Kids and JROTC; Prop 8 Polling ...Oct. 15‚ 2008Dear Editor, Your article "Prop V a Soft-Money Conduit to Attack Progressives" implies that the movement to save the popular JROTC program is merely part of a ploy by downtown interests to attack progressives. The 1,000 or so current and former JROTC students now pounding the pavement to get the proposition passed are in now way dupes of anyone. Working-class San Franciscans in the public school and their parents adore the program. They are perplexed because the Board of Education has failed to live up to its promise to offer an alternative. JROTC is very popular among immigrant kids. There are openly gay students in the program. The principals and PTA boards at all seven high schools with JROTC programs don't want to see it go away, mainly, in my view, because the kids do a lot of volunteer work--grunt work, like cleaning restrooms after sporting events--that just won't get done without them. Keep the kids in mind next time you criticize the program. For them, this is not a "wedge issue". Morgan Sparks To the Editor: I have heard several placed that Prop 8 now leads, including BeyondChron, but only one poll that I can find indicates this. This is a recent poll by SurveyUSA showing Prop 8 ahead 47-42 (a previous SurveyUSA poll showed Prop 8 behind 44-49). Nonetheless, I have heard several people say that a new Field Poll (the gold standard in California polling) shows Prop 8 leading. I cannot find this, and it is not listed on the field poll website. The most recent Field Poll result is September 18, which shows Prop 8 losing 38-55. This perception may be useful in creating a sense of urgency that may help Prop 8 opponents fundraise, but the perception is not strongly supported by the publicly released polls. Mike Dorsi formerly of Berkeley, CA You can submit letters to the editor by clicking on this link: feedback@beyondchron.org or by writing to: Beyond Chron 126 Hyde Street San Francisco, CA 94102 415-771-9850 (phone) |