Letters to the Editor

Let’s consolidate

Editor, the Journal

In response to the editor’s opinion March 16 in the Journal, I would like to convey my experiences on the subject.

When we retired and moved to Mason County in 1997, one of the first things that I noticed was that there were seven school districts in Mason County, serving a county of less than 50,000 people. I was raised in Seattle, and at that time Seattle had a population of over 500,000 with one school board serving eight high schools, and many junior high schools and elementary schools.

When I remarked about the disparity to a friend who was on the Pioneer School Board, he told me “Put up or shut up.” Taking his advice, I ran for the Pioneer School Board and served three terms. I was very clear at that time about consolidation but was always in the minority with my viewpoint. When the issue of “local control” was raised, I pointed out that they could have a say in their local schools by serving on their school’s PTA.

I am now past my years of tilting at windmills, but I believe that the only road to consolidation is a mandate from the state dissolving non-high districts. Consolidation would require a 50% approval vote from each district. Non-high districts were probably necessary in the days of poor roads and communication, but they have outlived their usefulness.

Dick Parrett, Shelton

Weapons ban

Editor, the Journal,

Reps. Dan Griffey and Travis Couture on March 9, voted against a minimal attempt to get assault weapons off the street. Do they not understand that most Americans want a total ban on assault weapons? Who is influencing them? They held a mutual admiration phone-in town hall for an hour on March 10, for preprogrammed MAGA supporters. Obviously, there was no one else welcome.

Griffey and Couture live a few blocks away from each other in LakeLand Village, where I also live. The sound of rapid-fire weapons is heard so often on the perimeter of hole 10 on the LakeLand golf course that you wonder if you need a fox hole, a flak jacket or at least a helmet. Are they shooting beer cans, bunnies or bambies?

Couture thinks everyone should be able to have an assault weapon “to take care of predators” and “that they are the most popular firearms in our society.” Assault weapons are designed to kill people. No one needs an assault weapon! Step up, Dan and Travis.

Bob Pickles, Allyn

Fire consolidation

Editor, the Journal

Your “opinion” on “How much government is too much, too little” efficiency is much more important than size. I support your opinions on fire and local government, some facts will evolve based on your article. You came from a larger community as many Mason County residents have. I am one. I came from Kitsap County, which could be considered an efficient one serving the people.

I have been in Mason County for 29 years. It had a small diverse population as well as a diverse geography. Spread out over 1,051 square miles of which 925 square miles are rivers, lakes and saltwater. The area is very difficult to maintain the health and fire response. Small supporting fire districts were formed to support the area demography.

In 2001, I joined a local health and welfare group for Mason County. I heard much discussion about the effects this county faced, one of which was fire response. The fire department was represented. Thermal imaging was discussed. Thermal imaging cameras were developing as well as the price for identifying “hot spots” for efficient street view of a house fire response. Not one fire department had one. I developed a funding plan to acquire such an instrument. I went to the fire chiefs meeting and proposed my plan.

One fire chief asked me “are you sure you know what you are in for?” I stated that the funding plan will be successful. One imaging camera cost $30,000. It took me two years traveling in the county to different businesses and local people. I collected $33,000 and presented to the Mason County Fire Chiefs Association. I did this as a volunteer at my expense. The Fire Chiefs Association since developed grants to purchase more cameras.

To support your opinion on reducing fire districts or departments: there are 49 fire departments serving a population of 61,000 people in a 960-square-mile area — there is one fire department per 1,256 people and one fire department per 19 square miles. Kitsap County has 23 fire departments for 566 square miles. These counties have similar geography and demographics. Kitsap County has a larger population thus a larger funding base.

With population and funding increases, it is time to review the efficiency of Mason County fire departments and more county commissioners to get a broader response for the people.

Bill Bruder, Shelton

China is evil

Editor, the Journal

China CCP, or China Communist Party, supports, partners and is in alliance with Russia in its war with Ukraine. They are showing their true colors and is just as evil as Russia’s. China supports Russia because they want to do the same to Taiwan. They have no regard for international law, human rights, war crimes, genocide, etc. China’s CCP does not care, doesn’t denounce and supports that Russia has plans and is actively working on taking over other countries, Ukraine is only the first. China is buying Russian oil and funding the war. China has increased their imports from Russia by 35%. China is shipping weapons and body armor to Russia. China is providing Russia with enriched uranium for nuclear weapons while Russia is threatening the world that they will use of them. China is now providing drones to Russia.

The International Criminal Court has issued an arrest warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin. China does not denounce the Russian war crimes everyone sees. Killing unarmed civilians, targeting their hospitals and schools, bombing residential homes and apartments, bombing electrical systems supplying heat during the winter, stealing and sending children to Russia, etc. Destroying towns and their people, can you say genocide? China continues to block or not vote on the U.N. General Council or Security Council Resolutions or actions. I believe China and Iran are also guilty of war crimes because of their ongoing support and partnerships with Russia. Look at their voting at the U.N., who is providing weapons, funding and lack of denouncing anything Russia is doing, etc. Look at the false news coming from them, ongoing and not telling the truth.

Internationally, China is also a partner of and supports Iran. Iran wants to wipe off Israel from the map. They want to wipe out other countries, including Western-influenced nations such as the United States, and Europe and African nations, in the future. Iran supports but denies providing Russia with drones, ammunition, weapons, etc. Iran is holding joint military operations with China and Russia. China supports and does not denounce enrichment of uranium for nuclear weapons, now at 84%, approaching the 90% needed for a nuclear weapon. China provides financial aid and weapons, technology, knowledge, intelligence, etc. China does nothing to reduce, prevent, etc. what Russia and Iran are doing above. Nothing. What does this say about China and their communist party (government)? Don’t get me started on China’s support of North Korea missiles, nuclear weapons and more importantly, supporting the ongoing starvation of their citizens.

China is the largest polluter in the world, continuing to build and operate coal-burning electrical plants. Very little environmental controls for manufacturing operations. Support buying Russian oil, one of the world’s worst climate oil producers and funding Russia’s war to take over countries.

China is killing 100,000 Americans a year. China provides chemicals to Mexico cartels to manufacture fentanyl, enough coming into our country to kill every American. China is doing nothing to shut this down and supports this obviously.

China’s COVID killed over 1 million Americans and over 100 million people worldwide. After lifting three years of lockdowns in China, they have reported only 60,000 deaths in China from COVID. They lie to us and their citizens. They fear the truth, including the source of COVID, the lab didn’t have necessary protections, lockdowns were ineffective, masks didn’t work, China vaccines were ineffective, etc. A long list of lies, with the biggest one being over 1 million deaths in China from COVID.

Open your eyes to what is happening today and will affect on our future. China is evil. They support, lie and do not denounce any of the above. Hold our president, Cabinet members and Congress accountable. Are they telling us the truth? They are starting to do their job but have a long way to go. Maybe more on my next article.

Consider what China is doing and our (the world’s) response. Wake up and consider what you are paying for when you buy “Made in China.” USA is any enemy, COVID, fentanyl, Russia’s war with Ukraine, full support of Russia war crimes, Iran enrichment of uranium for nuclear weapons and lastly preparations to take over Taiwan militarily by 2030. What will be the results and impacts to the world when you look at what happened from Russia’s invasion of a sovereign country, Ukraine.

Howard Ringoen, Shelton

Senate Bill 5427

Editor, the Journal

Washington Attorney General Bob Ferguson is promoting Senate Bill 5427 to codify hate crimes and bias incidents as a “Class C’ felony which could result in a $2,000 fine. A bias incident strongly suggests and likely includes publishing political letters to the editor. Writing disagreements of Democratic policies could be considered hate writings. Democrat wimps who are unable or unwilling to effectively argue their political position will use this law. This bill creates a “tattle-tale” reporting system to report “hate writings” just for such folks.

Ferguson obviously has a weird interpretation of protests. He evidently believes throwing a Molotov cocktail onto police cars is a legal disagreement of right-wing politics, but a letter to the editor about Democratic policies of the governor or attorney general is hate writing. The AG is a lawyer; to graduate from law school meant you actually read the federal Constitution, including the 27 amendments. It looks like he slept through this week of law school as my Constitution says I have a First Amendment “freedom of speech” and “freedom of the press.” My letter to the editor is both. The Washington Constitution also codifies my “freedom of speech,” including my writings, but our attorney general seems to reject these constitutional analyses. His political power grab is similar to the experience we had during COVID when Gov. Jay Inslee became our tin-horn dictator.

This bill is dangerous. Some will say it won’t affect us but with Democratic legal contortions, some letter to the editor writer will end up in jail because some disgruntled Democrat won’t like our argument. We’ll be deemed hateful because of our disagreements. Liberty-loving citizens who argue against left-wing political beliefs may be arrested for “hate writing.”

If this law passes and I end up sharing a cell with my esteemed colleagues known for our letters in the Journal, I want it widely known: “Dibs on the bottom bunk in jail.”

Ardean Anvik, Shelton

Michelle Obama

Editor, the Journal

We’ve seen a seepage of news lately that former first lady Michelle Obama is considered a front-runner among Democrats in the looming race for president of the U.S.

She has repeatedly denied any aspirations for the job of “big guy,” ala Joe Biden, and in fact has ruled out politics completely in her future. Internet heavy-hitters, however, like Wikipedia, have touted her as being a “role model for women,” a “fashion icon,” and one whose “influence has remained high.”

If Michelle does enter the race, Democratic voters will leap for joy, rend their clothes, and drool in ecstasy, just as they did for Hillary in 2016, perhaps even more so.

So what qualifications does this woman have to show that she’s ready for the top job? Briefly, not many. Readers must first remember that merit is not especially relevant in a Democratic administration, but “wokeness” certainly is. Just look at our veep and some Cabinet members.

Kamala Harris, being both black and female, is clearly a diversity hire by the president. Our transportation secretary, Pete (“I took a bullet for Joe in East Palestine, Ohio”) Buttigieg is gay. The Health and Human Services secretary, Alejandro (“The border is secure”) Mayorkas is an ethnic minority (His father is Cuban, his mother Romanian.) And so it goes.

A little more bio: Michelle graduated Harvard Law School, worked briefly for a law firm, and then married Barack Obama on Oct. 3, 1992. She served in several public service organizations in and around Chicago before Barack was elected president. She was the first black first lady in American history.

For a while, during her White House residency, she took charge of the nation’s school lunch program, promoting healthful stuff like fruit, vegetables and other things that kids hate for lunch and likely threw into the trash can along with their baloney sandwiches. The program faded away some time ago.

In a little blurb on the internet lately, someone wrote that Republicans are worried about a Michelle Obama candidacy. Well, Republicans aren’t worried about that, but they do know that Democrats can’t run things worth a damn. Consider the last two years in Biden’s America.

Even Dems know these two things to be true: Michelle is a rock star for the moment to voters and Joe Biden (and Kamala) huge losers for all time. Hopefully, they will each go far away in 2024.

Robert Graham, Union