To the editor: Can anyone explain to me the national obsession that, people, we have with corporate executives? Why did we frequently anorate them with superlatives with respect to their mental insight, moral compass, benevolence, justice, etc., when there is no evidence that most of them even know the meaning of those words?
State regulators through the Public Services Commission tried to force the elimination of old transmission lines that had not been in use, nor would they be used in the near future (“'This fire could have been prevented': how public service companies fought the elimination of old electric lines,” “ August 1). These were also lines that were known that they were potentially dangerous. Sounds reasonable. But in the midst of the opposition of public service companies, the PUC allowed these old unused lines to remain up until public services executives decided that they should be permanently abandoned. Once again, the designated representatives in charge of supervising public security chose Kowtow to corporate executives.
Shame with the PUC for not having a spine. And more shame for corporate America for once again profits before public service. I am sure that the corporate executives of public service companies will receive their salary, options on corporate actions, bonds and pensions, regardless of how many lives are lost. When will the average citizen of this country stop this absurd and founded belief that most of the leaders of large companies are concerned about something except their personal results?
Lee Baresi, Riverside
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To the editor: Therefore, southern California, Edison, supposedly knows that the old transmission lines could cause fires for years and pressed against being forced to eliminate them. Instead of allowing costs to be collected for those who installed solar panels, how about socializing the electric power system? Make the SCE grid a public utility. The company does not deserve to have the environmentally conscious payment for its greed and failures in doing the right thing.
Larry Severson, Fountain Valley
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To the editor: On August 1, Los Angeles Times includes an article about public services that fight against the elimination of old electric lines and another article about the first concerns about helicopter traffic in Washington, DC (“Helicopter military traffic about Washington was a concern prior to the fatal accident in the air, NTSB listens,” July 31) Are not basically the same: entrenched powers fighting change?
Public service companies do not want to eliminate old teams probably due to costs and a small possibility of reuse. And the Federal Aviation Administration, Army and the Air Force have their own doubtful reasons for a slow change. In both cases, scientific and expert advice receives a rear seat to security.
The result is death, loss of property and fingertips.
Richard Kelty, Santa Barbara
