Our Readers’ Views

Energized by possible recreation area

I have heard many rumors of the possibility of a BMX biking dirt track being built in Vancouver. I think having a dirt track would be a great idea to add recreation to our area. My boyfriend and I are avid BMX riders; he has raced BMX since he was very young and is a big part of the BMX biking community. Unfortunately, the closest track to us is the track in Molalla, Ore., and it is a long drive from where we live in Salmon Creek.

There has been a boom in young kids riding BMX, and while we have the wonderful skate park in Battle Ground and the Swift Park on Fourth Plain in Vancouver, it would be nice to have variety in riding terrain. Many establishments have rules forbidding kids to ride their BMX bikes on their property. Having another designated area for BMX riders will encourage them to ride in proper areas and will decrease the amount of trespassing on restricted areas.

I believe anything that motivates kids to be active, especially in this sedentary age, should be put in place to give kids a safe outlet for recreation.

Stephanie Strong

Vancouver

Integrity missing in corporate world

My husband was one of 10 mid-level medical care management employees recently laid off. Actually, after receiving a “thank you for your hard work” bonus on Nov. 10, he and the others were informed on Nov. 12 that their jobs were being eliminated (however, they need them to stick around until they find the replacements for the new positions that were created). Of course, this is just how “business is done,” but I say we need to start holding our community leaders accountable for their decisions and actions.

My husband and I will weather this storm fine, and we’re actually viewing it as an opportunity for something new. However, there are many people who are greatly impacted. One of the new supervisors was hired just three weeks ago, so either senior management knew at the time of the hiring that this “restructuring” was going to take place or they are merely making rash decisions. Either way, it’s clearly a lack of stellar management and a complete lack of vision and integrity.

All of the major health care providers in Clark County compete for business by growing their provider staff, providing unique services, and trimming back on service on the front end and back end. It’s such a vicious cycle, and it’s hurting the community.

Tamara Anderson

Vancouver

Bullying not tolerable in any form

Bullying against any individual or group needs to stop. Battle Ground High School recently found swastikas, racial slurs, anti-African American and anti-gay/lesbian phrases in books and on a truck in the parking lot. The school has chosen to deal with this by holding “Ally Week” and asking students to sign this pledge found at http://www.allyweek.org/. I have pledged to:

1. Not use anti-LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) language or slurs.

2. Not use language that demeans or dehumanizes ethnic or religious groups or people with disabilities.

Ally Week is sponsored by the LGBT community. The only difference between the pledge on its website and the one above is that the school added the second item. It is apparent to me that even though the phrases found at the school were not designating any specific group, Ally Week is only concerned about bullying of the LGBT community.

Bullying cannot be tolerated against anyone, but it’s important that we not place one victim group above any other or favor websites that do so.

Melinda Corrin

Battle Ground

Sponsor more cuts for middle income

David Stockman, President Reagan’s budget director, has a different take on tax cuts than Rep. Eric Cantor, R-Va. On ABC’s “This Week with Christiane Amanpour,” Stockman pointed out that Wall Street bonuses this year will be $140 billion dollars. He said that the people earning these bonuses, in the top 2 percent of taxpayers, neither need nor deserve a tax cut. In his opinion, the focus for tax cuts should be Main Street.

Our representatives and senators need to concentrate on what’s good for our country, not what pleases corporate lobbyists. Tax cuts to the top 2 percent of taxpayers will not create jobs. They will simply make the wealthy even wealthier and increase the budget deficit. The tax cuts currently in the news were part of a Republican stimulus package passed by reconciliation in 2001. The rules governing reconciliation required that these cuts expire after 10 years because they increased both the deficit and the national debt. Thus they will expire on Dec. 31, 2010.

New tax cuts in 2011 for Main Street will help the current economy; new tax cuts for the wealthy will not. Let your D.C. representatives know your feelings on this matter.

Elizabeth Campbell

Vancouver

Pursue any opportunity to learn

Do you want your doctor to be informed about new medications and treatments? Then don’t criticize them for pursuing educational opportunities provided by pharmaceutical companies, even if they get paid. I want my doctor to be up to date on current medications, and who could present the information better than the company that creates them? If my doctor is then able to teach other health professionals about current medical information and get paid, I say good for them.

To criticize a doctor for pursuing an alternative income is no different than criticizing a minimum-wage employee for pursuing alternative sources of income.

Emily J. Zander

Battle Ground

Reform suddenly not needed?

So, after two years of taking our money via bailouts and subsidies, which began under the previous administration, Wall Street is sufficiently reformed so that regulatory reform is already obsolete; it’s just not necessary. Can you believe it?

The GOP gains control of the House and all of a sudden, there is no worry about lending and investment that is predatory, risky, or the (irresponsible) practices that got us in the mess we currently bemoan. They are a thing of the past. No need for the Volker Rule. No need for regulation of bank’s proprietary practices. We can now get back to business as usual and rest easy.

Amazing what a few million votes for Republicans can do. I can’t wait for the next two years and all the wonderful things they will bring on behalf of American working families.

Michael D. Newman

Vancouver