Letters to the editor: Wall Street protesters; retired California state workers who are back on the payroll; debit card fee at Bank of America

Greed isn’t good

Re “Settling in on Wall Street,” Sept. 30

The article says these protesters have no clear agenda. It seems crystal clear that they are frustrated by the lack of concern for the people in this country who need jobs and hope.

Millions of people looking for work in this country are being ignored and slowly erased by mega-corporations whose obscene profits far exceed anyone’s understanding.

The beauty and tradition of America allow people to unite and make noise to draw attention to these huge injustices. It’s about time somebody did.

Greed isn’t good; it’s ugly, selfish and destructive for society. Just look around.

Frances Terrell Lippman

Sherman Oaks

Retired but still working

Re “Brown appointees pile pay on pensions,” Sept. 29

What disturbs me is that what’s prohibited to rank-and-file state employees — collecting a pension and salary — is OK for political appointees.

As for Ann Ravel’s contention that she is so committed to public service, I have one question: Why did she not continue to work in her current public service job instead of retiring at age 62? As for being able to “work for a private corporation and make tons of money,” she might not find it that simple with today’s job situation.

On top of that, the chairwoman of the state’s ethics watchdog agency wants to drag politics into this by saying that the “Republicans were doing it too.” What does this have to do with political parties?

Mel Watson

Mission Hills

Though everyone understands the need for wise pension reform, The Times missed the target in making Ravel its poster child.

As a career prosecutor, I observed Ravel work tirelessly as Santa Clara County’s top civil lawyer on public policy issues such as environmental protection, clean government and public safety. Near the end of her 34 years of blemish-free service, she received the state bar’s highest award for pro-bono legal representation.

Like some of California’s finest government attorneys, she passed up lucrative private sector jobs; perhaps the knowledge that she was earning a pension was a factor.

Implying that Ravel benefits unfairly because she gets paid for her work while collecting the pension for which she sacrificed is unfair.

Jay Boyarsky

Palo Alto

As the state implodes, so-called public servants who’ve retired are brought back for high-paying positions while being allowed to also receive their pensions, in some cases doubling their yearly income at taxpayers’ expense.

As I enter my 15th month of unemployment, I’d like to ask Gov. Jerry Brown for one of these commission jobs; I’m sure my skills match those of the retirees Brown determined to be the only ones able to handle the rigors of the jobs. Plus, I don’t have a public pension, so I’m a bargain.

Seriously, what is the governor thinking?

Melanie Savage

Pasadena

Money in the mattress

Re “BofA to levy $5 fee to use debit cards,” Sept. 30

Now that Bank of America will charge debit card users a $5 monthly fee, what will happen when a high percentage of people opt out of using the cards for purchases and use cash instead? Will the banks go back to the drawing board and find some other way of making us pay for their failures?

Maybe we should just stuff it in the mattress.

Carol Lindsey

Camarillo

Don’t shoot the messenger. The problem is not with BofA; it was created by the Dodd-Frank law passed by the Democratic majority in Congress. Under the guise of helping, government interference and over-regulation create and exacerbate these kinds of issues.

Do folks really think they should get all of their bank services for free? It’s easy to point the finger at banks when the real problem is Washington.

Don Black

Rancho Palos Verdes

The debate over civil liberties

Re “Taking liberties,” Opinion, Sept. 29

Jonathan Turley has only discredited himself with his criticism of the Obama administration’s stance on civil liberties. Turley is more concerned with retribution than with civil liberties.

He ignores the president’s successful repeal of the military’s “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy and the banishment of torture. He instead dwells on Obama’s refusal to prosecute members of the previous administration. But there is little to be gained in prosecuting former officials. Doing so risks further polarizing the nation.

Brian D. Williams

Green River, Wyo.

Turley writes that had Obama been defeated in 2008, “it is likely that an alliance for civil liberties might have coalesced and effectively fought the government’s burgeoning police powers.” This seems like a consolation prize. A consolidated opposition is the refuge of a party out of power.

If Sarah Palin, Texas Gov. Rick Perry or a descendant of the Confederacy were president, we would indeed have a very organized opposition, but one that would be powerless to make policy.

Turley distorts that Gallup poll that shows 49% of the people saying “government poses an immediate threat to individual rights.” That covers a full spectrum of gripes and crankiness that is not necessarily the subject of his article.

This is a useful argument on constitutional law for Turley’s law students, but it is counterproductive politically.

Norm Levine

Santa Monica

Taxing churches

Re “The IRS and the pulpit,” Editorial, Sept. 29

It’s good to see you bring up the issue of the IRS and churches. It lets us — an increasingly large group of independents — bring up yet again the idea that in these difficult times, we should require that churches, with their vast assets, pay their fair share of taxes.

Clearly with their regular violation of the 501(c)(3) laws, they should no longer be able to hide behind that statute. Churches are in fact big businesses, and it’s time they pay taxes.

James B. Parsons

Canyon Lake

Border fix

Re “The long way home,” Sept. 29

Congratulations to the U.S. Customs and Border Protection agency for implementing this effective program, in which illegal immigrants who are caught are deported to Mexico at places far from where they crossed into the United States.

Anything we do to minimize the influx of illegals from south of the border is a good thing.

And to any of the bleeding hearts who criticize this program, it’s simple: Don’t break our laws, and you won’t end up in an inconvenient part of

Mexico.

Martyn Travers

Long Beach

Pricey popcorn

Re “3-D films may cost more to watch,” Business, Sept. 28

National Assn. of Theater Owners officials wrote in a letter to Sony that they believe “Sony’s suggestion [that it no longer pay for 3-D glasses] is insensitive to our patrons, particularly in the midst of continuing economic distress.”

Did I miss the theaters’ big announcement that they have lowered ticket prices, or even the price of popcorn, because of the continuing economic

distress?

I haven’t noticed it but will gladly support theaters that practice what they preach.

Stephen Esmond

Los Angeles