The turmoil in Egypt; Pasadena’s public schools; protesting the Koch brothers

Limits of power

Re “A wave ripples the Arab world,” Feb. 2

The events in the Middle East should remind us that Washington interventionism does not work. The clearest example of this failed approach is Latin America.

After decades of a low-intensity “dirty war” waged with the CIA as the main aggressor, Latin America has rejected Washington and has shifted to a socialist model as a sign of repulsion at past deeds. The Arab world may or may not be acting similarly; one can only wonder.

With two wars raging in the region and meddling that goes back to 1953 in Iran, and unconditional and unreasonable support for Israel, it should not be a surprise that this rejection is not the product of some radical Muslims but the result of Washington’s lust for world riches.

Marco Gillson

Los Angeles

Re “Mubarak vows to exit on his terms,” Feb. 2

The protests in Egypt are unsettling and frightening for more reasons than just those having to do with Egyptians. The issue not only affects the entire Arab world but Israel as well.

Israel is our only true ally in the Middle East. If Israel’s peaceful relationship with Egypt is disturbed because of the possible collapse of President Hosni Mubarak’s regime, Israel will be surrounded by enemies on all but one border and at severe risk of more Islamic terrorism. This can cause a major dent in our ally’s strength and possibly affect us indirectly as well.

It is unnerving to know that the collapse of one country’s government can stir up so much commotion for much of the world.

Elana Dure

Woodmere, N.Y.

Re “It’s Egypt’s decision,” Editorial, Feb. 1

The Times states, “Egyptians began this historic uprising; they should decide how it ends.”

The truth of the matter is that for better or worse — and regardless of the role America may or may not try to play — the Egyptians will decide how it ends.

Marc Jacobson

Los Angeles

The current situation in Egypt is a stark reminder of the founding principles of the United States. A review of the beginning of the preamble to the Declaration of Independence should remind us that we are all Americans, Egyptians or any other people willing to sacrifice and die for our beliefs.

You can’t force democracy at the barrel of a gun, and neither can guns alone stop a people yearning to be free.

Jon D. Elder

Monterey Park

Schooled in Pasadena

Re “Bridging an education gap in Pasadena public schools,” Column, Jan. 30

Steve Lopez’s column is right on. Even the head of Pasadena’s Chamber of Commerce would not support a parcel tax measure that would have cost voters $10 a month.

We do have Marshall Fundamental High School, regarded as one of the best high schools in the country. However, Pasadena is a snotty town that favors its private schools. Such a pity, when our public schools prepare students so well for the workplace, giving them such a well-rounded education.

Sara Hoge

Pasadena

Public schools are the backbone of a community. Having gone through Pasadena’s public schools in the ‘60s and ‘70s, and having benefited from an amazing internship program linking local businesses to high school students, I know firsthand how such a program and public education can create hope and cultivate success.

It’s only through public-private-parent partnerships that our public schools will regain the quality they once had.

Todd Hays

Pasadena

An exercise in democracy

Re “Rich guys have rights too,” Editorial, Feb. 1

As one of the “decidedly odd” protesters in Rancho La Mirage on Sunday, I could only laugh at the editorial. It claims that we were “unclear on the concepts of democracy and free speech,” but the real lack of clarity here concerns the role we citizens are forced to play when our democracy and free speech are so relentlessly filtered by media such as this newspaper.

The Times covered this event and featured the story (with photos!) in its Monday issue. Thus, the rally achieved one of its primary goals: to break into the news cycle with a raucous show of resistance to the right-wing assault — largely funded by the Koch brothers — on progressive social and environmental programs.

We were saying: “We are here too!” And we got your attention. Deal with it.

Peggy Kamuf

Los Angeles

The Times chastises those demonstrating against the Koch brothers as being “unclear on the concept of democracy.” It seems that The Times itself is quite muddled on the concept.

I always thought that a peaceful demonstration to protest what one thinks is unfair was a form of democratic free speech.

Though you claim to defend a person’s right to promote “poisonous self-serving politics,” it’s contradictory not to also defend with equal vigor the right of those publicly opposing such politics under your professed banner of free political expression.

Douglas J. Miller

Santa Barbara

Your false equivalence of the paranoid rantings of Glenn Beck — which have lately resulted in death threats against a 78-year-old sociology professor — and the very real and easily verifiable threat to our nation posed by a shadowy network of super-rich conservatives whose agenda is to dismantle a century’s worth of consumer, labor, financial and environmental protections is both intellectually lazy and disgraceful.

Paul Gulino

Santa Monica

The Times is right to say that the demonstrators seemed unclear on the concept of democracy. But your call for greater disclosure of money spent advocating political beliefs is misguided.

The protests themselves are one very good reason why donors to groups that promote ideological or public policy causes should not be disclosed, because revealing this information exposes donors to harassment and retaliation.

Unnecessary disclosure also focuses debate on which side’s backers are the least appealing, not on the merits of the issue.

Arguing whether

oil companies or green technology investors are more avaricious has little to do with whether

California’s greenhouse gas law should be suspended, but that’s usually the debate that disclosure leads to, preventing

discussion of the actual merits of either sides’ position.

Sean Parnell

Alexandria, Va.

The writer is president of the Center for Competitive Politics.

Recessionary

Re “Roots of a recession,” Editorial, Jan. 30

The roots of the “great recession” actually go back hundreds of years to medieval economics, in which an elite and unregulated few, controlling the wealth and bending the rules to benefit only themselves, promoted the illusion that their benevolence benefitted the peasant masses.

The current laissez-faire, trickle-down, supply-side, Reaganomic mumbo jumbo is quite simply the economic system of the Dark Ages re-branded for today.

Eugene Sison

San Dimas

Trash talk

Re “Cities seek to secure trash,” Jan. 31

Newport Beach plans to arrest or cite scavengers — those who take recyclable and other discarded items.

It appears that the city has too many police officers. With this in mind, it sounds as if the police department would be a good place to start cutting the city budget. It seems to me that the city thinks more about recycling than it does about protecting the residents of Newport Beach.

Donald Coonradt

Long Beach