Let's meet on city image
To the Editor:
I live just about 17 miles from town. When I come from Vancouver/Portland, on I-97, I take the Bickleton Highway and go to Old Mountain Road. When I come from Yakima, I get off at Box Canyon Road then go down to Old Mountain Road.
I read the report titled Incubator Feasibility Study Report, and I must agree to some degree with its findings about the appearance of Goldendale. I would like to ask anyone who feels as I do to just meet with ideas to make a difference about our fair city of Goldendale. Send me a post card at P.O. Box 965, Vancouver, WA 98666, and after the first of the year a meeting will be set up for those concerned to discuss our town's image and future.
Willie Pride
Goldendale
No free lunch
To the Editor:
Last week's Sentinel contains letters regarding cuts in hospice and medical care. There is a tendency to blame the governor and legislature for these cuts.
Let's call a spade a spade. The blame for these cuts and more cuts sure to follow can be laid at the feet of the Tea Partiers and their allies who fought for and voted for repeal of the taxes that the legislature enacted to balance the budget. There is no such thing as a free lunch. If you want the state to supply certain services, then you must be prepared to pay the taxes required to finance those services.
Edward Wood
Goldendale
Remember our military personnel
To the Editor:
As I read about people or unions being asked to forego pay increases and costly benefits, I can't help but ask the question: what about our military personal serving all over the world?
They are poorly paid with very few if any benefits to put their lives at risk 24/7 to protect those of us who complain about having to cut back or do without. They are forced to live in unbearable conditions, fed meals most of us would never touch, spend months, sometimes years, away from their love ones, and in most cases don't complain. It is their job. They are taken for granted. The military personnel didn't have a say and still don't as to the political situations that exists around the world.
We have to stop now and start from the top (president) down to re-evaluate the entire picture and seriously do something about it.
Until we do, it is only going to get worse. We just held an election and hopefully voted in or re-elected people to represent their constituents and to start making the changes—decisions that have to be made. It is time we all put our own lives at risk, 24/7.
William L. "Bill" Brayer
Edmonds
Exempting from entitlement
To the Editor:
The recent report of the President's commission on reducing the deficit produced the predictable response: "Yes, we must drastically cut the national debt; yes, this will entail sacrifices by everyone; no, don't raise my taxes or cut my entitlement benefits!"
Now, none of us older folks like the idea of paying more taxes or taking cuts in our Social Security and Medicare benefits. But how are we to insist on a level playing field if we exempt ourselves?
Maybe it's time for us "entitlement queens," tax complainers, and business leaders to step forward and take a few risks for the good of the country and our future generations.
David C. Duncombe
White Salmon |
