Not that I would vote for Ralph Nader, but why is it that he is never even given a tumble or idle thought by any of the news media? He is never mentioned on TV or any of the newspapers. Is he even going to be on any ballot? It sure is interesting how dirty politics can play games.

Z.S. “Goldy” Goldenberg

Daly City

Glorifying car culture

When music reviewer Nancy Dunham’s “Love Psychedelico’s CD looks cool, sounds even cooler” (Examiner, May 9) says the album is “perfect for ... cruisin’ round town with the top down,” she glorifies a car culture that will be banished to the trash can of history.

Isn’t driving cars passé at a time of $124-a-barrel oil, and when global heating is threatening the survival of billions of people and countless species? Unnecessary car dependence is also tragic, as seen in the story of the May 7 Pittsburg killing of a 5-year-old by a mother driving over her tricycling daughter.

It is time to see the connections between our lifestyle and the low value we inadvertently put on life, whether human or of the whole natural world. Don’t like the war on Iraq? Boycott petroleum to the extent you can.

Jan Lundberg

San Francisco

Pedestrian safety

The Examiner reports the 20th pedestrian hit by a Muni bus Thursday (“Muni bus hits pedestrian; service rerouted,” Examiner, May 9). How does the bus driver slam on his brakes to avoid such collisions when there is a bus load of standing and sitting riders that would be thrown against the seat in front of them, or thrown down the center aisle in an attempted avoidance of the pedestrian? The safety of many outweighs the safety of one!

BART has announced the removal of seats in their trains to permit additional standing room and to accommodate additional bicycles. Since the BART trains also hit pedestrians and travel much faster than Muni cars and buses, the situation is even more dangerous for passengers.

Without seat belts on Muni or BART, the best one can do is to sit on a backward-facing seat to brace oneself against sudden stops. But on BART one can find in this situation a bicycle thrown down the isle towards them. Not so on Muni with its outside bicycle racks.

Isn’t it interesting how the moving vehicle laws are drafted to ticket persons in a moving vehicle for not wearing a seat belt? Bus companies protect themselves against lawsuits from their drivers and their unions by providing driver seat belts.

Frank Norton

San Francisco

The dream ticket

The people who want Barack Obama really want Obama, and the people who want Hillary Clinton really want Clinton. If they are on the same ticket then you merge two groups of, enthusiastic supporters and John McCain doesn’t stand a chance.

However, without the “dream ticket,” then the Democratic candidate won’t have as much combined enthusiasm and the Democrats might lose. I’m glad to hear that both Clinton and Obama are talking about the possibility of running together. Maybe it’s time for Obama and Clinton to agree to flip a coin and the winner gets the top of the dream ticket.

I’m Marc Perkel — and I approved this message!

Marc Perkel

San Bruno

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