Author: The Seattle Times: Northwest Voices

Officers’ families wanted to change the system

I am ashamed of the people of Western Washington for their outpour of anger toward the families of the victims of the Lakewood shootings. I am amazed at how quickly the tide turns. [“Slain officers’ families right to drop claims,” Opinion, April 12.]

What I do not understand is why everyone is so angry. What if it had been a roomful of schoolchildren who were gunned down in cold blood in that coffee shop and it was later learned that there was evidence that the perpetrator had made several threats about shooting children? Would everyone be as angry at the parents of those children if they sued?

Why don’t the families of those police officers deserve the same right? We all walked away from that funeral with a sense of closure. Those officers are still dead, and their children still do not have their parents and will not for the rest of their lives.

Why? Because it is too expensive to pay someone to actually do the job that he or she should already be doing —making sure the person who is about to be released for good behavior (after assaulting a police officer) is actually safe to release back into society.

The Seattle Times editorial staff says it was a good thing for the families to drop their lawsuits and that we should all be angry at Maurice Clemmons and his family for what happened. Obviously, Clemmons is responsible for his actions and should be held accountable. But do we really think Clemmons’ family has more responsibility for ensuring that he does not do something violent than the people we pay to ensure that violent people stay in jail?

I have worked for one form of government or another throughout my life and I can tell you that the only thing that most governments understand is money. They do not change anything until it is too painful to maintain the status quo. The only way, often, to get anyone in a bureaucracy to change the rules or even admit that there is a problem, is to hit where it hurts —in the pocketbook.

I believe the families when they say it is all about changing the system. Our system screwed up and it will continue to screw up until someone forces it to do something about it. Shame on you all for attacking the victims in this.

— Isabel Cole, Federal Way

Three strikes for you too, Seattle

When I read that the wives and sister of the slain officers had filed a lawsuit against Pierce County, I groaned —not another one. [“Cop’s widow: ‘We don’t want this ugliness,’.” page one, April 10.]

Instead of holding those responsible, we turn to suing those who have the money, or rather those we think have the money. It has become second nature to us, but I could not blame the family, especially after reading the newest story on their reasons for filing a lawsuit.

I am glad I did not jump on the bandwagon, where an untold number of people called or wrote of their disdain at these families. My first thought at these people: Shame on you.

The women are not to blame; they are too new in their grief to have thought this through and probably got bad advice.

Do we then point fingers at the lawyers who gave the bad advice, the Pierce County Jail, the employees responsible for monitoring the calls or the politicians for taking the “three strikes, you’re out” law so far off course that the jails are now filled with people the law was not made for.

I ask all those who are angry and looking to blame someone else to take a look in the mirror and ask what you really are angry about. I bet you find your own finger pointing is pointing at you —I know I did.

— Kendall Rooney, Federal Way

United States has enough mouths to feed

This is a response to “Thousands rally for immigration bill” [NWSunday, April 11].

Our representatives should be rallying for jobs for Americans — not illegals who have broken our laws, taken our identity, obtain fraudulent documents.

We are not the ones who have broken their families; their choices did that. Every country has borders for protection. They are there for a reason, just like how we have police who patrol our streets.

We are a country of laws. If our laws are not respected and obeyed, then we are lowering our standards to that of other countries that have no laws or laws that are not enforced. We have drug dealers, smugglers, kidnappers and now even murderers at our borders —Washington still does not secure our borders.

How many people have to be at risk for government to do something?

We have 25 million people out of work and more every day. If we cannot keep our people employed, how could anyone think we could employ the world? American companies are sending all our manufacturing jobs to foreign countries so we have fewer and fewer jobs here. We are a generous country. We have a million legal immigrants every year, but to Washington, it is not enough.

— Kathleen Bukoskey, Everett

Unwarm welcome to immigrants unwarranted

After reading this story, I went through the comments people wrote and I truly was shocked by the majority of the opinions.

They make me believe that I live in a country full of heartless, selfish people. All these people talk about obeying the law and why illegal immigrants expect this country to treat them differently than other individuals for breaking the law.

But have they all really forgotten that regardless of whether immigrants come into this country illegally, they are human beings just like everyone else?

Many immigrants live in very impoverished countries with hardly any access to drinkable water and food to eat, with corrupt governments where their lives are endangered. If you lived in these conditions wouldn’t you do anything you could to establish a better life — not just for yourself but your children as well?

— Daisy Flores, Pullman

‘I am a racist’

U.S. Rep. Jim McDermott believes my opposition to mass immigration, or immigration reform, is because of “thinly veiled racism.”

If his definition of that is opposition to becoming a minority in one’s own country, then yes, I am a racist. In fact, I would be as overt a racist as any other ethnic group member in a similar situation.

— Scott Martin, Woodinville

Over two years, chinook catch has become dismal

As an avid blackmouth salmon angler for many years, I have to comment on your story “State’s expensive catch: the $768 Sound salmon” [page one, April 10].

I have fished the same areas for years and they have always been productive. It has only been the past two years that has shown a remarkable drop in the catch in these areas. Either the blackmouth no longer inhabit these areas after many years of doing so or these fish simply are extinct.

Your writing specifically blamed environmental conditions for the decline —pollution and habitat loss. That is a lot of bad things people are doing in just two years.

My understanding is the Puget Sound is cleaner now than it was 30 years ago. I see an ever-increasing number of seals and sea lions, which should be controlled. But I doubt that predators, while partly to blame, are the main cause of catch decline.

My sonar indicates an abundance of baitfish, so the salmon should not be starving. “Their survival lately hasn’t been very good,” the division manager for Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) hatcheries said.

Maybe the state auditor’s office that came up with these data (one fish caught for every 900 released) should audit the actual number of fish released by WDFW. The migratory fall chinook catch in the same areas has become dismal in the last few years also. The ocean must have been ruined by mankind, too.

— Robert Vandeputte, Bremerton

Headline misleading; tax revenue, local jobs not considered

The salmon story’s headline is very misleading because it does not take into account all the tax revenue and local jobs that salmon fishing creates in the Puget Sound region.

There are many local tackle manufactures, fishing tackle stores, marinas, boat-repair shops, bait companies and all the support industries that cater to the salmon fishing industry in King County and Snohomish County. All these jobs create family living wages.

There is good evidence that releasing chinook salmon so small that they only cost 11 cents is just an effort in futility. Chinook salmon released into the wild from a hatchery that small would only produce food for birds and other predators.

Nonetheless, chinook salmon released from a hatchery that miniature will never survive. The result: The few chinook that are caught will be $5,000 a pound. Jobs will be lost. Tax revenue will decrease. Fishing tourism will disappear. The only salmon in the Seattle area will be at Pike Street Market. Priceless?

The state should concentrate on repairing the environmental damage done to the Puget Sound rivers and cleaning up the pollution in Puget Sound. When those tasked are accomplished, there will be plenty of salmon.

— John Martinis, Mukilteo

Public opinion aside, Pierce County responsible for deaths

Editor, The Times:

Pierce County not only failed the police —it is still failing the public. [“Families: County failed officers,” page one, April 9.]

While the “Clemmons’ vendetta” with the police is an egregious example. Here’s why:

1. Clemmons’ had a ’ history of violence: burglaries, robbing an Arkansas police officer.

2. Psychiatric reports in Arkansas and Washington.

3. Recorded phone messages of seeking revenge against police.

With all of that, along with recent child rape and assault charges, Clemmons managed to get out with just an ankle bracelet.

Did Pierce County think it could monitor Clemmons cheaply? Or was it just following policy and procedure for a man with a history of violent robberies and who was suspected of raping a child?

There is a bigger problem to address, and Clemmons is just the tip of the iceberg. I only perceive this “negligence of institutes” getting worse with overcrowded jails, more violent crime, shorter jail time and budget cuts, especially with a 17 percent federal unemployment rate.

I do not think taxpayers just want red flags on criminals who might attack or have a vendetta with police, but for all victims and concerns of public safety in general. There is no question that having four innocent police officers slaughtered in a coffee house on a Sunday should be overlooked or swept under the carpet as if it were merely an oversight in an overwhelmed criminal processing system.

— Anita Dirini, Bothell

Apology owed to officers’ families

Members of the community and Pierce County Sheriff’s Spokesman Ed Troyer owe an apology to the families of the Lakewood police officers killed by Maurice Clemmons.

In their attempt to call attention to the possibility of preventing violence, the families have been called “greedy” and accused of bringing a “meritless” lawsuit against Pierce County. They have not only backed down, but their lawyer has publicly apologized for the monetary amount recorded in the suit.

Clemmons made threats and then carried them out. Four police officers lost their lives, and Clemmons was shot and killed.

It is outrageous to assume greed is behind every lawsuit brought against a county or any entity lax in its practices. The legal system exists as a remedy to protect individuals and the public. This lawsuit is a mechanism for change —one that should not be compromised by listening to negative public officials or a few ill-thinking individuals. I encourage the families as well as their legal counsel to pursue this case on its merits.

— Marcia Adams-Landry, Bainbridge Island

Dropping lawsuit helps taxpayers

The vicious murders of four Lakewood police officers was a tragedy for all Puget Sound area residents. That this senseless crime could have been prevented with greater resources is obvious.

All elements of our community’s critical infrastructure are suffering from the economic downturn and limited tax dollars —not just crime prevention. If we had the money, we could do much better in many areas.

A lawsuit brought by the slain officers’ families against Pierce County taxpayers, if successful, would only worsen our economic woes and inhibit our ability to fund needed improvements to prevent this tragedy from happening again. Sadly, this lawsuit is about greed, not about justice or the protection of our police officers.

— Dave Gamrath, Seattle

Court already far to the right

Ruth Marcus is correct —the replacement of Justice John Paul Stevens is unlikely to mean a shift to the left. [“Stevens departure from high court doesn’t mean a shift to the left,” Opinion, April 10.] She leaves out the worrisome implications of this.

A consistent pattern of nominations by Republican presidents —young, radically right judges —has pushed the court far to the right. Stevens, a conservative appointed by President Nixon, now counts as a liberal.

The result is crazy decisions such as the recent reversal of long-standing opinion, which allow corporations’ unlimited campaign donations as “free speech.”

I say crazy advisedly; Corporations lack a conscience or what the religious call a soul and fail miserably to understand the social contract that humanists assert forms the basis of morality. Increasing the legal “personhood” rights of entities such as Comcast, Boeing and even The Seattle Times only increases their already substantial rights compared to people.

With so much power vested in amoral business entities, could voting rights be far behind?

— Randy Grein, Bellevue

Think like the common folk

This is a response to “Some rich don’t want tax breaks” [Business, April 10.]

Although I find it honorable and commendable that Judy Pigott feels the need to strive for higher tax rates, I wish that these individuals would simply donate their “extra” money to the U.S. government if they feel it could do better with their money than they can.

For a salesperson who starts the day with no money until something is sold, the levels of tax rates are not the problem. The fact that the U.S. government takes in excess of 50 percent of what they make leads me to believe what we have as a nation is a spending problem and not a taxation problem.

I would like to invite Ms. Pigott to work with me for a day to feel what it is like to have to bust her backside for her money; it could give her a different perspective. When the day wraps, I could share with her the costs of raising three kids in an expensive city, saving for their college tuition and making sure they have what they need to start their day —and of course, also making sure the government gets its 50 percent.

— Tim Sturdevant, Kirkland

‘Safety first’ not always the case

It is tragic that such an event happened at the Tesoro refinery in Anacortes, resulting in the tragic deaths of five and injuries to two other workers. [“Tesoro blast called fireball,” NWTuesday, April 6.]

What probably goes unnoticed is that many of the nation’s refineries and chemical plants are at least 30 years old and could pose an ever-present danger to some sort of industrial accident like the one here.

Although “safety first” is the mantra of these companies, when it comes down to retrofitting older equipment to increase output, safety is sometimes compromised. Even workers at these plants know the inherent dangers associated with their workplace, but are willing to take the risk because they are arning big bucks with a lot of overtime, among other benefits.

Sadly, as long as society craves the hundreds of byproducts that could be derived from refining or cooking crude oil at high temperatures and pressures, then demand could drive these plants to perhaps take short cuts on safety to meet production goals. When a fatality occurs, there is the usual soul-searching regarding what could have been done to prevent such a catastrophe and determining whom to blame.

— Robert Randle, Tacoma

Adoption agencies should be free from blame

The story of the Russian adoptee sent back to Russia by his adoptive family certainly caught my eye and heart [“Russia furious: Adopted boy sent back alone from U.S.,” News, April 10].

Having been a social worker for a program that promoted the adoption of special needs or “waiting” children, I cannot help but feel that there is more to this story; I do not think it should reflect negatively on the agency involved unless an investigation shows it is more culpable than I suspect.

Adoption of older children presents known risks that vary by the child’s history and where he or she is originally from.

An adoption agency provides prospective parents the most accurate info it could get from adoption authorities. The agency relies on a social worker’s home-study across the country, who attests a family understands these risks and has the emotional, psychological and financial resources to make a lifelong commitment to the welfare of a child.

When an adoptive family experiences challenges with a child, family members are expected to respond as if the child were born into their family. My understanding is that this adoptive family did not seek services for the child. If it is eventually determined that an adoption cannot be salvaged, the agency should match the child with another adoptive family.

It is possible that the child is reacting to that particular family and might adjust much better in a different home. I have seen that happen. Again, that means working with the adoption agency to assure the child’s welfare.

I am confident the adoption agency did not suggest or support this parent’s actions. While the adoptive parent had laudable motivation in her desire to adopt a waiting child, there was clearly an abandonment of her responsibilities as an adoptive parent.

— Tim Meagher, Fircrest

Abandonment in international adoptions rare

There are many faces to international adoption and so many happy endings. [“Grandmother: Boy terrified adoptive kin,” News, April 11.]

A story like this recent one of abandonment is rare, but is frightening enough that it gives the countries involved in international adoption pause in order to review policy. Sadly, this places so many stable, loving families waiting to adopt a child on hold.

We adopted our daughter two years ago from China. She is a daily joy and we could not possibly imagine our lives without her. We waited three years for our daughter and were guided skillfully and patiently by our agency, World Association for Children and Parents (WACAP).

There were countless, unexpected delays as we waited for our daughter as country policies changed and paperwork increased. Throughout the adoption process, WACAP rigorously educated our family, prepared us for the transition with our daughter and was available for support. Upon our daughter’s arrival, post-placement visits and transitional support were woven into our homecoming. WACAP is an agency of integrity that is highly regarded in the adoption community, and we are so grateful for their work on behalf of children in the United States and worldwide.

We believe in adoption. Every child deserves a loving, forever family to call their own. We hope that these recent events will not deter countries from entrusting children in need to families abroad, nor deter families from adopting children in need.

— Annie & David Drummond, Shoreline

Full spill ahead

Editor, The Times:

Thank you for weighing in on the importance of spill to help salmon in the Columbia Basin [“Spill water, move salmon,” Opinion, April 8.] I thought the harmful Bush administration policies were in the past, but apparently there are some in the Obama administration that have the same misguided management philosophy for these endangered fish.

Fishermen fought hard to get court-ordered spill measures in place in 2006 and every year since. And now, every year, we are seeing slightly higher returns of salmon from the ocean. Scientists say that spill is a big reason for that.

It makes no sense to stop these measures when they clearly help. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association needs to keep the measures in place until stakeholder negotiations could help create a solid Columbia River and Snake River salmon plan. Fishing communities have suffered too long from these types of managing-for-extinction policies. If the Obama administration rolls back spill, it will be no different from the Bush administration.

— Patrick Donovan, Seattle

Save the salmon

I applaud the editorial urging the Obama administration to adopt strong spill measures for dams along the Columbia and Snake rivers.

Until there is a real recovery plan for Columbia salmon, such as bypassing the dams on the lower Snake River, measures such as increased spill are crucial for ensuring salmon will not become extinct. I am disappointed that the administration would consider getting rid of a proven way to help boost salmon returns.

I hope federal agencies will heed your advice — and that of scientists — and commit to a full spill program for this year’s salmon migration.

But spill is only a short-term measure. We also need some type of settlement process put into place. I hope that Sens. Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell as well as other leaders in Washington will take the initiative on this and move us toward a real solution to the salmon crisis.

— Amy Lindberg, Vashon

Support temporary business tax surcharge

As a Washington state service business —massage therapy —I would gladly pay a temporary business tax surcharge [“Fatigued lawmakers hunt for final budget votes,” page one, April 9], which would help balance the budget without cutting essential services for our children, families and the least well-off among us.

I urge the people who provide us with beer, soda pop, candy and gum to also support these temporary taxes.

— Jerome Chroman, Seattle

One light rail to Bellevue is more than enough

Let me get this straight: The mayor wants to stop all planning on the replacement 520 bridge so that it can include possible light rail, should voters approve of expanding it from Mountlake Boulevard to Bellevue in the future. [“Slam brakes on design of 520, McGinn urges,” page one, April 7.]

I may be wrong, but isn’t the I-90 bridge, which is currently undergoing plans to retrofit lanes for light rail, already going to Bellevue?

Are we seriously thinking about halting 14 years of planning, just so we can spend millions more dollars and years of delays, just so we can add a second light rail to Bellevue? I have nothing against Bellevue, but there are already plans to expand it from downtown to Redmond, Kirkland, etc. We should let that happen.

But to have a second light rail go to Bellvue and all the places that light rail will go does not make much sense to me.

— Russ Crandall, Seattle

Pump from profits, not hardworking people

In the picture of U.S. financial problems that Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke described [“Bernanke says nation must face up to debt,” Business, April 8], there is a figure he refuses to acknowledge. He painted a scene in which working people must accept higher taxes or further destruction of social services, education — our quality of life — because the U.S. economy is “fragile.”

But Bernanke ignored the sacred cow of profits that actually takes up most of the picture.

Working people are devastated by the greed and criminal actions of banks and other financial institutions. Nearly a million homes have reverted to bank ownership and countless foreclosures are still coming. Millions of jobs have disappeared and many will never reappear.

It is time to dig into the massive profits of the banks and corporations. Milk that sacred cow of all its stolen wealth. Tax the rich and demand that they “face up to the debt” before they have the gall to expect more blood from us turnips.

— Tamara Turner, Seattle

Civilians: What were their crimes?

The WikiLeak footage as described in Amy Goodman’s column [“Iraq’s war collateral damage includes civilians and journalists,” Opinion, April 9] is indeed graphic and horrific.

I am sure there will be those who say that some of the “civilians” killed were carrying AK-47s and possibly even a rocket-propelled grenade, which made them fair game.

And yet, regardless of whether they were carrying weapons, as I watched these Iraqis get summarily slaughtered by an Apache helicopter gunship flying too high to be seen or heard by its victims, a question came to mind: What, exactly, did these poor people have to do with 9-11?

— Dave Richards, Bainbridge Island

Comparing military service to video games unpatriotic

There was a time in the discourse of Seattle that heated, ignorant, mean-spirited opinions such as expressed by Daniel Ruuska [“WikiLeaks video shows 12 dead in Iraq army assault,” NWVoices, April 8] would not have been offered, let alone published. The portrayal of the U.S. military service and its members as gun-happy murderers is so blatantly offensive and uniformed it is beyond belief.

To make use of a tragedy to support one’s presupposed and errant opinions is classic far-leftist mantra. Throw out enough lies and filth often enough and it will be perceived as truth. Likening military service to limbic video-gamers and gang members is beyond the pale.

I doubt folks sharing Ruuska’s view have ever considered serving a higher cause by putting on a uniform and, as such, placing the country before the self. It is understandable —but no less deplorable —that our service members are once again spat upon when citizens will not honor the commitment and sacrifice these brave souls undertake. Instead, their service is marred by cowardice and self-serving vitriol.

— Mark Bowers, Issaquah

Mine owners, special-interest groups to blame

Greed and special interest may be killing coal miners. [“Searchers head back into mine,” News, April 9.]

There are two ways to mine: There is the traditional underground method and the surface method, neither of which are a safe industry. The underground method has an inherent chance of endangering human life, but is “better for the environment.”

The owners of these mines have one thing in mind, and that is profit. Realistically, the cost and environmental damage is considered before the life of a human being. Before you get all environmental on me, nearly all surface mining can be recycled — and many do get recycled. It again comes to the cost of cleaning up the surface mines after their use is spent. This cleaning-up process provides jobs in all related fields, therefore miners could continue to work after the mine has run its course without contending the dangers of underground working conditions.

There are environmental special interests such as the Natural Resources Defense Council, which has fought surface mining in Tennessee and elsewhere. Its video sounds like funeral music; its interest is the Earth and it could care less about the safety and lives of miners deep within underground mines of the Appalachian Mountains.

In a way, both the mine owners and special-interests groups should be blamed for the West Virginia mining deaths. What is the life of a human being worth?

— Jim Morris, Renton

Priorities aflame when dollars dig in

This is a response to the editorial “Old scrutiny, new fears” [Opinion, April 6].

It is odd how we protected Wall Street when it was down and out, but we cannot seem to protect the working class from being injured or killed when they are performing a dangerous job.

The miners in West Virginia and the refinery workers in Anacortes are lost based on a sad and twisted set of priorities. Money rules.

— Jocelyn Hudson, Shoreline

Catholic Church hiding criminals

I was so angered by the story “Catholic responses vary on abuse crisis” [NWFriday, April 9].

The problem is the Catholic Church hides its criminals and does not put them in the proper system if members break the law.

I cannot tell you all that a child predator would be up against in the legal system, but it would not include praying for him to stop. I want the Catholics around the world to wake up and put these people in jail —not some beautiful, recreational property were they are free to continue their sexual deviance.

I do not appreciate the church not standing up for what is right. Any person —I do not care what his profession is — who molests 200 children should not be walking around. period. Shame on Catholics for not seeing that.

— Carrie McAffee, Bothell

Panhandling should be last resort only for those in need

I was disgusted by the photo of Heather and Daimey in the April 5 story “Burgess emerges as leader and consensus builder” [NWMonday]. The two appear clean, not afflicted with mental illness, alcoholism or drugs; in fact, they appear well-educated.

Quite a few years ago, a buddy and I worked our way around our country by washing dishes, busing tables and short-order cooking, among other things. The employers did not expect such employees to stick around very long and were just happy to have some help, even though we were sleeping on the ground and in a car. We had too much pride to even consider sticking out our hands and saying, “Give me some money, please.”

There are many panhandlers who will never be able to find work due to mental disease, alcohol and drug abuse; those brats are diverting money from those who truly need help.

— Martin Paup, Seattle

Government will only bring web of complications

The Seattle Times editorial “Net neutrality up to Congress” [Opinion, April 7] calls for government control over Internet providers in order to supply neutrality. We are not stupid. If an Internet provider’s service is lacking, there are dozens more to switch to.

One result of government regulation is barriers to entry. When government imposes complicated regulations, such as 3,000-page laws, only the largest firms can enter the industry. Complications impose costs and eventually require court interpretations, lawsuits and hundreds of attorneys.

The only regulation that works for the consumer’s benefit is the market. Why should we trust government regarding regulation of the Net?

— Jesse Jolibois, Lakewood

What if McKenna wins?

Reading first Stewart Jay’s op-ed “New health-reform law is definitely constitutional” [Opinion, April 4] and then State AG Rob McKenna’s adjoining justification for his lawsuit against the mandate part of the law [“Sections of new law violate the Constitution,” Opinion, April 4] brought a disturbing scenario to mind.

If Jay is right that Social Security is a federal insurance mandate and McKenna somehow wins his lawsuit, then there could be grounds to outlaw the Social Security Act as well as Medicare —two things Republicans have been trying to get rid of since their enactments.

Even though McKenna advocates transparency and claims to just be doing his independent duty to fight for our rights, I think he has a hidden agenda. He should come clean and tell us exactly what it is.

— Timothy Walsh, Seattle

What about federal deficit?

This is a response to “Gregoire pushes the Race to the Top” [NWThursday, April 8].

Let’s see: The federal deficit this year is projected $1.4 trillion and the state wants to get a $250 million grant from the federal government.

Does anyone get it? Or does anyone care?

— Drew Popson, Kent