Letters to the Editor

A great letter

Editor, the Journal,

Just read the Shelton-Mason County Journal and loved the letter about baby boomer grandparents. She wrote a wonderful letter and covered everything I believe in also.

Having the same problems with younger people never saying thank you. So now I stopped sending cards with money in them. Great letter.

Diane Allen

Belfair

Longer letters

Editor, the Journal

I disagree with shorter letters. Writers need words to discuss issues and define support or resistance of policy. Discussing issues takes more words than sloganeering. Shorter letters will create slogans and platitudes instead of discussion. Good letters should identify issues with enough detail to inform readers and provide solutions with enough detail to educate readers.

Critics complain about issue-oriented writers. Daggett called them “prolific, long-winded, angry complainers.” One said I was “spreading inflammatory rhetoric and false information” without defining or correcting this “false information.” She made accusations with no facts.

If Daggett wants better letters, stop name-calling. Calling a policy wrong and proposing an alternative is a discussion. Insulting a writer is name-calling. Daggett used angry adjectives in describing the writer as “prolific, long-winded, angry.” Adding “complainer” made it personal. Many angry accusations are caused because the accused writer was getting too close to the truth.

Letters spouting platitudes and chanting slogans like “pay their fair share” or “defund the police” in lieu of logic or factual arguments are contemptuous. These platitudes are never defined. What is a “fair share?” “Defund the police” by how much? Why don’t all lives matter?

I reviewed three months of responses to my letters in June, July, August for reaction. Some libs wrote persuasive letters; others attacked the writer. Three months of letters found that:

•Six letters from five different individuals attacked me, not my argument; one person wrote twice. They used sarcasm and hate in place of facts or logic in their response.

•Eight letters from four people disagreed with me and laid out persuasive, cogent and well written reasons. Two people had two letters each and one person had three letters.

•One person intellectually disagreed on two letters but hatefully disagreed on one letter.

Thank you, Journal, for the letters. Please continue the policy of long letters. We need the words to provide clarity to our argument and our solution. Let’s have quality discussions and leave name-calling to fourth-graders.

Ardean Anvik

Shelton

Drone facts

Editor, the Journal,

Lest some readers are in the camp that believes the recent tragic miscalculation made by our military with the drone strike that killed seven children is a sign of failure of President Joe Biden’s administration, here are a few facts from the Trump administration’s use of drones. Almost immediately after taking office, the Donald Trump administration rewrote rules on use of drones that had been put in place by the Barack Obama administration, permitting strikes without a threat standard against any person deemed to be a terrorist and allowing military commanders to make strike decisions. The Trump administration also ceased reporting the number of civilians killed by drone strikes and called this rule “superfluous.”

According to the Bureau of Investigative Journalism, Trump launched 2,243 drone strikes in the first two years of his presidency, a significant jump from the 1,878 launched in Obama’s eight years. Also, remember that Trump used a drone strike to kill Iranian Gen. Qasem Soleimani in Iraq along with nine other people in January 2020. The UN declared that the drone strike violated international law because the U.S. provided no evidence that Soleimani presented an imminent threat. The Trump administration responded that the U.N. was “giving a pass to terrorists.”

So, this is not a Biden problem alone. It is an American problem. A problem that stems from the fact that our politicians are too eager to send American soldiers into war but don’t have the moral spine to accept American casualties. In other words, they cannot really justify their actions. Thus we have adopted “over the horizon” actions to “take out” enemy combatants while minimizing “collateral damage.”And then some wonder why we are hated by so many.

Pieter Booth

Shelton

A COVID-19 poem

Editor, the Journal,

COVID-19 is a killer to unvaccinated people, yet those with the protective shield of fantastical thinking believe themselves impervious to the virus. We’ve seen how poorly that thinking works. Most unfortunately, unvaccinated people die by the thousands each day. To keep my blood pressure low, I remind myself of the following thoughts, my audaciously revised poem inspired by the brilliant Calvin Trillin:

Some folks are anti-mask

While going about their daily tasks.

To rule that folks must vaccinate,

They say, makes this a Nazi state.

Yet counties which have voted Red,

Have found their fellows doubly dead.

If governors Republican maintain this pace,

They may eventually kill off their base.

Donna Branch-Gilby

Port Orchard

Move!

Editor, the Journal,

The man with the beard with the handmade anti-vaxx sign should not be permitted to demonstrate with his sign near school buildings (corner of Shelton Springs Road and Wallace Kneeland Boulevard) Monday afternoon. His sign said something to the effect “Your Rights Don’t Wear a Mask.”

The Mason County sheriff and Shelton police chief should arrange for the gray-haired T-shirted man with the large sign (homemade) to be taken to a Greyhound terminal near one of Western Washington’s interstates and bought a ticket out-of-state (Trailways would do). We do not need this here.

If you do not like the state’s mandates, move! I hope the two students you stood near, (influencing) weren’t part of your group. Since many students from Oakland Bay Middle School and Shelton High School are pedestrians I do not think it fair at all to the public of Shelton and the surrounding areas that you should be allowed to impose your anti-mask views on the remainder of us, particularly, children.

My humor cannot possibly reach the level of last week’s choice letter by retired dentist William Buscaca, but I attempted it. Wear your masks, the rest of our lives depend upon it.

Jean M. Bray

A Trumpian dilemma

Editor, The Journal,

I wonder if some supporters of ex-president Donald Trump can resolve a dilemma that I see. Trump repeatedly claims, without evidence, that in the coming presidential election (2024), if anybody except the Republican candidate wins, the election will have been stolen. This follows his repeated (unsupported by objective evidence) claims of massive election fraud in certain key states in 2020 that led to his defeat by more than 12 million popular votes and 74 electoral votes out of 538 (a landslide, in other words).

These are facts, supported by data, not opinions. The results in 50 out of 50 states were certified by the appropriate secretary of states. The dilemma is that Trump claims that fraud only exists in states where the vote goes to his opponent. I will appreciate an explanation of how this is done.

Toby Kevin

Shelton

Vote ‘yes’ on levy

Editor, the Journal,

I am a retired person on a fixed income and a homeowner and I would like all of you to support the North Mason School District levy. After nearly two years of COVID our kids need the best they can get and this levy should be approved for the kids. Please vote “yes.”

Donald Lahti

Allyn

Kudos for columnist

Editor, the Journal,

An old friend recycles his Shelton-Mason County Journal by mailing it to me on Cape Cod. As a retired reporter and editor, I enjoy your approach to news and features and especially appreciate your columnists. Chief among them, in my opinion, is Mark Woytowich and his “On the Trail.” Part of the pleasure of reading him is never knowing where he’ll take us next. His Sept. 2 column, “Litter Patrol: Picking up where others leave off,” refreshed an old topic with deep reporting, sparkling writing and a fine sense of curiosity. Woytowich doesn’t supply easy answers to the question of what compels one person to care enough to pick up another’s roadside litter; instead, he leaves us with these well-framed words: “Last night, Tom made lasagna. At the same time, an angry drunk in a Ford threw a Coors Light can onto Dalby Road. Good night to you both.” Maybe the column won’t call forth another Tom Isbell or Nancy Gill, but I’ll wager it will stay the hand of some careless litterers.

Ed Maroney

Hyannis, Massachusetts

A business thank you

Editor, the Journal,

In early August, we were the victims of catalytic converter theft from our two vans. We use these vans for our seniors to take day trips all over the state. Due to this theft, we have had to cancel trips for multiple months. We put out a call for donations toward repairing our vehicles knowing that our insurance would not cover the entire repair bills. Two companies came to our rescue only charging us for the cost of materials. We want these companies recognized for their generosity in our time of need. Both Gillis Automotive and First Choice Auto Repair are our own hometown heroes. We are very grateful for all they did for us.

Mason County Senior Activities Center

Schmit for council

Editor, the Journal,

Joe Schmit for City Council seat No. 6.

I don’t normally endorse City Council candidates, but I believe that it is imperative this election cycle. Joe and I don’t always agree, but we both want what’s best for the city and its citizens. We only disagree from time to time about how to get there. Joe is an honest, hard-working veteran, and he does his homework on all the issues. This first council of the city of Shelton has worked hard on balancing budgets, fixing roads and hiring a qualified city manager who in turn hired qualified department heads. We have dealt with complicated issues and we have many problems yet to find solutions for. We need dedicated candidates with integrity, so please support Joe.

Eric Onisko

Shelton

What separation?

Editor, the Journal,

“Chutzpah” is a Yiddish word meaning “impudence or gall.”

“The Ronald Reagan Legacy Project: Honoring the 20th Century’s Greatest President with a Memorial in Every County in America.

“Ronald Reagan led America forward to defeat the threats to our prosperity of high taxes, inflation, and recession at home and a surging Soviet empire abroad. He left America stronger, freer, and safer than the day he became president,” said Grover Norquist, founder and chairman of the project.

What of FDR, HST, JFK, LBJ, RMN, WJC? What qualifies as “greatest”? Yep. And dear Ronny began the deterioration of the middle class, a greater chasm in income inequality, a larger national deficit and even, believe it or not, according to the government’s own statistics, a larger federal government. (Presimetrics: “What the Facts Tell Us About How the Presidents Measure Up On the Issues We Care About,” Mike Kimel and Michael E. Kanell, 2010)

Why should Reagan deserve his own special day of recognition? Isn’t it enough for him to be remembered along with all the other presidents on Presidents Day in February? Appears to be just another a blatant partisan fundraising gimmick. And to have it sponsored by a church with only Republican speakers? So much for the separation of church and state.

Bill Pfender

Shelton

Vote for Bull

Editor, the Journal,

Arla Shepard Bull, incumbent, running for North Mason School Board District No. 5.

We have recently become acquainted with Arla Shephard Bull. What a fantastic young lady! She recently came to a meeting where no one was acquainted with her. She listened at length then spoke up and helped develop a complete action plan. Listen, grasp the situation and take action — what more could you expect of a school board member?

Our observation of Arla at the Port of Allyn 100-year celebration was one of seeing her ability to engage with many community leaders easily, consider points of view and help in building a sense of community. We need leaders with the ability to network and bring people of diverse perspectives together. We are supporting Arla for the North Mason District No. 5 school board position.

Linda and Bob Pickles

Allyn

Tax by another name

Editor, the Journal,

I see in a Shelton-Mason County Journal article that our County Commission just approved a rate increase for our North Bay and Case Inlet sewer fees. According to its news release, the increase corresponds to the April 2021 Consumer Price Index for the Bremerton area. That’s 3.4%, according to the commissioners. That’s an increase from the present $115.00 a month to $118.91, with connection fee going up to $11,954.72.

A fee increase based on a local Consumer Price Index? No income-to-costs analysis, no record of unusual equipment replacement or upgrade costs? No record of increased personal salary or benefit increase actions? No record of outside services cost increases or any influence but simply lifting your dues because of the Consumer Price Index?

I believe this again confirms what a lot of us suspect. These fees are not being aligned with the legitimate expenses associated with the costs of operating the system. Instead, this lazy action by our County Commission to tie increases to the Consumer Price Index means it is using this money as a cash cow for the county’s general operating budget and it in fact represents still another surtax, (defined as an additional tax on something already taxed).

Both at the local and at our state’s Legislature level, this has become the favorite tactic of sneaking in a tax increase while making it look like something else. Want another example? Our current sales and property taxes totally support our construction, operations and distribution of utilities, you know, those things we depend on for our comfort zone of living?

Yet, afraid of public reaction to a sales tax increase and lacking public support for a state income tax, our Legislature long ago passed and now allows a sales tax on your billing costs for use of those tax supported utilities. And, does that collected surtax go to the operating costs of the utility? No, it goes directly to the general fund for use as the Legislature sees fit to promote its concerns for making them seem necessary for reelection.

If you’re beginning to feel played by the governmental system, you should.

G. Owen Ray

Allyn

Vaccination musings

Editor, the Journal,

Perhaps you would consider publishing this letter, keeping in mind it’s just a fictional account.

Here I am just two months after getting my second jab, as urged to by many people. My arm still hurts where I got the shots. Every day I try so hard to not listen to some of my friends who claim the shots were the pre-mark (of the fictional biblical beast). Also I still diligently wear my mask every time I shop. However, due to so many online things I have read I wonder will I still be alive in four months?

The reason I wonder that is that I know of a man who was in good health who died just six months after getting his second jab. I tell myself he was above 80. I’m still below 80. I won’t die. Also, I got the Pfizer. He got the Moderna. Therefore I will be OK.

The trouble is the online stuff and what I see happening day to day. I deal with family members who are meaner than they used to be (all fully vaccinated, of course). Then I think about the online thing about how the COVID-19 spikes can cross the blood-brain barrier causing mad-cow-like disease symptoms. I tell myself if I keep taking all of my supplements I will be just fine. Funny how taking supplements is not something you hear anyone hardly in the news discussing. “People need vitamins to heal and we are all malnourished to some extent.” That’s a quote from a Dr. Becker who I sometimes watch.

Other signs that have been noticed out there are the drivers. Some driving slower, some making what seems to me more irrational decisions than usual. Anyone else out there noticing this?

Oops, back to my fictional account. So to simplify this a little, my daughter had said something to me that keeps coming back. It’s this: Mom, remember a few years ago when they were crying out about population control? Then came COVID-19? Hmm, could this possibly have a connection? I will now end this tragic fictional account for now, however here’s one more tidbit to chew on. The regular stream media claims that if you get vaccinated and then test positive for corona, you won’t get it as bad. What I keep wondering about is some people claim that if you take enough supplements and take the right ones that you won’t ever get the COVID. Why can’t anyone prove or disprove this somehow and if the nuts are right about the supplements why not just go down that road instead? And my arm agrees!

Faith Williams

Shelton

It’s the unvaccinated

Editor, the Journal,

Around 54,000 Americans are dead from the delta variant of the COVID-19 virus. Unvaccinated people are responsible for the deaths because they spread the disease.

The delta variant spreads in the same way as the common cold: The virus enters a human through the nose or mouth, multiplies, and is exhaled for a day or two before the infected people get symptoms and realize they are infected. That’s how colds spread and that’s how unvaccinated people spread COVID. So yes, the unvaccinated are to blame for the deaths.

Why aren’t people taking the vaccine? After all, vaccines and vaccine mandates (which are constitutional) have been with us since George Washington mandated that his soldiers get the small pox vaccine. Schools mandate polio vaccines, which is why children rarely are crippled as my mother was. Vaccines are good, and mandates are an established and legal part of our society.

So where did the anti-vaccine propaganda come from? Where did the sociopathic “It’s my free dumb” nonsense come from? Republican “news” sources. Tucker Carlson, Laura Ingraham, Dan Bongino, Townhall, Breitbart and the Faux News lineup of talking heads to name just a few. Also, Republican politicians such as Ron DeSantis and Greg Abbott, who have actively interfered on behalf of the virus in their states. DeSantis has been using his power as governor to punish schools that require masks for kids, even though children can’t get vaccinated and their only protection from disease is masking. There are now children dead and dying in his state from a preventable disease. COVID-19 deaths in children more than doubled recently in Florida, data show.

Unvaccinated people are not all alike. However, the data show that the larger subgroups are the uneducated, middle-age or younger people, white people. The core group who say they will not ever get the vaccine are Republicans. This makes sense, given the tendency of Republicans to be consumers of the Republican “news” sources that are pumping out the anti-vaccine propaganda. “Unvaccinated Americans whiter, more Republican than vaccinated” (voanews.com). “Here are the biggest groups that are still refusing the COVID-19 vaccine, poll finds” (forbes.com)

Because of the correlation between Republican “news,” Republican citizens, and unvaccinated people, the delta variant entered the U.S. through red states, spread first to more red states or parts of red states and is now a crisis in red states. Idaho hospitals are so overwhelmed that they have to triage care.

So far, unvaccinated people and Republican “news” sources have killed 56,000 Americans — so many dead Americans that they make al-Qaida look like amateurs. Think about that next time you hear someone on Faux ranting about the Taliban.

Laura Koerber