10/06/08 Letters to the Editor

Yakima Herald-Republic

Farias for commissioner

To the editor -- Look what Jesse Farias has done for Wapato! For example, he was instrumental in working with the Yakama Nation and Yakama Nation Housing Authority to find funds to open and maintain the Wapato city pool for two years.

He has been mayor for five years and has made things happen for this great town. Jesse has held different government positions, giving him the ability to know what the community needs and wants with the capability to find the funds and grants needed to keep this town going. He would bring the change that this county is needing. He isn't afraid to get his hands dirty; you can usually find him out early in the streets of Wapato doing clean-up duty. Jesse is a hard worker and open to any ideas and is willing to listen to the people. He is from a small community but possesses big ideas.

Just to let you know I am voting for Jesse Farias for Yakima County commissioner, shouldn't you?

 

VALENTINA CISNEROS

Wapato

 

Road safety still an issue

To the editor -- On my daily commute to work to Toppenish and Wapato from White Swan, I often wonder why there isn't a shoulder lane for agricultural equipment to travel in, or for school bus stops.

I think safety should be taken into consideration. Drivers often have the sun directly in their eyes, and that's extremely dangerous when kids are crossing the roads to get on the bus. I've witnessed drivers blinded by the sun having to dodge the school bus, apparently not seeing it even when the red lights are blinking. It's a terrifying thing to see. I can't imagine what it would be like if the driver didn't luck out by the grace of God.

Agriculture has been a part of this area for 100 years, and farm equipment on the roads is still dangerous, especially if the equipment has no blinkers, no triangle signs and no mirrors.

I wonder what it is going to take to have officials address this issue. Where have all the dollars for road improvement gone? We need to spend a few more of our "nickels," as the state Department of Transportation signs say, on local safety projects.

 

WARREN SPENCER JR.

White Swan

 

It's not a calamity

To the editor -- I was shocked and appalled when I read my Sept. 23 letter to the editor, headlined "Calamity to blessing." My first reaction was to rake the Yakima Herald-Republic over the coals, but then a sneaking suspicion crept in so I pulled up the e-mail I had OK'd. Sure enough, right there in the last paragraph was that horrible word, calamity.

I want to say right here, for the record, that at no time do I consider a baby a calamity any more than I consider unwed mothers horrible sinners. Hey, stuff happens, you ask forgiveness from God and get on with your life. Having a baby out of wedlock is not a calamity. It can be a little harder if you have to do it alone but it's not the end of the world. In this case you can have your cake (baby) and eat it too (a good life). Take advantage of the programs out there designed to help you, get your education, and get on with your life. And if anyone tries to put you down, just walk away. They don't have your best interest at heart.

 

BONNIE FULKERSON

Selah

 

Strength by correction

To the editor -- The current crisis in the financial markets reminds me of a family dealing with alcoholism. Anyone who has suffered through the nightmare of seeing a family member destroyed by this debilitating disease knows the meaning of pain. They are also familiar with courage. One of the hardest and bravest actions a family member has to take is to stop enabling the alcoholic and allowing the disease to progress to its inevitable end. Only when the alcoholic hits bottom can he or she start to get better.

If the financial markets are to recover, Congress must have the courage to stop its enabling behavior and let this thing progress to its inevitable end. Do not bail out failing companies. That will only postpone the crisis to a later date. This dysfunctional economy must bottom out. This will cause great pain to many of us but it has to happen. We Americans are resilient. Our economy and all of us will be strengthened by going through this correction.

 

PATRICK O'SHEA

Yakima

 

Fox in the henhouse

To the editor -- What makes an honest man? Rules and consequences, that's what. I say off with their heads; my kingdom for an honest man!

When the fox gets in the henhouse, is it the chicken's fault it gets eaten? Does the chicken jump into the fox's jaws? I don't think so! So why blame the chickens and pay the foxes for eating them?

I think it's time for the farmers to start protecting the chickens instead of the foxes -- if you know what I mean.

Why do we have graffiti? Because they know nothing is going to happen to them even if they do get caught! Same thing for the cheaters on Wall Street. Didn't Enron, WorldCom and the savings and loan bailout teach them anything? (Yes, it pays to cheat!) Otherwise we wouldn't be in the mess we are in now! Who is the honest man who will clean up the greed and corruption? Who can I vote for? I just really don't know.

 

SARA JO RENFROE

Toppenish

 

Thanks for more Toop

To the editor -- I am one of those avid, older generation Unleashed readers. Thank you for bringing back Drew Toop, one of the most talked-about veteran columnists in Unleashed history, for an encore column (Sept. 28). Since Toop moved on to Washington State University, La Salle High School contributor Andy Carroll has helped my Toop withdrawal symptoms.

I imagine fans like myself, led or feed this Tuesday section to our youthful family members with enthusiastic vigor.

Who knows? Maybe more of the original targeted teen audience will discover that newspapers are not for adults only.

 

RITA FISHER

West Valley

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