Letters to the Editor

In Response to: “California recall good for a laugh, at least”

Allow me to start by saying… In Response to: “California recall good for a laugh, at least”

Allow me to start by saying that Mr. Ferris’s factless article is typical of the liberal/secularist ideology that is published by The Pitt News on an almost daily basis.

I must remind you that in his article Republicans were referred to by Mr. Ferris as “the soldiers of darkness.”

Mr. Ferris states, “Do I know the point of this [recall].” Let me begin by saying that, in a new record, the number of Californians leaving the state exceeded new arrivals by over one hundred eight thousand last year.

This is because California leads the country in taxes, energy prices and worker’s compensation cost and average families just can’t make it. Davis engaged in massive deception during the gubernatorial race by deliberately misleading the public about the magnitude of California’s fiscal crisis, which suddenly and mysteriously mushroomed after he won reelection. Basically, Davis took a 12 billion dollar surplus and then, in no time, caused it to mushroom into a 38 billion, yes billion with a ‘b,’ dollar deficit.He did this through his socialistic entitlement and social service programs, which the state provides for over 30 million citizens, but can’t pay for, even with taxes through the roof! The cost of doing business in California is now 32 percent higher than the national average. State spending increased 40 percent in four years under Davis, even while less and less tax money was coming in, because California businesses could no longer afford to operate there due to Gray Davis’s policies.

Mr. Ferris refers to the recall an “implosion of democracy” and “trying to overthrow the republic” but this could not be further from the truth. The California recall represents democracy at its finest. The people in that state are fed up with how Davis has handled things, and they, the people of California, have decided to execute their rights as Californians and Americans and vote to get Davis out of there so that order can be restored to the state.

Jonathan Kroll

SHRS Senior

jhk19@pitt.edu

My “Ode to Einstein:”

Why I just love that it replaced The Second Plate:

10. I love that Einstein Bros. Bagels slows me down – waiting in line 15 minutes for a bagel gives me a chance to practice my Zen meditation.

9. I love the melted wax that I get in my coffee when they run out of cardboard coffee cups and instead serve the coffee in wax-lined soda cups! Yummy!

8. I love having prices change when it comes to things like adding veggies to a hummus bagel – it keeps me on my toes!

7. I love when they have the coffee mislabeled!! I didn’t really want the decaf anyway.

6. I love when they simply don’t have the coffee brewed in the morning. Gives me a reason to either wait and meditate more, or try the smashing strawberry milk.

5. I love how I can peel the Asiago cheese right off the top of the bagel. It’s nasty, oily film is fun to play with during class.

4. I love forgoing dinner when I have a night class because Einstein’s is out of everything – except strawberry milk. I needed to lose weight anyway.

3. I love how they have a 2nd register that is never in operation. It provides a focal point for my meditative exercises.

2. I love the friendly, helpful, speedy and polite service. I never feel like I am inconveniencing them by spending money there. Never!

1. I love the existence of Einstein, because it has forced me to frequent other establishments within Oakland that I otherwise wouldn’t have visited. There the service and food is better – thanks Einstein’s!

Laura Rabuck

Graduate School of Public ‘ International Affairs

lgrst4@pitt.edu