Tuesday's Letters to the Editor

<p>No job for DMV</p><p>EDITOR: This is in regard to Wednesday's letter titled “Older drivers” and others like it. While it is true there are some older drivers who should not drive, there are many more who drive better then people half their age. If you pick on them, then how about those under 21 and drunken drivers who cause just as many accidents? The DMV is not qualified to know the health or mental attitude of these people. It takes a doctor to check the ability of older drivers and a psychiatrist to check the driving attitude of drunken drivers and those under 21. </p><p>ERNEST FEIL</p><p>Petaluma</p><p>Failed kingmakers</p><p>EDITOR: I've never been comfortable with the Santa Rosa Chamber of Commerce pushing its candidates on voters. Moreover, I know several people who take the chamber's recommendation and vote the opposite. That might be why the chamber had a “kiss of death” this year. Only two of its five recommended candidates won.</p><p>To be sure, that's a better batting average than the national Chamber of Commerce, which spent $27 million and went 0 for 9 on the U.S. senators it targeted for defeat. Interesting, too, is that all nine senators the U.S. chamber targeted were Democrats. Moreover, each had earned the scorn of the chamber because he or she favored the Affordable Health Care Act, the Frank-Dodd Wall Street Reform Act and reasonable rules to deal with global warming. Among those targeted for defeat was Sen. Claire McCaskill, D-Mo., who ran against Todd “legitimate rape” Akin.</p><p>My advice? If you want your slate of people to win office, don't endorse them. </p><p>DAVID WILLIAMS</p><p>Windsor</p><p>Tax time</p><p>EDITOR: To Speaker John Boehner, Sen. Mitch McConnell and the acolytes of Grover Norquist: Raise my taxes, please.</p><p>STEVE PAGE</p><p>Sonoma</p><p>Water at risk</p><p>EDITOR: Sonoma County Water Agency ratepayers need to address the Board of Supervisors at 2 p.m. today before sodium fluoride is added to our water supply. Taxpayers will pay for fluoride via federal funding. The harm to everyone ingesting it results in additional health care costs. We should revolt before this happens.</p><p>Dentists are misinformed by the tin industry. Fluoride has been proven to be dangerous to our bones, filtering organs and brains. It's not good for pets or wildlife either.</p><p>Wastewater agencies will be forced to spend money removing it to prevent its impact on the habitat of endangered species. Fluoridation is a step backwards in protecting our watersheds.</p><p>Fluoride is also corrosive and erodes pipes; who's got the extra budget for that?</p><p>Medicating everyone through the water system, instead of increasing access to free and affordable dental care, is a failure of bureaucrats to effectively solve the problems of tooth decay. </p><p>Sodium fluoride comes with a poison warning when used as rodent killer. It's listed under drugs on the label of active ingredients in personal care products. Our bodies are already overburdened with contaminants. Let's not add one more to the list with every glass we drink, prepare our food with, shower and bathe in.</p><p>COLLEEN FERNALD</p><p>Sebastopol</p><p>Independent voters</p><p>EDITOR: Speaker John Pérez and the California Democrats tried to buy Michael Allen into the state Assembly. Petaluma Mayor David Glass and former Mayor Pamela Torliatt bullied the Sonoma County Democratic Committee to change its endorsements to Jason Davies, Alicia Kae Herries and Tiffany Renee. Shame on both of them for their actions. I thank the people of Petaluma and the 10th Assembly District for thinking independently and electing Marc Levine to the Assembly and Mike Healy, Gabe Kearney and Kathy Miller to the City Council. It shows we can't be bought or bullied into voting for the chosen candidates.</p><p>J. TIM CHRISTENSEN</p><p>Petaluma</p><p>Go electric</p><p>EDITOR: Except for those few narcissist contrarians who will never acknowledge the obvious scientific evidence and consensus that man-made climate change is real, we all need to embrace the fight for reversing global warming.</p><p>Electric vehicles can be a small but viable part of this movement. Electric vehicles are ideal for two-car families that can use the EV for commuting and local trips. Just use your SUV for big groups, skiing or hauling the boat.</p><p>You still get around $10,000 in rebates and tax credits for buying an electric vehicle. Use the rebates to help finance solar on your roof to charge your car and thereby get rid of your electric bill.</p><p>It costs the equivalent of about $1 per gallon to drive an electric vehicle even if you don't trade solar power to the grid to offset the costs. It's all way cheaper and easier than you think. Don't be an enviro-sociopath.</p><p>ANDY FERGUSON</p><p>Petaluma</p>