Statistics on LAPD crashes last year; behind Germany’s strong economy; climate change and public skepticism

A need for speed?

Re “LAPD targets costly crashes,� Jan. 23

I live in Boyle Heights, around the corner from the NASCAR wannabes at the Los Angeles Police Department’s Hollenbeck station.

On any given day, several squad cars shoot up or down the street, often without lights or sirens. I have spoken with the watch commander on two occasions, but apparently every 911 call is truly a life-or-death situation worth risking the lives of bicyclists or motorists turning from side streets, unaware that the Millennium Falcon is bearing down on them at warp speed.

Now, I read in The Times that these cowboys crash on average once a day. Big surprise there. Let’s at least be honest and stop calling the black-and-whites “cruisers� and rechristen them “bullets,� “rockets� or “macho-mobiles.�

Larry Smith

Los Angeles

Germany vs. the United States

Re “Germany’s economic strengths make it like the U.S. of yesteryear,� Jan. 22

Why bother to point out the various strengths of European countries to us in America?

For the last few decades, U.S. politicians have been feeding citizens here the big lie of our “exceptionalism.� Any intimation that Europeans can do something better (education levels, medical outcomes, social services and vacations) is slapped down as dangerous socialism.

It’s as if centuries of social progress don’t count if we didn’t do it first.

When conservatives stop lying to us about our government’s evil socialist agenda, and liberals stop telling us that more regulation will fix all our ills, perhaps we’ll start to believe in the value of social good works again instead of resolute individualism.

Eric Jon Oxenberg

Los Angeles

It appears that

Germany approaches its societal issues with a

pragmatic view. As an example, our educational system is geared to get everyone into college, when in fact only a minority graduate with a degree.

We ignore the needs of most students and lavish attention and expend much of our resources on the minority.

Germany, on the other hand, realizes that some people are better suited for things other than schooling and focuses its resources on making highly skilled workers at a much lower expense to society.

Another stark example is Germans’ aversion to consumerism. They save for their retirement, but in America our government urges people to buy more and get themselves further in debt to get us out of a recession.

Germans plan for future security; Americans lust for instant gratification. When will we ever learn?

John T. Chiu

Newport Beach

Open minds on climate change

Re “The verdict is in,� Opinion, Jan. 22

I have no problem accepting Naomi Oreskes’ opinion on climate change. But I have a big problem with the solutions implemented by state leaders. They seem incapable of doing a basic cost-benefit analysis.

Lawmakers forget that we’re a no-growth economy with less than 1% of the world’s population. Our emissions could go to zero and still would have no real effect. The Legislature also apparently forgot that renewable energy costs far more than traditional power. Since the passage of AB 32 in 2006, my electricity rates have risen 37%. Across California, that translates into billions of dollars taken out of the economy, resulting in a loss of jobs, lower tax revenues, a higher cost of living and businesses leaving the state.

All costs, no benefits. Can we possibly be this dumb?

Ron Nelson

Temecula

Oreskes presents an incorrect analogy of scientists as a jury trying to evaluate the evidence. A more apt comparison would be to the investigators, who are paid (by both prosecution and defense) to uncover facts and provide plausible hypotheses to explain them.

In public policy debates, there are government officials and regulators to weigh this evidence on behalf of the public and decide on courses of action. Citizens remain as the ultimate “jurors,� with their ability to replace the officials who are not seen as responsive.

As a working scientist, I note that researchers are also human beings subject to the pressures of maintaining a successful career. This can sometimes lead to a loss of objectivity regarding their subject of study; thus, citizens would do well to retain the open-mindedness and dash of skepticism that Oreskes is urging them to discard.

Julian C. Cummings

Huntington Beach

What tests can tell us

Re “Don’t skimp on tests,� Editorial, Jan. 20

Gov. Jerry Brown’s remarks about reducing student testing should not be interpreted to mean that he doesn’t care whether teachers cover the material in the curriculum or whether student performance is improving.

Brown’s concern is that we spend too much time on testing and don’t get enough out of it. Particularly in high school, students take numerous standardized tests for various purposes. We should explore consolidating these tests, and

also get the results back to teachers much faster so they can be used to improve instruction.

Legislation signed by Brown last year requires the state Board of Education to approve a new assessment plan for California. The board will work to minimize the number or length of tests and to return results to teachers more quickly. With these changes, we can save time and keep our focus on teaching and learning.

Sue Burr

Sacramento

The writer is executive director of the state Board of Education.

Teachers aren’t opposed to testing. We give meaningful tests all year long and use the results to see where students need more help.

But making all students regurgitate memorized facts learned throughout their entire school careers on a yearly test that means nothing to them so that the government and critics of public education can play “gotcha!� with schools and teachers is hardly reform.

Kurt Page

Laguna Niguel

Water wise

Re “San Francisco’s water ways,� Editorial, Jan. 15

Thank you for acknowledging the futility of dismantling the Hetch Hetchy Reservoir, which serves 2.6 million water customers and generates clean energy. In San Francisco, we’re proud that our households consume on average one-third the amount used by others in California.

More than 30 cities utilize Hetch Hetchy water. These cities use about 33 million gallons of groundwater per day and nearly 6 million gallons of recycled water.

This year, San Francisco will start delivering recycled water to Harding Park and Sharp Park. San Francisco plans to recycle 4 million gallons per day and double our groundwater use to 4 million gallons per day in the coming years. We also offer programs promoting conservation.

California’s water resources would be well served if everyone used as little water as Hetch Hetchy’s customers do.

Ed Harrington

San Francisco

The writer is general manager of the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission.

Serious comedy

Re “Colbert raised Cain but not many votes,� Jan. 23

Although satire is his tool of choice, Stephen Colbert is doing more to educate Americans on so-called super PACs and the coordination between politicians and their oceans of unlimited money than any pundit, policy paper or newspaper.

Colbert is showing us how it works, piece by piece.

Something bigger than a laugh is happening here.

Richard Hawkins

Sherman Oaks