Let it be known that there was no unanimity in either the House or the

Senate, although majorities in both houses of Congress voted in favor of the president''s resolution to sacrifice our children''s lives and our taxes on war.

Let it be recorded that America did not speak with one voice. We are divided on the issue of war with Iraq or with anyone else.

The minority voices may not rule, yet we speak and we are heard. Bush still does not have my authorization. The only thing that changed is that Sen. Diane Feinstein lost my vote and campaigning energy.

Mark Poehner/Monterey

Let New Forces be With Us

We are in a time where we need real leadership for our country, and I don''t see much evidence that we are getting it. Our priorities seem to be: First, attack the enemy, then see to our internal security.

In the light of 9/11/01, that seems to be putting the cart before the horse. Have not our evening news reports endlessly pointed out how ill-prepared we are to defend our vital infrastructure-resources which will be needed to sustain any putative foreign military campaign? Are we so sure that we can sustain such a military effort were we to experience a sudden loss of 20 percent or more of our electrical energy capacity due to a terrorist attack?

I suggest the creation of a quasi-military National Service Corps which would enlist volunteers for a four-year hitch to receive training in the various needed functions for guarding our utilities, monitoring our agriculture, our transportation systems (as degraded as they are), our borders, etc.

I further suggest the creation of an American Foreign Legion (styled after the French Foreign Legion) in order to address such problems as arise in the aftermath of war, such as stabilization and rebuilding after hostilities end.

I know I''m not the only worried citizen. Now is the time to make our concerns known.

Michael Lange/Pebble Beach

Gray

Could anything be more indicative of the pathetic situation in the California governor''s race than the so called "debate" on October 7? In one corner, we have the incumbent, Gray Davis, refusing to participate if the Green Party candidate, Peter Camejo, is even allowed into the building. It appears the Davis "campaign of ideas" is about protecting his turf. In the other corner is the Republican challenger, Bill Simon, who magnanimously argues that Camejo be allowed in to the debate (after all, how many Republicans are likely to switch their vote to Greenies?), then relents but insists that Camejo be allowed into the audience as his guest, declaring that he (Simon) will not debate Davis if Camejo is left out of the room.

Then Simon goes ahead and debates Davis anyway, as local security forces ban Camejo outside. Gee, Mr. Simon, it''s nice to see you''re a man of integrity, whose word is his bond.

Finally, the one and only scheduled debate for this high office is held on a Monday at noon, when most of the people who care enough to even cast a vote and might be interested in watching this spectacle are busy at work.

As consumers, we get a choice of 40 kinds of toothpaste to buy, but as voting citizens, it always seems to come down to the lesser of two evils in a corrupt system. Perhaps if we could make it the lesser of three or four evils, we would end up with a little less evil as a result. This November, I''m voting Camejo…and a cheer goes up on the Republican side.

Michael Baer/Monterey