Bush’s ratings reflect our culture

President Bush's dismal approval rating is not so much a commentary on his job performance as it is an accurate commentary on our self-absorbed, spoiled society.

U.S. R&D off the track

With 50 years of experience in the research and development business, I have to disagree with Anne McFeatters' position that the decline in U.S. technological leadership is due to lack of government funding. Except in the military area, U.S. inventiveness has rarely been funded by the government. Think of Edison, Ford, the Wright Brothers and Silicon Valley.

Kudos to new sports editor

I complained mightily about The Signal's Sports pages before. So now I'd like to make amends.

A wish list for the Santa Clarita Valley

Caltrans needs to hire women to repair the potholes and cracks on the 5 freeway because the job the men have been doing is a joke!

Keep development on SCV's west side

I have been a resident of this valley for more than 32 years. We tried to develop the Rivendale/Towsley Canyon at that time, but regional planning - through the county - was less than eager to approve the development as the creek that runs through the canyon drains in excess of 4,000 acres. We were there during an El Nino when the water that rushed through the creek was so strong that it carried heavy ...

How not to choose judges: Steve Lunetta’s method

Steve Lunetta wrote an Op-Ed article on June 2, 2008 on "How to Choose the Local Judges." In that article he states, "Please take the time to read and think about the judges you vote for."

SCV needs to give people reason to come here

More new hotels. Geez. They haven't even gotten around to putting mints on all the new pillows at the corner of the 5 and the 126. I was just wondering who's gonna stay in all these hotel rooms? Has Magic Mountain suddenly gained some new allure that I've missed? I doubt it. There is no other reason to get off the freeway except to get gas.

Gay marriage ban a religious freedom issue

I'm one of the "million fools" that Jonathan Kraut wrote of (June 3) who signed the petition to amend our state constitution so as to define marriage as a union between a man and a woman. The main reason our constitution must be amended this way is to protect our freedom of religion, which is one of the basic rights supposedly granted by our constitution and the primary reason this country was founded in the first place.

Cacti use in Santa Clarita landscaping

Santa Clarita may not be Phoenix, but it is a desert location ("Is this Phoenix or Santa Clarita?," Letters, May 29). "Cacti" would seem to be a natural choice for landscaping purposes.

Some with biased views wrongly attacked city

Last night I attended a public meeting regarding traffic in our neighborhood. In response to some residents complaints regarding traffic in the area, Santa Clarita city staff had done numerous traffic counts, surveys, license plate checks, etc. In addition, new stop signs and speed signs had been added to mitigate the perceived problems along with an increased law enforcement presence. The meeting was to present the most recent survey data. When city staff presented the ...

Merchants’ credit card policies prohibited

Where I choose to spend my money in Santa Clarita is a big deal to me. With so many places to shop, eat and use services in the SCV, I can go to about 100 different places for the same thing. This letter may seem like more of a rant, but I would also like to provide information to readers. Merchants are not allowed to charge you an extra fee, service charge or set a ...

Playing blame game does disservice to constituents

Our U.S. Representative does not serve his people well when he attacks the Democrats, blaming them for high fuel costs ("McKeon: Blame Dems for high gas," May 29). After all, he does represent all of us, including Democrats.

The facts about SCV's No. 2 junior golfer Max Homa

Although I've contacted The Signal several times regarding misinformation that was printed about my son, the mistakes continue.

Pinetree Elementary’s no-hugging rule absurd

I read Sharon Cotal's article in The Signal on Memorial Day ("Sorry, this school is in a no-hugging zone," May 26) and the more I read it, the more exasperated I became! I know the verdict is not in yet for Pinetree Elementary School, but it is totally absurd that an elementary school principal would even think young children should not be allowed to "hug, high-five, shake hands or just be close" to their classmates.

Kierkegaard quotation should be read in context

I just wanted to comment on the Kierkegaard quote run in "The Still Small Editorial" on May 16: "To dare is to lose one's footing momentarily; to not dare is to lose one's self entirely." I was hoping to put the quote within the context from which the author spoke. Though our current culture of thought probably interprets the above quote as taking a worldly risk (like pursuing a business venture or perhaps leaving one's ...

Boy Scouts of America

Dear Editor,

Toll roads are discriminatory

I urge all drivers to contact the California Transportation Commission www.catc.ca.gov (and any local representative) to voice their disapproval of Assembly Bill AB 680, which gives private entities the right to charge drivers to use the highways they are already paying to build and maintain.

Let’s keep our low-chloride water

Once we have removed the excess chloride from our wastewater, are we just going to give the water away to the farmers in Ventura?

Safety and our youthful drivers

Concerning Jim Holt's article on teens dying in the SCV ("Sand Canyon residents remember youth killed at oak tree 32 years ago," May 8), I can understand his concern.

State Supreme Court ruling on pot shops was victory for families

Good job, Gary

I just finished reading Gary Horton's column on victimhood. If I didn't know better I'd swear he suddenly became a Republican. His comments were spot on. In this age of blame the other guy for your own lack of responsibility, it's good to see that someone else gets it. Good job, Gary.

Special moment

Thanks for hosting the Summer Meltdown. This is so important to the Yes I Can program. I witnessed a special moment that I will never forget. One of the Yes I Can students was withdrawn and another student was holding her arm around her. One female teachers from the Yes I Can program went up to her and held her in her arms for a good couple of minutes (just the kindest hug) as to say it's OK. Then the girl and friend went on their way,

Lessons to be learned

The Boston bombing brought to light a very clever way of carrying out covert operations in another country. Our own CIA can learn from the Tsarnaev brothers on how to conduct an operation and have that country finance it for them.

Here is one for the books

Remember when that man, Rick Perry, came to California to promote and emphasize "that HIS state of Texas doesn't bother with pesky regulations on industry.

Gay Rights in the SCV

Not two weeks after "our" 13-year-old gay teen, Nigel Hardy,committed suicide in Palmdale from being bullied as his school's male cheerleader, the president of the board of "our" Hart School District, Joe Messina, brought a known (adult) bully of gays, Brad Dacus, of the ironically named www.pacificjustice.org, as the keynote speaker at "our" city's Mayor's Prayer Breakfast at the Hyatt Regency Valencia. Even after the AV teen's death, Dacus called for parents not to attend ...

McKeon and gun control

I always enjoy a good chuckle on a Sunday morning, and the letter by Richard Myers today allowed me a good one.

Gun control and voters in McKeon’s district

I recently read Brian Baker's April 24 letter "On logic, liberated thinking and gun control."

No birds in Newhall

Sure hoping we will have other options besides the birds for the traffic circle sculpture coming to Old Town Main Street area.

An immigrant praises the strength of America

It comes by surprise. Bombs explode and people run; some are killed, hundreds are injured. Why? What is in the mind of men to do such things?

City is responsible in open space purchase and management

In his article of April 20 ("Setting a bad example"), Tim Myers posits a definition of a "geography" partisan and divides them into good, neutral and bad.