Arnold Schwarzenegger is correct calling Registered Nurses a "special interest" group. These darn nurses are constantly fighting for their special interests, their patients. Arnie, on the other hand, is only beholden to his Billionaire Boy's Club buddies who give him money. For example, members of the California hospital industry gave him "donations" and asked that he stop the law setting a limit of five patients for each nurse. Arnie dutifully delayed the 5:1 ratio law for three years.

Studies show that if we go from our current 6 patients to one nurse ratio to a 4 to 1 ratio, patient deaths would drop by 14%. Profits would drop by 5%, but with over $4 billion in profits last year, California hospitals have plenty of room to improve. Simply put, this is a battle between profits and lives. Is it any wonder that nurses always rank among the most trusted professionals and politicians among the least trusted?

We are all just a drunk driver away from our own hospital bed and the complete reliance upon a nurse for our every need. Her patient load will determine how quickly and how well our needs are met. Arnie and his Billionaire Boy's Club buddies are unconcerned; knowing they'll always get the best care money can buy.

For the next three years, whenever a patient complains of a delay in getting pain medication, antibiotics, wound care, food, or even a bedpan, his nurse should remind him that Arnie sold us out.

Arnold Schwarzenegger, you're the "girlie man." You're too weak to resist being pumped-up with injections of special interest money and too puny to fight the strings attached. You say you're kicking the special interests' butts, but we all see you kissing them instead. Pity, we had all hoped you were stronger.

Mike Kirchubel (California)

Appreciation

This morning I was reading mainstream news on the net as usual, when I was struck by the overwhelming feeling that most of what I was reading had little to do with relevent forces at work in the world today. This led me to your site, where I encountered relevent news presented in an unbiased, concise fashion. Does your organization have a weekly or monthly news publication, or would you recommend one? I would greatly appreciate a consistent alternative to the sad, greed-driven debacle that the popular news has become. Thanks for your good work!

Robin Macomber

Genetic Crops Harm Wildlife, Study Finds

This article's title sounds ominous, but it is both misleading and biased. First, shortening "Genetically Modified" or "Genetically Engineered" is bound to cause confusion -- all life on earth is "genetic." But what really is misleading and biased is the fact that it is not the plants themselves, either directly or even indirectly, that is harmful to wildlife. Instead it is the use of herbicides, plant poisons, that are indirectly harmful to wildlife, in that the use of herbicides selectively kills useful food plants that local wildlife feeds upon. But instead of decrying the wanton and excessive use of poisonous chemicals, the author would rather blame the latest bugboo of our time, "genetic" crops, as all good technophobic Luddites are wont to do.

Imagine an alternative version of this article: "Excessive Use Of Herbicides Kills." It would be just as salacious and catchy, but far more honest. Imagine further, if you will, an article that pointed out that use of Bt producing genetically modified crops is good for wildlife, as it reduces the use of poison in agriculture. Let's stop the biased reporting on GM crops and tell the full story: that overuse of poisons is the problem, biotechnology is not.

Kay Brown

Trent Lott And The Neo-Confederate Movement

I find your direct link between the War of Northern Aggression and slavery an insult. Everyone knows the end of slavery was the only good thing to come out of the war, but it was just a bonus issue to rally more support for an unjust, unwanted war, waged by a controling government against the civil liberties of the southern states. You may recall that it was the northern states who attacked first, and it was Union troops who raped southern women and pillaged southern homes.

One thing I would like to remind BET viewers is slavery started in..... can you guess where? If you guessed in Africa by Africans you should give yourself a treat for being so smart. Of course, I am not saying the first slaves in history where owned in Africa or by Africans. I am merely speaking of the slaves, and the process of slavery that came to the Americas. Also, let us not forget 15 percent of all slaves owned in the U.S. were owned by Black Americans and Native Americans.

I find that most of what seems like racism could be no more than a misunderstanding of different cultures and/or religions.

"Angelina" (Florida)

Interior Secretary Norton Held In Contempt

How hard is it to find and punish those who are stealing money from the trust funds of Indians? Billions don't just disappear with no trace of who is responsible for the theft. What does it take to motivate our government to immediately stop this from happening over and over?

If Robert Kennedy hadn't been murdered, I don't believe this would still be happening. He was outraged that treaties were never honored and Indians were not allowed to handle their own affairs. He promised to straighten this mess out.

How about you, Ted Kennedy? Do what your brother didn't get to do. He made a promise. Help him keep it.

Jan Harvey (Texas)

Bush Calls For New Generation Of Nuclear Weapons -- For U.S.

In 1963, President John F. Kennedy predicted that by 1975 there would be 25 nuclear weapons states in the world. Today, there are only 6 or 7, largely as a result of the strength of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and the development of internationally accepted controls on nuclear production.

Yet nearly every day I read a new article in the paper about the nuclear dangers lurking around the globe, and the Bush administration's unwillingness to show leadership in the international community to prevent new nuclear development. The NPT has worked because nations came together to support it. Now, the Bush administration is determined to go it alone, often forgoing diplomatic engagement in favor of inflammatory tough talk and threatened military action. It is time for Congress to stand up and tell the President that the U.S. must look to its history to solve the nuclear problems of the future -- international cooperation works, especially when the U.S. leads.

Tony Longo (California)

SF "Pioneer" Plaque Changed, New Calls for Library Statue Removal

I came across your article concerning the San Francisco Pioneer Monument. My particular interest in this statue is that my mother told me, many years ago that my father, Joseph Neumiller, was the model for two of the figures in the "49" triad. According to my mother, my father ran a carriage shop adjacent to the sculptor's studio. He was supposedly selected as a model for the appearance of his forearms as he had been a blacksmith, and the muscles were prominent.

My mom never failed to show me (and my brothers and sister) the statue when we came to San Francisco, via ferry from Alameda. I still cling to that bit of nostalgia and continue to visit the statue, and now in its present location at the Library door.

Joe Neumiller