George W. Bush

Californians were selected to hear George W. Bush’s first elaboration of his “compassionate conservatism� philosophy in his speech on education in Los Angeles (Sept. 3).

If, after three years, schools receiving federal money for disadvantaged students cannot increase the number of students who pass a test, then their federal support will be yanked. How wonderfully inspiring, and it saves money, too. We will improve our schools by shooting the wounded! I eagerly await Bush’s further explanations of such “compassionate� policies.

BARTLEY P. OSBORNE JR.

Palm Desert

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It’s about time a candidate was candid enough to state what most taxpayers feel: We don’t want to throw good money after bad, be it in education, defense or health care. If we can adopt this line of thinking rather than the old tax-and-spend answers to all of government’s failures, then perhaps we can truly see change in Washington. Bush is not trying to destroy or undermine public education. He is suggesting that government follow the model of any private business or any family on a budget--spend more for what works, spend less on what doesn’t.

ROBERT LOPEZ

Bell

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Alan Dershowitz slams Bush for his “Jesus talk,� drawing the unwarranted conclusion that Bush does not support the constitutional wall of separation between church and state (Commentary, Sept. 3). Religion is, by one definition, that ultimate value that is most important to any person. By this definition every person is religious, and certainly it is very important for the public to know all about every candidate’s personal religion.

SAM PLATTS

Sylmar

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Why do we permit our candidates to run on their religious beliefs? Should we allow their “Jesus talk� to replace arguments pertaining to the important political issues of the day? My only negative observation is that Dershowitz fails to exclude Bill Bradley from his “virtually all candidates� category. From his speeches, one cannot determine if Bradley is Christian, Jewish, Muslim or atheist. Bradley will speak only to the issues and ignore his dialogues, if any, with God.

LORETTA O’MALLEY

Temecula

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Per Dershowitz: “The U.S. Constitution expressly provides that ‘no religious test shall ever be required as a qualification to any office.’ � Therefore, since Bush and numerous other candidates have availed themselves of their constitutional right to free speech and expressed their religious beliefs, they are “not qualified to hold our highest office.� Apparently Dershowitz does believe in an “antireligion� test.

CHARLES P. WATLING

Camarillo

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Jessie DeMassa is correct (letter, Sept. 7). Nowhere is it written that anyone should separate God from state. The line between church and state affects only institutions, not individuals and their beliefs. “Church� and “state� are organized institutions with power over people’s lives, and as such they must be kept separate at all levels of government. Any presidential candidate of merit must support this separation.

PAUL M. BENNETT

Cypress