New library open less hours
We moved here to east Vancouver in 1998 and watched while two library measures were defeated, but then we won and were finally going to get a new library for all of us here on the east side. I could not make it to the grand opening of Cascade Park Community Library but had planned to go the following Monday, Dec. 21, to take some books back and pick up some on hold.
I couldn’t wait to check out the new place. Imagine my surprise and horrible disappointment to arrive and find that the new library is closed on Sundays and Mondays. I had hoped to be able to visit on one of my days off. Luckily I am also off on Saturdays, so I can still go, but I was trying to avoid the crowds that I am sure will be there on the weekends.
The previous location was able to be open on Mondays; what is the reasoning behind closing this new one? There were many others who showed up and were disappointed as I was on that day.
Kris Williams
Vancouver
Appoint Hansen to fill council seat
We have had interaction with Bart Hansen in his management position at Clark Public Utilities, as a youth baseball, basketball, and football coach, and as a member of our church. We have found Hansen to be intelligent, enthusiastic, full of energy, and aware of the issues facing Vancouver residents.
Hansen is extremely interested in making Vancouver a better place to live and raise a family. We hope the Vancouver City Council will appoint Bart Hansen to the empty city council position.
Sandy and Duane Burckhard
Vancouver
Obama fails in cutting pork
Barack Obama recently graded himself with a “strong B plus.” He deserves an “A for arrogance and an F for truthfulness.” He promised transparency, with open and televised hearings on health care. In truth, those meetings were held behind doors, where back-room deals were made with senators who sold themselves for special endowments. Obama promised drastic cuts in pork-barrel spending, with line-by-line vetoing of unnecessary spending. He has signed on with thousands of pork-barrel projects.
Terry G. Popravak
Vancouver
Have faith that we’ll do better
Sadly, technology today can also crush people’s dreams. Take for example the immediacy of the news. I now know that it is business as usual in the White House, and in Congress. No matter which side of the aisle you are on, ultimately corporate America runs the whole show. And please don’t complain about conservatives or liberals or socialists. Don’t. Either you have not kept up or do not care to.
There will be friends and family members who will criticize me for believing in some of the hopes for America our new president and a different Congress instilled in millions of the middle class and the poor. Others may criticize me for my absurd belief that trying to be “Christ-like” means quite literally caring for the downtrodden and the little people of the county; but also believing it is one of the most patriotic things any American can do no matter if you celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah, Winter Solstice, or whatever.
It is the most important time of the year for many of us that believe in love and forgiveness, and especially hope for a better New Year. Let us all pray that we can do better in 2010.
Jim Comrada
Vancouver
Fast fix will cut too deep
I’m writing in reference to the possible cuts in future Medicare. I worked hard in my lifetime and became permanently disabled eight years ago. I have struggled on a quarter of my income since then, which is what Social Security Disability pays me. I’m on IVs for 12 hours a day. Medicare refuses to pay for one of my pumps. Without it, I would be short-lived.
The media recently reported an alleged Medicare fraud with an amputee getting shoes. Most prosthetics require shoes and if they are a single amputee, they have to buy a pair. If a cut on Medicare goes through, the public is taking away from the sick and aging, who are already on poverty incomes. Medicare hardly pays out any money for legitimate medical claims, as is.
Voters should think of their future with Medicare before they vote. Don’t look for a fast fix on the economy, for tomorrow you could be disabled like me.
Carla Hover-Colby
Vancouver
Economy is a very sick patient
What’s the health of the American economy? Let’s put it in terms even the Federal Reserve, the Treasury department, and Congress can understand. To prevent unemployment from going from 6 percent to 10 percent, the government has been printing dollars by the trillions. (And unemployment still rose to 10 percent).
In the long run, it’s been like feeding the economy three pieces of cheesecake a day for a year. Yum, yum! But now we’re faced with even bigger economic problems in the future because of all this new liquidity in the system. The American economy now weighs 350 pounds and its vital organs are starting to fail. So what’s the cure? Hugely higher taxes for every working family and at least some progress toward a balanced budget.
And what did Congress do? They baked a trillion more cheesecakes in the form of health reform and declared:, “Anyone for more dessert?” Yum, yum!
Michael B. Lumbard
Washougal
Provide for the unprotected
Corresponding with a number of senators regarding the abortion provision in the health care reform bill, I received responses that amounted to “Let’s agree to disagree.” I have no problem with those who choose to disagree with me, but when there are victims who are dying, I don’t think that we should sit back and “agree to disagree.”
Rather, we should intervene to save those victims. I believe that those politicians with the power to change the injustice of abortion have a duty to protect those who cannot protect themselves. Legislators are no doubt aware of these injustices and they should utilize all the methods of law to make the changes necessary. If they cannot stand up for the smallest of children, can we trust them to stand up for the rest of us?
Abortion is not about beliefs, it is about the injustice of taking another human life. The Declaration of Independence asserts that government exists to secure the rights already bestowed by the creator. The unborn should be included in that protection. If legislators refuse to protect them, vote them out of office at the earliest opportunity.
Ed Rush
Vancouver
Why seek bishops’ approval?
So, the Catholic bishops don’t support the health care bill’s language on abortion. When did they become part of the governing process, or have we become a theocracy?
Roberta Upson
Vancouver
