Throwing a 'brick' helps
Sunday, December 16, 2007 5:13 AM PST
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Back in the day, Howard Cosell was a sportscaster on Monday Night Football. He was erudite and pompous. He was not a former football star and lacked what is now called street cred. Blue-collar sports fans deeply resented him.
One bar back East would buy a new TV each game night and sell raffle tickets for the privilege of throwing a brick through the screen when Howard made a particularly offensive remark.
I don't disagree with everything John Stossel writes. Even a clock that doesn't run is right twice a day. Usually however, when reading his column, I want to throw a brick through my newspaper.
Instead, I write letters to the editor about Stossel's cultish kowtowing to free-market doctrine. Of course, the only market we have is not free but bought and paid for by corporate money given lavishly to corrupt politicians. Think Medicare drug plan.
I know my letters affect Stossel about as much as those bricks affected Cosell but perhaps, like those brick chuckers of old, I will feel better.
Dave Van Curen
Longview
Public favors rail service
As stated in your Dec. 10 editorial, "Passenger rail has received roughly $25 billion in federal subsidies since 1971." In other words, Amtrak has been granted by Congress about $694 million a year over the last 36 years.
Although obviously less at the start, and allowing for the inflation of the 1970s, the average allowance given by the "parent" Congress to the "child" Amtrak has been a steady $800 million for the last decade, which, allowing for the rate of inflation for the last 10 years, means the allowance has been decreasing over that time frame.
Almost three weeks ago, Parade Magazine carried an article about this same subject and asked the readership for their opinion about expanding rail service in this nation. A resounding 94 percent said "yes," only 6 percent said "no."
Three things must happen before this country gets serious about rail travel.
First, freight railroads, upon whose track Amtrak travels, must be penalized by stiff monetary fines for every mile and minute they delay an Amtrak train.
Second, the 1947 ICC edict that passenger trains cannot run faster than 79 mph must be repealed.
Third. The appropriation (that $800 million) doesn't even cover maintenance and replacement of worn out equipment.
Dan Seward
Kelso
Overpayments are frustrating
Just over a year ago, the Social Security Administration notified me that I had been overpaid several thousand dollars. I had checked in with the SSA and, at that time, was told, not once but three times, that the money was mine to spend. Over a year later, they wrote to say the money was not mine and I've been having to pay it back at the rate of $164 per month ever since. Now on Oct. 3, Social Security deposited $223 too much and I again went to report it and was told it's mine. So, I paid bills.
Then just about two weeks later, Social Security wrote me and said that it was a mistake and they want their money back. This time I was told that I would not have to pay the $223 back.
On Nov. 7, Social Security deposited my regular amount. Now on Dec. 3, Social Security deposited a check in the amount of $7,509, the other for my regular amount, plus $223 more.
There is never any explanation from them except to say we have determined your amount is incorrect, so we've increased your benefits. This time, Social Security told me not to spend any of it and I haven't. I wish to stress that these mistakes are not the fault of our local Social Security Administration workers.
I've been ill and can do without all the harassment and stress. With millions of people on Social Security, I wonder how they find the time to dwell on me?
Patricia J. Elliott
Longview
Speech freedom is for all
Clyde Howe (Dec. 6 letter) understandably has hard feelings about the Hitler era. So I understand why he might think my views on allowing anyone to get a permit for a gathering of "racists fools" is naive.
I don't know anything about these people who wanted the permit. Howe must realize that it is 2007. Just saying no might of worked in 1938; it won't now.
It didn't work with drugs and it won't with shutting out any kind of speakers of the mind. No one knows if the guy who sought the permit is trying to be the next Hitler, Butler, Koresh, Bush or what until he speaks. With the attitude of not finding out is the step right before we call him a witch and burn him at the stake.
I can see the whole thing is touchy with a lot people. There's a time to pounce. If we do that too fast with this next thing, we might as well is change the name of our country to Russia, Iraq or many others I can think of.
If you'll notice Hitler didn't get to American soil. The city was right to grant the permit. Our fine government gets paid to do the pouncing! I did here about freedom of speech in America. Maybe you want to just allow that when it suits what you want to hear.
David Waldeck
Cathlamet
Displaced critters
My yard looks like someone dumped wheelbarrows of dirt here and there. This is the worst mole infestation anyone has ever seen. They showed up out of blue this August. My theory is this: I think this is a perfect example of displaced animals/critters.
Across Third Avenue they are building a beautiful condominium and I think these lowly little creatures needed a nice area that is watered every day, lots of green grass to disrupt and, since it is so wet and green, lots and lots of worms and grubs. My theory becomes rather weak when I think of these little blind critters running across Third Avenue, one of the busiest streets in Longview. I am rather afraid to cross it.
I shall be using a mole treatment next week that may or may not work. If it works, will the survivors go on down the street? Do they actually cross under sidewalks and driveways? I do know a mother mole will have two generations a year. I also learned that mice use the same tunnels. The moles you can try to get rid of, but the mice will never leave these pre-made airways. The moles don't eat the bulbs out of flower beds ... the mice do.
This is wonderful dirt they aerate, but the mounds are so big and the dirt so much that someday I may fall through an airway and no one will know where I am.
Sharon Nordmark
Longview
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