Wilson on Welfare, School Computers

Re “Wilson Details Welfare Changes to Save $550 Million,” Jan. 10: It’s good to see that welfare reform in California is at the “cutting edge.” Give me your disabled, elderly, uneducated, unemployed, immigrant legal or illegal masses yearning to breathe free. Let the fury of those of us who have overspent, overindulged and amassed mutual fund portfolios fall on them. We work hard--so should they. What does it matter if they face racism, economic disparity or disabilities, buck up. Keep up the good work, Pete Wilson--your reward is in heaven.

If they can’t tolerate the pressure, there is always the streets. Or they can play the “three strikes game” and get free housing for life.

The other day when I gave my minister my two cents (no more) on welfare reform he asked me if I knew the real sin of Sodom. I said yeah, because the people were caught up in perversion. He replied, “Behold, this was the guilt of your sister Sodom: She and her daughters had arrogance, abundant food, and careless ease, but she did not help the poor and needy” (Ezekiel 16:49).

I don’t get it.

MARK A. LEON

Pasadena

* Re “Wilson Urges Online Plan for Schools,” Jan. 7: So Gov. Pete Wilson thinks if he throws $1 billion at California’s public schools for computers, online services and training, our problems would be solved. A better use of $1 billion is to improve our school libraries by mandating that credentialed, professional librarians be in every school; providing funds to staff school libraries for several hours after school; and funding materials and resource budgets appropriate to the school and its curriculum.

It does no good to wire every classroom in California and provide computers if children cannot read the screen.

SUE KAMM

Los Angeles

* Re “Wilson Unveils Plan to Sharply Limit Welfare,” Jan. 8: Bravo, Gov. Wilson! The old Pete Wilson is back. Education, welfare reform, fiscal conservatism, prevention. The main issues of the 1990 campaign remain the issues of 1997. Wilson has returned to the issues which brought him to national prominence in the first place.

The calamities of the early ‘90s (earthquakes, floods, riots, fires, not to mention an unprecedented budget deficit) understandably encumbered the governor during his early tenure. But it was Wilson’s ability to “focus like a laser beam” on California’s economy that allowed our state to lead the nation’s economic recovery.

HOLLY STROM

Los Angeles

* Wilson said, “There’s a lot more dignity in any minimum-wage job than sitting on a couch collecting welfare.”

I can’t believe he could say such a thing! I have met many people who receive welfare, especially women with children. I find them to be the most hard-working, intelligent, tolerant and caring people on the face of the Earth. Really! Now that replaces Wilson’s negative image of welfare victims!

Also about minimum-wage jobs--there is no dignity there! You cannot even live in the cheapest apartment in the Valley or anywhere else on that. And benefits--null, void. The rich take advantage of minimum-wage workers, who are mostly women and minorities.

Wilson seems to lack the insight of ever being poor or helpless in a society that does not care. For the only difference between people receiving welfare and those who don’t is a thing called money.

HOLLY D. CORNELL

Van Nuys

* Gov. Wilson isn’t so mean-spirited after all. Although he calls for more drastic cuts in welfare for the poor, he proposes increasing welfare for corporations by cutting their taxes by 10%.

SOL LONDE

Northridge

* The 1997 State of the State address was vintage Pete Wilson. Always a believer in education, Wilson has pledged to continue building on the educational reforms and increased funding provided during 1996. Who could possibly argue with the governor’s desire to provide a computer for every classroom, expand the reduction in class size to more grade levels and return to basics in learning to read.

ROBERT LOPEZ

Bell