Our readers' views May 13

We all owe a debt of gratitude to BNSF Railway for the most generous donation of $20,000 to the 2010 Vancouver fireworks show. Since other "voluntary" donations seem to be sorely lacking, why not consider some alternatives to support this magnificent cause?

As a homeowner, I would not object to an additional property tax levy of $1 to $5 per year or perhaps a $1 fee added to property transfers or to building permits. If this could be implemented to be effective June 1 of this year, the larder, along with the BNSF donation, would grow sufficiently to continue this wonderful tradition not only in 2010, but for years to come.

This minuscule contribution would have such a minimal impact, and could be paid for by skipping just one latte per year. Of course, getting the residents of Portland who enjoy this free show to contribute anything would be another story.

Ed Delph

Brush Prairie

A May 5 story, "Bridge planners prepare to study tolling issues," on Interstate 5 noted that in 2030, "afternoon rush hour traffic would move briskly … Going Street in Portland north into Vancouver." Northbound, the design requirement of relieving congestion is met.

During southbound a.m., it noted "traffic would crawl along at 10 mph or slower immediately south of a new crossing." For southbound a.m., the bridge design requirement isn't met, as the bridge and Oregon corridor design fails to meet its primary requirement — relieving congestion.

Actually, this occurs not just "south of a new crossing," but on the bridge itself. Traveling southbound a.m., for three hours, the replacement bridge has an average speed of 6 mph. Over the same time interval, the current bridge has an average speed of 25.7 mph. Southbound, in the a.m., bikes would speed past cars on the replacement bridge. Tolls are all give, no get.

A solution is possible at moderate cost. My automotive experience is as a fellow of the Society of Automotive Engineers.

Steve Citron

Vancouver

I lost my health coverage in 2002 when my family began a descent from middle class to poverty. I was a stay-at-home-mom and my husband had been a software engineer for 32 years. Now he is an overqualified security guard at a fraction of his former income.

The free clinic I can go to now wasn't testing for the current swine flu, which I believe I have as I write this. The significance of a populace that cannot get health care is that everyone's health is jeopardized by the large pool of untreated residents where viruses have the opportunity to mutate more often to reach deadly forms more often.

We need guaranteed health care for all to actually be a civilized society. Otherwise, we are just telling some people that we don't lend a hand to those with less.

"Then let them die and decrease the surplus population." — Ebenezer Scrooge.

Cynthia Cascante

Vancouver

One of the fastest growing revenue raisers for local governments are so-called "red light cameras." Cities often turn over their operation to private companies. They install the cameras and maintain them, get a cut of the fine proceeds of 50 percent or more, and the cities' general funds get the rest. Contractors have even had a say in which intersections get the cameras, and evaluate the pictures (not the police).

Politicians and the makers of the cameras say they're putting up these cameras to increase safety, but you know and I know they're doing it to raise general fund revenue. (http://articles.moneycentral.msn.com/Insurance/InsureYourCar/AreRedLightCamerasFairToDrivers.aspx?page=2.)

In North Carolina, after the courts ruled that the profits from red light traffic cameras had to be spent on education and not the cities' general funds, "suddenly" the cities "discovered" that red light traffic cameras do not reduce traffic accidents and so they took them down.

Michael Kroeger

Camas

Washingtonians will be paying more bucks per bottle this August as a result of the Legislature's "money-grab" from the State Liquor Control Board — a move that forced the agency to raise prices on liquor. State Rep. Kelli Linville, chairwoman of the House Ways and Means Committee, justified the move saying, "The price increase will be borne by consumers, not the liquor industry." In the midst of a recession, now is the absolute worst time to raise prices on consumers and small businesses.

Raising the tax on alcohol hurts consumers and negatively impacts restaurants, hotels, bars, liquor stores — and the thousands of employees of these businesses throughout the state. An economic analysis showed that the Legislature's "stealth tax" will cost the state hospitality industry approximately 1,500 jobs.

As vice president of the Distilled Spirits Council, I believe legislators should focus on ways to protect consumers and small businesses during this tumultuous time, not punish them with higher prices and crafty, job-killing tax increases.

David Wojnar

Washington, D.C.

In a May 8 letter, "Cars without front plate are illegal ," Art Gaiani wonders why the front license plate law is not enforced. He should read the RCW he cites. The cars he has seen may be exempt.

Furthermore, if we have cops with nothing better to do than hunt down a Corvette with no plate, then the rumor that we don't have enough cops may not be true.

Washington state would do well to follow the lead of several other states and stop wasting money, steel, police resources, and landfill space by eliminating the requirement for front plates.

Richard M. Baker

VAncouver

Because I receive Social Security benefits, a $250 economic stimulus payment automatically arrived in my checking account on Friday. So the next day I wrote checks to pay for three of my prescriptions, $212.50.

I also wrote a check to purchase two "thirty dollar" Washington auto license tags, $87.50. But before mailing that check, I had to run both cars through their bi-annual emissions test, $30.

And for good measure, I wrote another check to pay my quarterly estimated federal income taxes.

Did I stimulate the economy? I don't think so.

I would like to have stimulated more, but I ran out of money.

Ralph Burke

Vancouver