What's the difference?
Friday, April 11, 2008 2:31 PM PDT
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E-mail this articleWhat's the difference?
As John McCain panders for the so-called "right-to-life," pro-war vote, does anyone else out there see what is happening? A third Bush term is in the works. Perpetual war, a privatization of all government agencies (for profit motives) and a calculated destruction of any integrity government agencies once had by Bush appointing incompetent lackeys as head of government agencies to show the nation how "bad" government can be.
President Bush continues to slash funding that may help retrain laid off mill workers. Iraqi vets who claim to have any type of post traumatic stress syndrome are given "general discharges" instead of "honorable discharges." This difference eliminates those vets from retraining money so that they can develop skills for their future.
Now the federal reserve is propping up the economy until a Democrat gets in the presidency, and then Republicans will blame the Democrats when Bush's house of cards collapses.
The media are muted because they are owned by corporations benefiting from Bush's policy. Joe Public is working two, sometimes three, jobs just to pay the bills, as the rich get fatter and richer through their privatization schemes. John McCain now has former Bush advisers to continue this destruction of a once proud nation.
Jody Hobson
Longview
Leaders risk anarchy
The drug bust on Hispanics does reflect poorly on them. So does the word illegal in front of many of their names.
One out of five people in prison are illegal immigrants. We are spending billions trying to close the border with Mexico and people like our senators, governor and local leaders have made Washington a sanctuary state. What part of illegal don't they understand? They are creating anarchy.
I believe America should be open to all - legally. If we continue to encourage illegals, we will be bankrupt like California. Is anyone else tired of pushing one for English in America?
Gerald Olsen
Longview
Support the chaplaincy
Recently, The Daily News printed a marvelous article on the chaplaincy (view the article here). These men offer emotional and spiritual support to the many men and women in the police and fire departments and the emergency response personnel. They also give aid to people in the community who find themselves in need of assistance. They give of themselves endlessly and tirelessly to others throughout the year.
Chaplain Steve White is a fellow church member and a family friend. He has personally been there for our family through illnesses, deaths and crises. I know firsthand how much his compassion, knowledge and kindness have made a difference in our lives. If you have been helped out by the chaplaincy, why not send them a card, write them a note of thanks or give a monetary donation? These can be mailed to: The Chaplaincy, P.O. Box 2578, Longview, WA 98632.
Tami Pickett
Longview
Vet costs vary greatly
Last year I took one of my two dogs that needed to have their teeth cleaned to a vet in Longview. After a $60 evaluation, the estimated cost to clean, polish and extract a few teeth would be $1,050 (per dog). It was explained to me that the high cost is due in mostly for the cost of putting them to sleep.
Fortunately, my own dentist recommended a vet elsewhere. After the examination of both dogs (for $10), I was told it would cost $85 (each) for the same service. Earlier that year I had taken one of our cats to a different vet in Longview on a Saturday and, after an unsuccessful exam, was charged $350 and sent to their sister hospital and was told there that it would be $450 just to keep her overnight (Saturday and Sunday) and give her fluids until an exam on Monday. We felt monetarily we had no choice at this point and paid $100 to have her put to sleep. She was only 3 years old. I'm so sorry we hadn't found the other vet.
As a responsible pet owner, I find it appalling that there is such a big discrepancy and I praise the few veterinarians who offer such reasonable rates. It is sad enough for the cats and dogs that are never taken to the vet for ear, anal or skin problems that are common.
Thank you from the bottom of my heart to the veterinarians who keep their prices at a rate that make it possible for us to be responsible pet owners.
Mary Anderson
Longview
There's still waterboarding
I am not sorry to hear that the state Supreme Court struck down Bob Garrett's pet policy ("Wahkiakum school chief laments loss of drug tests," March 18). But the fact that they did so unanimously, and in concert with the vast majority of schools nationwide should have come as no surprise. As a policy and as a deterrent it is and has been a failure for years. A school board which I chaired in Idaho researched a similar idea years ago and quickly discarded it.
Fiscally, it is an unsound idea. The monies spent on testing and the concomitant rehabilitation programs go much further invested in education. One test on one student for one drug (anabolic steroids) costs $90-$100.
Legally, when one finds themselves wriggling for loopholes and justifications to impose upon children what would be unacceptable to impose upon their parents or the community at large, it's probably a good idea to seek an alternative plan. One call to the high school was all it took to confirm that agreement to random suspicionless drug testing is not required for employment as either a teacher or an administrator in the district.
Pragmatically, it just doesn't work. Anecdotal evidence aside, there is just no proof that suspicionless testing lessens drug use in high school students.
John Martinez Weston
Castle Rock
'Evidence' is lacking
This letter is in response to a letter written by Doug Waite March 25. Waite gives examples of what he calls overwhelming evidence to support evolution. Millions of fossils have been found, including Dinaspars, and the flu virus is constantly changing — evolving. The flu virus is simple and an example of micro-evolution, which we see happening today, like the many different types of dogs there are. But they're still all dogs.
To believe that is any evidence, let alone overwhelming evidence, to support macro-evolution must take great faith in the theory of evolution. When Colin Patterson, senior paleontologist at the prestigious British Museum of Natural History, which houses the world's largest fossil collection, 60 million specimens, was asked why he didn't include any transitional fossils, he confessed that if I knew of any, he would have certainly included them in his book "Evolution." No transitional fossils seem to me overwhelming evidence for biblical creation and a devastating if not knockout blow to evolution.
Waite also states the best evidence we have is single cells developed 3.5 million years ago, which have become more complex ever since. But he gives us no evidence to support such a claim.
Ben Souther
Rainier
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