Erin O’Neil assistant manager “I made a scrapbook for my fiancee for his birthday.” Gianna Diaz cashier “I helped a friend complete an angel and demon chalk picture at Righetti High School.” Anthony Leedom student “I drew a doodle on scratch paper for telephone pictionary.” Brandon Womack Taco Bell employee “I made a card for […]
Opinion
Fix these root causes
Correcting three root cause problems will go a long way toward making America self dependent and move us toward regaining the honor and respect we no longer enjoy on the world stage. Root Cause 1: The oil standard. Our next president should immediately initiate a “Manhattan Project” on energy, using our best and brightest to […]
I’m not surprised, but what happened?
I don’t think anyone is surprised government is broke, and we all know government employees have no incentive to work hard or fast. I get upset that government is now competing with private sector companies—WHY? Vector control … electrical … plumbing. This is a big problem and needs to be addressed. If the service is […]
We have had enough suffering
How much more heartache must we endure? Congress continues to fund the war even though it is inconceivable with proven evidence that Bush and his subordinates used deceit for attacking and occupying Iraq. “Incorrect information,” says the White House—but now we know lies were used. And the terrorist threat is now greater than ever with […]
Work hard, search for opportunity
I saw this country evolve from (what my grandfather found to be) a place where a person could work hard and become anything they wanted to be, to an entitlement society where people somehow believe they have an absolute right to a high standard of living. We have been lulled into a false sense of […]
What sort of incentives would lure you to buy a house?
Jeff Hendrickson farmer “No down payment.” Elizabeth Beyea flower and succulent vendor “The location and size, such as the square footage and the yard. Also, carpet versus hardwood floors. I like hardwood.” Dave Connuely professional fruit salesman “Just to be a homeowner. It’s the greatest investment you can make.” Terri Castrellon cashier “If prices in […]
Get smart about oil
Lois Capps needs to get past her 1969 oil spill mentality and embrace modern technology and science. Energy and oil are for everyone, not only for the elite who fly to Washington weekly on planes using oil. Our economy needs the oil. With increased drilling, prices will decrease because the oil producing counties will no […]
Communism flourishes in environmentalism
How has communism flourished in so many countries? Two philosophers, Georg Hegel and Karl Marx, in the mid-19th century decided that the working man did not have any choice when working for his employer, and had to accept whatever demands his employer made of him. In subsequent years, unscrupulous politicians used this philosophy to gain […]
You call those stories ‘winners’?
Once again, your selection of winners of the 55 Fiction contest (July 3) is the same old schlock. If you received 863 entries, why did you have to use the same few authors multiple times? Your editorial blurb claims that “you just can’t dispute the instinctive, irrational glow that quality reading material produces.” It’s too […]
Stand up for cattle and health
It’s time we all took our heads out of the sand. As most of us have known for a long time, the meat industry does not stand up to the rigid standards it is supposed to, and there are loopholes in those standards. The Humane Society has been documenting abuse of laws and abuse of […]
Avoid animal fat for health reasons
The June 12 issue of the Santa Maria Sun featured an extensive article on beef production (“Here’s the beef”), including a reference to cholesterol and a claim that the American Heart Association “has determined that cholesterol is controlled by hereditary factors and genetics.” This is only part of the story and is very misleading. A […]
We must change or face extinction
Global warming is finally being taken seriously, and with a new administration coming in, hopefully more will be done to cut greenhouse gas emissions and with dispatch, which has not been the case for all too long. There are still too many leaders all over the world who refuse to admit this is a deadly […]

