Striving to Achieve a Perfect Union

Wouldn’t it be nice if all player unions adopted a zero-tolerance policy toward drug use? They could still fight tooth and nail for salary, benefits, retirements and other legitimate concerns of the players while helping in the national fight against drugs. A simple policy of “We will not help you in any drug-related incident,” could send a strong message to the players. Come to think of it, all labor unions could do the same.

TOM MOORE

Big Bear

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I always thought that we lived in the United States of America, and not the former Soviet Union. In the United States, one does not suspend the concept of due process of law when one signs a contract to play baseball. I don’t care if the police allege that Tony Phillips was caught with a ton of cocaine in his possession, he is entitled to the concept of due process of law before the self-appointed arbiters of morality like Bill Plaschke [Aug. 19] decide to pronounce that he is guilty.

We have a system that decides questions of guilt or innocence, and people like Plaschke, fortunately, are not the ones in the black robes. If Phillips is convicted, beyond a reasonable doubt of having committed the crime he is accused of, then, fine, let the chips fall where they may, but to try to convict the man, before he is allowed the due process of justice he is guaranteed by the Constitution, is knee-jerk reactionary journalism at its absolute worst.

CURTIS WARREN

Santa Barbara

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Bill Plaschke’s scathing criticism of unions, I’m sure, will echo the sentiments of every L.A. Times sports fan. As an adult, I was angry and disappointed to learn of Phillips’ cocaine habit. But a youngster wearing a Phillips jersey would be devastated.

It does take a village to raise a child, but we can’t afford to allow unscrupulous lawyers and unions to be part of that citizenry. If all Phillips means to them is affirmation of their seedy moral code, I say they be damned and let’s get on with the game of not only winning but being right.

TERRY STRAUSS-THACKER

Laguna Hills

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The Disney company had the opportunity to take the high moral ground in the Phillips matter and took the sewer. After Phillips was reinstated [by an arbitrator], the Angels should have let him sit on the bench for the rest of the season.

LARRY ZINI

Camarillo

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We handled a baseball strike (or two or three). We handled the rising ticket prices. But no one should be told that there is basically nothing wrong with being charged with a felony. Wasn’t it ironic that the Yankees were in Anaheim on “Tony Phillips Amnesty Day” and inserted Daryl Strawberry and Doc Gooden into the lineup against Phillips’ team?

The Dallas Cowboys have nothing on major league baseball.

FRANK CINNELLA

Madeira Beach, Fla.

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It’s too bad that Al Campanis was not a member of the baseball players’ union. [He would have been] protected from dismissal for a first-time offense.

WILLIAM HOLLAND

Torrance