Checks and balances
Wednesday, July 9, 2008 2:32 AM PDT
Printable version
E-mail this articleJuly 9 Letters to the Editor
Checks and balances
In response to Shannon Barnett’s July 6 letter on the subject of checks and balances, I would like to point out some other facts. Checks and balances in regard to whom Washington citizens vote for works only when the winner listens to constituents.
I am a registered Republican, yet my county commissioners, all Democrats, listened to me and my grass-roots coalition when we fought against the LNG terminal and pipeline that will affect Washington state. Brian Baird and other Democratic lawmakers listened to me and my coalition members and now oppose the Bradwood terminal. However, neither our present governor nor her Republican opponent have taken any stand on this issue.
If “governments derive their just powers from consent of the governed, and are established to protect and maintain individual rights” then the governor and her opponent are sadly not aware of that fact.
International oil conglomerates and cartels are raking in billions in profits every day. Now those international organizations see the handwriting on the wall and want to seize the LNG international market. An LNG cartel is imminent. Foreign fossil fuels will maintain their grip. So what changes? Nothing unless our heads of state stand up for the future with our best interests in mind. And to do that they have to listen.
Vonda Kay Brock
Longview
Restaurant will be missed
Frank’s European Cellar is closed. I was shocked and dismayed as I stood at the iron grid that closed off the restaurant. No more of those wonderful imported items, especially those treats at Christmas time. Recently his supply diminished due to the falling dollar against the Euro.
We enjoyed Frank’s outstanding meals, which were plentiful, delicious and reasonably priced compared to other restaurants in this area.
There just was not enough interest in this community to make sufficient profit to sustain Frank’s Restaurant.
We are very sorry. We miss you, Frank. Good luck in whatever you plan to do.
Rose Seis
Kelso
Pay now or pay later
It is indeed heartening to know that the commissioners of Longview Consolidated Diking District No. 1 are on top of potential flooding that can occur from excess volcanic sediment coming into the Cowlitz River from the Toutle Rivers. The potential for a very severe flood is very real. What has added to this potential flood risk is ignorance or stubbornness on the part of local elected and appointed officials responsible by law to take care of just such incidents.
The problem is not just the volcanic sediment from the last eruption of Mount St. Helens. The stream beds of the North and South Toutle Rivers are chuck a lock full of sediment, which has allowed the streams to meander from high bank to high bank. These streams are now eroding against the mud flow that came down these streams many hundreds of years ago from the eruption of those days. Some of these banks are 40 to 50 feet high. Much of that mud flow was just mud and volcanic sand. When the stream hits these soft banks, several hundred thousand cubic yards of dirt can be added to the stream flow, just overnight. These high banks of pummy should have been rip-rapped or armored.
It does little good to keep pumping out the Cowlitz River and let the Toutle keep filling it in. Let’s hope that someone listens to the people out here before it is too late. A stitch in time saves nine. You can pay for it now or pay for it later.
Chet Gardner
Silver Lake
Proposed rule is sensible
In the editorial regarding the state’s bid to block cardiology expansion at smaller hospitals, you failed to offer a link to the proposed legislation. Here is that link: https://fortress.wa.gov/doh/policyreview/Documents/0812079certficateofneed102.pdf
Health care rules and regulations are very important to the safety and well-being of the patient. The idea that this proposed rule is unfair and designed to prevent a small hospital from gaining a “fair” share of the market is very misleading on your part.
I am a registered nurse and I used to work a cardiac care unit. My work training and orientation included witnessing all of the surgical and non-invasive procedures my patients could potentially undergo, including the very procedures St. John Medical Center wishes to perform on a routine basis.
You state in your editorial, “Angioplasty and stent placement are becoming somewhat routine procedures.” This is true. However, there is a very good reason immediate open heart surgical capability is essential. The one and only angioplasty/stent placement that I witnessed was going routinely when all of a sudden the advancing stent guide punctured the cardiac artery. You never saw a quieter procedure; one with a blur of people automatically coming together as a team to save this person’s life.
Personally, I feel allowing any of these procedures without full open heart surgery capability is foolhardy.
Vickie Schafer
Kelso
GOP offers little balance
It is refreshing yet somewhat ironic how, after years of propagandizing and Demo-bashing by himself and others in his ranks, past Republican local chairman Shannon Barnett now appeals for balanced, power-shared governance (June 18 and July 6 letters). I wonder if like requests went to R-heavy Lewis and Clark counties, or toward Idaho state and Washington, D.C. — homes to Richard Curtis, Larry Craig, G.W. Scooter, Shooter, Rummy, Rove, Gonzo and dozens of other imbalanced “leaders,” those guilty of single-power corruption, arrogance or the misrepresentation of America’s ideals, honor and fairness (Gitmo).
Although I appreciate Barnett’s more civil tactics — unlike others from his side still engaging in intelligence-insulting, personal attacks (William Schumacher, July 6 letter) — I cannot foresee tricking informed voters into dropping allegiance toward Cowlitz County or top-five-ranked Washington state.
And, if we choose to “collectively” check their balance, Rossi and Wilson might prove more than a little unstable as well.
Gary Finkas
Toutle
Past Month's Most Commented Stories