Our Readers’ Views

Adopt spill program as standard

A guest opinion was published April 11, “Help fish to save a vital industry: Management plan, spills necessary to sustain runs, family-wage jobs,” by Dan Grogan of Fisherman’s Marine & Outdoor. One of the main reasons we have seen slightly higher returns of salmon in the Columbia/Snake rivers in recent years is the increase of water spilled over dams ordered by Portland Judge James Redden since 2006. It is unbelievable that the Obama administration is trying to get rid of spill measures that have been proven effective.

The hydropower industry is always trying to scare the region into thinking that we will have higher electricity bills if we don’t do everything possible to maximize power at the expense of fish. I don’t buy it. We can have both improved salmon returns and affordable electricity, but the administration has to listen to more interests than just the hydropower industry. I hope the Obama administration will adopt the full spill program that has been in place since 2006.

Kelley Brox

Vancouver

Quick-fix deals don’t hold up

Thank you for looking out for the ordinary citizen. The April 15 Columbian editorial, “Kicking the can: State budget gouges taxpayers while moving problems into future years,” was worth the cost of my whole year’s subscription.

Readers might want to take a look at an op-ed column in the Wall Street Journal by Burton and Anita Fulsom titled, “Did FDR end the Depression?” It’s very educational. (Note the part about the Revenue Act of 1945. The then Democratic-controlled Congress cut the heck out of federal taxes in 1945.) My point being, if it weren’t for the op-ed column, I would have never have questioned the wildly held belief that The New Deal ended the Great Depression. Thanks for my continuing education about our Legislature

Jim White

Vancouver

Reader rejects Laird’s views

Editorial page editor John Laird has become very predictable. He writes each week defending all Democrats, their policies, and their liberal ideologies. I hope I am not alone among The Columbian’s readership in noticing that facts don’t accompany his opinion columns, just statements. I will put forward a few facts.

Each week, the gulf between Laird’s thoughts and those of the majority of his readers widens. While poll after poll surfaces showing that Americans favor a smaller, less-intrusive government, less government spending, and lower taxes, Laird hails everything the administration is doing in the opposite direction. Most Americans appear to strongly oppose not only the recently enacted hodgepodge of a health care law but the way in which it was given birth. Most Americans believe that our country is quickly becoming less safe, less able to defend itself, less willing to stand with our old friends, less willing to take a strong stand against rogue nations, and very willing to disclaim our religious roots.

Thankfully, Laird is just one voice. Hopefully, many other voices will be heard in November and will provide this country a much-needed course correction. Yes, I believe we can.

Jim Williams

Vancouver

Reform typically requires a battle

Historically, reform has always been a battle in Congress. The battle for reform of our broken, expensive health care system is no exception. Thank you to those in Congress who overcame corporate interest groups (insurance companies, pharmaceuticals, lobbyists, etc.) and passed health care reform for “all Americans.” My only regret is that it was not more sweeping in its scope. Historically, we have proven that once again we are a democracy, in spite of capitalistic greed in its vilest form.

Linda Davis

Vancouver

New taxes don’t hold favor with voter

Well, here the legislators have gone and done it again. Raise more taxes, without voter approval. I will remember, and when it’s time to re-elect our officials, I do not care who runs against them, I will vote to vote them out.

In the mean time, I will go to Oregon and buy my beer, soda, bottled water and cigarettes. That really helps the budget doesn’t it? I only hope that more people will make the trip to Oregon also. Heck, maybe we can carpool over there and buy our gas there too.

I’m hoping the state goes broke — then maybe they will come to understand to tighten the belts like the general population has.

Tony Olson

Vancouver

Access to other care is put at risk

In her April 8 letter, “Celebrate health care reform,” Stephanie Liberman discusses the ideological debate about “reproductive health” and “women’s health.” She defines these “community health” issues as family planning, breast cancer screening, and prenatal care. She goes on to say in most developed countries there aren’t ongoing debates about whether women’s health services should be funded or be legal. Liberman must be unaware of current debate in this country if she thinks it’s about anything other than abortion. The debate is about elective abortion — ending one life for the convenience of another. There are many who support unlimited and federally funded abortion, yet won’t call it what it is. Why do those who favor abortion avoid using the word itself or debating the real issue? Maybe it’s because polls indicate fewer than 20 percent of Americans think abortion should be legal in all cases, and more than 70 percent oppose their tax dollars funding abortions.

By using “reproductive health” as a catch-all for abortion and other women’s health issues, abortion advocates put those health issues at risk. Abortion supporters are willing to risk access to such care in favor of a chance of providing more abortions by making “reproductive health” be an all (to include abortions) or nothing conversation.

Ruth Schilling

Vancouver

Tax corporations like we tax humans

Now that the U.S. Supreme Court has taken the mantle and responsibilities of “God” and made corporations humans, I wonder … how long before the government complies with this edict by closing all corporate tax loopholes and instructing the IRS to tax each and every corporation as a single taxpayer?

George Young

Vancouver

Time to rock the boat

When the pope and/or his bishop refer to allegations of abuse as gossip, the time has come for people to liberate themselves from the theatre of vicarious holiness. How can anyone be afraid of rocking the boat when it’s already run aground on the shores of reality? Nothing will change unless Catholics demand it.

Judith Dahlen

Vancouver