Will Herrera bow to party doctrine?
I read U.S. Rep. Jaime Herrera’s Dec. 5 guest opinion, “Herrera ready for new role as congresswoman.” Herrera states that her office will be a “no arrogance zone,” and then boldly claims the message she takes from her election is to “change the direction of the federal government.” She vastly overreaches in her analysis. Given the history of the president’s party losing seats in midterm elections, and the state of the economy when Obama took office, these results were predictable. Herrera might consider that the electorate was hoping to even the balance of the two parties in the hopes that they might work together to do the people’s work.
Herrera said, “the most powerful words in a democracy are ‘the people have spoken.’” The people elected a Democratic president just two years ago, and left Democrats in control of the U.S. Senate. That hardly sounds like a request to change the direction of the entire government.
Brian Baird was a good representative because he wasn’t afraid of making decisions not aligned with his party. As a freshman representative and a rising star in the GOP, Herrera is going to be under enormous pressure to strictly comply with the party doctrine. I hope that she is a moderate and independent voice for Southwest Washington.
Bob Romito
Battle Ground
Natural trees are more ‘green’
There is a way to have a Christmas tree with virtually no impact. Use a natural tree that is cut by the Forest Service from a precommercial thinning of forests. Trees often seed too close and will be stunted unless thinned. These thinning trees are left to rot. Rotting isn’t a total loss as the soil benefits, but in most cases many more are left to rot than are necessary to maintain soil fertility.
The drawback is that these trees don’t look like a sheared Christmas tree. These waste tress look like a natural tree. A natural tree could be a status symbol of conservation because they cause no loss to the environment. While I worked in the Mt. Baker National Forest in the 1970s, I saw hundreds of 4- to 8-foot Pacific silver fir trees left to rot when in a precommercial thinning. I thought how nice these “wasted” trees would have looked when decorated.
Dale Thorsen
Vancouver
Unemployment is necessary aid
Summoning up his ideological resentments about unemployment compensation in his Dec. 7 opinion column, “Talk on tax cuts riddled with deception,” columnist Thomas Sowell pouts, “If I were fired tomorrow, should I be able to live off the government until such time as I find another job that is exactly the same, making the same or higher pay?” Well, no, the general rule is that fired workers are denied this compensation. Ordinary folks with common sense already know the rule. Maybe the Pony Express hasn’t yet relayed this knowledge to Sowell’s ivory tower.
Gerald R. Johnson
Washougal
GOP claims fall flat
Now that Republicans have blocked yet another of President Obama’s attempts to help real people, many will resume calling them the “Party of No.” The GOP is not the “Party of No,” so much as it is the “Party of Not For Anyone But The Super-Rich.” The party members’ pretense that they simply believe we should not raise taxes on “anyone” during a recession falls flat.
With the debts we now have — most of which would not exist had it not been for the inept decisions of their previous commander in chief — we must improve our financial standing and the wealthiest in our nation are the only ones who will not feel it if the tax cuts expired. Remember, these tax cuts were intended to be — and were sold to us as — a temporary benefit. Letting them expire on time is not a tax hike, it is a proper tax adjustment, returning things to where they should be. Extending them for those of less wealth is simply good leadership during a recession.
Perhaps it’s time for the GOP to change the definition of their acronym. There are descriptive terms that would more accurately identify them today as the party of: Greed Obliterating People; Gutting Our Progress; Go On Pretending; or Games Overtaking Politics.
Roy Wilson
Portland
Left covets other people’s money
It still amazes me that all we hear from the left is how people who make over $250,000 a year are rich and make too much money. Who is anybody to say that somebody else makes too much money, and their money should be given to the rest of us? The arrogance of progressives (socialists) is beyond pale.
Commentator Bill Maher is right — there are a lot of stupid people in America, and most of them do not learn from history, including him. Socialism has never worked anywhere in the world and never will. For all you spoiled brats who think the world owes you a living, grow up.
Just remember, today if you make $250,000 you’re considered rich; in a couple years it will be $200,000; in 10 years it will be $50,000 and so on. Once a certain level is reached watch all the socialist crybabies start rioting in the streets because the government is taking their money and entitlements away from them. Nobody owes anybody anything. The only thing socialism has ever accomplished is to make everyone poor, mostly because you run out of so-called rich people to tax, and everyone is left with nothing.
Darel Maden
Vancouver
Compromise forecasts one term
I oppose the president’s irresponsible “compromise” tax proposal. Tax cuts for millionaires, the estate tax giveaway, and cutting back Social Security receipts will all have to be paid by our children and grandchildren. We’re borrowing from China to hand money to plutocrats.
President Obama has brought Sen. Mitch McConnell’s, R-Ky., dream of a one-term Obama presidency one step closer. I voted for Obama in 2008 but I won’t in 2012 if he runs for re-election.
Philip B. Scott
Vancouver
Disregard the fearmongers
It’s very sad. A man was arrested for threatening to kill Sen. Patty Murray over the health care bill. Another man is arrested after shooting at police officers as he was en route to shoot people at the Tides Foundation. Now, two men have been convicted of robbing a bank and killing two people with a bomb.
What do these all have in common? Lies, such as “the death panels,” “left-wing Tides Foundation is anti-American,” “Obama is going to take our guns away.” For those who continue to let others think for them, here are some truths. There are no death panels. The Tides Foundation funds green nonprofit centers. The only political party that has taken away gun rights is the Republicans, after Ronald Reagan was shot. When will we learn not to listen to fearmongers screaming hate at us and find out the truth for ourselves?
