In Sandy Banks' thought-provoking Nov. 13 column ("A Change in Vehicle and Self-Image"), she laments: "I wound up pinching pennies, as a single mother of three. A Camry was the car I chose. ... "
If you can spring for a late-model Camry, what do you know about pinching pennies? Millions of Californians will never own anything but a rotten used car that soaks up their paychecks with the constant cost of repairs.
"I'm not trying to land a man or impress the folks at valet parking." People who are steadily employed at the Los Angeles Times don't know much about scrimping and saving.
Scrimping doesn't include valet parking, either. You park six blocks away, if you ever go anyplace that has valet parking. "A family marked by frugality." Does Banks know where to buy a used tire for $8? Has she ever had to lose a molar, over her dentist's agonized protests, because she didn't have the $200 to save it? I have, because I was supporting a family of five on $450 a month (before deductions). A Rabbit, a Corvette, a Volvo, a Camry, an SUV and now a minivan. Geez, what a tough life! But Banks forgot to tell us about walking to school 3 miles in the snow.
JAMES ASHLEY SHEA
Topanga
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Who's Going to
Fight for the Truth?
I can't believe that Walter Cronkite's comments on the blackout of the press in Afghanistan (City of Angles, Nov. 14) were buried in the Southern California Living section. This should have appeared on the front page with an editorial follow-up. If you don't fight for the truth, who will?
BORIS BUZAN
Mission Viejo
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Walter Cronkite says he prefers the "World War II-style censorship of war dispatches to the news blackout now shrouding the U.S. military effort in Afghanistan." He complains that, without journalists accompanying the troops, Americans aren't getting enough information.
I agree, and just as soon as we can get "journalists" to become war correspondents (as they were in World War II), put on the uniform, submit to the authority of the Uniform Code of Military Justice (as they did in World War II) and get themselves into top physical and mental condition to accompany the SEALS or Delta Force on an insertion, then we can get back to the golden days of reporting Mr. Cronkite prefers.
Somehow, though, I just don't think many in our current cadre of journalists are up to the challenge.
STEVE SWITZER
Redondo Beach
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Three Cheers for
