Feb. 19 Letters to the Editor

When homelessness began

I lived in California for all the Ronald Reagan years, and whenever I have had occasion to talk about those days, I’ve always started with “the first thing he did was close all the mental asylums.” It is one of the most vivid things I remember about his dark reign.

Prior to that event, I know there had been people with no place to live, like hobos on the railroad, but you never saw them. No one accosted you for money in the parking lot, or lurked outside businesses to spare change you. As far as I remember, Reagan’s policies were the start of the homelessness we see today.

Syndi Bay’s comments (Feb. 17 letter) about today’s depression being the result of Republican trickle-down policies is right on target.

But the winners write history. Reagan did win and today he is worshipped by lots of people who became poorer because of him, along with his pals who became richer. I have never understood why anyone with not much money would vote Republican, but many have.

History will explain it all.

Bill Engstrom

Longview

Officials think they know best

What is happening to our country? We elect officials to uphold the Constitution of the United States. They don’t seem to realize that they work for us. Instead they feel they know better as to what is best for us.

Just look at the economy and the shape each state is in. They are suppose to be looking out for our best interest. If you call, e-mail or phone them, you are likely to not get an understanding response back. They want to turn a blind eye on our southern border and do nothing to protect our country from illegal entry of Mexicans and drug smugglers. There are some that want a halt to the fence building and also not apply our army to guard the border. The E Verify program that works to guard against hiring illegal’s is due to expire March 6 and was stuck away in the stimulus package and is buried.

I feel that the American people are getting tired of being taxed to death and seeing our senators give away work to other countries and to people crossing our southern borders.

Isn’t it time to think about the people we would want to put in office next time around and the ones that will truly work for us instead of the party?

John Stark

Woodland

Papers follow party line

Under the headline of “Pulling the Plug” in Sunday’s paper was the statement, “Joe the plumber’s reporting stint another nail in the coffin of responsible journalism.”

This article was written by James Rainey who pilloried Joe Wurzelbacher for his alleged bias in his initial journalistic efforts.

Most of your readers would probably agree that responsible journalism is already dead in this country. The extreme left wing, who now control the Democratic Party, have the Los Angeles Times, the Oregonian, the New York Times and most other major city newspapers in thrall.

The party line has as its first and foremost priorities a put-down of the Republican Party and a drive for a one-party government. Those newspapers that are in thrall to the Democratic Party follow these priorities.

Rainey writes for the Los Angeles Times and his article is the height of hypocrisy.

This biased long-term editorial policy has had significant negative financial impacts and has forced the Los Angeles Times to file for bankruptcy protection and the New York Times currently is paying 14 percent interest rate on a loan to keep the newspaper afloat.

All three of the above-mentioned newspapers have circulation rates that are down 20 to 30 percent and their advertising revenue has plummeted with the circulation.

Robert L. Wheeler

Kelso

Issues need clarification

I would like to clarify a few issues from my last letter to the editor due to a response from another letter writer.

Madilyn Murray O’Hair was not the founder of the ACLU during is original conception, however, she was the founder of the ACLU as it exists today. When the ACLU was originally founded, it was a well-meaning organization.

As for that letter writer pointing out that, although O’Hair wrote for Hustler, so did Jimmy Carter, I would like to mention the reason Jimmy Carter wrote for Hustler magazine was because of his earnest campaign to introduce Larry Flynt to Christianity. In my opinion, that was a noble cause. If we allow Godlessness to devour America, there will be no hope for our country.

Sherry Davis

Longview