Letters: The wisdom of Mark Twain

Re “Congress agrees, in Twain we trust,” Nov. 17

I’m glad that with all the commotion about the “fiscal cliff,” our lawmakers were able to spend the

time on the issuance of commemorative coins to honor Mark Twain.

We can’t expect our highly compensated legislators to spend all of their time dealing with crucial issues. They need also to deal with frivolous matters such as commemorative coins.

There is always plenty of time to address jobs legislation, infrastructure improvement and an oil rig explosion.

Les Hartzman

Sherman Oaks

Twain must have been looking at the future of Los Angeles and California when he penned the following in 1907:

“This is the only place in the world where the pavements consist exclusively of holes with asphalt around them. And they are the most economical in the world, because holes never get out of repair.”

And, from his autobiography:

“To lodge all power in one party and keep it there is to ensure bad government and the sure and gradual deterioration of the public morals.”

Mr. Twain, we need you now.

Edward Hesler

West Hills

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