Letters to the editor

Monterey County Herald
Posted on May 7, 2007

Vote no on Measures A, B

I appreciate that I live in Monterey County enjoying the liberties that distinguish America in our world.

Every day I lament the editorial comments that remind me of uncivilized societies (and children) who fight over selfish interests. They have to be taught values that invite compromise, a way to be civil to one another.

In America, our Constitution and Bill of Rights make each individual equally vested in the opportunity to pursue happiness. We work individually or in groups in our republic to adjust the values of our community. We do not have a pure democracy where everyone votes on every issue because it is not possible for individuals to study and review all of the detail involved in every decision. We elect representatives and employ them to do that work.

No system is perfect. We have checks and balances to correct imperfect decisions, and elections allow us to change representation frequently. Our Monterey County system has five supervisors who worked in 2006 and
2007 with testimony from all interests to write a general plan. It is the product of the best system of government in the world.

Vote no on A and B and yes on C and D.


Richard R. Smith
Soledad