Demand passage of Smith’s bill
I read Linda Smith’s Feb. 7 opinion column — “Bill aims to protect sex-trafficking victims,” about Senate Bill 6476 — with a mixture of despair and resolve. To think that our children face a real threat of sex trafficking is horrifying. Until recently I had no idea the scope of this problem. But now I do, and with knowledge comes responsibility.
Smith is right to frame the discussion of this issue in terms of supply and demand. If there were no demand, there would be no supply. If there were no men wanting to pay for sex with children, there would be no child victims. I believe it is that simple. So I’m calling out the men of my community to add our voices to Smith’s and create a different kind of demand. Demand that our senators pass SB 6476.
The passage of this bill goes a long way towards appropriately punishing the victimizer and at the same time, helping the victim. But don’t stop there; demand that they figure out a way to create and fund a network of facilities that can safely house, treat and eventually restore these precious children. Selfish and cowardly men create both the supply and demand for sex trafficking. Good men, honorable men, must demand that it stop.
Tomas Perez
Vancouver
Larch is a proven success
I would like to weigh in on the ill-advised plan to close the Larch Corrections Center. The correctional center is a valuable part of the community. It serves the U.S. Forest Service as a ready pool for forest firefighters and tree planters. There are programs to train inmates with usable skills for use after Larch.
Taking the budget ax to a well-working, valuable institution like Larch only to squander it on an unproven give-away program is typical of the “spend money to feel good” administration we are saddled with. Rather than tighten the bureaucratic belt, it appears to be easier to destroy a proven success.
Hoping a radical change works is not sound management. Ouija boards and dart boards have no place in decision-making for the hard-working, tax-paying citizens of Washington. Madam Gov. Chris Gregoire should stop acting like a madam, start acting like a governor, and rescind her proposed order to close the Larch center.
Steve Fuller
LA CENTER
Take another look at crossings
Now that the Columbia Crossing Interstate 5 bridge project has been slowed down and a harder look is being made at how it will affect the livability of residents on Hayden Island, I have some additional thoughts. I have wondered if the historic significance of the two bridge spans has been considered? One is 93 years old and the other 52 years old. Both qualify for consideration as national historic sites and crossing one of the nation’s largest rivers is very significant.
I also wonder about the many bald eagles that we see, juvenile and adult, in front of our home just west of the bridge. Have they been considered in the planning? There are many other birds, ducks, geese and other wildlife that are present on the island and river that need to be considered as well.
Livability on the island needs to look at many different factors and to look at alternatives to crossing the Columbia River should be part of that quest. I don’t feel that other crossing points have been looked at in a thorough and thoughtful way.
Herman A. Kachold
Portland
Patriotism has high price tag
The current Tea Party leadership is a far cry from the original Sons of Liberty and Samuel Adams. Self-proclaimed patriots calling President Obama an “Indonesian Muslim”? What does that make them?
The main speaker is Sarah Palin. Her fee is $100,000. Guess that’s why tickets are $349 a plate. Sold out, too! Modern American patriotism, you betcha! If she is the future candidate for president, the Democrats should stop worrying. If you have to pay $349 to be a patriot, that’s going to leave out a whole lot of America. It’s the economy, you betcha!
Bill Kelley
Yacolt
Stick to congressional issues
The sticking gas pedal on some Toyota models is not a new problem. Toyota Motor Corp. will do what has to be done, well ahead of the congressional hearing scheduled in the next few weeks, but it’s a sure bet Congress will get its share of mileage from the problem.
In 2003, our 1994 Dodge went into full acceleration as we were entering a steep driveway. Quick reactions of my wife avoided a parked car, and accidentally hitting the shift lever with her knee lessened the impact as we went over the bank. The car was totaled — luckily we were not. Repeated efforts to get the pedal problem investigated by anyone, government or insurance, failed. The excuse was “we just do not have the resources for that type of thing.” It was cheaper to settle the claim.
Since then, I’ve talked to others with similar stories. I believe this type of recall is nothing new. Congress has more to do, such as health insurance and job issues, so leave the gas pedal issue to those already on it.
Ken Serviss
VANCOUVER
President should have more influence
The recent ruling handed down by the U.S. Supreme Court — in favor of corporate and union influence over elections and candidates for public office — strikes at democracy, yes, but where was President Obama when it was happening? Giving a fine speech after the damage is done is not good enough.
To have free speech is one thing. To always tell the truth is another.
The idea of being a president is not just to live it up with wife and kids but to protect democracy and a government of the people, by the people and for the people. You can’t do that when you don’t know what’s going on. My idea of our government, learned in school, is that the three branches of government are a check on each other. That helps to keep them honest.
I voted for Obama and I want him to show me it wasn’t a wrong vote.
Ann U. Harris
VANCOUVER
Obama offers a smart perspective
I am 100 percent in support of President Obama’s plans to curb the greed of banking organizations in this country. I know that with the kind of leadership he offers we can all be grateful for the rescue of our economy which will create new jobs and a sound foundation for the future success of our nation.
The Republican perspective and greed has caused so much damage to our nation that it will take many years of healing to survive.
I urge all Americans to support the idea that for the first time in this century there is a man with a brain in the White House.
