Our readers' views Nov. 23

Ramona Arnold’s Nov. 11 letter, “Consider funding a low-cost pet clinic,” is valid. An interesting phenomenon has occurred with the emergence of health insurance and now pet insurance. Prices have risen dramatically, creating a situation where those without insurance are often without affordable care for their pets — or family.

Under the present circumstances, an owner without pet insurance, having a dog or cat with a costly chronic condition or a victim of a serious accident, has only the humane option of euthanasia.

Lorain Bowers

Vancouver

Why cut a successful program just when it will be most needed? Washington state is proposing the elimination of local Community Networks. That’s a bad move. Networks, now numbering 39, were brought about by a vote of Washington citizens in response to youth violence.

Since 1996, Family Policy Council Community Networks have devoted efforts towards reducing teen violence, as well as child abuse and neglect, teen suicide, domestic violence, youth substance abuse, teen pregnancy and high school dropout rates. In communities with active Community Networks, problems are decreasing. I know from working for Skamania-Klickitat Community Network.

Volunteers from all walks of life sit together at network tables and find creative, resourceful ways to support families living in our communities. For every dollar of state support received, Community Networks acquire seven additional dollars from grants or donations to support programs.

Gov. Chris Gregoire says she believes children deserve safe homes. So do Community Networks.

Johanna N. Roe

Willard

In response to John Laird’s Nov. 16 column, “Has Clark County lost its redness?,” as a Republican whose vote did not count in “blue” Washington state, I am ever grateful for the wisdom of the Founding Fathers. We are and have been a collection of states; each with individual, social, and economic preferences. Federal authority has encroached beyond its constitutional mandate on nearly all states’ rights. One of the last bastions of state assertion is the Electoral College.

America’s Founders formed what was originally lauded by Aristotle as a constitutional republic. Aristotle alluded that when perverted, a constitutional republic degrades into a democracy. In spite of conventional wisdom, democracy is chaotic and unproductive, and is adversely susceptible to an imbalanced media intent on manipulating public opinion.

Robert Cornelison

Vancouver

In the 1960s, a frustrated engineer, working for a large, slow-moving company, declared that if in 1908 his employer had been awarded a grant to improve transportation, it would have bred a bigger horse.

In 2008, the U.S. automakers focus on SUVs and big pickups. Daniel J. Mitchell, of The Cato Institute, recently cited three reasons for stopping auto company bailouts:

1. A bailout will hurt the overall economy by misallocating resources. When politicians grant special favors to a certain industry, such decisions mean that market forces are being replaced by special-interest deal making.

2. A bailout will encourage other industries to seek taxpayer handouts. They will want to stick their snouts in the public trough.

3. A bailout is a perverse transfer from poor taxpayers to rich taxpayers.

Yet much of the federal budget is devoted to redistribution programs.

Ralph C. Edwards

Vancouver

Jonah Barnes, in a Nov. 19 letter, “Religious bigotry is stirring,” pointed out that “the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has been persecuted before.” When Joseph Smith had a printing press destroyed to hide his polygamous affairs, he and the LDS church were persecuted. When Brigham Young spoke out against one man-one woman marriage in favor of polygamous marriages, the LDS church was persecuted. During the Civil Rights movement, when the LDS church staunchly supported segregation, vehemently discouraged interracial marriages, and didn’t allow black males to have LDS “priesthood,” it was persecuted. And now, as they move away from their second prophet’s admonitions about the evils of one man-one woman marriages and support that fully as long as it stops homosexuals from marriage, they feel persecuted again.

The irony is that from the 1800s to now, people like Barnes seem to see only one side of all this “persecution.”

Larry Johnson

Vancouver

On Nov. 16, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert spoke to the General Assembly of Jewish leaders gathered in Jerusalem: “Iran has not terminated its pursuit of nuclear weapons,” adding, “Iran cannot become nuclear. Israel cannot afford it. … The free world must not accept it. We must all do whatever we can to prevent it.”

Olmert’s comments reveal monumental hypocrisy and ongoing deception by Israeli public officials. In 1986, an Israeli nuclear technician named Mordechai Vanunu revealed that Israel has illegally created over 200 nuclear weapons. Israel has attacked its neighbors militarily. In recent decades there have been illegal attacks against Egypt, Syria and occupied Palestine. The only way to secure a nuclear-free Middle East is to have every nation in the region play by the same rules. This includes Israel.

American and international leaders must begin nuclear weapons inspections at Israeli military sites in the Negev Desert.

Murl Jones

Vancouver

A problem for caregivers is parking in downtown Vancouver while caring for our clients, especially those living in Smith Tower. A caregiver must plug coins in parking meters and then dash to clock in at the time scheduled with a client. If you are scheduled for a two-hour session, this might work.

However, if you are scheduled for longer, you have to excuse yourself in the middle of cooking dinner, giving a bath, or whatever activity you may be providing because area meters don’t hold more than two hours’ worth of coins. And near Smith Tower, the off-street parking lots aren’t for residents. I found that out by paying a $25 violation.

I won’t forfeit any more of my pay to the city while doing good deeds for my fellow man, earning my daily bread, because I parked in the wrong spot. I hope there’s a better solution for caregivers and their clients.

M. Elaine Bottomley

Vancouver