Nov. 23 Letters to the Editor

A disgraceful sight

My late uncle was serving in the U.S. Navy and stationed at Pearl Harbor when it was bombed by the Japanese on Dec. 7, 1941. Unlike a number of his shipmates who lost their lives in the attack, he managed to make his way through the ensuing mayhem to reach his ship and they were able to limp out of the harbor.

His luck continued, as over the course of the war he survived the sinking of four separate ships he was serving on. However, he carried the resulting injuries with him for the remainder of his life.

He rarely spoke of the war, but was always very proud of his naval service and I never heard him express any grudges toward those we were at war with. But in respect for the sacrifices that he, and many others, made during that time, I am very grateful that he did not have to witness the pictures of our president bowing before the Japanese emperor. He would surely have considered it a disgrace.

Larry Young

Silver Lake

Thank you, Kelso High School

The staff at Kelso High School need to be commended on the great job they did to honor the veterans for Veterans Day. We were served a very tasty breakfast and the program the students presented was professional grade.

I’m an 87-year-old World War II vet and they managed to make me feel important for a day. In observing my fellow veterans, I noticed that everyone had an enjoyable morning. It was much appreciated. Thanks so much.

Stan C. Newman

Kelso

Make it simple

Because I lead three world news discussion classes for older adults at our local community college (Lower Columbia College), my thinking wife, Dolphine, said to me, “If our representatives would create a public health plan like congressmen live under and pay for, I think the rest of us would be willing to accept the health plan our politicians enjoy.”

And, Congress could save a lot of paper by reducing the some 1,900 pages congressmen are struggling with down to a concise, understandable 100-page health bill by letting doctors and their patients make some decisions.

Lyle Mack

Longview

Baird votes his conscience

I want to thank Congressmen Brian Baird for voting his conscience and not political party. There are a number of voters who appreciate him taking a stand for what he believed in rather than voting on a 1,900-page new policy that the majority of lawmakers don’t even understand.

I would also like to comment on a recent article regarding our state lawmakers and the pressure they are receiving from the “biggest businesses in Washington state” — the Service Employees International Union and unions representing teachers and state workers who are not happy with how lawmakers are voting. It’s possible that these lawmakers are voting for what is right for the state. Isn’t this their job?

The article reported that these groups are unhappy with lawmakers for not increasing taxes on all of us so they would not have to eliminate the pay increases or reduce health benefits for teachers and other state workers. As a manager for small industrial company, we have had to reduce wages, expenses and hours to remain competitive and keep our doors open. We don’t have the luxury of raising taxes to run our business. We have to make changes to cut costs and live within our profitability.

According to the report, “labor groups typically donate several hundred thousand dollars a year to the Democratic caucus ….” Can someone tell me the difference between the “big business lobbyist” that everyone complains about and these donations?

Steve Reed

Kelso