Letters to the editor: Biden isn't at fault; backing Licht for college position

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Blaming Biden is misguided

Re: John Hanson’s Sept. 1 letter, “Vote Biden backers out of office”:

Mr. Hanson got it wrong when he said what this election would determine. It is whether we tread closer to being a fascist country or whether we reject the fascist candidates and fully embrace democracy.

First, he erroneously blames Biden for the lockdowns during the pandemic, who of course wasn’t in office then. The “phony vaccine mandates” were also enacted by every country.

As far as Biden’s attack on fossil fuels, the extension of the keystone pipeline wasn’t going to be shipping oil for years, and most would be going overseas. Inflation is high, but the two main causes are the economy getting very strong, very fast, growing at over 5%. The supply chain couldn’t keep up. The other reason is corporate greed. From 1979 to 2019 corporate profits averaged 11.4% of the total cost in the nonfinancial corporate sector. The last year and half, it is 53.9%. You can look this up National Income Product Accounts (NIPA) of the Bureau of Economic analysis (BEA). And yet, our rate of inflation is the same or better than most other countries.

With the pullout from Afghanistan, Biden was carrying out what Trump negotiated. Don’t forget, until the last day, Trump was screaming, “It was my plan! Don’t give him credit, give it to me!”

Finally, the threat of fascism is real. Arizona already passed a bill saying that if they don’t like the winner of its state, it will send electoral votes for someone else. Other states are talking about enacting similar laws.

Mike Lorraine, Simi Valley

Lichtl deserves your vote

Today I had an opportunity to visit with Lou Lichtl, candidate for the Ventura County Community College District Area 2, and educator and beloved retired administrator from the Conejo Valley Unified School District. What a relief to know he is running for Ventura County Community College District Area 2.

Mr. Lichtl is the only candidate with the credentials for the job — the contrast could not be more stark. Mr. Lichtl is a well-regarded and popular figure in local education and will be well prepared to tackle the difficult issues facing the district. Furthermore, his former students, many of whom have attended colleges in the district, have maintained positive relationships with former Principal Lichtl and will happily inform him of their perspective on what is needed.

Mr. Lichtl comes from an immigrant, working-class Hispanic family and speaks fluent Spanish. He put himself through school using the community college route. Mr. Lichtl understands the fiscal concerns of the district and the point of view of the educators and staff members he will represent. But mostly, in this new role, Mr. Lichtl will continue his commitment to students. He knows what they need to succeed, and he is the only candidate with the experience and perspective to deliver.

If you live within Ventura County Community College Area 2, vote for the only experienced candidate: Lou Lichtl. Learn more at www.ll4vcccd.com.

Cathy Svitek Thousand Oaks

This article originally appeared on Ventura County Star: Letters: Biden isn't at fault; backing Licht for college position