Workable solution

EDITOR: In a letter published Oct. 26, Chuck Sher disparaged Ariel Sharon

for his hatred and violence, and called for ''a just and peaceful'' (but

undefined) solution to the Palestinian problem. Before defining the nature of

such a solution, two fundamental questions must be addressed:

* Why did Yasser Arafat engineer the election of Sharon over Ehud Barak by

walking out of the Camp David meeting with former President Bill Clinton, and

responding with violence to an offer of a Palestinian state and other

concessions instead of negotiating on the several unresolved issues?

* With whom do the Israelis negotiate peace, in the face of the Hamas (and

several other terrorist organizations) stated resolve and actions to scuttle

any attempt at peace negotiations?

There are two solutions that will work, and perhaps a third. Workable

solutions consist either of all Israelis converting to Islam, or just to

disappear. The potential third solution is for Israel to come under

Palestinian rule, but whether this would ultimately be peaceful is

problematical. Which solution do you prefer, Mr. Sher?

LAWRENCE SHAPIRO

Sebastopol

Irrelevant state?

EDITOR: I want to take this opportunity, the day following the elections of

November 2002, to extend my sincere congratulations to The Press Democrat and

those who blindly followed your voting recommendations on the election returns

from the great state of California.

It will be well noted in the months to come when the tax rates in this

state and the bond rates that will be issued to cover the tremendous deficit

go higher than anytime in our history. Then the Democrats will try to obtain

assistance in Washington, D.C., only to find that our state is irrelevant,

isolated, impotent and broke. God bless all those on fixed incomes.

Congratulations to all.

DONALD B. LEE

Santa Rosa

March for peace

EDITOR: On Oct. 26, my family participated along with some 80,000 other

citizens of this great and powerful nation, in a march and rally in San

Francisco. Our purpose? To stop the insanity of our great and powerful nation

which is heading toward an invasion of Iraq. This demonstration was one of

many that occurred simultaneously throughout the world. In Washington D.C.,

Maine, New Mexico, Berlin, London and Asia, just to mention a few. These

demonstrations are essential not only in terms of people in the street but

almost more importantly in the media that report them. The will of the people

must be heard and not marginalized by photos of wild-looking people.

On Sunday in Santa Rosa we will let everyone know that we are against any

military incursion into Iraq. Gather on the front lawn of Santa Rosa Junior

College (1501 Mendocino Ave.). The march starts at noon and marches to

Courthouse Square (Fourth and Mendocino) for a rally at 1:30 p.m. Come with

your family, kids; come as a contingent with your church, etc. Bring signs,

banners, drums. March for peace with justice.

ROBIN LATHAM-PONNECK

Sebastopol

Sad about Crushers

EDITOR: I was really sad when my dad told me that the Crushers were leaving

Sonoma County. It was more sad than when the Giants lost the World Series. I

hope the Crushers come back.

ALISON WENDLER, age 7

Santa Rosa

Blind greed

EDITOR: As a resident of Rincon Valley, I am appalled that the voice of our

community is that of the status quo and blind greed. Measure J would have

raised property taxes by only $35 per $100,000 of assessed value, yet the

voters turned it away. These are the same voters whose property values have

skyrocketed in the last five years while the ''assessed'' value of their home

has remained the same.

Rincon Valley homeowners have seen their home values rise to record heights

due to the excellence of Rincon Valley schools and general quality of life,

yet somehow they are too ignorant to make the connection: Better schools

equals higher real estate values. You just cost yourself better schools and

higher home values.

JAY TAKACS

Santa Rosa

What is answer?

EDITOR: Paul Gullixson sure hit the nail on the head with his observation

that ''elected officials haven't shown themselves to be the best stewards of

public funds.'' He is also on the mark to doubt whether the public will do a

better job using ballot propositions to control public funds.

But what is the answer? Are we to throw our hands up in the air and wail?

The Libertarian answer is to reduce public funds by leaving them in the

hands of individuals -- the taxpayers. Let them decide how to spend their own

money.

By and large, they will do a good job of spending their own money, even if

mistakes are occasionally made. Please note that these mistakes hurt only the

spender, not the public. Contrast that with government spending where everyone

is hurt when mistakes are made.

Just look at the energy crisis where the government not only paid 30 times

the normal rate for energy, but they required utility companies to do the

same. No sane individual would have made such a stupid decision.

It has been said that ''the public purse is not safe while the Legislature

is in session.'' If we are not willing to get rid of the Legislature, the

least we can do is reduce the size of the public purse.

JAMES R. OGLESBY

Cloverdale

Single driver

EDITOR: Regarding the story ''Commuters get first crack at new Highway 101

lanes today.''

Let's see if I have this straight:

I don't have any children, so I haven't contributed to the traffic

congestion. Yet my tax money was being used to build extra highway lanes that

I, as a single driver, won't be allowed to use during commute hours.

Can you say taxation without representation?

DAVE BARRY

Santa Rosa

Anti-litter campaign

EDITOR: I had several occasions recently to drive from Healdsburg to

Guerneville, choosing scenic Eastside Road to connect to River Road. Alas, the

closer I got to River Road, the more litter and debris I observed, including

cardboard boxes, a large carpet remnant, and an abandoned car at the

intersection of Eastside and Trenton Healdsburg roads. Eastside leading up to

the intersection of Wohler Road is especially popular with libation consumers,

considering all the discarded beverage containers.

As a teen-ager in the 1960s, anti-litter messages were drilled into me,

including Lady Bird Johnson's ''Beautification of America'' program and the

''crying Indian'' TV commercial. Considering the retro effort by Madison

Avenue lately, maybe it's time to revisit an anti-litter campaign.

BRIAN K. HALEY

Healdsburg