Our readers’ views

Attend to gaining revenue at port

In response to the May 14 Columbian story “Rail key factor to port’s future” and with all due respect to Larry Paulson’s interpretation of outside consultants, swamis and any other armchair intellects, I have questions and issues with the Port of Vancouver as a business, subsidized by taxpayers. Any business would enjoy having a tax benefit to use as a backup or for capital investment.

The constant claim of jobs is used by every politician, or would-be politician, to gain false confidence from the taxpayers. As a business, they should show a profit and by now be self-supporting, producing enough to pay their salaries.

When will the railroad start paying for the use of the very expensive port rail lines that only they use? How about the railroad paying demurrage on parked rail cars on port property, as they themselves charge on railroad property?

Taxpayers are not a bottomless pit of money or impressed by hypothetical promises. We have the infrastructure of our county, city and schools to look after. I suggest that Paulson start functioning like a well-paid port director and fill the port with all his creativeness. If not, sell the whole thing to the highest bidder. We could use the revenue.

Harold R. Olson, Vancouver

Fiscally, Gregoire is not good choice

The May 13 Columbian story “Gregoire considered for D.C. job” stated that Washington state Gov. Chris Gregoire might be named as the replacement of Solicitor General Elena Kagan, who has been nominated for the Supreme Court. It’s great that Washington state can be represented but choosing Gregoire as a replacement — is that really the best choice for our nation? Gregoire has satisfactory credentials but her poor decisions in the recent fiscal year and, in fact, during her whole second term show us who we can or can’t trust. After she said, “When nearly a third of our high school students do not graduate on time with their peers, we have work to do,” it becomes a huge slap in the face to see her focus most of her attention in the past budget cuts on education. We don’t need a hypocrite in D.C.

It’s comforting to know that Gregoire becoming the solicitor general is just speculation. I hope it remains just that.

Olga Dezhnyuk, Vancouver

Roundabout way used to get majority

For those of you with short memories may I remind you that C-Tran apparently recognizes two different levels of residents in Clark County. Remember the vote for increasing the sales tax to support C-Tran that occurred a few years ago? This ballot measure failed until C-Tran eliminated voters who disagreed with its desire to increase the tax burden. Those of us who were not allowed to vote on that proposition are nonetheless required to pay the increased sales tax that resulted. (The May 12 story “C-Tran board OKs 20-year vision” reported, “Currently, C-Tran collects 0.5 percent sales tax within a service area defined by Vancouver and its urban growth area and Clark County’s incorporated cities.”) Is the same skewed logic being used to have us believe that the so-called majority in Clark County condones light rail? In my mind C-Tran has lost credibility.

Lyle Nelson, Washougal

Killing sea lions is too extreme

I don’t believe it’s right to kill the sea lions at Bonneville Dam to try and save the salmon population. Why is it right to kill an animal to save another animal? Salmon are part of the food chain, and the sea lions are just following their instincts to stay alive. In a way, they are like the Native Americans, following the fish wherever they go. All creatures have to eat to stay alive, and if a sea lion is going to eat fish, so be it. If the sea lions weren’t eating the fish, we would be, so why does it matter? As a student at Ridgefield High School, I say it’s not fair to kill the sea lions.

Melissa Caples, Ridgefield

Situation calls for severe action

I don’t like the idea of killing anything, but I understand what’s going on at Bonneville Dam. The salmon are in danger of being wiped out. Sea lions aren’t supposed to be there anyway, and if they keep eating salmon, they need to be removed. I’d say that people in charge should just capture and move the sea lions, but I know they would just come back. Shooting them, however, seems a little inhumane, especially if they are wounded rather than killed instantly, and have to die slowly. Maybe they should be captured and euthanized because something needs to be done.

Andrea Wiedman, Ridgefield

Welcome those applying properly

I haven’t read the new Arizona law concerning immigration. Leonard Pitts, in his May 10 opinion column, “Can we reform immigration debate?,” compares it to the three strikes law and considers reasonable suspicion to be akin to Naziism. Get real. Was anyone ever traumatized by having to show a passport? When first meeting someone, what do you want to know about them? Who are you and where are you from? It’s natural and should not be intimidating unless you have something to hide.

Illegal persons from any country should not receive benefits, driver’s licenses or employment until they have gone through the proper channels. If they have criminal histories or communicable diseases they are returned to their own country. Sorry, but that’s the way it’s been since my father came here in 1906. Jumping fences, crossing deserts or swimming canals is no way to become a U.S. citizen. We have more respect for our country than that. Do it the correct way and we will welcome you as my dear father was welcomed.

Ann U. Harris, Vancouver

Revise path to legal citizenship

As a Clark College student, my Spanish class project included attending the movie “Papers.” I had no idea what it was about but soon I realized instead of taking a bag of popcorn I should have picked up a box of Kleenex. “Papers” is a documentary by high-achieving, law-abiding, high school students who want to attend a university or college. What is holding them back? They come from families without “papers.”

I spent hours researching immigration, answering questions and myths I’d harbored. We’re a nation of immigrants. Immigrants allow U.S. producers to keep prices down. Immigrants fill the gap Americans cannot or will not fill, such as the back-breaking agriculture jobs that require workers to endure hot temperatures and expose them to harsh pesticides. Nonpapered people are required to have Social Security, Medicare and income tax withheld, but none of them will ever receive any of these benefits. These “aliens” are our friends, neighbors and co-workers and deserve the same opportunities our immigrant families did and do today. We need to stop forcing illegal immigration and revise a plan for immigration opportunities in the U.S.

Tracy Little, Vancouver