Dear Editor,

China has been the focus of unspeakable human rights violations for many years now. The run through San Francisco was a sham. How can a democracy such as ours support the upcoming Olympics in China? How could China have been chosen in the first place, since there had been documented, unspeakable human rights violations proven then and before that time.

I believe the Olympics to be a tradition of great value to all nations. It is a wonderful forum for competitors from various countries to assemble. What has happened here is horrible and everyone involved in the San Francisco torch run should be ashamed of themselves but at what risk?

Here we are on the verge of a full-fledged recession, a huge state and U.S. budget deficit, people losing their homes, poverty all around us, schools and education being sorely compromised, teachers getting pink slips, health care in crisis, schools being closed, crime on the rise and the decision is made to spend approximately $1 million on this item for security alone in San Francisco? I ask you, does this sound like a sound mind?

The reason why countries are so competitive is because the stream of revenue for hosting these games is a boon for any place selected. So what are we doing? Adding more revenue to a country who has no respect for its people's human rights. No, instead we infuse more money into China.

The idea of putting all those athletes in one place at the same time with the danger of thriving terrorism

Other countries where the torch was run showed just how controversial an issue it is. Could it not be done in another manner? How about having it in one place and televising it to all instead?

I am sorely disappointed in the United States continually taking part in events we simply cannot afford and our "keep up with the Joneses" attitude for the sake of how we look to the rest of the world. We pride ourselves on our creativity and ingenuity and yet this type of spending continues to go on without using our creativity to figure out less expensive ways of participating in this type of event and if we cannot do it in an economically sound way, explain why it is not fiscally feasible at this time?

Gov. Schwarzenegger says that in order to control our deficit we need to bring in new business to California and yet he never goes beyond that in his speeches. He never expounds on how we will do this. So who gets to pay the tab for this? The taxpayers. I bet you it winds up on the backs of the people of California. We are at a bursting point.

When we deal with it and get on with cost cutting and savings on items that do not have to be done with less impact on the areas mentioned immediately, only then will we be on the right track. Cut costs in areas where the people of California will not be burdened any further. Do you know how far $1 million could have gone for any of our major issues, including homelessness?

Here's hoping the wake up begins and all is looked at with a new pair of glasses using sensibility and the economic impact to the state.

Margaret Amato

Milpitas