Our readers views, July 4

In his June 24 letter, "Each person can improve commute," Thomas R. Carney stated that the problem with the northbound Interstate 5 traffic is Hayden Island, therefore the on-ramp should be closed from 3:30 until 6:30 p.m. How does he think residents of Hayden Island would get off the "island" during these times?

Maybe he didn’t realize that 3,000 people live on the island and may be going north to work, shop or use medical facilities, all adding to Vancouver’s economy. Many of those drivers may be Washington residents going home after shopping on Hayden Island.

Maybe all south-bound ramps in Vancouver should be closed during the morning rush hours. According to the Department of Transportation, rush hour ends at 6 p.m., therefore bridge lifts can happen at 6:01 p.m. and often do. This is the biggest problem with the bridge, not the people who live on Hayden Island.

Carol Kuffner

PORTLAND

Like the overwhelming majority of the media, The Columbian ran a headline on the Supreme Court’s decision in Ricci v. DeStefano referring to "White firefighters win race bias case," for the June 30 story. I would headline it more appropriately as, "Rule of law upheld in Connecticut firefighters case."

The West Pediment of the Supreme Court building carries an inscription: Equal Justice Under Law. That was the principle at issue in this case, and it is most troubling that only a bare 5-4 majority of the court upheld that principle. The decision should have been 9-0.

No one claims that the test given the firefighters was itself discriminatory. In fact, the city of New Haven went to great lengths to make sure that was not the case. Then, having given the test and not being happy with the results, they decided to change the rules after the fact. This they ought not be — and now have not been — permitted to do.

Until we get it through our heads that a level playing field requires a disinterested referee, we will never arrive at true equality. The Supreme Court took a small step in that direction. Celebration is in order.

Bob Harper

Vancouver

As we celebrate our independence this year, an uneasy fear rolls like storm clouds across the nation. The largest and most expensive expansion of the federal government in the history of the United States threatens the personal liberty of every American. As government grows, freedom yields.

It is time to return to common sense principles. Let us reassert that it is the individual, not government, who possesses unalienable rights including life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. These individual rights are God-given, not government granted. Let us remember that the government owes no one a living, only the protected freedom of an opportunity to earn it. So-called bailouts are extremely harmful. Government power must be limited. When it is not, tyranny marches in. Let us stand for the self-government, re-establishing a federal system that keeps local affairs in the hands of local government.

Let us protest the $1.9 trillion burden of take-overs, cap-and-trade and federal intrusion of all sorts by reminding elected officials that government is supposed to be the servant of the people, not the master. And let us give thanks that we still have the freedom to do so.

Jesse L. Dunn

Vancouver

My beautiful 20-year-old son Samuel Garvin drowned Sept. 13 at Frenchman’s Bar. Sam was an excellent swimmer, had several friends with him and the water temperature was 70 degrees that day. Still, inexplicably he died. Our family will never be the same.

On June 23, another young man, William Small, 19, also lost his life swimming with friends in the same area. Not only is my family grieving for the Small family and praying for the return of his body but we are living the nightmare all over again.

I went down to the water the day after this tragedy to pay my respects and remember my only son. It’s a beautiful swimming spot between the Columbia River and Vancouver Lake and appears to be the perfect place to cool off on a hot day.

There’s a sign indicating the area is a county park, which I believe gives a false sense of security to potential swimmers. Signs warn against alcohol use and such, but not a word about the dangers of swimming. Isn’t it worth the investment to put up some warning signs so no more families have to go through this?

Debbie Garvin

Vancouver

Anti-Americans are rejoicing around the world.

The cap-and-trade bill was passed in the House of Representatives despite clear warnings of how it will crush millions of "real" jobs in trade except for experimental "green jobs" that most likely will go the way of other failed government "job creation" attempts. Republicans estimate household costs will rise up to $3,000 a year.

This bill caps how much our businesses may produce and will drive business and jobs overseas to China and India, which will in no way submit to such economically suicidal oppression of business.

The anarchists in Washington, D.C. have abandoned all laws governing themselves, thrown the Constitution in the trash and are shoving California building codes down our throats.

These people have helped build ghettos and are now spreading them across the rest of our land.

No real Americans voted for the cap-and-trade bill.

No true American would vote "yes" on a bill they have not read completely. It will take some real Americans, though, to throw them out of office.

Will H. Matson

Battle Ground

Once again Robert Wassman, in his June 26 letter, "Leadership becoming too radical," rants on about President Obama, this time calling him a fascist. His comment that we would be better off with Joe the Plumber goes to the heart of where the GOP is now.

The face of the Republican Party has been reduced to Rush Limbaugh, Newt Gingrich, and the shame of Sen. John Ensign, R-Nev., and South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford. Moderates were chased out of the GOP over the past decade as religious zealots moved the party further to the right. Remember the controversies involving Terri Shiavo, Jerry Falwell and Tom DeLay?

Forty percent of the electorate are now independents. If the GOP doesn’t want to be relegated to a southern regional party, its leaders will have to open their tent and accept moderates.

Finally, my message to Wassman: We had to put up with President Bush for eight years, it’s your turn now.

David Miller

Brush Prairie