aug. 6, the atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima. World War II would soon be over.

Jubilation reigned. I don't recall anyone even mentioning the estimated 60,000 Japanese men, women and children annihilated in one fell swoop. Did Truman or Churchill agonize even a little bit over the decision to use the Bomb? How about Roosevelt, who had just died? The distinction between civilian and military targets had been erased. The Allies had bombed German cities with little effort to avoid areas with no military installations. They continued that policy with raids on Tokyo and other Japanese cities. One historian reported that as many as 900,000 civilians were killed in firebombing Japan -- many times the combined death tolls of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

Years after the event I began to read about that awful decision. My conclusion? It was an atrocity committed by America.

Come to a Hiroshima Day Gathering in Livermore at William Payne Park on Sunday from 4 to 6 p.m.

Donald F. King

Livermore

S.F. sheriff drama has become tedious

When is the Mr. Mirkarimi Five-Ring- Circus coming to an end? I do hope soon because the money could be used for more important things -- especially if taxpayers have to pay for his wife's airfare.

Is this the same woman who now calls the proceedings a "witch hunt," who said Mirkarimi once told her not to double-cross him (I don't remember the exact words but it was the same meaning because he was "powerful"), the same woman who was afraid he would not let her take their child out of the country, the same who went to her neighbor to videotape her arm and record what happened? It seems to me she was the one who started the ball rolling.

Maybe her husband let her know through the grapevine that he would have far more money if reinstated and he needs her help to say it was just fun banter and she just bruises easily. He is certainly fighting for this job, lining up people, etc. He will owe a lot of people to sit where he has no business sitting. How will you have an impartial sheriff? A sheriff of all people must have an impeccable record.

Eva Kemenczey

Pleasanton

Kudos for stand on Delta water issue

Thanks to the editor for speaking out against "holding the Delta hostage."

Apparently, you've been educated by your reporters' coverage of water and Delta issues over the last three years. We hope you'll remain blunt in your criticism of present Delta priorities around water quality if or when the $11 billion bond for a conveyance comes to the voters.

You should have added that secure levees will keep an expected sea level rise brought on by global warming from polluting the Delta further with salt. Earthquakes, floods, and other climate changes will happen. Please have your reporters interview Dr. Robert Pyke, of Lafayette, for comprehensive data on California levees and what can be done to preserve or upgrade them.

Jan Howe

San Ramon