Insurer Fines

Re “Quackenbush Rejected Steep Fines for Insurers,” April 2:

Welcome to the new math: insurance company theorem. It is: The amount of the fine is inversely proportional to the amount of the political contribution. The bigger the contribution, the smaller the fine. It is important for “mathematical correctness” that the fine precede the contribution in using this theorem. I shall leave it up to the educators on how to teach this theorem in schools.

SANDY FRIEDFELD

Rancho Palos Verdes

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Unfortunately, your articles regarding Insurance Commissioner Chuck Quackenbush’s cozy relationship with the insurance industry are no surprise. The very people he should be overseeing are the same groups that have financed both of his campaigns for that office. The insurance commissioner office is yet another example of how big money has perverted the governmental institutions that are supposed to protect the taxpayers. We desperately need campaign finance reform!

BOB TEIGAN

Simi Valley

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Quackenbush “legally” accepts $245,000 in cash from the companies he is in charge of regulating and has the moral arrogance to explain to us trusting citizens that a quarter-million-dollar gift will have no effect on his decisions for or against these companies’ monetary interests. Just what part of conflict of interest does he not understand? It is well known in the business community that campaign gifts are not contributions but investments that better have a “positive” return.

Our company will no longer play this game. We invite other companies that deal with public agencies to join us and regulate themselves until federal, state and local politicians have the courage to legislate against this blatant perversion of the democratic process.

JIM HARRIGAN

Economic Development Systems

Redondo Beach