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Our Readers’ Views

The Columbian
Published: March 21, 2010, 12:00am

Poor-farm plan offers many benefits

The March 5 story “County has rich plans for former poor farm,” described the excellent proposal to convert the “poor farm” in Hazel Dell to public use (gardens, a greenhouse, farmers market, etc.). This will help to preserve livability in Clark County.

It is also an opportunity to create a solution to a major problem existing nationally as well as locally: affordable housing.

The inclusion of five to 10 residences on less than an acre would leave enough land to preserve the project’s stated goals and in this setting create a sustainable community that could be a model for future development.

Small energy-efficient homes that are built by the homeowners (with mentoring) could halve the average mortgage payment. Additionally, some employment would be created from the production of crafts, goods and services produced by the residents and sold in the market.

As a unique model of urban sustainability, it would attract widespread interest, volunteer support and possibly facilitate obtaining additional start-up funds from governmental agencies, foundations and nonprofit sources.

Bill Barkley

Vancouver

Track exemptions to sales tax

The controversial gift to the retail businesses of Washington border areas has been much discussed.

By “gift” I mean the subsidy paid by the people of Washington for businesses in those areas not having to collect sales tax from nonresidents. Specifically, I fail to see why anyone in Oregon would spend the time and travel expense to come to Washington to buy items available locally in their home state.

The recently stated argument is valid, that the focus should be on Washington residents who shop in Oregon to avoid sales tax but benefit from the services that the sales tax provides. However, the Washington residents who work in Oregon and pay over $100 million combined in income tax to that state and receive no benefits provided by the tax offset that argument. It is close to a wash.

There are currently 123 exemptions to RCW 82.08.0273 (the sales tax law), and the number has increased from 82 in 2003. The legislators of Washington can keep making exemptions, but someone, like The Columbian, might periodically review these exemptions and bring to the attention of the tax-paying public any that appear to be without reasonable justification. It’s our money, folks.

Paul Romig

Vancouver

Will protestors reject all handouts?

The March 17 Columbian story “Protesters rally outside Baird’s office” reported that more than 100 activists staged a rally outside U.S. Rep. Brian Baird’s office in Vancouver, to tell Baird to keep government “Hands off My Health Care.”

To those protesters noted in the story, Tom Niewulis, Shari Parsons, Kirby Wilbur and all the rest, please contact the Medicare office immediately to let them know that you will absolutely not tolerate accepting government-run Medicare when you turn 65. I’m sure you’ll want to take responsibility for yourselves and “let the market” provide health care insurance coverage for you.

Theresa Kelsay

Vancouver

Sin cannot be overlooked

Lisa Courtney is surely entitled to her views and the expression of them in her March 7 letter, “Discrimination is the wrong approach.” However, it’s not fair to say “there are only a handful of words in the Bible that talk about the ‘evils’ of homosexuality.”

In Leviticus 18:22-30, homosexual practices are strictly forbidden and called an “abomination.” In Leviticus 20:13, homosexual activity on the part of men is called an “abomination” and the two so engaged shall “surely be put to death.” These verses are found in the Torah (the first five books of the Old Testament), which was the mainstay of Judaism.

In Romans 1:26,27, homosexual practices of both men and women are clearly condemned. So one might ask, “How many times does God have to say something in the Bible for people to believe it?”

Surely, love to one’s neighbor is a dominant theme in the Bible, especially in the New Testament, including love for enemies. However, nowhere is the Bible “soft” on sin.

God in His grace is anxious to forgive sin which is repented of, but nowhere is sin simply overlooked. It is still true and not trite to say that a Christian is to love the sinner but hate the sin.

Ralph H. Isensee

Vancouver

Reasonable minds are missing

I am wondering if politicians are subject to drug testing prior to and during any time they may spend in office legislating and/or making executive decisions?

If not, then it should be so.

Every day when I read my Columbian or tune into FNC, CNN or MSNBC on my satellite radio and cable TV, I witness economic and political mayhem being perpetrated against tax-paying citizens. Not once in a while, but every day. I see and hear city, county, state and federal elected officials and unelected bureaucrats legislating and regulating in ways that may only be described as insane. If they are not insane, then it must be drugs. There is just no other explanation.

I used to adamantly profess that “liberalism” is a mental disorder. I believe I have to broaden that to “Progressive State Utopianism” is a mental disorder. If it is not drugs that are currently addling the minds of our politicians and public bureaucrats, then maybe they should seek psychological council and a remedial therapy program. If drugs are involved in generating the current progressive political mindset, then serious intervention and rehab are in order.

Jock Demme

Vancouver

Starbucks gun policy defended

In reference to Heidi Yewman’s March 14 letter, “Starbucks gun policy is wrong,” has she ever heard of a legal gun-carrying permit holder causing a problem? If she wants to ban guns from Starbucks, only people who will have guns in Starbucks are the bad guys who carry illegally and would cause harm.

I would rather see 10 people with concealed permits with guns (and you would not see their guns as a concealed permit holder, as the gun would be concealed) in a Starbucks than one bad guy with a gun. Yewman makes reference to a guy with a gun on his hip; I have yet to see someone carrying a gun on their hip, other than the police. And she may like to know that there are women with concealed carry permits.

If someone is intent on holding up the place with a gun, it would not be a legal permit holder.

Paul E. Nelson

Hazel Dell

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