Quality experience
Sunday, September 14, 2008 12:54 AM PDT
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E-mail this articleSept. 14 Letters to the Editor
Quality experience
Obviously there are those in the area who believe Sarah Palin’s lack of experience is a serious matter, when Barack Obama’s is not. Frankly, I wish we had a lot more politicians who could get worthwhile things done as efficiently as she does:
• She has eliminated corruption in the name of “the CBC (Corrupt Bastards Club)” as they proudly called themselves. Four are now in prison and six others are under indictment.
• She fired the head of public safety ,who would failed to fire corrupt Trooper Wooten, who allegedly had threatened her father’s life and her own. This is still under investigation.
• She has returned large oil revenues to the citizens of Alaska rather than let the state legislators who were in the pocket of the oil companies and contractors have it.
• She eliminated the state jet and her security detail and made all state employees travel via commercial transport companies.
Given the choice, I’d vote for this kind of experience any day of the week. A little common sense and morality back in government would be a wonderful thing.
Judith Schwindt
Silver Lake
Choices are unremarkable
Am I alone in being sensitive to the fact that the media and the Palin family itself have referred repeatedly to Sarah’s giving birth to a son with Down Syndrome and her daughter Bristol’s unplanned teen pregnancy as a “choice” to have the babies?
I completely respect both decisions, and I believe abortion to be a sad alternative to bringing people into the world whose spiritual worth and power only God knows.
However, lauding a person who is pro-life for “choosing” to have her baby is really a non-issue, because most self-described pro-life individuals would prefer that there be no other option legally available for any girl or woman in these situations, other than to give birth.
Every day, Americans make moral choices to abstain from legal activities. Eating pork or beef, remaining uncircumcised, killing in self-defense, drinking alcohol, gambling, gossiping, refusing to wear a veil, wearing clothes designed for the other sex — all are sins as defined by one creed or another, but legal in our society. These everyday “choices” don’t make front-page news.
Most of us, due to our American birthright, just naturally respect that legal choice in moral matters is an essential American value, and we expect it as an essential American right. Even the Palin family, apparently.
Darcie L. Chess
Longview
Pray for O.J.
Please everyone pray for O.J. and with your help, we can help him get the correct conviction — “life in prison” — that was stolen from him at his first trial.
Arold Lien
Longview
Time to cut back
So, the county is awash in red ink and this is right after the county commissioners get a 4.5 percent raise. Housing starts are in the ditch, but looks like the county will make up for it with property tax increases on the improvements, since this is the only place they can raise them more than 1 percent. They have asked all departments to cut back 4 percent and cutbacks in employees will be right on the heals of that.
Here is a better idea for starters: Give back the 4.5 percent raise and then take a 5 percent cut and ask all other county employees to do the same to save all the jobs. Let attrition take its course and hire part-time people until such time as economic times call for full-timers and those part-timers will be trained for those jobs.
Eliminate take-home cars for all county employees and replace all full-size cars and SUV’s with compacts — less insurance, less fuel, etc. Review the attendance of all county employees and those not on vacation or legitimate time off, tighten 'em up so they can provide the work paid for. Might surprise the budget director with some only slightly pink ink or maybe none at all.
Lastly, ask for help from the public you serve; might get some better ideas.
Bill White
Kalama
National Grandparents Day
Sept. 9 was National Grandparents Day. Although the practice of grandparents raising grandchildren is not new, their role as primary caregivers is a growing trend throughout the nation. For many, the retirement they imagined remains a dream, replaced instead by the daily struggle of providing for their grandchildren in their care. Children, who often have difficulties because of the chaotic lifestyle they lived until their grandparents stepped up and stepped in.
Locally, in Wahkiakum and Cowlitz County, 31 percent of foster children are placed with relatives, most often grandparents.
If it were not for these grandparents taking on the enormous task of raising their grandchildren, the foster care system would collapse, because there is a shortage of quality foster homes locally and in many parts of the country. If you’ve ever considered becoming a foster parent, now is a good time.
For more information on becoming a foster parent call (360) 430-1510.
Jeanmarie Moore
Longview
Language shouldn’t be a barrier
This is in response to Ken Guse (Sept. 6 letter). Anika Sorenstan was born in Sweden and lived there throughout her youth, her parents are Swedish, her siblings are Swedish. She undoubtedly speaks Swedish. Lorena Ochoa, who was born in Mexico and grew up there, undoubtedly speaks Spanish. I think they would do fine in their countries’ tournaments.
Yes, they both speak English probably because in most of the world children are taught several languages. I have found that in Sweden everyone speaks English, as well as Swedish. Most also speak a third language, such as French, German or Spanish. In Mexico the educated also speak two or three languages.
Americans should quit being so angry because everyone doesn’t speak English and learn a few languages. In sports of all sorts, tournaments are held all over the world; they are held in countries where English is not the first language. Is Guse saying that all athletes before they compete in any country must learn the language of that country? There will be a lot less time spent on practicing the sport while the players learn 15 to 20 languages.
Annette Birch
Kalama
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