Binding Arbitration for Farm Workers

Re “History Echoes as Farm Workers Rally for Bill,” Aug. 26: I am a lifelong Democrat who has never voted for a Republican. But Gov. Gray Davis’ loathsome vacillating while he calculates the optimally self-aggrandizing position to take on SB 1736, the farm workers’ arbitration bill, has cost him my vote. I plan to write in Richard Riordan’s name on election day.

If Bill “Simple” Simon has any desire to garner more than 45% of the vote come November, he will seize this “once in a political lifetime” chance to turn his ethically tainted, dubious campaign and image around and come out for SB 1736. By doing so, he can actually lay claim to a morally principled position that counters his well-earned reputation as a money-mongering corporate shill who always puts the interests of his big-business patrons first.

Even if Davis then does the right thing and signs SB 1736, his action will cement his image as a political hack with his finger perennially in the wind. And if Davis vetoes SB 1736, Simon can gain a foothold with Latinos and liberal Democrats that no Republican gubernatorial candidate could dream of gaining in Simon’s lifetime.

John S. Birke

Woodland Hills

*

Re “Farm Workers March to the Capitol, but Davis’ Steps Will Come Later,” Aug. 26: If Davis is going to wait until next year to support farm workers, I will wait until next year to support his reelection.

Paul Eklof

Costa Mesa