Reagan record being ignored

In 1984, Ronald Reagan won re-election with more votes ever cast for any candidate anywhere at any time. The total was in excess of 54 million votes.

He won because conservatives not only voted for him but worked for his election. One wonders why this hasn/t registered with Republican political strategists, but apparently they have learned nothing. The geniuses have blown two elections they should have won and squeaked through with a highly disputed win.

They have yet to come close to Reagan/s record vote in spite of a population growth in excess of 2 million people a year.

Later this year, we will see a contest between two men who will avoid the illegal immigration problem entirely, say nothing about downsizing the federal government, ignore the colossal failure that is the United Nations, and slither around the issue of same-sex marriage as though it were a rabid dog. Then they will tell us about our duty to vote.

It is like being given the old Utah choice of execution by hanging or firing squad. Who cares?

Donald G. Smith

Santa Maria

City must help middle class

I am writing in response to Joan Leon/s guest commentary concerning the need for increased low-income housing opportunities.

I strongly disagree with the city/s need for more low-income housing. The Santa Maria City Council and Mayor Lavagnino have bent over backward to help people with low income. Projects such as Los Adobes, Westgate Apartments and Sec. 8 all are geared for low-income families or individuals.

I guess the question to the mayor and City Council is, what have you done to help the middle class? The ones who make too much money to qualify for low-income housing but also cannot afford a ,3,000-a-month payment that a new house commands.

Joan Leon suggests that the Asuncion project become affordable housing. Did Joan read the recent article in the Times? The Asuncion project is affordable housing. I think the city needs a project like Asuncion. It is a step in the right direction.

David Armstrong

Santa Maria

Hospital stay good experience

I would like to express my thanks and gratitude to all the fourth-floor nurses at Marian Medical Center. They were all an example of devoted, caring people.

My recent stay on the fourth floor recovering from surgery was a pleasant experience, knowing someone would be there for me when needed.

Hats off to the doctors also. They did a top job.

My fears and apprehensions were relieved when I received such professional care at Marian Medical Center.

Judith Zimmer

Santa Maria

Seeking dogs waste of money

This is outrageous, totally outrageous. A door-to-door search for unlicensed dogs when funds for the Lompoc Animal Shelter are cut to the bone!

How typical of the Santa Barbara County Animal Services to organize a dog Gestapo instead of caring for the animals.

Who is to pay for this dog Gestapo to pound on your doors demanding to inspect for unlicensed dogs? You, the taxpayer!

The county Board of Supervisors in its next meeting needs to vacate the position of animal services director immediately. All funds for the position go directly to the Lompoc Animal Shelter.

Robert Dunn

Vandenberg Village

Returning lost pets to owners

This is a letter to those selfish, uncaring individuals who find lost pets and, for whatever reason, make no effort to find the owners.

If you had any conscience at all you would realize that somewhere there is a grieving family that, through no fault on their part, have lost a beloved member of their family. A child has lost a playmate, a senior has lost perhaps their only companion.

True, there are individuals who don/t take care of their animals. These are not the persons who advertise in the paper, or post signs or offer a reward for the safe return of their pets.

If anyone has found a lost animal, find some decency in your heart and make every effort to find the owner. Don/t just look for a posted reward. Your true reward will be found in the joy that you bring to the owner of that animal.

Joan Scott

Santa Maria

Choose life over abortion

Fourteen churches in the Santa Maria Valley erected small cross displays in memory of the 1.3 million babies killed each year due to abortion. Many churches were able to display 1,365 crosses, with each cross representing 1,000 lives lost.

Some people express the notion that although abortion is wrong, "it is not an area where one person has the right to impose his beliefs on others." Would they feel that way if they were in the baby/s shoes? I know if someone was about to slice me up with a knife, I/d want somebody to impose his beliefs on the situation for my protection.

It/s easy to take the uninvolved attitude toward abortion because once you are born, you will never be a target of abortion. If any other kind of killer were on the loose, I imagine these people would have a different attitude.

Choose life 7 your mom did!

Michelle Mariscal

Santa Maria