Author: The Seattle Times: Northwest Voices

Government sipping away at my hard-earned Social Security, Medicare

Editor, The Times:

The Seattle Times April 15 story “Poll tells us who tea-party backers really are” [page one] concluded with a rather snide comment. Members of the tea-party movement wanted to see less spending on social programs, but were reluctant to forego their Social Security benefits, “ … could not explain the contradiction.”

What contradiction is there in wanting less government spending and not wanting to lose retirement benefits that one has bought and paid for?

I remind your readers that contributing to Social Security is not an option. Those who were forced to contribute over the course of their working careers had to forgo making other retirement investments.

To suggest that someone should now be willing to give up what might be the sole source of retirement income as the only means available to control government spending is ludicrous. This is nothing more than a gratuitous attempt to ridicule tea-party members who are simply asking for a little fiscal responsibility from our government.

If the government gives me back all the money contributed to my Social Security and Medicare accounts over the years, plus the interest I would have earned had I simply put the money in the bank, I will be happy to give up my monthly benefits.

— Joe Stella, Friday Harbor

Dish out the facts, tea-party members

The tea-party protests bring us an interesting look at the sentiments running through the country.

Most of us have some commonalities with the protesters, including the desire to keep government limited, eliminate waste and keep our liberties. However, there are contradictions in their statements that show how much misinformation and lack of education pervades our society.

The original Boston Tea Party was a protest against a tax cut for the East India Company. The cut allowed the company to undersell American entrepreneurs, who still paid taxes, but had no representation in the British Parliament. Tea-party protesters complain about high taxes, but also complain that not enough Americans pay income taxes — though they pay payroll taxes.

Protesters complain about government spending. Where were their voices when former President George W. Bush ran the deficit up from $5 to $12 billion? The spending now is moderate, reasonable and necessary to keep us out of a depression. Health-care problems are destroying Americans’ freedom, yet people complain that the passage of reform that uses mostly Republican principles is a “Communist” takeover.

If we are going to debate these issues, we must debate them on facts and not on misconceptions perpetuated in our corporate-controlled media.

— Roger Burton, Bothell

Why no steam for Bush administration?

My hat goes off to the tea-party members for using their First Amendment rights and engaging in our democracy.

Fiscal conservatism is a very legitimate point of view. But here is my question: Where were these folks when the Bush administration accounted for our endeavors in Iraq outside of the normal budget process in order to make the deficit appear smaller? Why were they not up in arms over no-bid contracts in Iraq, which wasted hundreds of millions of tax dollars?

Where were they when Congress added new, unfunded entitlements via the Prescription Drug Act? Why were these same folks not screaming about “gangster government” and “tyranny” when Tom DeLay held a 15-minute vote open for four hours in order to strong-arm votes for this bill over the objections of fiscally minded legislators —Democrat and Republican alike?

Finally, just what exactly do these people suggest should have been done when the financial system was careening for the cliff and threatening to take down the global economy with it?

I can relate to many tea-party concerns over the federal deficit. What I cannot relate to is its willful ignorance to how we got here.

— Tara Van Niman, Redmond

Cause of death: neglect

As a former underground coal miner, I read with interest “The cost of mining coal in West Virginia” [Opinion, April 16].

There is no mystery and no question about coal-mine explosions. Coal-mine explosions are caused by one thing and one thing only: neglect — neglect of the ventilation systems, of dust control and of the machinery safety devices.

Coal-mine explosions are prima facie evidence of such neglect and indicate that a country is operating in Third World mode with regard to mining. How many coal-mine explosions have occurred in Britain or Germany or even Poland recently?

Every miner and every supervisor knows this and could tell any journalist if he or she were to be asked. Sometimes the miners are reckless; often human nature urges us to cut corners to get a reputation as a productive worker. Sometimes the company is at fault. As for the ventilation plan, if it is deficient, it will be immediately apparent to everyone involved.

Ultimately, in legal terms, it is the company’s responsibility. No new laws, regulations or emergency apparatuses are required. Simple enforcement of existing laws is the only action necessary.

As for the workers: I understand that the mine involved was nonunion and therefore, it should have been even easier to discipline noncompliance on the workers’ part.

— Patrick Sullivan, Shoreline

Solution: automation

I am surprised that the media are ignorant that the death and injury of miners can be totally eliminated by automation.

Four years ago during the last mining accident, they showed on TV the miners at work underground. As a pioneer of automation in molecular genetics, the question immediately occurred to me why this was not automated.

It is a simple task when compared to the automated assembly in automobile production. I called a friend in Germany to find out what the situation was in the country’s coal mines. His answer was during the last 50 years, there has been no loss of life because of automation.

I also read that the largest coal mine in the world, in China, is completely automated; there is no need for workers below the surface. As always, Americans prefer to treat the symptoms rather than the causes.

— Hans Noll, Seattle

Me, myself and I

Editor, The Times:

After reading the article on the tea-party followers [“Poll tells us who tea-party backers really are,” page one, April 15], the thing that jumped out at me the most about their beliefs were: “Me, myself and I.”

And why not. They love Sarah Palin and that is what she is all about. Nothing about caring about America, other people in America or the welfare of all states. Just themselves. Kind of the nobility get it all and the rest of the country — well that’s just too bad, huh.

They can’t stand President Obama because he is a “socialist,” who in my mind passed a Republican health-care plan.

And they can’t stand Obama because he is a “Muslim” because he hasn’t found a church to go to in the year he has been in office. I have news for them. I haven’t found a church to go to in more than 15 years, and believe me, I am not a Muslim.

The president is spending too much money on things they don’t like. Well I have not been too happy spending money on two wars their hero George W. Bush got us into. Oh, and by the way, I am also well-educated and in the upper levels of income. Not rich but far from poor.

Sorry tea-partyers. You are just another bunch of self-centered, spoiled-rotten brats.

— Lucy M. Oaks, Redmond

Brainwashed hypocrites

There is one statistic that was left out from your tea-party article Thursday: the percentage of tea-partyers who are hypocrites. How many denounce Social Security and Medicare yet receive benefits from those programs?

It is clear that the tea-party group is really just those who still are brainwashed by the Bush administration. They probably still think there are WMDs in Iraq.

— Page Russell, Burien

A cynical cabal

There is nothing patriotic or grass-roots about the so-called tea-party “patriots.”

Cleverly bandying the word “elite,” the real force behind the movement is, as your Thursday article points out, the worst kind of elite: a small, educated and supremely cynical cabal of superrich who use frustrated demonstrators as pawns in their ongoing bid to eviscerate the middle class and destroy America’s proudest achievements.

Their “patriotic” goal: to keep as much of their money as they can for themselves. Offshore bank account, anyone?

— Kurt E. Armbruster, Seattle

Tell us your plan

As they cross the country on their crusade of fiscal responsibility, riddle me this: Where were they the entire eight years of the previous administration?

And their Republican cheerleaders, where will they be should they regain a congressional majority and/or the White House?

The possible answers to those questions lend a hollow ring to the vociferous protests of the tea party.

Everyone who insists they have legitimate concerns to raise might do us the service of at least a detailed accounting of the origins, demographics of, and possible future of the tea party in these regards.

— Mike Moore, Kent

Legalization process must be rigorous

Without a doubt, the United States cannot afford to postpone immigration reform. However, Pramila Jayapal’s assertion that the first step in reform is legalizing all the undocumented immigrants, ahead of reforming the current system for legal immigration, is disingenuous. [“We can’t afford to wait on immigration reform,” Opinion, April 15.]

Serious reform must address both, comprehensively. I have the impression that Jayapal’s vision of reform for the undocumented immigrants would be immediate and unconditional amnesty. This is repugnant.

Any process of legalization must be rigorous — not crippling — and include fines and a requirement to acquire basic proficiency in English.

With respect to legal immigrants, as a nation we are seriously at risk without an immigration system that makes us attractive to the talented, educated and ambitious from all corners of the globe.

— James B. Paden, Blaine

Bicycling and walking not ‘nonsensical’

In “Transportation’s bicycle policy hits potholes” [seattletimes.com, Business, April 14], Republicans argue that the plan to give bicycling and walking the same importance as automobiles in transportation planning is “nonsensical” because 80 percent of freight moves by truck, and it’s unfair because roads are paid for mostly by a gasoline tax.

Funny how Republicans don’t notice the inherent unfairness in their own argument, in that car drivers — through the gas tax — are subsidizing trucking, which is responsible for most road wear and maintenance costs.

It’s just so typical of Republican rhetoric: They think it’s fine to massively subsidize industrial and corporate interests, but the idea of funding bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure (which helps to reduce congestion, pollution, maintenance and health costs) is unfair and “nonsensical.”

— Rick Kosterman, Seattle

Too little, too late

The Legislature is finally done passing the budget, with lots of tax hikes on the working folks [“Lawmakers OK budget with taxes and service cuts,” NWTuesday, April 13]. Too bad when things were going well they spent all the state income, and when times slowed they dipped into the reserves and now they can’t cut back on what they’ve done or want to save.

I agree with The Times position that the Legislature made a poor showing with this budget [“Legislature missed a chance to lead,” editorial, April 15], but if Gov. Chris Gregoire were a real leader she should have set the tone for fiscal responsibility at the beginning of her term in office.

With the United States government increase in taxes and the state increase in taxes, we are in for a long time of economic recovery. And with average leadership, we are not going to see a turnaround for Washington so long as the pols protect their interest.

— Robert E. Karns, Bellevue

The truth is not ‘elusive’

Consider The Seattle Times headline for The Associated Press article on claims that the N-epithet was hurled: “Did spit, slurs fly on the Hill? The truth has been elusive” [CloseUp, April 14].

One of the congressmen was the hero John Lewis, whose courage and integrity are beyond dispute; the claims were backed up by another congressmen who wasn’t a target; a reporter and a congressional aide, who saw the three as they entered the Capitol, described them as trembling, agitated and wanting documentation; and the claim that there is anything to dispute is based on an irrelevant video and sponsored by Andrew Breitbart, who has been exposed as a liar in his representations about the Acorn videos.

Would The Times cast the headline as a question, and describe the truth as “elusive,” if the testimony of four policemen was disputed by someone with a criminal record who wasn’t even there when an event occurred?

— David Lovell, Seattle

Continue the spill

Thank you for your editorial in favor of continued spill operations to help Columbia/Snake salmon [“Spill water, move salmon,” April 8].

I cannot believe that President Barack “Good Science” Obama would support a harmful plan to eliminate the spill that has been so beneficial for the region’s salmon and fishermen. For the past few years, salmon returns have been either stable or slightly higher — largely as a result of court-ordered spill the Obama administration now wants to eliminate.

Continuing the spill in 2010 is crucial to help keep salmon numbers from plummeting further toward extinction. Numerous scientists have weighed in supporting the spill measures and their positive impacts for getting salmon to the ocean alive and healthy.

— Amy Grondin, Port Townsend

Execs’ actions were evil

Editor, The Times:

In his column, “WaMu’s new line: Who knew?” [NWWednesday, April 14], Danny Westneat asked whether former Washington Mutual CEO Kerry Killinger and other executives — who had the pedal to the metal right up to the point the WaMu bus flew off the cliff — were evil or just dumb.

Lets not kid ourselves. Their acts were evil — pure and simple. The magnitude of the pain and suffering Killinger and others caused is incalculable. Behind every one of those numbers on a spreadsheet is a real, live human being whose home was lost, job was terminated, retirement erased and future destroyed.

How many kids will not go to college because the family’s finances were decimated? How much sickness and disease is not being treated because people lost their health insurance, along with their job?

How many kids’ dreams and hopes for the future were snuffed out when they became homeless or realized they were at the mercy of a cruel and powerful economic machine fueled by greed from guys such as Killinger? The saddest part of this whole situation is that we will send some dumb kid who stole $20 from a 7-Eleven to prison; after contributing to the cumulative agony of millions of victims, Killinger will live out his years comfortably in his gated mansion.

— Dan Salins, Seattle

To know or not to know

WaMu’s Kerry Killinger claimed he did not know anything bad going on at the bank he headed, yet claimed he knew enough that “Washington Mutual was very well positioned, with its capital and operating plan, to work itself through this financial crisis” [“Ex-CEO tells Senate; WaMu got raw deal,” page one, April 14].

Have it both ways and earn millions?

— Mike Nakamura, Fall City

Killinger’s gall

Former WaMu CEO Kerry Killinger has the gall to sit before Congress and claim that the corporation he not so blindly drove into the ground was unfairly treated by federal banking regulators.

Killinger stated that his former corporation “should have been given a chance” to turn things around [“Ex-WaMu execs defend bank’s actions before failure,” seattletimes.com, April 13]. Evidently it was not soon enough, or with the necessary authority to prevent his $25 million severance parachute from floating into his pocket.

Clearly this fella is living on a different planet. How much of a chance did Killinger and his ilk give to the roughly 25 percent of this country’s home mortgage holders who currently owe more on their mortgage than the current value of their home?

The prisons in this country are full of individuals who claim to have been unfairly treated by some level of government. Hopefully, Attorney General Eric Holder and his team could find a few current federal statutes to apply to Killinger and his cronies, and have them join them.

We should all be vigilant and demand our congressional representatives ensure new legislation comes forth that protects us from these predatory criminals.

— Dan Corbitt, Mukilteo

How sorry is he?

So just how sorry is Kerry Killinger? Sorry enough to give some of his millions to aid the homeless? Sorry enough to pay back some of his defrauded customers?

The measure of his sorrow should be the level of restitution.

— Jan Hedrick, Renton

Time to strengthen Wall Street reform, not weaken it

The reckless behavior of banks drove our economy off a cliff; and more infuriating is that they did this knowingly. [“WaMu execs knew of danger,” page one, April 13]. Two years ago, the bankers on Wall Street made risky bets on exotic financial derivatives products such as credit default swaps and it helped to destroy the economy. Today, while the bonuses on Wall Street have recovered, the jobs and 401(k) s on Main Street have not.

Incredibly, the same Wall Street bankers and their clients plan to flood Washington next week in an effort to oppose reasonable regulation of bets on their risky derivatives. Until now, these products have been traded in secret, behind closed doors, and the bankers want to keep it that way. They intend to persuade the Senate to add sweeping exceptions to proposed reforms in order to keep more than half of all derivatives trades in the shadow markets rather than on open exchanges.

That is not good enough. As Wall Street reform is considered this month on the Senate floor, Sen. Maria Cantwell and Sen. Patty Murray should oppose derivatives loopholes and other efforts by the Wall Street bankers to weaken reform.

— Irene Jeon, Seattle

Census a reminder of Japanese internment?

I feel that minorities in the United States might have mixed feelings when filling out their census forms come this April [“Census Day important for Latinos,” Opinion, April 4].

These same forms are what the U.S. government used during World War II to locate Japanese-Americans so they could put them internment camps for the duration of the war. These people were told the same thing that minorities are told today; that the information they provide will not come back to hurt them in any way. I can sympathize with these minorities who are reluctant to feel out these forms for fear of history repeating itself.

If the government wants to have a census that all will participate, the government needs to be true to its word and only use the information in the way that it says it will.

— Dan Peck, Pullman

United States not holding ground for the troubled

I find the opinion of Daisy Flores on illegal immigrants [“Unwarm welcome to immigrants unwarranted,” Northwest Voices, April 13] to be part of the current codswallop that is trying to change the United States. She was shocked that the majority of U.S. citizens were against illegal immigration. I am shocked that she is shocked.

First, we have —or had —a legal immigration system, which allows people from around the world to immigrate to and participate in the United States. Illegal immigrants negatively impact the opportunity for legal immigrants to come to this country.

This country cannot take all the unfortunate people in the world. Illegal immigrants need to solve the problems within their own countries as our forefathers did in this country. Our ancestors did not emigrate to another country —they stayed and fought in the Revolutionary War.

Flores follows the typical liberal line of letting an emotional approach outprioritize a fair, common-sense, equitable solution to various problems, both physical and financial.

— Dick Applestone, Bellevue

Well-to-do relax as everyone else puffs on taxes

The state Legislature just approved additional taxes on soda, candy, bottled water, cigarettes and non-microbrew beer to help balance the budget [“Lawmakers OK budget with taxes, service cuts,” NWTuesday, April 13].

No surprise, they are all items that the “little people” use. What about expensive “status” cigars? Believe it or not, Washington state still allows the well-to-do to continue purchasing cigars by mail order or over the Internet, from out-of-state and Indian reservations, free of any tobacco excise tax or sales tax.

California, Idaho and Oregon tax all cigars purchased out-of-state by their residents. As a consequence, Washington state loses about $200 million each year in taxes.

I have notified every member of the Legislature —and Gov. Chris Gregoire —of this tax loss for Washington state, but they all chose to do nothing about it. In addition, minors could easily order these same tax-free cigars without any requirement of proof of age.

Why is this allowed to happen, especially during these tough economic times? Are our officials paid off by cigar manufacturers? Do their big contributors demand tax-free cigars? Who knows, but something is very wrong. We should not allow them to get away with this big injustice.

— Rick Ornstein, Richland

Cold War so old, so why the nukes?

This is a response to “Nuclear-weapons treaty signed, but trickier challenges loom” [News, April 9].

President Obama and Russian President Medvedev have signed a nuclear-arms reduction treaty in Prague. They claim that this treaty would reduce the number of weapons the two countries are pointing at each other by a third.

Hans Kristensen of the Federation of American Scientists has said that new counting rules are in effect and that the actual reduction of weapons would only be about 12 percent.

An important question is: Why do these two countries still need 1,550 nuclear weapons pointed at each other when the Cold War is over?

President Obama has stated that the only possible use of nuclear weapons by the United States now would be to deter a nuclear attack from a nuclear power. Iran must be worried about attacks from Israel and the United States —Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has said that nothing is taken off the table in trying to confront Iran’s nuclear development.

Pakistan and India are both nuclear powers in Iran’s neighborhood. Iran could argue that it needs nuclear weapons for the same reason that the United States does, namely to prevent nuclear attacks from nuclear powers.

The only course of action that makes sense is an all-out effort to eliminate all nuclear weapons from the face of the Earth. Small incremental reductions of these weapons are good and they should be applauded, but the only way to assure the survival of this wonderful world is the complete elimination of these awful weapons.

— Philip Heft, Kent

Stay grounded in trusting airplanes

It may never be determined whether the pilot of the Tupolev acted unilaterally or was pressured by other authority into landing in thick fog on that frigid, fateful morning in Smolensk [“Poles mourn president, 96 others killed in jet crash,” page one, April 11].

What this tragedy has demonstrated with a deadly certainty and in the gravest color known to man, is the imprudence of a policy not preventing packing an entire country’s elite leadership into a single plane. Flying, to this day, is still a form of Russian roulette, however excellent the odds are in one’s favor now.

Should you find the loaded chamber once out of 100,000 turns, it likely spells the end of your existence. An airplane is a hollow bullet filled with humans lives, shot from a gun we call an airport. Should it impact with the ground other than according to the dictates of precise technology, its content perishes; the life it holds ceases, regardless of its title, character or social ranking.

— Michael White, Brush Prairie

Stricter regulations could cripple good adult family homes

Editor, The Times:

As parents of a 50-year-old disabled woman living in an adult home, we are 100 percent in favor of stricter licensing regulations to protect seniors and the disabled. [“DSHS seeks crackdown on adult-family homes,” page one, April 9.] However, our concern is that the already established, fine adult homes will be needlessly punished in the sweep.

Our daughter resides in a small adult home with six residents, where she receives loving, caring support for which we are extremely grateful. But we are aware that the new restrictions and raised monthly fees will bring hardship to those who strictly follow the rules and give more than 100 percent of their time and effort to caring for those who cannot do for themselves.

Monthly funds have already been cut back, making it even harder for them to function. Do not throw the baby out with the bathwater, Department of Social and Health Services, or the backlash could prove a death knell for the good homes.

— Joan & Ray Jensen, Redmond

Why no tax for service providers?

Like Jerome Chroman [“Support temporary business tax surcharge,” Northwest Voices, April 10], I also support the temporary increase in the business-and-occupation tax from 1.5 percent to 1.8 percent and doubling the small-business tax credit —which could make it a nonissue for businesses that gross under a certain amount —and for taxing nonessentials such as candy, soda pop, water, gum and beer to support essential services for those less well off.

I am glad the state Senate passed this bill on Monday and it is heading to Gov. Chris Gregoire for her signature.

However, I would go one step further and urge our lawmakers to ask why our sales tax does not apply to Washington state service providers such as myself. Like my contractor clients, I add value to my clients’ small businesses or home finances. Why should my services be excluded?

If you need my services or those of an accountant, attorney or other service provider, you could pay your fair share of taxes.

— Keith Gormezano, Seattle

‘Temporary’ means ‘keep forever’

In response to Jerome Chroman’s comment to supporting a temporary tax to fix a deficit caused by bad fiscal planning, temporary in this state is nonsense.

I have lived in this state for the better part of my life and when the politicians say “temporary,” temporary really means “keep forever.” When this state needs to get money they go after the sinners —those who smoke, drink, chew gum, drink water, etc. You see, these people are the easy targets. Politicians do not go after all the citizens who should be paying their fair share of taxes.

First of all, this deficit was not brought about by the taxpayers. The problem with this state is it is too ultraconservative in its thinking. When we had a chance to legalize gambling, which could have brought in a lot of revenue, the conservatives shot it down. When a state income tax is brought up, it is shot down.

But if the state needs revenue, lets tax the sinners. When the small business start to lose revenue, think of that temporary tax.

This is how the 520 bridge and the Alaskan Way Viaduct will get its funding.

— Gary Todd, Duvall

Case of greedy business, not greedy workers

I attended the community meeting to support sanitation workers on April 11 and came away with an even deeper appreciation for their issues and concerns.

Garbage haulers suffer very high rates of injury and illness due to the nature of their jobs — more so than police officers and firefighters. Although it was not said at the meeting, I suspect a majority do not make it to full retirement.

The other garbage contractors have settled with their workers for terms more generous than Waste Management (WM). So what is WM’s problem? The company is definitely not lacking funds. WM is the largest garbage company in the United States with a profit margin of $1 billion last year. Its CEO, David Steiner, earned $5 million in 2009.

This is not a case of greedy workers. It is a case of greedy big business and the reason the United States is in financial shambles. I am not a sanitation worker, but I will join any picket lines to support them should WM try a lock out or force a strike. Enough of greedy CEOs and corporations.

— Linda Averill, Seattle

Who’s the trash now?

Thank you for your story on the garbage haulers’ defense of their working conditions and benefits against Waste Management’s (WM) attempt to downgrade the haulers’ contracts and to break their union. [“Haulers approve Allied pact,” NWMonday, April 12.]

I was also at the community meeting called by the Teamsters and heard about the dangers and injuries they face on the job —the fifth-most-dangerous job in the United States.

WM wants to bring down standards of living for workers. It is trying to eliminate retiree health care and refusing to meet the same employee health-care protections that all the other waste companies in the area provide.

This economic climate is bad for workers and they should be supported —not preyed upon by the largest trash-collection company in the United States.

— Adrienne Weller, Seattle

Obey the laws or get out

I do not support the cause of illegal immigrants because they are lawbreakers. [“Thousands rally for immigration bill,” NWSunday, April 11.]

It is that simple: I do not condone criminal activity, no matter what the rationale is. In the case of the illegal immigrants, there is no valid rationale. They are embroiled in a dilemma of their own concoction: They bemoan their current, self-induced predicament of enjoying their lives in the United States, but having to do it without benefits of citizenship.

Sorry, no crocodile tears here.

No one dragged them kicking and screaming across the border into the United States against their will. They sneaked across the border because they wanted to, and they thumbed their noses at our immigration laws in the process, thereby placing themselves above the law —a privileged position that no U.S. citizen enjoys by birthright or fiat, much less an illegal immigrant. But they insist that they should be rewarded with citizenship rather than exported for their criminal acts.

I respectfully disagree. It is the bedrock responsibility of every nation to control who enters the country, who becomes a citizen and who does not. In the United States, we have a codified set of laws; they are not “rules” as Congressman Jim McDermott suggests They set forth the parameters of immigration to the United States. People who want to immigrate here must learn and abide by those laws or get out.

— Richard Porter, Langley

Defrocking means removing a layer of supervision

Contrary to popular belief, a Catholic priest cannot be unordained any more than a person can be unbaptized. As stated in paragraph 1583 of the Catholic Catechism, “ordination is forever.” [“Vatican defends handling of priest’s case,” News, April 11.]

Canon law does recognize “dismissal from the clerical state.” This generally means a priest is dispensed from his priestly vows and the bishop is relieved from that point forward of his responsibility for and obligations to the priest. With respect to a priest charged with molesting minors, such dismissal is advantageous to the church in the sense that the bishop will no longer be responsible for supervising and monitoring the priest’s activities and will not be liable for future misconduct.

However, dismissal could be disadvantageous to the public, as one control for keeping the offenders away from minors will no longer exist. The offender will be a “free agent,” released from the bishop’s supervision, and subject only to one restraint — the law. Before dismissal, there were two restraints —the bishop’s supervision and the law.

— Peter Anderson, Mercer Island

Military service not a breeding ground for killers

Like most political extremists, Daniel Ruuska characterizes evidence in a way that supports his warped views [“Video Games Helped,” Northwest Voices, April 8].

First, the 2005 University of Michigan study was more than a bit light in its statistical base: A total of 39 male undergraduates were sampled. The study is suggestive, but generalizing to a larger population without further research is irresponsible.

Second, the best way to breed anti-social behavior —especially in male children —is to raise them without a present and responsible father figure who could discourage addictive behavior of all kinds. It is difficult to be a good parent these days, but decades of research have shown that an effective sociological father is a key to raising responsible adults.

Third, the military service does use video games as a recruiting tool, but it is simply employing current technology to attract the attention of young people it would like to enlist. Modern targeting systems are also high-tech, but they are not “video games.” Service members are trained to use these weapons and instructed on rules of engagement. If they violate those rules, punishment is called for.

Finally, Ruuska claims there is a “killing is fun” mindset needed for military service. Only a psychotic among the millions who have worn the uniform of our country ever had thoughts like that. It is apparent that Ruuska never spent a single day in uniform. He should be ashamed of making that statement.

— Phillip Johnson, Seattle

War, violence existed before first-person shooter video games

In response to Daniel Ruuska’s letter, stating that first-person shooter (FPS) games create the “killing is fun” mindset and that they are responsible for the incident in the Middle East is illogical.

Not only is there no proof that the soldiers in question played these games, the first FPS game widely released was “Wolfenstein 3-D” in 1992. The military has existed for far longer, as have violent assaults upon innocents. An example would be the My Lai Massacre, which occurred in 1968 —24 years before “Wolfenstein” was released and four years before the concept of FPS was invented.

—Alex Halbhuber, Sammamish

Pop on light rail from Sea-Tac airport

Editor, The Times:

Who says that Seattle is not a baseball town? [“Sea-Tac Airport offers Mariners’ deal,” seattletimes.com, April 7.]

Some years back, we financed construction of Safeco Field. Now we are throwing in even more public support. The Port of Seattle is offering cut-rate parking for baseball fans at the Sea-Tac airport parking garage.

Who can argue with the idea of supporting the Mariners by encouraging the use of publicly funded airport parking and at the same time increasing revenues for publicly funded Link light rail to get to the game?

— Ed Wittmann, Seattle

No M’s for basic cable subscribers?

As media companies consolidate, the consumers get increasingly worse deals.

Take Comcast, for instance. I can only afford the bottom rung of cable TV service, but cannot even watch my hometown Seattle Mariners team playing. To “upgrade” will cost me about $50 more each month. Right now this is not in the budget.

Who is to blame? Fox Sports NW? The Mariners? Comcast? I suspect the latter.

My elderly mother is also a huge Mariners fan, but likewise, cannot afford the upgrade on her limited Social Security income.

I would gladly trade in all my home-shopping and fundamentalist-religion channels just to watch my team play. Apparently that is not in the cards, since cable providers claim they cannot afford to offer a la carte programming. I feel it is time they be forced to do so. That must be done or the M’s (or Fox Sports NW) need to force the issue with Comcast to include this local program on their lowest tier. It could easily afford to do that.

— Michael FitzPatrick, Vashon