Ridgefield deserves economic boost
As a resident of the city of Ridgefield, I was excited to read about the progress that the city is making (May 5 story, “Ridgefield to wed downtown, waterfront plans”). Although my family and I have only been residents of Ridgefield for a few years, we have fallen in love with the city and community. Ridgefield is a small city with a strong community.
The downtown area is small and cozy. A trip to the corner store is always pleasant, and local coffee at the Old Liberty Theater is the best. The school district demonstrates the perfect character of a city such as Ridgefield. Staff and parents are understanding and only want the students to succeed.
Economic growth is something this city deserves, with more job opportunities and greater-paying jobs. Of course, we hear of many cities working for improvement in the economy and in the community. The city of Ridgefield deserves a change in the economy and in the lives of current and yet-to-come residents.
Angela Kalenichenko
RIDGEFIELD
Employers exempt from punishment
With all the various opinions and coverage of Arizona’s recent immigration law, it pains me to see how little attention is paid to the reason why these people risk everything, including their lives, to come into the United States. They are here for work. If there was no work for them, or to be more blunt, no unscrupulous people who could hire them for wages well under the federal minimum wage, they would have no reason to be here.
We in the United States are taking a backward approach to the whole issue of illegal immigration. We should be doing more to crack down on those who hire illegal immigrants with harsh fines and jail sentences, if need be. When I read the paper or watch the news on television every day, I see people ranting and raving about illegal immigrants while paying little to no attention to the economic predators who prey on these individuals. As long as American citizens are allowed to hire illegal immigrants with impunity, more will cross our borders every day.
Jacob Denny
LA CENTER
What a mess baby boomers have built
We old World War II vets are witnessing the gradual, but total destruction of our economy. Remember when Dinah Shore was singing on TV and radio, “See the U.S.A. in your Chevrolet,” or the tune, “Come away with me Lucille in your merry Oldsmobile”? Almost all ads were for products manufactured in U.S. Plants employed U.S. citizens.
The ads now are all call 1-800 … You’ve all seen them. We have an economy based on pitchmen, hucksters, shysters, 90 percent of them out to relieve you of some of your net worth. No factory, no machinery, no workers, and no product that has made the U.S.A. something special.
The boomer generation we created is responsible. Our Congress and Senate have many baby boomers. The bosses at many newspapers are boomers. The Wall Street bankers are boomers, the president’s Cabinet and the last three presidents have been boomers.
Could you imagine Harry Truman, Ike, or John Kennedy permitting our borders to be like sieves? Thank God, I know some boomer exceptions, but they are few. Otherwise we would not be in this terrible mess. How tragic.
Rodgers H. Cook
Vancouver
Is Gregoire right candidate?
In this world of sin and sorrow, there is always something to be thankful for. As for me, I rejoice that I am not a Republican. I am a lifelong Democrat and the Republican who gets my vote has not been born yet. But I am a Democrat who has never voted for Gov. Chris Gregoire, even when she was Washington’s attorney general. The May 13 Columbian headline read, “Gregoire considered for D.C. job.” If that should happen, I hope the “powers” would study her background, especially when she was attorney general.
Ted Cusic
VANCOUVER
Handle with humane methods
I don’t think it’s right that they can bend the law and shoot sea lions at Bonneville Dam. We need to let nature take its course, and if the sea lions eat the salmon, then it was the salmon’s time. The sea lions are just trying to stay alive. I think there is a more humane way to handle the problem. If they caught more of the sea lions and placed more of them in a different environment, that might work. There are more humane ways that don’t involve killing the animals.
Alex Boyer
Ridgefield
Ambrose’s opinion is irresponsible
Columnist Jay Ambrose appears to be a libertarian. I was able to find that the references he cites in his May 20 opinion column, “Lighten up on obesity scare tactics,” are very far to the right. What I was unable to find is if he has financial backers. Is it really in the interest of The Columbian readership to publish an opinion that espouses obesity? Aren’t there already enough children in Clark County with Type 2 diabetes?
Tom Carney
Vancouver
Follow legal immigration process
In her May 19 letter, “Law will result in racial profiling,” Deborah Lubanga says she has immigrant parents.
My parents, too, were immigrants, my father being processed through Ellis Island in 1904. He learned to speak English, joined the U.S. Army during World War I and became a loyal American citizen honoring the flag of his adopted country. Some illegals who want to have the same rights as Americans protest by waving the flags of their native country. Yes, our country is a melting pot of all nationalities. Most of them became loyal Americans, working hard, learning our language, serving in our Armed Forces to defend their country and honoring the flag of the United States.
We would be dishonoring all our legal immigrant citizens who worked and fought to build our great country by allowing people who sneak in and demand American rights.
Arizona is doing what should have been done before millions of illegals crossed our borders. I approve of Arizona’s new law and wish other states would do the same. Send them all back to their own countries and then apply for legal entry to prove they want to become American citizens.
Lyn Bair
Vancouver
We need laws as tough as Mexico’s
Mexico’s President Felipe Calderon comes to the U.S. and rips this country and is applauded by Democrats. He was only following the lead of President Obama. Calderon admitted in an interview on CNN that Mexico’s immigration laws are tougher than the U.S. and are strictly enforced. So what is his angle? Perhaps he does not want the illegals to be returned to Mexico.
James E. Hurley
Vancouver
