Letters

Society must share blame for crimes

The death penalty is under discussion. Terrible crimes are committed, and we cry out for the extreme penalty. But society has a share in the responsibility for the crime.

We tolerate environments for children which are harsh both physically and psychologically. We neglect the efforts of the children and the parents to change the environment. We do not study or correct the provocations which lead people to early criminality; we do not remedy the known bad conditions; and we inadequately discipline early bad behavior. Our help is insufficient.

We punish transgressions, necessarily, and part of the punishment is jail and prison. In our jails, we do not rehabilitate. In jail, we abuse further the inmates' stressed personalities. We let prisoners mingle with other criminals and become further hardened.

We release to society people who are overwhelmed with the harshness of life, coarsened, angry, and unable to function normally. What do we get from such people? Of course, we get terrible crimes. A retroactive death penalty will not stop these crimes. Life without possibility of parole can be made to work.

For our own selfish reasons, we must treat more wisely unfortunate children and the people in our jails. We have failed our responsibility to aid one another, to study our criminal nature, and so we are partly responsible for crime. A moderate amount of our time and money will pay off in crime reduction, a healthier society, and in a better conscience for ourselves.

Charles Walton
Los Gatos

Health must be issue for the fall election

As we enter the fall 2000 election season, we must ask the candidates their positions on a variety of health care issues.

Modern medicine truly is a miracle. Unfortunately, our elected officials have not brought Medicare, the primary health care system for Americans over 65, into the modern era. Surgery or a hospital stay is covered by Medicare, but prescription drugs are not.

While many in Medicare buy some extra coverage to help with prescription costs, some 14 million, or 35 percent of participants, don't. Shouldn't prescription drugs be covered for the nearly 40 million elderly and disabled Americans participating in Medicare?

Another critical issue is health insurance; 44 million Americans do not have any. This represents more than a 30 percent increase in the number of uninsured since 1987. Some experts expect there to be 50 million people without health insurance by 2004.

One-fourth of all those without health insurance--11 million--are children.

What does it mean when so many people lack insurance? It means more sickness and higher costs. They don't have the kind of care that prevents and treats disease. Immunizations for children and check-ups and mammograms for adults are missed.

The financial impacts are just as important. Though 80 percent of the uninsured are in working families, medical bills and debt can be devastating. Fear of the financial burden explains why they don't get the care they need.

Those of us who do have health insurance should be concerned. When an uninsured person receives care but can't pay the medical bill, the costs increase for everyone else. Isn't it time to make sure that all Americans have access to health insurance?

Candidates need to debate these issues. They need to tell us where they stand. And they need to follow through with promises they make in the election season.

If you would like more information on the health care issues that are important in the 2000 elections, contact us at the League of Women Voters of Los Gatos, Saratoga, Monte Sereno at 408.867.VOTE or at www.lwv-lg-s-ms.org.

Margery M. Bunyard, President
League of Women Voters--Los Gatos, Saratoga, Monte Sereno

Dispersion is the answer to local companies

Our governor has big plans for state transportation improvements, but no concern as to how to move traffic to and from the coast under, rather than through Los Gatos. Gov. Davis is trying to figure out how to get more money out of the taxpayers to pay for his plans.

There are 22 billionaires reputedly in the Bay Area, according to a recent newspaper article.

They didn't come here with the money, so I say tap them for it.

Los Gatos is like an hourglass lying on its side. The only way to expedite traffic flow to and from the coast instead of under the town, is over it. But large passenger-carrying blimps cannot be constructed overnight anymore than tunnels under it can be.

So what's the answer?

Dispersion, it seems to me. IBM and other companies are doing it to some extent. IBM has a new facility in Rochester, Minnesota--said to be one of the best five small cities in which to live today.

A radio report this week revealed that a survey shows Bay Area residents have a greater concern for the future than Los Angelinos. There are 7 million people living in the Bay Area, 1.6 million of whom are at risk seriously for aggravated respiratory problems.

As for myself, I have never suffered from allergic reactions to pollen, but I have never sneezed so much, or have my eyes water so much as they have, and are doing, this summer.

It's getting so I run for Kleenex when I hear Chopin's Polonaise.

Vern Hansen
Los Gatos

There's no agency in town called the teen center

I was very pleased to see the article in the June 28 issue introducing Robin Samson as the new director of A Place For Teens. It did an excellent job of telling us about Robin and A Place For Teens, both tremendous assets to our community. My only concern about this article was the headline and a few references within the body of the article that referred to "the teen center."

By calling A Place For Teens "the teen center" your paper is adding to confusion which both of our agencies have been working for a number of years to dispel.

The Teen And Family Counseling Center has been providing counseling programs in Los Gatos and the surrounding communities since 1983. Over the years it, too, has been referred to as "the teen center."

When A Place For
Teens was founded to provide a fun place for teens to hang out, confusion of our two agencies abounded; both were referred to by many people as "the teen center" even though the services we offer are very different. We both immediately set about to clear up the confusion and to call ourselves by our complete names. A Place For Teens named their building "The Outhouse" not "The Teen Center."

Los Gatos has the advantage of having two excellent agencies dedicated to providing services to teens. We both do a lot of networking to inform the community of the separate and distinct programs we offer to the teens and families of our area.

We are both very careful to let everyone know exactly who we are, what our programs are, and that we often work together to complement the services of each other. We both appreciate the interest the Los Gatos Weekly-Times shows in us but we rely on you to tell the community who we are.

Neither one of us should be referred to as the teen center since it compounds the confusion. In the future please do what you can to help both A Place For Teens and Teen and Family Counseling Center be clear and distinct entities who are working separately as well as together to provide a wide range of excellent programs, services and opportunities for the families and youth of our community.

Thank you for your continuing coverage of the activities and opportunities available for the teens and families of our area.

Pat Lake
Director of Funding and Administration, Teen And Family Counseling Center

Police Report

Birds know a plastic owl when they see one

District surveys high schools' parents and students and garner positive results

Stacy Marcinko and J.J. Taughinbaugh wed

Picture from the Past

Sports Briefs

Derek Thomas wins pitchers' duel

Jack, Ripp to host three summer volleyball camps

11-year-old all-stars in sectionals

Samuels to host Camp with Pros