Aug. 5 Letters to the Editor

Why no town halls?

On Aug. 3, I called Congressman Brian Baird’s office and Sens. Patty Murray’s and Maria Cantwell’s offices to inquire if any town hall meetings are scheduled. To my surprise, none are scheduled.

My wife and I have questions about Medicare, if the new health care plan is passed, and why they pass life-changing legislation they don’t read, such as the bank bailouts and cap and trade. These things will cost all of us more money.

Please call your politicians and ask for meetings so we can ask questions.

Mike Fess

Kalama

Most successful

Barack Obama: The most successful used car salesman in the world.

Burt Harwood

Longview

A drain on health-care system

A few weeks ago there was an article in The Daily News about the state of Washington considering expansion of liquor store hours and building more liquor stores to help fund our health-care system. Recently, I saw another article that said they have already started doing so.

Our state is evidently blind, deaf and/or stupid. Alcoholism is a huge drain on our already overloaded health-care system. I cannot believe state government has parked their heads so deep in the sand. I say everyone unite for a different and responsible way to fund our health-care system. Maybe, if we all yell loud enough, they’ll pull their heads out of this ridiculous notion.

Carole Smith

Vader

Another chance to help library

The last time a levy to finance the Castle Rock Library was run, it clearly received a majority of the votes, but fell nine votes short of the required 60-percent supermajority.

Since that time the good people of Castle Rock and others who believe in the importance of literacy and education have scrambled to keep the library doors open. Many have given money donations and memorial gifts. There have been book sales, garage sales, coffee stops and other money raising events, including the “I topped the rock walk/run.” A lot of time and effort has been expended, and though on a bare bones budget and schedule, the library has remained open.

Citizens of Castle Rock, now it’s up to us. We have another chance. The ballots are in the mail. The library is an important part of our little town. We cannot expect the extraordinary sacrifices time, creative efforts, and money to continue indefinitely. This past levy should have taught all of us the importance of every single vote. Please vote yes for the library.

Janet Butler

Castle

No chance of merger

The chance that Kelso and Longview would ever merge is about the same as getting a new bridge across the Columbia — nil to none. You might, however, discuss it over an Obama beer.

Craig Dishman

Longview

There must be gain

Since before FDR, our government has spent trillions of dollars that resulted in no net gain for we the people … that provided it.

We all should demand that money spent result in some gain. Businesses have to profit to survive. This is something our government has yet to grasp.

Hugh Coleman

Kelso

It’s about time

It’s about time a new RV park opens up for the general public around Castle Rock. It means more money for local governments, since property taxes increase with development. Castle Rock should annex this RV park into the city limits.

I’m a full-time RVer and have been watching the development of this resort for some time now. What this means is that there will not be low-voltage problems like some of the existing parks/resorts have. No sewer problems and roads in need of repair. Plus the resort is very easy to get to, no mountains to drive up or down in the winter months. Easy access from I-5 and ,if you are a fisherman of fisherwoman, you can fish either the Toutle or the Cowlitz Rivers, or take a ride up Spirit Lake Highway to Mount St. Helens, or go to the Chehalis Indian Casino, or go to the coast or even Portland from there.

The county should start thinking about closing the problematic parks now that this resort is open for business.

Richard Roth

Castle Rock