The Nov. 15 article entitled “Historic auto shop runs afoul of city, neighbors,” brings up a couple of interesting questions.

Medicare, Medi-Cal, Social Security, the Post Office, our government — all are broke! Yet this administration is trying to cram government-run health care down our throats!

The Nov. 16 story titled “Meter plan springs a leak” is confusing. This title is misleading because, it appears to me, the city Public Utility Department has a reasonably good plan for the implementation of water meters.

Sending 30,000 more troops to Afghanistan to take the fight to the enemy doesn’t seem like much of a plan if the enemy cannot be distinguished from the non-enemy. Sixty thousand more eyes shouldn’t make that any easier. Perhaps the art of war has changed.

Regarding consolidation of city and unincorporated county islands: It’s way past time for us to speak up and be heard. Past politicians who were supposed to help and protect our rights just sold us down the river in secret meetings behind closed doors.

We were upset to read Nov. 16 that the Russ Clements Service Station (now Van Ness Auto Repair) is once again threatened. This station was built in 1926, and is one of the two oldest in the nation, not to mention the oldest in California. It is a significant part of our local history. Thankfully, it is on the Local Register of Historic Places.

How can you better your life when you aren’t able to afford it? Many students like myself, find it harder to continue their education under extreme circumstance of the tuition increase at California State University, Fresno.

I agree with Paul Santy’s letter Nov. 15 “Beggars are scammers.”

Regardless the motives behind the administration’s decision to try the 9/11 bombers in New York, one thing is certain. The trial and execution of these “soldiers of Allah” in U.S. civilian court will be seized upon by our Muslim enemies to justify trial and execution of our soldiers in their courts.

It is very rare that we humans get to see the birth/rebirth of a force of nature — the San Joaquin River. It was man who took it away and man who gave it back to the Earth.

I would like to comment on the Nov. 14 Valley Voices commentary by Silvio Manno titled “Unfortunate demise of handwriting.” Mr. Manno condemns penmanship to a slow death from irrelevance, due to the rising dominance of electronic media communication. I challenge Mr. Manno to compare present-day penmanship to that of a century ago.

Bravo! I attended University High School’s fifth annual “Magic of the Arts” and was very impressed and entertained by these fantastic students. The Saroyan Theatre had 2,000 people in attendance for a school of 450 students. What community support!

Sen. John McCain was right with his comment regarding this administration’s concerns with political correctness. Now, that same administration turns around and throws the blame on our military and the intelligence community for not seeing all the “red flags” being raised in connection with the Fort Hood murderer, Nidal Malik Hasan (who does not even deserve the title of major).

With regard to the proposed mining operation of Jesse Morrow Mountain, I am shocked that Fresno County is even considering this project. The environmental impact report states that there will be “significant and unavoidable impacts” to the mountain, the air and traffic.

In regard to the growing number of liberal cities that are passing anti-cat declawing laws: Really? Are these really the same people who argue that scraping a baby from the inside of a woman is acceptable as a choice; but declawing a cat to prevent it from destroying your house is not?

Talk about heroes — the Sanger firefighters are at the top of my list [story Nov. 11].

I was recently watching the 6 p.m. news on a local television channel and saw a simulated drive-by shooting as part of a “public service” advertisement. Following the very graphic and violent sequence, local law enforcement leaders/politicians, Fresno Police Chief Jerry Dyer and Fresno County Sheriff Margaret Mims, came on and completed the job of fear-mongering.

I have discovered one of the worst examples of discrimination against women in our state. The educational programs and instructors are being cut four times greater in women’s prisons than in men’s. If there have to be budget cuts, let them be equal.

In response to the headlines of Nov. 17, “Mammograms: Not So Fast,” the public is misled by those who have decided it is cheaper to let unlucky American women get breast cancer and be treated and/or die than it is to spend the money to screen all eligible women.

As a breast cancer survivor, I must say I was shocked to read a government task force opinion of mammogram screening. As a volunteer for Sisterhood of Survivors, I have delivered information to newly diagnosed breast cancer patients, women as young as 28 with small children to elderly women.

I recently returned from a 13-hour flight. At all of the international airports, including San Francisco, they furnish free baggage carts.

I am getting passionate about the destruction of Jesse Morrow Mountain. My feelings are so deep that I have been writing words to tunes about saving that lovely foothill.

Before you are allowed to drive, you are required to pass a written test to demonstrate your familiarity with the regulations pertaining to driving. Likewise, lawmakers voting on the health care reform bill should be required to pass a written test to demonstrate their familiarity with the contents of the 1,990-page document on which they are voting. If they pass, they would be allowed to vote; otherwise, not.

What don’t some of my Republican friends get about how Democrat legislators vote on certain bills? Democrats were elected to support their president and his agenda. They were not elected to support a Republican agenda.

As if there weren’t enough ugliness in this country, The Bee has the nerve to publish Gerry Jones’ hateful letter Nov. 12 suggesting a federal ban on homosexuality and comparing gays to whiny children since yet another state has denied them a civil right.

The Nov. 12 article, “Congress members’ town halls likely to focus on health care debate,” cites a figure of 46 million uninsured Americans. This oft-quoted statistic is actually a gross overestimation of the problem, as recent research suggests the number of Americans who cannot currently afford health insurance is much lower.

Remember those monsters in the Japanese movies that came out of earth and sea to terrorize everyone? We have real monsters now. To name a few: Clear Channel Communications, Citibank, Chase Bank, Bank of America, Farmers Insurance, ING, and that fascist thing that moves behind the Republican Party, Fox News, and right-wing talk radio.

Recently, I stopped by my doctor’s office to see if I could get my yearly flu shot. The answer I received shocked me. I was told their office would not receive any more vaccine because only swine flu vaccine is now being made. Statistics say that more than 37,000 people die each year from regular flu.

I believe that President Obama is doing the right thing by taking his time and listening to all parties and reviewing all pertinent information before making a decision on whether to send additional troops to Afghanistan.

It still amazes Bee readers that the newspaper still publishes commentaries by the far right misinformed Michael Der Manouel Jr. His Nov. 12 column on Reps. Dennis Cardoza and Jim Costa revealing their true colors needs clarification from his personal rants.

On Nov. 14, I spent a delightful afternoon listening to 19 young people (ages 8-19) playing piano and strings at the Music Teacher’s Association (Fresno Branch) Fall Concert. These students represent thousands of young people and numerous adults who are making our world a more beautiful place.

This country is the home of the free, isn’t it? I believe in equality for all, which is why I cannot believe all of the hate that is being spewed by these so-called “Christians.”

Second-graders at Rivergold Elementary rock! Students from Coarsegold put on an assembly for veterans that was quite the event. Our veterans were ushered into the multipurpose room by the Boy Scout Color Guard. They were led down a corridor of smiling students who waved American flags and cheered our vets. Boy Scouts led the audience in the Pledge of Allegiance.

In his Nov. 12 letter, Robert L. Alperin proclaims: “As for gay rights, they have no rights. They gave up their rights when they chose to be gay.” In another Nov. 12 letter, Gerry Jones declares: “The time has come for a federal amendment banning homosexuality.”

Amen to Michael Der Manouel Jr.’s comments [column Nov. 12] on Reps. Dennis Cardoza’s and Jim Costa’s true colors. Neither of these men listen to the desires of their constituents, unless it fits into their party’s polarizing agenda.

Churches and schools have become perpetual fundraising entities for purposes unrelated to education, character formation or religion. Mirroring our materialistic society, compensation for megachurch ministers often parallels that of CEOs, and is conditioned upon their ability to attract large numbers of attendees and procurement of expansion and enhancement funds. Are we now more ethical, religious or Christian than in earlier times? Apparently not, if recent surveys are correct.

Richard Lehman’s glowing opinion [Nov. 16] of Reps. Jim Costa and Dennis Cardoza’s leadership in the health care vote, misstates facts. “Americans that have insurance pay to cover those with no insurance” simply isn’t true. We pay for care not reimbursed to hospitals and clinics from Medi-Cal and Medicare.

I respect my fellow Americans for a varied range of thoughts and principles, and have no intentions to infringe upon their rights to act upon those principles (within respect to others). I consider myself scientific: I respect fact or reason, but now I am finished.

After witnessing the spectacle of the governor and his disciples celebrating at the place where Valley water was being released to the Delta and ocean, I have some questions.

Your unbalanced story, “Water, pests hot topics at conference” Nov. 11, is an insult to residents of the Central Valley, the epicenter of the state’s water crisis.

Between 1979 and 2001, Americans were attacked 10 different times. What did we do? Formulate a plan to manage the problem and conduct self-analysis seminars.

As a Navy veteran of Vietnam, I would like to thank Applebees for the free meals served veterans on Nov. 11, and the restaurant’s wonderful hospitality. I spent a fun afternoon with some of the bravest men I know — fellow veterans.

Have our elected officials been sitting around with their heads in the sand? While millions of Californians are “taking one for the team,” dealing with additional taxes, furloughs, reduced wages and layoffs, the state Legislature is quietly seeking to block cuts in lawmakers’ salaries and perks.

Food lines. This is America. In another country, this line might have soup, gruel, rice or powdered milk, nothing else. Here I see potatoes, canned fruits, cheese, milk, bread, flour, rice, beans, whole turkeys and more.

It’s senseless to wage a ground war against an enemy with an unlimited, endless number of willing recruits. Seeing that these recruits are brainwashed to carry out the dirtiest and deadliest of tactics against military and civilian populations, engagement is impossible.

Are you as confused as am I about the hypocrisy of teabaggers? They seem to have collected evidence from Fox Views and AM radio commentators that have incorrectly convinced them that a small fish is the cause of California’s water woes. While demonstrating over “out of control spending” and complaining of massive federal bailouts, teabaggers become apocalyptic over adding any governmental regulations to restrain big banks, big business and Wall Street.

The more I hear about what is happening in our public universities, the more I believe the leaders are there for their own benefit rather than that of the students.

It is not only sad and utterly appalling, but thoroughly unconscionable that the creators of the “Got Milk” campaign want to push chocolate milk on children, some of whom are too young to make wise health choices! I am no health expert, but it certainly sounds suspect.

I see that John Muhammad, the D.C. Sniper, was executed on Nov. 10, just seven years after his conviction. Why is it that every state in this nation can execute their killers in a timely manner, except California?