What’s Needed Is Action on the Budget

Re “Pass a Budget and Move On,” editorial, July 16: Once again, you have referred to Arnold Schwarzenegger as “an action hero.”

He is no more an action hero than I am. The action heroes are the men and women serving in Iraq and Afghanistan, the firefighters, the police officers and, yes, teachers -- the people who face adversity and challenges each day and make life better for the rest of us.

Please stop doing a disservice to these men and women by elevating to their level a man who made millions playing roles in movies where large biceps were about the only requirement.

Jeanne Hunt

Ventura

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Schwarzenegger blames Democrats for the late budget and presents himself as a “warrior for the people” fighting the good fight against partisan rancor. This outburst does not advance serious negotiations one iota, and his position reveals neither integrity nor wisdom.

A warrior for the people would continue the difficult task of building consensus and reaching compromises in order to move the budget forward and avert a shutdown.

The governor knows that our Legislature is dysfunctional, and he promised to model a different kind of behavior. With this performance, he casts blame for the impasse on one party while pretending to detest partisan “rancor.” There are only three words for this: Pot. Kettle. Black.

Algernon D’Ammassa

Los Angeles