I think this last round of letters and articles from and about Mr Scrivner
and the police union opened my eyes to a major flaw in Mr Scrivner's
politics.  I am a conservative and registered Republican but I can not get
behind a politician like Zack Scrivner and here is why.  While he is right
that costs need to be reduced to balance the budget, he is cutting in all the
wrong areas. 

Ronald Reagan cut taxes and increased revenues, while actually
strengthening our military.  Mr Scrivner wants to tear down our "military"
(local public servants like police and fire fighters) to balance the budget.
His premise is absurd.  The cost to the city in lawsuits by employing only
police and firemen that can't get hired by a better paying agency would
certainly offset any monies saved.  Add to that the fact that he is still
making no attempts to cut spending on pork projects or reduce the handouts
to non-contributing citizens and non-citizens alike. 

That is a tough pill to swallow.  To tell an officer that patrols the toughest neighborhoods in
the wee dark hours that his/her pay and benefits (less than a park
technician) are 'breaking the budget' when clearly there has been no attempt
to cut in the above, over spent areas, is the antithesis of true conservatism.

Glenn Davis

*Bakersfield Californian Sunday 6/14/09