Our readers' views, Oct. 7, 2008

Doing away with sidewalk development is not a viable option to ease the city of Vancouver’s financial shortfall. Building well-designed sidewalks is an incentive to using them.

The most recent examples of extremes are the north and south sides of Northeast 18th Street, east of Andresen Road to Burton Road. The south side is good and straight and better-built than the street itself. The north side is a curving, waving fiasco that would slow any serious walker down — and forget about trying to walk with a companion.

The sad part is the cost of the two walkways. With the waste of land, upkeep and building costs, the north side may cost more than the south side. At a time when money is tight, why not build a decent sidewalk?

Ken Serviss
Vancouver

The bailout of the financial and automobile corporations will be paid for with our tax dollars. The problem with large corporations: Their top echelons are highly paid, they employ a large number of people, and they are tightly woven into our economy. We’re so dependent on them that the government (you and I) has to bail them out. They were greedy, they made the wrong decisions and we will have to pay.

When is the last time you heard of our government’s bailing out a Ma-and-Pa small business? Is it fair that the common people daily lose jobs, homes and businesses, and the wealthiest people in the world are bailed out by you and me? Is there a change in the lifestyle of the rich corporation echelon?

Luckily the government has the deep pockets of us taxpayers.

Norman L. Wilcox
Vancouver

After a public outcry, a ban on car washing in home driveways won’t be enforced. But the Washington Department of Ecology is still directed to insist that counties put it in their laws. The law could cost thousands to enforce, if politicians decide to enforce it someday.

But the law will apply only to unincorporated areas of the county, not cities, according to newspaper stories. There is adequate land for water runoff in the rural lands, which have large-lot minimum-acre zoning and generally no storm drains. There will be a law on the books, subject to the whim of any politician, that won’t serve the public good. It will do no good in the cities where runoff problems are the worst.

This convoluted law will be added to the myriad of extra laws that rural landowners must face if they want to raise a family on land with breathing space. Country life is fast becoming extinct in Washington state, and with it go the life lessons it teaches along.

Carol Levane
Yacolt

The question is, “Who has the greatest influence on the voter, the candidate or the network panelists?”

The first of the televised presidential debates, on Sept. 26, gave the two candidates a chance to present their credentials and résumés to the world. Based upon candidates’ perceived strengths, weaknesses, and constitutional rights, voters have individual freedom of choice — that “shall not be abridged.” Any choice should be made on the basis of a candidate’s strengths, not the opponent’s weaknesses.

In the pre-candidate debate, a “psychoanalysis” by panelists — with the powerful voice of the network — aired the potential strengths and weaknesses of the opponents’ presentation. Panelists have the wherewithal to influence the voter.

Matt Maas
Vancouver

Why not allow a casino to be built on the Boise Cascade property? It would help bring revitalization to the area. With it would come more jobs and one heck of a good reason for Portlanders to drive and spend money — lots of money — on our side of the river.

The deal could include having the casino pay for the July 4 fireworks display and putting a portion of all profits toward a new Columbia River crossing. For too many years I’ve paid Oregon taxes and gotten nothing for it. Here’s an opportunity to have some of that money come back voluntarily.

It could be a beautiful facility like Chinook Winds, which was a huge windfall for Lincoln City. Instead of all the new growth being in the east part of Vancouver, let’s bring it west. Let’s bring it back to downtown.

John McIlvenny
Vancouver

The editorial cartoon published on the Oct. 3 opinion page, “Don’t vote? Don’t complain,” by Jeff Parker is right on. It’s the best one I’ve seen in ages. Maybe it will prompt some people to get off their duffs and vote.

Maryalice Gordon
Vancouver

A young neighbor, a student at Riverview Elementary School, came to my door selling a coupon book for $20 for the benefit of the school. As I talked to her, another young girl, a student at Cascade Middle School appeared, selling magazine subscriptions for her school.

Are the school administrators and staff mad or merely ignorant? The lives of these children are being placed in jeopardy. They are easy prey for perverts or for thieves who, learning of a school’s fundraising effort, could stalk, assault and rob the children of any money they collect.

The charge to our educators is to educate, not to exploit our children in perilous money-raising schemes. This should be stopped immediately and forever.

Alfred P. Maurice
Vancouver

I had a Charlton Heston “Planet of the Apes” moment this week, as the once strongest free market economy in the world teetered on the brink of destruction. Life savings thought to be safe soon to be rendered worthless, and U.S. status changing to that of a third-world nation. It’s those nasty Republicans again.

The Socialist/Democrat/Hollywood/ media cabal has the power to paint red and have us see blue, print black and have us read white. Is journalism dead?

Bill Clinton has twice admitted that his administration distorted lending rules at Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. He said Democrats didn’t listen to pleas for reform. Bills from John McCain in 2003 and 2005 were defeated, Alan Greenspan’s direction ignored, the president’s ideas scoffed at. Many Republican attempts were made to fix this problem before it happened.

The media’s job now is to convince us that capitalism and Republicans are to blame.

Frank Bair
Vancouver