Many of your letter writers condemn Israel for defending itself but never mention the brutal repression and carnage that occurs in Syria, supported by Iran and Hezbollah -- 40,000 dead Syrians, slaughter that continues as we breathe, but somehow Jews are criticized for self-defense.

Every fair-minded person knows that Israel is a beleaguered country under attack. Israel is the only nation threatened with genocide. Israel has vacated territory right next to it's cities, territory that has been taken over by the proxies of Iran, territory from which have been fired thousand of rockets on Israeli cities and from which Palestinians openly call for Israel's destruction.

Israel is asked to vacate more territory right next to Jerusalem, right next to Tel Aviv, without any guarantees whatsoever from the Palestinians that they'll recognize the Jewish state, that they'll end the conflict. The criticism of Israel is absurd and is a convenient vehicle for Jew-haters to spew vile and hypocritical libels. For you anti-Semites out there, the Jews have an army. Get used to it.

Michael Jacobs

San Ramon

Households that earn $250K or more not 'greedy'

Last week, U.S. Rep. Barbara Lee held a rally in East Oakland to extol her position on the impending "fiscal cliff." The crowd in attendance shouted, "make the greedy help the needy."

So, who are these "greedy" people who have combined household incomes of $250,000 or more? They are doctors, lawyers, CPAs, engineers, small business owners, salespeople, managers, firefighters and others. Presumably, most of these people got a good education and aspired to get ahead in life. They made the most of the opportunities presented to them.

Not all of the so-called "rich" people are Oprah Winfrey or Bill Gates. To call everyday people who have been successful "greedy" is preposterous. Unfortunately, a growing number of politicians have decided that creating class warfare is the only way to accomplish their objectives. If chastising people for being successful is the new normal, then we need to rethink the American dream.

John Hill

Danville

Only those paying income tax should be allowed to vote

Taxation without representation is a tyranny. The reverse is even worse, i.e., representation without taxation. Yet, its practice in democracy goes unquestioned.

This fundamental flaw in democracy leads the nation to a political economy away from the wealth-producing principles of sound professional economics. Political economy encourages the growth of nontaxpayers, entitlement programs and welfare recipients. The citizens benefiting from such programs, with their ever-increasing voting power, steer the economy to serve their own interests.

As the government expenditure surpasses its revenue, the increasing number of nontaxpayers, through their majority representation, impose higher taxes on the taxpayers or borrow funds, while the economy keeps weakening to the point of collapse.

This is not an imagined scenario. This is happening in the United States. This is an inexorable march to socialism -- driven by the wealth-distribution incentives as opposed to the wealth-producing incentives. All democracies are likely to face a similar predicament sooner than later.

The march to socialism is rooted in the one-man-one-vote verdict by the Supreme Court, an interpretation of " ... all men are born equal" from the Declaration of Independence. The road to socialism leads to increasing poverty and decreasing liberties.

For an unlimited economic progress under democracy, the Declaration of Independence should be interpreted correctly to emphasize equality of opportunity for all. The right to vote should be regarded as an earned privilege with equal opportunity for all, not a birthright without any attendant obligation.

Those who do not pay any income tax must not have the right to vote.

T.S. Khanna

Alamo Foundation for Better Government

Former first lady told it like it is on Nov. 6

After the election the most intelligent remarks were made by Barbara Bush, who said, "The election is over. The people have spoken. Let's get on with it. Both Democrats and Republicans have to realize that compromise is not a dirty word."

Yeah, Barbara!

It takes a woman to say it as it is.

LaVonne Lynch

San Ramon

One could learn thing or two from Mallard Fillmore

A letter in the Dec. 6 "Comment" says the writer every morning carefully sets the cereal bowl over Mallard Filmore so that it does not exist. The writer should start using a clear bowl so that after the Cheerios are consumed the writer might see and start appreciating the hilariously incisive witticisms expressed by the inimitable Mallard.

On the same page in a laughably pathetic pseudointellectual diatribe against the sharpest and most perspicacious political pundit of our time, a writer, among other senseless absurdities, vilifies Thomas Sowell for right-wing ideology that is anathema to most and a plague on the Republican Party. What unadulterated hogwash.

If the Republican Party enthusiastically embraced and energetically promulgate Sowell's unassailable ideals and profound philosophies we would not be deplorably saddled with a disastrously incompetent presidential administration that is pushing this country into a bottomless vortex of socialistic destruction. And if Newt Gingrich is an "appallingly self-absorbed and morally challenged serial adulterer," what would the writer consider John Kennedy, Lyndon Johnson and Bill Clinton? Paragons of unsullied virtue, no doubt.

Lanny R. Middings

San Ramon