Thursday's Letters to the Editor

<p class="bold allcaps">A sorry state</p> <p>EDITOR: I want to thank the Department of Motor Vehicles, the Legislature and Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.</p><p>On Monday, I called for an appointment to renew my driver's license. After some automated prompts I was put on hold, presumably to wait for a “real” person. After five minutes, I put the phone on speaker. There I was treated to elevator music for 33 minutes. During that time I was able to empty and fill the dishwasher, clean cabinets, relieve my fridge of what looked like science experiments, write a to-do list, fill my vitamin containers for two weeks, make a quick smoothie, feed my dog, answer three text messages and connect my new Bluetooth.</p><p>I am going to be charitable and assume that, this being a Monday, DMV had been on one of Arnold's furloughs on Friday and the staff was backed up. But, any way you look at it, this is horrible customer service.</p><p>Hello? Get off your partisan butts and pass the budget with compromises (a term this Legislature seems to have forgotten). Raise some taxes, cut some programs, sign the darn thing and get on with it. Everyone knows what needs to be done.</p><p>No wonder we need redistricting commissions. Vote yes on Propositions 20 and 25, and vote no on Proposition 27.</p><p>NORMA SMITH DAVIS</p><p>Santa Rosa</p><h3>License drivers</h3> <p>EDITOR: The editorial on immigrants and driver's licenses struck a chord for me (“On the road,” Friday).</p><p>As a grapegrower reliant on the hard work of a primarily immigrant labor force, I support immigration reform, including a path to citizenship. As a descendant of immigrants who succeeded in obtaining U.S. visas while relatives who didn't perished in the Holocaust, I have long wondered why we cannot rationalize our immigration policies.</p><p>Several days ago, my beliefs collided with reality: An undocumented, unlicensed, uninsured driver recklessly careened around a curve on West Dry Creek Road. Veering into the oncoming lane well in excess of the speed limit, his vehicle struck our three-month old car. Although my husband fortunately emerged with only minor bruises, our car was totaled. The CHP officer who investigated did not appear to arrest or penalize the driver, while we are left with the hassles and costs of insurance claims, medical visits and car replacement.</p><p>If, as seems likely, our federal legislators cannot enact immigration reform promptly, undocumented immigrants should not simply be allowed, but mandated by California law to obtain driver's training and licenses. Whatever a driver's legal status, she or he should be licensed and insured.</p><p>Wouldn't this make the roads safer for all while we wait, possibly for a long time, for immigration reform?</p><p>SUSAN LENTZ</p><p>Healdsburg</p><h3>Bike-phobia</h3> <p>EDITOR: Recent criticism of the “Cyclisk” statue by auto enthusiasts is indicative of one of the great problems we face in this country. Their fear that alternative transportation is a politically correct agenda out to change their lives is absolutely hilarious. But at least they know what is correct.</p><p>Despite the fact that every bicycle on the road reduces carbon emissions, provides exercise for the rider (the cure for many ailments) and reduces congestion on our crowded roads there is a pervasive anger from them. Why can't they see that we need to think what is best for the planet and for a few generations beyond us?</p><p>They need to ride a bicycle once again and feel the freedom it grants. And, as they breathe deeply, leaving their stinky, noisy cars at home, they may realize what many of us know.</p><p>It really is time to pay homage to the bicycle for what it is, the greatest and most efficient form of transportation ever invented.</p><p>TED RICHARDSON</p><p>Occidental</p><h3>War's end?</h3> <p>EDITOR: The end of what? The end of the war in Iraq? Yeah, I'll believe it when I see the last Americans getting on the helicopters leaving from the roof of the American Embassy in Baghdad. My opinion, Iraq-Vietnam, same-same.</p><p>President George W. Bush stood under the “mission accomplished” banner, and I think Gen. William Westmoreland (RIP) said something just like that right before the Tet Offensive of 1968.</p><p>BRUCE THOMSON</p><p>Santa Rosa</p><h3>Time to leave</h3> <p>EDITOR: I've always scratched Sebastopol off my places to live list because I can't own or detonate an atomic bomb within the city limits. They passed a law, and that's that.</p><p>Well, I've moderated my position and was thinking about living there, but now it is illegal to wash my car there, too. Let's see — no fragrances, no deodorants, no smoking, can't wash the car, where is this going? When I take a shower, it pollutes the water, so no more bathing? Or washing clothes?</p><p>I think that for the sake of the environment, the city officials should order everyone out. Just get out, leave. Let it revert back to a meadow where the birds are chirping and frogs and salamanders play.</p><p>Continue to pay your taxes so the dopes who run things can continue to sit around and think up stupid stuff, but leave, get out, you are wrecking things by living there.</p><p>DAVID HAYNES</p><p>Santa Rosa</p><h3>Scapegoating</h3> <p>EDITOR: I feel ashamed that some of my fellow Americans are proposing to deny our fellow citizens — American Muslims — their right to freely and peacefully practice their religion. Would we dare to blame all Germans for the horrors perpetrated against Jews, Gypsies and other minorities?</p><p>If we are determined to lay blame for the 9/11 tragedy, why not attribute it to our government, which ignored several warnings of impending disaster?</p><p>Fortunately, scapegoating is not a reasonable practice in this country.</p><p>JULES GLASER</p><p>Santa Rosa</p>