Measures

I was still confused about the measures when I voted on Tuesday. I felt as if I was on the verge of failing a multiple-choice test because I couldn't get anyone to give me a logical, rational explanation of the contradictory measures. My husband and I are educated adults who muddled through the ramifications of each measure in order to make our choices. California's voters are being shortchanged by lengthy ballots. We are voting on serious issues, only to have portions canceled by other measures.

A court Wednesday imposed a three-year prison term on the owner of a Tokyo hotel destroyed in a 1982 fire that killed 33 people, Japan's second worst hotel blaze, court officials said. Hideki Yokoi, owner of Hotel New Japan in downtown Tokyo, was found guilty of negligence for failing to take adequate fire prevention measures.

As the federal budget, with its built-in deficit, is effectively the government's checkbook, isn't it ironic that the Constitution mandates appropriation measures originate in the House of Representatives? BOB ABERNETHY, Santa Monica

Britain unveiled a package of measures designed to bolster the country's ailing auto sector through the recession and to help fund its transformation into a more energy-efficient industry. The measures include guarantees to unlock loans of up to 1.3 billion pounds ($1.8 billion) from the European Investment Bank and a further 1 billion pounds in loans to fund investment in greener vehicles.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper said his government was taking steps to bolster Canada's presence in the Arctic amid concerns about Russian intentions there. Harper charged that Russia had been showing signs of flaunting international norms in the region. "That's obviously why we're taking a range of measures, including taking military measures to strengthen our sovereignty in the north," Harper told reporters in Quebec. Harper has vowed to build two new military facilities in the Arctic.

As election time approaches, the same old complaint sticks in my craw. The complaint being those hiding behind "for" or "against" propositions under the guise of concerned citizens, taxpayers, etc. It's about time the Legislature passes a law mandating that those sponsoring these ads not be allowed to hide behind fictitious names. I realize that, by doing this, some ballot measures would be doomed from the offset, when the voters find out who is sponsoring the measures. DONALD COOK Garden Grove