Re “Newsom discusses shoplifting incident he witnessed” (Feb. 2):
Remember when President George H.W. Bush was roundly criticized for being out of touch when he seemed amazed by supermarket scanners, which had been in stores for years? Gov. Newsom just had one of those moments. He was shocked that someone at the Target where he was shopping walked out without paying.
This kind of theft has been rampant in California for years, and he just noticed? I’ve witnessed it several times, as have friends and family, even in “safe” cities in Orange County. The problem is much more severe in cities like San Francisco and L.A., which is a big reason why so many stores are closing. It reminds me of when Newsom saw the area around L.A. Union Station and declared it to be “Third World.” No kidding. Perhaps Gavin needs to get out more, and I don’t mean to the French Laundry.
— Jeff Thomas, Irvine
Ayn Rand
I was pleased to read the column Feb. 2 by Agustina Vergara CID extolling the virtues of Ayn Rand and her philosophy of objectivism.
However, it is ironic that the writer of this piece has come to this country to escape the socialism of South America, when we seem to be transitioning toward the very society that Rand decries. Folks like Rand who write of the individual rather than the collective are in short supply.
Rand is not even mentioned and neglected in many educational settings. Her novels can be wordy and lengthy, but the message if you read them is clear: We must be vigilant and preserve the freedom and liberty that makes this country unique, or we will surely lose this great land of opportunity.
— Robert Waner, Hemet
Bonta sues Albertsons-Kroger over a merger
Re “Fight crime, not a grocery merger” (Feb. 4):
Why would anyone sue a grocery merger, such as Albertsons-Kroger, if it would be beneficial to customers?
Well, Rob Bonta considers his action a necessary move, rather than dealing with so many more important issues such as crime and homelessness. Mr. Bonta likes to be seen and heard, no matter what, to further his political agenda. By the way he plans on running for governor of California. May God help us.
— Christine Peterson, Woodland Hills
![Rafael Perez is a leftist political shill. His Feb. 4 article on the supposed cult of Trump is laughable in its irony. For most of the article, one could substitute the name Joe Biden for Trump and it would equally apply as far as lock-step behavior and lack of critical thinking by supporters in the face of a politician’s lies and half-truths, self-interest and political parties holding each other hostage. Speaking of lock-step, Mr. Perez immediately infers that devotion to Trump has commonalities with some of history’s most vicious dictators, joining the current worn-out chorus of the liberals’ latest fear-mongering […]](https://www.ocregister.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/2018_1008_generic_mailbox_letters_to_the_editor3-6.jpg?w=513 "Rafael Perez is a leftist political shill. His Feb. 4 article on the supposed cult of Trump is laughable in its irony. For most of the article, one could substitute the name Joe Biden for Trump and it would equally apply as far as lock-step behavior and lack of critical thinking by supporters in the face of a politician’s lies and half-truths, self-interest and political parties holding each other hostage. Speaking of lock-step, Mr. Perez immediately infers that devotion to Trump has commonalities with some of history’s most vicious dictators, joining the current worn-out chorus of the liberals’ latest fear-mongering […]")
![No full-scale war in the Middle East I’m quite sure Biden’s commander in chief, Obama or whoever it is, doesn’t want a military conflict within Iran. Iran doesn’t want it either. Iran knowing the weakness of the U.S. under the Biden regime is just testing the waters. Iran denies responsibility for the drone attack; however, it funds the group responsible for it. It’s my thinking this will not cause a full-scale war in the Middle East, but when you’re dealing with terrorist countries, one never knows for sure. I’m hoping the next 2024 vote for POTUS will give us someone […]](https://www.ocregister.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/2018_1008_generic_mailbox_letters_to_the_editor3-3.jpg?w=513 "No full-scale war in the Middle East I’m quite sure Biden’s commander in chief, Obama or whoever it is, doesn’t want a military conflict within Iran. Iran doesn’t want it either. Iran knowing the weakness of the U.S. under the Biden regime is just testing the waters. Iran denies responsibility for the drone attack; however, it funds the group responsible for it. It’s my thinking this will not cause a full-scale war in the Middle East, but when you’re dealing with terrorist countries, one never knows for sure. I’m hoping the next 2024 vote for POTUS will give us someone […]")
![There is still nothing new under the Mideast sun Hark back to the days of the Barbary Pirates. When they would capture merchant shipping, crews, cargoes, kidnap Christians and other non-believers to be held for ransom or as slaves. Fast forward to today’s version of kidnapping, holding shipping, threatening perceived weaker neighbors, deep pockets, i.e. Iran’s nuclear deal, and continue to repeat. Once upon a time, Thomas Jefferson’s emissary threatened these actions and was ignored. Subsequently, the U.S. Marines went into Tripoli, captured and held the resident caliph. End of story. The current caliph has ignored the recent warning. Perhaps […]](https://www.ocregister.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/2018_1008_generic_mailbox_letters_to_the_editor3-2.jpg?w=513 "There is still nothing new under the Mideast sun Hark back to the days of the Barbary Pirates. When they would capture merchant shipping, crews, cargoes, kidnap Christians and other non-believers to be held for ransom or as slaves. Fast forward to today’s version of kidnapping, holding shipping, threatening perceived weaker neighbors, deep pockets, i.e. Iran’s nuclear deal, and continue to repeat. Once upon a time, Thomas Jefferson’s emissary threatened these actions and was ignored. Subsequently, the U.S. Marines went into Tripoli, captured and held the resident caliph. End of story. The current caliph has ignored the recent warning. Perhaps […]")
![Re “House panel OKs Mayorkas impeachment charges “ (Feb. 1): The New York Times is even worse than the Associated Press as a PR arm of the Democrats. Unbiased reporting has been abandoned by them both. In your front-page article on the pending Mayorkas impeachment, the N.Y. Times made its shamelessly aggressive agenda clear. My journalism professors would have blue-penciled this hack piece, sending it back to the writer with a stern warning. The writer says the Republicans “raced forward with a partisan indictment” of Biden’s border policies. Yes, the opposition does oppose. Shocked? They called it an “extraordinary escalation […]](https://www.ocregister.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/2018_1008_generic_mailbox_letters_to_the_editor3-1.jpg?w=513 "Re “House panel OKs Mayorkas impeachment charges “ (Feb. 1): The New York Times is even worse than the Associated Press as a PR arm of the Democrats. Unbiased reporting has been abandoned by them both. In your front-page article on the pending Mayorkas impeachment, the N.Y. Times made its shamelessly aggressive agenda clear. My journalism professors would have blue-penciled this hack piece, sending it back to the writer with a stern warning. The writer says the Republicans “raced forward with a partisan indictment” of Biden’s border policies. Yes, the opposition does oppose. Shocked? They called it an “extraordinary escalation […]")