Drop in values impacts entire county
I am thankful that The Columbian is writing about the Bonneville Power Administration and the power line issue. As a homeowner on one of the suggested routes, I stand to lose much of my property value.
But there is something that is not being reported. This will impact everyone in Clark County. If the BPA places towers in the most populous areas, thousands of homes in both the county and the city of Vancouver will drop in value. This will mean a drop in revenue for both the county and city governments due to lower property assessments. These governments can’t balance their budgets now without cutting services. Even the poor and those with no property near the proposed lines will suffer when their services are cut. It’s either that or raise taxes.
Most elected officials cannot connect the dots between these power lines and their budgets. I hope that before the damage is done, elected officials wake up and realize that they must stand together and insist that the BPA move the lines away from populated areas. If they do not, then we will all lose.
Dale Hillman
Vancouver
Transition plant to green energy
It seems that all of a sudden I am hearing about coal wherever I go. There are stories in the newspaper and stories on the radio, and people around me are talking about it.
The state of Washington gets about 20 percent of its electricity from the TransAlta Corp. coal plant in Centralia. Considering how harmful burning coal is for the environment and for people, it seems that we have got to focus on modifying that plant to produce a greener form of energy.
We don’t want to see the loss of jobs of the people who work at the plant, so I suggest that we invest in the development of some of these new and upcoming sources of energy. There is so much promise in this field from a country that once set its mind on putting men on the moon. We could make Centralia the green energy capital of Washington and actually create jobs.
Marilyn Davis
Vancouver
Obama’s response is insulting
In the April 16 Columbian story “Tea Party rallies across nation take aim at ‘gangster government’,” President Obama responded to protesters’ complaints about taxes by saying that, contrary to their claims, he’s cut taxes, and that, “You would think they’d be saying thank you.” Obama’s statement adds insult to injury.
After a year of spending trillions of dollars that Washington lawmakers and he are not courageous enough to collect in direct taxes, his only way to get those trillions is to borrow from sources such as China or to monetize the debt (borrow from the Federal Reserve Board). This monetization leads to inflation by increasing the amount of money in circulation relative to the amount of goods and services available to buy. Inflation is the destruction of the value of money. If you can buy less for each dollar you spend, you have lost value from each dollar.
Taxes and inflation reduce your right to choose how to spend your money and gives the government the right to choose how it’s spent. This leads to the erosion of personal freedom and the steady increase in government power. This is the message that the Tea Party protesters are sending as they experience the destruction of their constitutionally guaranteed freedoms eroded by an overspending government.
Don Rits
Vancouver
Misinformation shared at rallies
Where in the world are the Tea Party people getting all of their misinformation? They complain about taxes, yet most received a larger refund this year.
They say the Constitution is being violated and that government is taking over all aspects of their lives. Where was their outrage when Bush and Cheney gave themselves powers not covered in the Constitution? Don’t Tea Party members know that the federal government went trough the largest expansion in U.S. history during George W. Bush’s administration and under the watch of a Republican-controlled Congress?
Tea Party members say they’re vehemently against the health care bill but have no problem with paying on credit for the endless wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. These nation-building wars are now an industry of their own that allow no-contract bidders to feed at the Pentagon trough. There are now more highly paid civilian contract employees in these wars than there are military personnel of all branches.
Tea Party people and conservatives at large want to throw out the existing Congress and fill it with their kind, the “it’s all about me and money” type. I say good luck with your no government, no regulations, no taxes, no health care America. Oh, by the way, who’s going to pay for your wars?
Thomas E. Martin
Vancouver
Go totally green, especially this week
This week is the 40th anniversary of Earth Day. Let’s pledge to conserve earth’s natural resources for future generations.
We know about recycling, changing light bulbs, lowering the thermostat and reducing our driving habits. This year, we can make the most important switch to a plant-based diet.
A recently published study in WorldWatch magazine found that production of meat and dairy products might account for half of worldwide greenhouse gas emissions. Such production contributes more pollutants to our water supplies than all other human activities combined. It causes global shortages of drinking water, and is the driving force in global deforestation and wildlife habitat destruction.
This year, let’s celebrate Earth Day and every day by replacing meat and dairy products in our diet with healthful, ecofriendly foods such as fresh fruits and vegetables, legumes, whole grains and nuts. Those opting for a more gradual transition will find ample soy- and grain-based meat and dairy analogs in our local supermarket. Additional information is available at http://www.greenyourdiet.org.
Robert Abby
Vancouver
Beginning reform is good start
There are too many benefits from this health care bill to list. Just a couple are: Pre-existing conditions can no longer be refused and many families will no longer face losing their homes because of mounting health care bills. With something this huge, there is no way to please everyone on every issue. It is a beginning. Reform was greatly needed.
Our family had no health insurance for more than 15 years while we were self-employed and raising two children. It was challenging. I am grateful the people who represent me were willing to take a stand to begin somewhere rather than continue to fight for years in an attempt to appease everyone. I am very grateful we are beginning. May it just continue to improve.
Morgan Jurdan
Amboy
