Newsom’s masquerade

Re “Federal troops should get out, Newsom says” (July 17):

What an interesting choice of words Gov. Gavin Newsom uses while gaslighting the detainment of illegal aliens claiming it is “weakness masquerading as strength.” As he continues to point fingers, he needs to look in the mirror and see how the statement really applies as all fingers point back to him as he continues to attemp to lead California down a garden path with rose-colored glasses. He is showcasing that he is the epitome of that very weakness he complains about .... masquerading as strength ... since his first term in office. “Et tu, brute?”

— Maria Alvarado, Riverside

Pull the switch on the train to nowhere

Re “Funding for train project pulled” (July 17):

Back in the mid-1930s the federal government created the Works Progress Administration to provide jobs for Americans during the height of the Depression. The WPA’s projects improved infrastructures and built roads, bridges, buildings, etc. Today, our illustrious governor is hell-bent on maintaining the boondoggle that is the California High Speed Rail Authority. One of the “benefits” of this program he always touts is job creation.Why not funnel those billions of wasted dollars into meaningful jobs building new nuclear power plants, reservoirs, improving roads, etc. — things that Californians actually need — instead of an ultra-expensive “milk run” train from Madera to Bakersfield. The financial viability of the CHSRA is a pipe dream of the highest order. Anyone with a modicum of business sense can see that. Obviously, fiscal responsibility is not something that governor Newsom and his legislative cohorts take seriously. Time for the supermajority to go away!

— William Holland, Northridge

Funding NPR and PBS

Re “Should Congress scrap funding for NPR, PBS?” (July 15):

A resounding “yes” for the continuation of funding for PBS and NPR. Our company has been in business for over 48 years, and as a small manufacturing business with 46 employees and the uncertain times due to constantly shifting national priorities, up-to-the minute unbiased news has been essential in helping guide us to the decisions we need to make to serve our employees, our customers and our suppliers. Programs such as “Marketplace,” local news and public policy analysis have become greatly important as we navigate through the uncertainties of the economy.

— Bud Weisbart, Fontana

Eliminate the funding

Funding should be eliminated, the federal government has no business funding news organizations that are promoting any political viewpoint, and these organizations have been peddling far left propaganda for decades completely unchecked. Joan Kroc left them $250 million from the estate of her husband Ray Kroc, founder of McDonald’s, and that’s how they should raise funds.

— Stanley J. Kafka, Tarzana

Do not cut NPR and PBS funding

These are the trusted stations that bring informative, educational and enjoyable content to their viewers.

— Sharon Lambert, Balboa Island

We can’t lose NPR/PBS

Public radio and TV offers the last source of unbiased journalism in the country. It does so without subjecting us to endless rounds of advertising for drugs and dental implants. If Congress withdraws the funding, I will be bereft of my best news sources — “All Things Considered,” “Morning Edition” and “The PBS News Hour”— and of my favorite entertainment, “Masterpiece Theater.”

We will all be poorer for losing this resource.

— Vicki Broach, Riverside

Stop the funding

Due to the liberal bias on the part of almost all publicly funded media, many of us believe that NPR and PBS are another arm of the Democratic propaganda machine. Taxpayer dollars should not be funding the progressive worldview unless there is equal funding for the sensible right-wing views.

Either fund both sides or scrap the funding.

— Amy Harman, Fountain Valley