Limit fireworks use to one day
Another Fourth of July is coming up. I have been following the controversy of the fireworks stands. Not much is said about those of us who think that civilized people need only one day to celebrate — on the Fourth of July. Washougal has adopted that ordinance. It makes perfect sense. Every organization in Clark County could sell them, but we only need them discharged on one day.
I live in Battle Ground. Our neighborhood sounds like a war zone. The aftermath of litter on our roofs, in our yard and sometimes on our vehicles is something we are tired of. We are working people who go to bed around 10 p.m. as we have to be up by 4:30 a.m. There have been several stories regarding the confusion on what days are allowed in what city. Make it simple. One day. July 4.
I know I am not the only one who dreads this time of year. We have animals that hide under the bed. Some people have to have their animals on tranquilizers.
I thought our unemployment rate was high, that people didn’t have money, but, miraculously people do come up with money to buy fireworks. I won’t be one of them.
Gynene Lane
Battle Ground
Baird’s view of oil spill is flawed
It’s a good thing U.S. Rep. Brian Baird will not be representing us in Washington too much longer. He is obviously suffering from some sort of dementia if he really believes President Obama and BP are doing a great job with the oil spill in the Gulf, and that Gov. Bobby Jindal of Louisiana is not.
If anything, Obama has been nothing but a hindrance. Just another Democrat blind to what’s happening in the real world.
Arnie Zweig
Camas
As usual, Baird does his homework
As someone who worked in the offshore drilling industry (for a predecessor company of Transocean), I compliment Congressman Brian Baird on his conclusion that the response to the Gulf oil spill is impressive.
As usual, Baird has done his homework, gone to the area, listened to people who know what they’re talking about, and exercised his usual good judgment in evaluating what’s happening there.
I disagree with the scope of his proposal regarding the Federal Oil Spill Research Program Act. This spill is not about more or less R&D into the prevention of well blowouts but about the incredibly poor judgment used by some BP managers.
When BP overruled Transocean’s drilling people, Transocean management should have shut down the rig. No amount of R&D is going to prevent people from making stupid decisions to try to get away with risky operations. No one at BP or Transocean who has any involvement in this mess is ever going to take those risks again. But 30 years from now? R&D is not going to keep another generation from taking foolish risks and having them blow up in the faces of all of us.
John Milem
Vancouver
Grants include ‘right-to-work’ states
As CEO of National Math and Science Initiative, I’m writing to respond to the June 16 Columbian editorial “Academic acclaim.” The editorial was right that Washington was originally selected for one of the $13.2 million grants awarded by the National Math and Science Initiative to beef up AP programs in the state, but the grant was withdrawn because of teacher union objections. However, it is not correct that NMSI grants only went to six other “right-to-work” states — our grants actually included states that are heavily unionized and those programs are producing outstanding results.
It is still our hope that someday our program will be implemented in Washington to benefit students and teachers there. As the editorial pointed out, experience has shown that the rigorous AP coursework prepares students to succeed in college, even if they don’t make a high score on the course.
Our goal continues to be helping more American students master challenging math and science courses. Those skills are increasingly essential for young people to obtain quality jobs and for our country to remain competitive.
We are gratified that The Columbian has recognized that challenge and continues to speak up for academic excellence and innovation.
Tom Luce
Dallas, Texas
Gillnet measurement is deceptive
Hobe Kytr’s June 20 guest opinion “Columbia River fishery debate rages on,” stating that smaller salmon and steelhead can escape even smaller than 8 inch mesh nets is pure deception. The “gillnetters” measurement is determined by stretching the web diagonally, corner to corner. That forms a 4-inch-square opening. Any fish that can’t swim through is trapped and killed. Gillnets are huge, sometimes the length of a football field. They fish 10 to 30 feet beneath the surface, weaving in the water, further increasing their indiscriminate killing “efficiency.” Even worse, when gillnets break loose and are lost, they become “ghost nets.” Thousands of them, never recovered, have been documented in deep water, making them killing machines, year after year. The evidence: smaller and fewer wild and native fish now exist to migrate and reproduce.
Ben Dennis
Vancouver
Tax will make its way to middle class
As a follow-up to the June 23 Columbian story “Hoyer: Middle-class tax cuts could be on chopping block,” I hope this is a wake-up call to all those who plan on supporting Initiative 1098 that increases taxes on those making $200,000 individually or $400,000 as a couple.
As was promised by the president, there will be no new taxes on the middle class. However, as House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer indicated, that popular middle-class tax reduction expiring at year’s end could be extended — albeit, only temporarily. With the record budget deficits we currently have, which are rising daily, don’t you think this “temporary” extension will go on in perpetuity? They have no other way of supporting their spending habits. If any sort of income tax plan is put into place in Washington, it will never go away and will eventually trickle down to everyone who is paying taxes. Count on it. Vote “no” on I-1098 if it gets to the ballot.
Lynda Wilson
Vancouver
Ask for residency before signing
The next time someone approaches you to sign a petition, ask how long they have lived in Washington state. Most likely you will find that the petitioner has never lived in Washington, but has been shipped in from another state. They claim they are here to protect your rights as a Washingtonian. How would they know what we need as residents of Washington?
Michael Carmichael
Camas
