We encourage our local state legislators, Assemblyman Joe Simitian and Senator Byron Sher, to support the governor's proposed local government budget package and move swiftly to place a measure on the November ballot to restore stability and predictability to local budgets and vital local services.

Constitutional reform is key to protecting taxpayer dollars and local services. If placed on the ballot, this measure will prevent the state from taking and using local government funds in the future and will protect local taxpayer dollars that help pay for our police officers, parks, library services and street maintenance—things which ensure Los Gatos' high quality of life.

Local leaders have agreed to short-term budget cuts so long as they are linked to constitutional protection. But, two years of budget cuts to local governments will have real impacts on essential services that California residents rely on. Legislators should not deepen these cuts or change the manner in which the reductions are allocated among affected local governments.

Long-term constitutional protection is the most important priority for local services and, if enacted, this package will provide it. It is now up to the state legislature to make it a reality.

Mayor Steve Glickman

Town of Los Gatos

Soldier supports
war in Iraq and
the president

Ladies and gentlemen, I told you once, I told you twice—do not talk about things you know nothing about. Most of you have claimed, "Iraq has no weapons of mass destruction." Yet during the war, Iraq fired missiles that were illegal under the 1991 UN weapons restrictions. Now there are two soldiers in the hospital because a bomb containing sarin nerve gas was detonated near their convoy.

So maybe you should look to President Bush and remind him, he was right—Iraq had the weapons, and the world is a better place without another oppressive regime.

Look at Korea. We lost 50,000 service members to save one nation. You might say, this is a different war and what about the American Marines, soldiers, sailors and airmen killed or hurt in Iraq since the war? I can only say that it is a price we have paid time and time again to fight battles overseas so that someday the battleground isn't my backyard.

Well, sometimes you give $1 to Sally Struthers to help African kids, or you support an effort to free 25 million people. Speaking from personal experience, I would rather free 25 million people. So call it patriotism, supporting the troops or supporting the president, but the war in Iraq was more than justified, but could be far from over.

Lance Cpl. Tom C. Ferguson

U.S. Marine Corps

Letter presented
misinformation
about WWII

Each participant in the recent expression of views agrees that Americans more uniformly expressed patriotism in the years after Dec. 7, 1941, than now, years after Sept. 11, 2001. Last week's letter (by William E. Sirvatka) asked why we are not as "gung-ho to go" now as during World War II. America is at war, and presumably one war requires the same uniform expressions as another.

One logical response is that wars, like their justifications, are not interchangeable. For example, in WW II our Commander in Chief led America against the nation that actually attacked us. Imagine President Roosevelt invading an alternate country of his own preference.

Even though presumed command of historical facts seldom determines point of view, error is best addressed when encountered. Roosevelt, in his historic "Day of Infamy" speech to the Congress of the United States, declared that a state of war existed with Japan. The United States did not declare war on Germany. Instead, "Three days later, Hitler, in a colossal blunder, declared war on the United States." That declaration of European war was not the other way around as asserted last week.

This basic, though apparently elusive, fact may be found in standard historical texts. I cite War in the Pacific: From Pearl Harbor to Tokyo Bay, page 99, by military scholar Harry A. Gailey. Further, those who might absorb last week's other misinformation, that "Roosevelt knew of the impending attack at Pearl Harbor but allowed it to happen," would profit, also, by examining historian Gailey's full chapter, "The Day of Infamy." It is a critical analysis of that suggestible, but flawed, assertion.

James P. Walsh

Los Gatos

Finding it difficult
to be patriotic
over this war

In William Sirvatka's letter to the editor he asks various questions as to why we're losing the spirit of patriotism and states, "Or have the liberals convinced us we are not at war?" What do liberals have to do with the fact that our self-proclaimed war president decided to attack and occupy a country that had nothing to do with 9-11? I don't think I'm alone in finding it difficult to get patriotic when our Commander-in-Chief decides to move troops and resources away from pursuing the culprits behind 9-11 (Al Qaida) in Afghanistan to satisfy his own self-serving political folly in Iraq.

James Diaz

San Jose

Main is looking
good, and there's
much to see

Has everyone noticed the lovely new paint on Le Boulanger on the corner of Main Street and Montebello? Good job.

Main Street has become a very nice "walking" experience. Over the bridge where our trail to Lexington Dam begins are some interesting stores, restaurants, trails to Forbes Mill and the high school and Town Hall. The Mercedes Benz place looks so nice since renovation.

The French Cellar for wine tasting and Café Siena are two of my favorite places. Be sure to walk Main Street when the crepe myrtle trees are in bloom now!

Shirley Henderson

Los Gatos