Your Letters - August 11, 2010
Published on Wed, Aug 11, 2010Read More Letters to the Editor
Break the Democrats hold on power in Olympia
Dear Editor,
I encourage Lake Stevens residents to vote for Ryan Ferrie in the Washington State primary election on Tuesday, August 17.
For several years now, Democrats have held all the power in Olympia and they have acted on it, overspending and setting aside voters’ attempt to control their penchant for raising our taxes (I-960).
The Democrats tax-raising, free-spending ways are ruining our state. If we don’t elect “checks and balances” on their power in Olympia, I fear that we’re only a few years behind states like California, another Democrat-run state facing fiscal disaster.
How many more businesses will leave Washington State, taking jobs with them? How many times will we allow Democrats to threaten to cut essential services for Washington residents (like emergency services and infrastructure needs) while they fund non-essential pet projects?
Mr. Ferrie is one of two Republicans running against current Senator Steve Hobbs. Dave Schmidt, the other Republican in the race, seems to be a career politician looking to get his job back.
Republican Ryan Ferrie is a small business owner who knows how to meet a payroll and live within one’s means. He understands the challenges facing Washington businesses and, as a fiscal conservative, endorsed by the Everett Herald, will help bring sanity and common sense back to Washington State fiscal policy.
He’s a man of integrity who wants to restore fiscal responsibility to our state government. He’s not a professional politician, but a businessman stepping up to help steer our state onto a more sustainable course.
The definition of insanity is doing the same thing and expecting different results. Let’s wise up and elect Republicans to break the Democrats’ hold on power in Olympia. Let’s see real change in Washington. Vote for
Ryan Ferrie.
Kari Brodin
Lake Stevens
Three strikes law may need some changes
Dear Editor,
Investment in rehabilitation in our prisons went to the wayside long before our current economy problems. This has contributed to very high recidivism rates.
Many people struck out under our Three Strikes law were convicted of only low seriousness crimes involving no weapons or injuries.
With no emphasis on rehabilitation, isn’t it reasonable to think that these ‘three-strikers’ are at least in part a product of our own decisions?
No crime is ok but we need to look deeper at our most difficult social challenges such as poverty, crime and inadequate educational and vocational opportunities.
Unfair, excessive punishment has caused us to lock up more of our citizens than any other country on the planet and the huge correction’s budget takes funds away from the things proven to reduce crime in the long run.
Being a victim to crime is no joke, but we are victims many times over if our schools and other social services are underfunded because we choose to spend tax dollars to incarcerate people for their entire lives when they have only committed low seriousness crimes.
If you think that Three Strikes only locks up the “worst of the worst,” you are misinformed.
Lea Zengage
Lake Stevens
Community, volunteers make event a success
Dear Editor,
It’s always inspiring to see people and businesses give back to their community, and we seem to be especially blessed at Sherwood. So many volunteers and donors come together during the year to help support our services for kids and adults with disabilities.
But our recent Dinner in the Field was exceptional because of Ronda Newitt-Larson, Dave Swaboda and others who stepped in to prepare the food for over 100 guests when the chef had a family emergency.
The event could easily have been cancelled, or turned out very differently than planned—but instead it went off seamlessly, with a beautiful and delicious meal.
So many others contributed to the event’s success, too—the Moonlight Swing Orchestra, Snohomish Bakery, Swans Trail Farms and Bailey’s U-Pick, Scuttlebutt, several Sherwood employees, Simply Sweet Cupcakes, and many more.
I wish we could thank each and every person who contributed that night.
It will have to suffice to say that Snohomish County is a great place, full of generous individuals and businesses.
Together they raised over $10,000 for services that benefit kids with developmental delays and disabilities, and adults with disabilities who want to work and become more self-sufficient.
Michelle Fogus
Executive Director
Sherwood Community Services
Tanning tax applied for good reason
Dear Editor,
The editorial written by Kelcey Hatch regarding the “unfair” tanning tax (July 21, 2010 issue) disgusted me as a reader of your paper. I expect to see an editorial that is more professional than a staff member complaining over a tax on a product/service that is hazardous to her health.
There is a very good reason why there is now a tax on indoor tanning; tanning beds have been classified as “carcinogenic to humans”; just as cigarettes and arsenic are classified, according to The World Health Organization. People who tan indoors before the age of 30 face a 75 percent greater risk of developing melanoma skin cancer.
When comparing tanning to activities such as smoking, speeding and drinking, Ms. Hatch complains that it’s “not fair for the government…to deem just some of these activities worth a tax”.
Does she realize that the government she complains about taxes products that are known carcinogens (i.e. liquor and cigarettes) and issues monetary punishment for risky behaviors (possession of illegal drugs, speeding, etc.)?
I have been battling the deadliest form of skin cancer, melanoma, for the last 16 months. Melanoma kills one person every hour in the U.S.
I am thankful to currently have a clean bill of health, but am now overwhelmed by mounting medical bills, and countless surgeries and biopsies because of the cancer. I don’t think that is fair, but then again, I don’t think it is fair that I got cancer at such a young age (I am 27 years old for the record).
For anyone seeking more information on tanning and melanoma, I encourage them to visit either www.skincancer.org, or www.aimatmelanoma.org for reliable, fact-based information.
Briana Grout
Lake Stevens
Hadian is a man of integrity and service
Dear Editor,
Now is the time for citizen statesmen, not career politicians.
Our founding fathers originally believed that one would serve in Congress for a time and then return home to work and serve in one’s community.
Today, most politicians, once elected, decide this is a new career path and spend their time in the legislature working on being re-elected.
Now is our chance to say no to this philosophy and elect new members to our state legislature.
Shahram Hadian, running for State Legislature, 44th district, position 1, is such a choice.
This is his first entry into politics and for the last seven months he has been diligently out meeting people in his district, listening to their concerns, and sharing his belief in integrity, fiscal responsibility, limited government, and accountability to those in his district.
He believes that strong families make strong communities. Though he has been endorsed by the Republican Party, he has yet to receive a penny from the party and the majority of his contributions have been from his grass roots supporters.
I have personally gone door-to-door with him and seen his passion for wanting to make a difference in our community and state.
I believe the time is now and we have a chance to reverse the course in which we are heading.
Shahram Hadian is a humble man of integrity who seeks to serve and not be served. Thank you for considering his candidacy for State Legislature, position 1, (R), 44th Legislative District.
Mary Fox
Lake Stevens
Cyclists need to follow same rules and laws as drivers
Dear Editor,
While I cannot condone the behavior and language of the motorist who accosted Ms. Dodd last week, I can certainly understand his sentiment.
I travel a great deal for my work and I can’t even begin to count the number of cyclists who seem to believe traffic laws don’t apply to them. I have seen cyclists run stop signs and lights, weave between stopped cars at traffic lights, ride across crosswalks, ride on sidewalks, slow down traffic and more.
To those few cyclists who do obey the laws, I am grateful that you have taken at least one vehicle off of the road.
Yet since I necessarily drive a vehicle, please remember that while we may not all be as vitriolic as that driver, we generally don’t get the opportunity to tell you that if you can’t obey the law, you should stay off of the street.
When I see a cyclist riding the line, unable to safely ride the shoulder, I can understand to a degree. Yet if you’re riding and slowing down traffic, you should show the same courtesy you expect and dismount until traffic can get by you.
Jay Sunderland
Lake Stevens
Dear Editor,
I encourage Lake Stevens residents to vote for Ryan Ferrie in the Washington State primary election on Tuesday, August 17.
For several years now, Democrats have held all the power in Olympia and they have acted on it, overspending and setting aside voters’ attempt to control their penchant for raising our taxes (I-960).
The Democrats tax-raising, free-spending ways are ruining our state. If we don’t elect “checks and balances” on their power in Olympia, I fear that we’re only a few years behind states like California, another Democrat-run state facing fiscal disaster.
How many more businesses will leave Washington State, taking jobs with them? How many times will we allow Democrats to threaten to cut essential services for Washington residents (like emergency services and infrastructure needs) while they fund non-essential pet projects?
Mr. Ferrie is one of two Republicans running against current Senator Steve Hobbs. Dave Schmidt, the other Republican in the race, seems to be a career politician looking to get his job back.
Republican Ryan Ferrie is a small business owner who knows how to meet a payroll and live within one’s means. He understands the challenges facing Washington businesses and, as a fiscal conservative, endorsed by the Everett Herald, will help bring sanity and common sense back to Washington State fiscal policy.
He’s a man of integrity who wants to restore fiscal responsibility to our state government. He’s not a professional politician, but a businessman stepping up to help steer our state onto a more sustainable course.
The definition of insanity is doing the same thing and expecting different results. Let’s wise up and elect Republicans to break the Democrats’ hold on power in Olympia. Let’s see real change in Washington. Vote for
Ryan Ferrie.
Kari Brodin
Lake Stevens
Three strikes law may need some changes
Dear Editor,
Investment in rehabilitation in our prisons went to the wayside long before our current economy problems. This has contributed to very high recidivism rates.
Many people struck out under our Three Strikes law were convicted of only low seriousness crimes involving no weapons or injuries.
With no emphasis on rehabilitation, isn’t it reasonable to think that these ‘three-strikers’ are at least in part a product of our own decisions?
No crime is ok but we need to look deeper at our most difficult social challenges such as poverty, crime and inadequate educational and vocational opportunities.
Unfair, excessive punishment has caused us to lock up more of our citizens than any other country on the planet and the huge correction’s budget takes funds away from the things proven to reduce crime in the long run.
Being a victim to crime is no joke, but we are victims many times over if our schools and other social services are underfunded because we choose to spend tax dollars to incarcerate people for their entire lives when they have only committed low seriousness crimes.
If you think that Three Strikes only locks up the “worst of the worst,” you are misinformed.
Lea Zengage
Lake Stevens
Community, volunteers make event a success
Dear Editor,
It’s always inspiring to see people and businesses give back to their community, and we seem to be especially blessed at Sherwood. So many volunteers and donors come together during the year to help support our services for kids and adults with disabilities.
But our recent Dinner in the Field was exceptional because of Ronda Newitt-Larson, Dave Swaboda and others who stepped in to prepare the food for over 100 guests when the chef had a family emergency.
The event could easily have been cancelled, or turned out very differently than planned—but instead it went off seamlessly, with a beautiful and delicious meal.
So many others contributed to the event’s success, too—the Moonlight Swing Orchestra, Snohomish Bakery, Swans Trail Farms and Bailey’s U-Pick, Scuttlebutt, several Sherwood employees, Simply Sweet Cupcakes, and many more.
I wish we could thank each and every person who contributed that night.
It will have to suffice to say that Snohomish County is a great place, full of generous individuals and businesses.
Together they raised over $10,000 for services that benefit kids with developmental delays and disabilities, and adults with disabilities who want to work and become more self-sufficient.
Michelle Fogus
Executive Director
Sherwood Community Services
Tanning tax applied for good reason
Dear Editor,
The editorial written by Kelcey Hatch regarding the “unfair” tanning tax (July 21, 2010 issue) disgusted me as a reader of your paper. I expect to see an editorial that is more professional than a staff member complaining over a tax on a product/service that is hazardous to her health.
There is a very good reason why there is now a tax on indoor tanning; tanning beds have been classified as “carcinogenic to humans”; just as cigarettes and arsenic are classified, according to The World Health Organization. People who tan indoors before the age of 30 face a 75 percent greater risk of developing melanoma skin cancer.
When comparing tanning to activities such as smoking, speeding and drinking, Ms. Hatch complains that it’s “not fair for the government…to deem just some of these activities worth a tax”.
Does she realize that the government she complains about taxes products that are known carcinogens (i.e. liquor and cigarettes) and issues monetary punishment for risky behaviors (possession of illegal drugs, speeding, etc.)?
I have been battling the deadliest form of skin cancer, melanoma, for the last 16 months. Melanoma kills one person every hour in the U.S.
I am thankful to currently have a clean bill of health, but am now overwhelmed by mounting medical bills, and countless surgeries and biopsies because of the cancer. I don’t think that is fair, but then again, I don’t think it is fair that I got cancer at such a young age (I am 27 years old for the record).
For anyone seeking more information on tanning and melanoma, I encourage them to visit either www.skincancer.org, or www.aimatmelanoma.org for reliable, fact-based information.
Briana Grout
Lake Stevens
Hadian is a man of integrity and service
Dear Editor,
Now is the time for citizen statesmen, not career politicians.
Our founding fathers originally believed that one would serve in Congress for a time and then return home to work and serve in one’s community.
Today, most politicians, once elected, decide this is a new career path and spend their time in the legislature working on being re-elected.
Now is our chance to say no to this philosophy and elect new members to our state legislature.
Shahram Hadian, running for State Legislature, 44th district, position 1, is such a choice.
This is his first entry into politics and for the last seven months he has been diligently out meeting people in his district, listening to their concerns, and sharing his belief in integrity, fiscal responsibility, limited government, and accountability to those in his district.
He believes that strong families make strong communities. Though he has been endorsed by the Republican Party, he has yet to receive a penny from the party and the majority of his contributions have been from his grass roots supporters.
I have personally gone door-to-door with him and seen his passion for wanting to make a difference in our community and state.
I believe the time is now and we have a chance to reverse the course in which we are heading.
Shahram Hadian is a humble man of integrity who seeks to serve and not be served. Thank you for considering his candidacy for State Legislature, position 1, (R), 44th Legislative District.
Mary Fox
Lake Stevens
Cyclists need to follow same rules and laws as drivers
Dear Editor,
While I cannot condone the behavior and language of the motorist who accosted Ms. Dodd last week, I can certainly understand his sentiment.
I travel a great deal for my work and I can’t even begin to count the number of cyclists who seem to believe traffic laws don’t apply to them. I have seen cyclists run stop signs and lights, weave between stopped cars at traffic lights, ride across crosswalks, ride on sidewalks, slow down traffic and more.
To those few cyclists who do obey the laws, I am grateful that you have taken at least one vehicle off of the road.
Yet since I necessarily drive a vehicle, please remember that while we may not all be as vitriolic as that driver, we generally don’t get the opportunity to tell you that if you can’t obey the law, you should stay off of the street.
When I see a cyclist riding the line, unable to safely ride the shoulder, I can understand to a degree. Yet if you’re riding and slowing down traffic, you should show the same courtesy you expect and dismount until traffic can get by you.
Jay Sunderland
Lake Stevens
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