Prop. 187 in Court

Proponents of Prop. 187, including Gov. Pete Wilson and Rep. Sonny Bono (R-Palm Springs), apparently state the will of the local majority must be deferred to by our courts (“Uncertain Fate of Prop. 187 Tests Patience,” March 28).

According to that “logic,” if a proposition passes which calls for any one of your readers to be guillotined without charges or trial, there is nothing that can be done to stop such an event. “Leaders” like Wilson and Bono have shown they have no problem with California becoming the Paris of Dickens’ “Tale of Two Cities,” if they can be elected by such pandering.

LEONARD CHAITIN

Van Nuys

Funny, I don’t recall a provision in the U.S. Constitution relinquishing authority whenever a state governor becomes impatient with the system. Wilson’s pompous threat of Californians losing patience “if their will is not carried out” is absurd and irresponsible. Is Wilson harboring some secret plan to overthrow the federal government? Wilson himself once acknowledged that issues raised in Prop. 187 should be reviewed by the courts, but now finds it is politically expedient to righteously bang his fist in an attempt to bolster White House ambitions. The constitutional test of this initiative is proceeding exactly as the Founding Fathers envisioned it should. A man who feels he has a “duty” to be President ought to exhibit a tad more respect for the time-honored way in which our democratic process functions.

RICHARD KRAFT

Los Angeles