OPINIONOPINION Mountain View News Saturday, August 22, 2026 88 OPINIONOPINION Mountain View News Saturday, August 22, 2026 88 
MOUNTAIN 

VIEWS 

NEWS 

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Susan Henderson 

PASADENA CITY 
EDITOR 

Dean Lee 

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Patricia Colonello 
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John Aveny 

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Peter Lamendola 

CONTRIBUTORS 

Lori A. Harris 
Michele Kidd 
Stuart Tolchin 
Harvey HydeAudrey SwansonMeghan MalooleyMary Lou CaldwellKevin McGuire 
Chris Leclerc 
Dinah Chong WatkinsHoward HaysPaul CarpenterKim Clymer-KelleyChristopher NyergesPeter Dills 
Rich Johnson 
Lori Ann Harris 
Rev. James SnyderKatie HopkinsDeanne Davis 
Despina ArouzmanJeff Brown 
Marc Garlett 
Keely TotenDan Golden 
Rebecca WrightHail Hamilton 
Joan Schmidt 
LaQuetta Shamblee 

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STUART TOLCHIN PUT THE LIGHTS ON 


SANTA ANITA, THE GREAT 

RACE PLACE 

My wife and I spent the morning at a Skilled 

Nursing Facility in Duarte. On Sunday my 53 years 

old son was transferred to that facility from the 

Baldwin Park Kaiser Hospital. As I have reported in 

my past three articles, my son at present is unable to 

walk on his own. He is pretty much uncommunicative. I’m sure that 

you understand that I am having a very hard time just getting out of 

bed myself and dealing with the day. As my son was transferred from 

Baldwin Park to nearby Duarte I rode along with him in the emergency 

medical vehicle. I really don’t understand how my mind works but I 

gather that I am doing my best to remain sane and to distract myself. 

On that trip from the Hospital to the Facility, I noted that the 
two medical staff in the vehicle appeared to be Japanese. Similarly, at 
the facility much of the staff appeared to be Japanese males and females. 
Actually, this is not surprising as here in the San Gabriel Valley there 
has been a great influx of Japanese People. So what? Well, this morningI noticed some small improvement in my son’s condition. He actually 
reached for some food that had been brought to him. I imagined that he 
was beginning a long road to recovery which would allow him eventually 
to reside with my wife and myself. 

Beginning in about 1980 and for about 12 years I served as a 
single parent for my son and his younger sister. During that period of 
time one of our favorite weekend activities were to travel over to the 
nearby Santa Anita Racetrack and watch the races. We would watch the 
horses be saddled and pick our horse as they marched to the starting 
gate. Sometimes we would even pick a horse and bet. I imagined that 
beginning about in September, when the Racetrack opened again my 
son and I, perhaps along with my wife, his stepmother, could follow that 
same procedure again and go to the races. 

Well, here comes the strange part of this attempt at an article. 
As I thought of going to the Santa Anita Racetrack with my son I 
simultaneously recalled my horror and surprise the first time I became 
aware of the Korematsu decision of 1944. I was a student at the UCLA 
Law School in 1967, already a graduate or the University of California,
Berkeley and I was completely shocked that such a decision existed. 
Perhaps some of you recall the decision and perhaps some of you 
don’t care which is probably worse, but the Korematsu v. United States 
decision (1944) ruled to uphold the Presidential order which forced 
Japanese Americans into World War II INTERNMENT CAMPS. 

The Temporary Detention Camp for Japanese Americans was 
the Santa Anita Racetrack. The interred Japanese were forced to live in 
horse stalls at Santa Anita which was the largest temporary detention 
facility. Under the Presidential order about two-thirds of those interred 
were native born American citizens. It should be remembered by those 
of us concerned about “partisanship” that the Presidential order was 
issued by the Democratic Liberal Administration of Franklin Delano 
Roosevelt. Immediately my mind thought of the future when in all 
probability all references to “slavery” will be removed and students 
discovering the history will suffer the same shock that I did. Some 
student might ask ”did such a thing as slavery ever exist in the United 
States?” And there might be an answer such as “Don’t worry about it, it 
was a long time ago!” 

What am I doing. In order to cope, or try to cope, with my 
present worries I have played around with worrying about the future. 
The truth is that there is always much to worry about but it is my hope 
that I have not wasted your time while you read this article. Now my 
wife and I will go back and visit my son. 

HOWARD Hays As I See It 


“The problem with Republicans is, they just can’t handle 
money.” – Howard Dean 

I don’t recall whether election, “The Next President Inherits a 

the former Vermont Remarkable Economy - The high quality 

governor said that in of recent economic growth should put 

2004 as a presidential a wind at the back of the White House’s 

candidate, or later next occupant”. With that robust 

as Chairman of the economy to build on, the incoming

Democratic Party. administration instead reminded us how 

What I do remember is it coming off as they just can’t handle money; first with 
kind of an “Emperor’s New Clothes” line; those “Liberation Day” tariffs, screwing 
something most everybody knew, but our financial markets, businesses and 
reluctant to say out loud. Now with it trading partners before being struck 
having been said and out in the open, it’s down by the Supreme Court, and then 
like affirming the obvious. their One Big Beautiful Bill. 

Accepting his nomination at the With that BBB having been in effect 
Republican National Convention two now for over a year, we’re learning how it 
years ago, Donald Trump promised, “We worked out. Ending the electric vehicle 
will reduce our debt, $36 trillion, and we tax credit has turned world market share 
will reduce your taxes still further.” It for EVs over to China. An analysis by 
took over 200 years for our debt to reach Climate Power finds cancelling clean 
its first trillion, under President Reagan. energy tax credits has led to 382 cancelled 
Now we’ve hit $40 trillion - $4 trillion or delayed projects, a loss of $69 billion 
added less than two years into Trump’s in investments and 140,000 jobs, with a 
second term. $92 billion spike in our energy bills.

 In last week’s New Republic, Michael A $187 billion cut in SNAP benefits 
Tomasky cited figures confirming that meant 4 million losing that assistance. 
Republicans can’t handle money, let According to ProPublica, across 12 
alone serve as competent stewards of our states, parents of 776,000 children no 
economy. Since WWII, job growth under longer have that help in making sure 
Democratic presidents averaged 176,000 those kids are fed. 
a month; under Republican leadership There’s the largest cut to healthcare 
it’s 59,000. From 1989, Democrats have in our nation’s history, $1 trillion over 
held the White House for 20 years, to ten years to the ACA, Medicaid and 
Republicans’ 17.4 years. But while 49.8 Children’s Health Insurance Program. 8 
million jobs were created in those 20 million have lost coverage already. The 
years under Democratic presidents, only Institute for Taxation and Economic 

1.9 million came out of the 17.4 years Policy finds expenses are up for everyone 
under Republicans. else; deductibles hiked an average 37% 
Currently, President Trump is averaging for those buying insurance on their own. 
44,000 jobs created a month. Under With ACA subsidies expiring in a few 
President Biden, it was 336,000 jobs (a months (after the mid-terms, natch), 
record). From inflation highs around 9% premiums will rise an average 114% -
towards the end of the pandemic, it came pricing 4.2 million out of it altogether. 
down under Biden faster than in any 1,000 hospitals, clinics and nursing 
other developed nation - to 3% when he homes will close or drastically reduce 
left office. Now, without that pandemic, services because of the cuts. M.D. and 
it’s risen to 3.5% under Trump. The last Pennsylvania state Rep. Arvind Venkat 
budget surpluses we ran were under remarked, “In my more than 25 years as a 
Democrat Bill Clinton – from 1998 practicing physician and now a legislator, 
through 2001. Rather than paying down I’ve never seen a more dangerous and 
our debt, another $4 trillion will be purposeful attempt to make people sick 
added over the next decade by Trump’s and hungry”. 
Big Beautiful Bill. But there will be $117 billion in tax 

Trump sought to take credit for projects cuts for 2026, averaging $66,000 each. 
resulting from Biden’s 2021 Infrastructure These tax cuts, though, are only be for 
Investment and Jobs Act, and for the richest 1% of us. That $117 billion for 
investments generated by the 2022 CHIPS the top 1% is more than what the entire 
and Science Act. Last week, in front of lower 60% will get, combined. 
reporters and with a triumphant White After taking 200 years to accumulate 
House press release, Trump touted a that first $1 trillion in debt, we’ll now be 
Washington Post headline, “Prescription spending that much every year in interest 
drug prices record sharpest drop in more to service the debt under Donald Trump. 
than 60 years”. What he didn’t mention Michael Tomasky’s New Republic 
was that the article credited the drop to article came in the context of recent 
our government’s finally being able to polling showing that, for the first time 
negotiate Medicare drug prices – thanks in a long time, Americans favoring 
to Biden’s 2022 Inflation Reduction Act. Democrats over Republicans in handlingReferring to Trump’s first term, Kamala our economy. Heading into the 
Harris explained, “Donald Trump said he midterms, they’re favoring Democrats 
was going to allow Medicare to negotiate over Republicans who “just can’t handle 
drug prices. He never did. We did.” money”.

 As the Wall Street Journal put it in Which brings to mind another quote 
their headline, days before the 2024 from Howard Dean: “YEAH!!!” 

RICH JOHNSON 


THE TOYS IN OUR LIVES 

Have you ever wondered how toys came into existence? Well, we know 
the word “toys” does not appear in the Bible. The book is mostly mum 
on the subject. Zechariah does speak in His book (coincidentally named 
Zechariah) of a peaceful city where “the streets of the city shall be full of 
boys and girls playing in its streets”. (Zechariah 8:5). So, there is kind of 

a Biblical defense of toys…YAY! 

The Bible does not tell us to not play. In fact, Biblical admonitions to not be childlike 
really meant putting away childish things included self-centeredness, pride and boasting 
and immature thinking”. That’s it. I hope I’m right. But enough theology. I’d rather talk 
about toys. I still try to see the world through the eyes of a child that are now in their 8th 
decade. 

In the 1600’s, 1700’s and 1800’s spinning tops, marbles, board games like checkers,
knuckle bones and dice were found in most homes. Outdoor games enjoyed were tag,
hopscotch and leapfrog. In 1890, electricity, through the brain of one Thomas Edison, 
scared young children freaking out seeing a new talking doll. It was a 22-inch doll whose 
torso housed a miniature phonograph. Kids suddenly heard nursery rhymes coming out 
of the doll and they ran for the hills. But not for long, lol. 

So let us jump solidly into the 20th Century. The first electric train set was sold by the 
Lionel Company in 1901. And they still sell through…well, even today. In 1903, a toy 
came into the market because of a president. 1903 witnessed the introduction of the 
“Teddy Bear”. Several incidents involving Teddy Roosevelt and live bears were reported 
in the news. And the rest they say is history…and stuffed Teddy Bear sales. 

Jump to 1916 and we get the introduction of the “Lincoln Logs”. They were invented byFrank Lloyd Wright’s son. Some disagreement on how ‘Lincoln Logs” got their name. 
Some suggest because of the way they interlinked, others say it was homage to Frank 
Lloyd Wright’s original middle name which was “Lincoln”. Many think this suggested 
patriotism during World War I. Who knows for sure? Today, Lincoln Logs and Tinker 
Toys are owned by the company that was behind the whole Erector Set craze. 

1918 saw the introduction of the “Raggedy Ann” doll, 1927 gave us the “Radio Flyer” 
little red wagon. And 1938 saw the explosion of “Army Men” plastic soldiers. (I had a 
boatload). If you remember the “View Master” stereoscopes with the 3d effect. There 
were over 1.5 billion reels made. 

1945 saw the introduction of the “Slinky”. Slinky was invented by a Navy engineer,
Richard James. Mr. James saw a spring fall off his desk and “walk” across the floor. His 
wife, Betty James picked the name because it moved sleek and gracefully (Like me). One 
live demonstration in a large department store started the “Slinky” craze. Millions have 
been sold since. 

There is a tie for the most famous and best-selling toys of all time. That moniker is shared 
by Lego and Barbie. Lego won “toy of the century” award and Barbie sold over 1 billion 
dolls since 1959. Rubik’s Cube, Hot Wheels, and Slinky are other top contenders. 

There is a list of toys that were created by accident while their inventors were working on 
different products. 

The “Slinky” was invented to steady sensitive cargo instruments on naval ships.
“Silly Putty” involved a scientist trying to create a cheap rubber substitute for the war 
effort during World War II. Instead of a new kind of rubber, he created a bouncy, bouncyblob. 

The “Super Soaker” was meant to be an environmentally friendly heat pump that used 
water. Testing the nozzle, he saw a powerful stream of water unexpectedly shoot across 
his bathroom. And it was fun. The rest is history.
Finally, Play-Doh was invented by Noah and Joe McVicker. It was meant to be a nontoxic 
wallpaper cleaner designed to remove coal soot from walls. Go figure.
Honorable mention: The Hula Hoop was introduced in 1958 and sold 25 million hoopsin just 4 months. The company credits Elvis Presley’s infamous hips for inspiring youth 
to want to gyrate. And what better way than the Hula Hoop. 

Toys are meant to remind us to put everything serious into proper perspective. Play 
relieves stress, strengthens friendships and even, in most cases. It sharpens the mind. 
My credo is to know how to act like an adult but not to the point of not seeing the world 
through the eyes of a child. In other words enjoy life, living and laughter. Or else…lol! 


No. 327 Sierra Madre, Ca. 91024 Office: 626.355.2737 Fax: 626.609.3285 Email: editor@mtnviewsnews.com Website: www.mtnviewsnews.com