We should thank the city of Santa Maria and the county of Santa Barbara for the “alien microwave orange” street lights (“Turn. Out. Those. Lights.” Sept. 29). They are both using the most energy-efficient type of lamps there are. Luminous efficacy gives a relative efficiency for all kinds of lamps. The orange sodium discharge lamps […]
Opinion
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U.S. leaders need to check their duties
Chico
Justin Ruhge of Lompoc states we need a leader, not a debater who can manage (“We need a president who’s a leader, not a debater,” Oct. 13). It is not at all dark as to who Mr. Ruhge is referring to be the choice of the Republican Party. In all the hoopla of listing the […]
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What about us?
Santa Maria
It was such good news that the Sun referenced an Oct. 13 article on its cover with “Illegal immigrants may breathe easier with this bill.” Do you think the law-abiding legal citizens of this town are now breathing easier? Do we matter anymore?
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Flee the temples of consumerism
Cheap products made overseas by U.S. corporations cost us dearly
There is a big new box store, across the street from the other giant box stores: more than half a million square feet of box-store mania, collectively. I opened boxes at the new box store, almost all of which were marked “made in China”—boxes for every department, from cosmetics to candy, house wares to infants, […]
Posted inOpinion
The occupation movement is neither red nor blue
Thomas Jefferson warned that a super-wealthy elite could topple the democracy
Recent letters in various newspapers implore voters to unseat President Obama next year. Apart from the standard reason—“He’s a Marxist!”—their authors rant about Obama’s bailout of the banks. They condemn the Occupy Wall Street movement—generally considered “leftist”—for hypocrisy, for being on the same side as the obviously corrupt corporatists the protesters deride. But the bailout […]
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What are you going to be for Halloween?
Victor Cuna student “The murderer from Scream.” Tianna Pasko student/gymnastics coach “Padmé Amidala” Jodi Wilson student “A flapper. I don’t know why.” Kat Mc Bee Costco Supervisor “A cheetah. My boyfriend is being Ace Ventura, so we’re all going as animals.”
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What does Santa Maria need?
Courtney Winder C.A.N. mentor “More for high school youth to do. Idle minds are dangerous.” Ernesto Gonzalez Music instructor “Places of entertainment.” Jessica Noller Student “More stuff for kids to do.” Noemi Madrigal Bilingual assistant “More things to do.”
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We need a president who’s a leader, not a debater
Lompoc
Haven’t we had enough examples of candidates who can talk good and promise “change” but have no experience to back it up? We elected the Obamanation in the White House as a result! Let’s not make this mistake again in selecting a Republican candidate. We need a man in the White House who has years […]
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Your silence speaks volumes
Santa Maria
If an average person sold automatic weapons to known drug cartels, notorious gang members, and assassins, federal law enforcements officials would be all over them with possible criminal charges, incarceration, and accomplice charges in the resulting crimes. Yet when that person is the attorney general of the United States, the media and our local Congresswoman […]
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Eliminate birthdates on job applications
Nipomo
Job discrimination against senior citizens is a real problem in California (“An age-old question,” Sept. 22). It should be illegal for employers to require a birthdate on the job application forms that are most common. What reason is there for such a request other than judging based on age? It is easy to look at […]
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Behold the next subprime loan crisis
College students are, on average, $25,000 in debt upon graduation and face an unemployment rate between 14 and 17 percent
In California, indeed throughout the nation, student loan debt surpasses credit card debt, and youth unemployment hovers between 14 and 17 percent. We are witnessing the next subprime crisis of the United States. Students have demanded relief, yet we hear only the same bromides about better times to come, how we’re the future, how investment […]
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What life lesson did you have to learn the hard way?
Mitch Maiden trophy shop owner “Twenty-five years of marriage isn’t easy, but it’s not about me. It’s about us.” Bill Reynolds pastor “Don’t lie. It always catches up with you.” Cathy Miller homemaker “Do not abuse a credit card.” Ron Glenn retired “Being honest.”
