MAILBAG:

Dear Mr. Easton,

I read your article (“Prop. 8’s passage stains our cultural history,” Nov. 9) and was surprised and hurt by the hatred you expressed. You accused the segment of the population that did not agree with you as being bigots, without compassion, homophobic, unaccepting, fearful, ignorant, unreasonable, intolerant and undignified.

We did not pursue your tactic when civil union was granted to all. We did not march, hoot, tear banners down. In short, we accepted the law.

However, you are unaccepting of at least 4,000 years of the tradition of marriage. Marriage is a blessing granted to a man and a woman. The genesis being to ensure the planet would be inhabited and families would be sustained.

That being said, I am sorry for the intolerable act you endured in your youth. I am sorrier for your subsequent vengeance and hatred. Our religion asks that we be tolerant and loving. Can’t you allow us to live with our 4,000-years-plus tradition?

JOHN DI BELLOW

Newport Beach

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Writer should study economic crisis more

The most recent Rigonomics article (“Let the free market work out economy,” Nov. 22) illustrates that Jim Righeimer has been busy running for City Council and not studying to understand the financial crisis and its key elements.

I think the paper/ink would have been better spent reprinting these remarks of our current treasury secretary, who has been just a bit more involved in all these matters. For that, go to www.treas.gov /press/releases/hp1285.htm.

With regard to his views on the fate of the big three U.S. car companies, bankruptcy has two sides.

First is Chapter 7, which is the shut-down or sale outcome that is not the norm. Second is Chapter 11, which is the restructure approach.

Chapter 7 takes buyers — this takes money, which is usually financed. Chapter 11 often incudes the debt holders replacing the equity holders plus a refinancing.

The problem with either approach is that financing is not available from “The Market,” thus the big three are appropriately going to government in its “lender-of-last-resort” role.

Paper/ink should be focused on what is the restructuring of the Big Three, with the role of the government as a provider of liquidity.

RICHARD E. RUTLEDGE