Our readers views, July 3

I don’t smoke and never have, but I support a person’s right to smoke even if they live in public housing. The one place where a person should be able to smoke is in their own home, even if it’s rented. Private landlords can ban smoking because the people who rent from them usually have other options. The people who live in public housing don’t have other options. They often have to wait a long time to get access to an apartment they can afford. To ban smoking in their apartments is discrimination against some of the people who public housing is trying to help.

I would much prefer to have a neighbor who smokes than one who gets drunk and beats his wife. Why shouldn’t a person who can’t afford to play golf at a country club or go to a play have a small pleasure in life such as smoking?

Philip S. Parker

Vancouver

I was appalled when I read the June 28 story "An old familiar lifestyle is … gone in a puff." As a taxpayer, I am incensed that Teri Richard, someone who relies on taxpayer money for their livelihood, would be so bold as to advertise a three-pack-a-day habit in this forum. At an average of $6 dollars a pack, three packs a day is $540 dollars a month on her vice. More than her rent.

Were she to add that to the $377 a month she now pays for rent, she would be living better than many of those paying the taxes that support public assistance programs. Those people are not mean. They are angry. I would vote that, if you are a smoker, you are automatically disqualified for assistance that is meant for necessities, not vices.

Ada Collins

Washougal

It’s that happy time again. The Fourth of July nears. Our neighborhood more than likely will be like a war zone. In years past, we have had debris on our roof, in our backyard, front yard, on top of vehicles, etc. You get the picture.

I, as well as several neighbors, think the current fireworks policy is ridiculous. We suffer from our sleep being disturbed (we get up for work at 4:30 a.m.), our animals suffer, and our streets are a mess for a week.

Why can’t Battle Ground follow Washougal’s policy of one day, the day celebrated, July 4th? We are counting that the good people with the local fire department will be on alert this weekend. With the weather advisory of very warm weather, free rein of fireworks, and lots of dry brush, they may be busy.

We are taking the risk of going away for the weekend. Hopefully, our house will still be there when we return.

Gynene Lane

Battle Ground

The June 27 Cheers & Jeers states that cell phone usage while driving is a secondary offense that is already on the books. However, every day that I leave home and drive in any direction, city, or county, I observe, one, two, three, four, or five drivers pressing their cell phones to their ears and driving with one hand only. So, the Columbian is speaking like a doting parent, "What’s the big deal? My kids are all right."

Especially interesting are the people leaving store parking lots, beginning their phone conversations on the road, and not even considering making the calls while still parked.

Many experts state that talking on the cell phone causes a significant lack of awareness of the ability to concentrate on driving. It appears that this editorial is downgrading the emphasis on reckless driving.

Bob Carlyle Gordon

Vancouver

Can someone tell me why the only HOV lane in the state of Oregon has nothing to do with Oregon traffic?

Why isn’t there a southbound HOV on Interstate 5 going south of Portland? Why isn’t there one on Interstate 84 going east or Highway 26 going west? Is Oregon’s only HOV lane there to punish Vancouver drivers?

Think about the insanity of the HOV. It is designed to speed along traffic by encouraging carpooling, but all it has done is make everyone move to the right two lanes where the many entrance ramps full of commuters are trying to get on.

Even if you are carpooling, trying to get on I-5 and get over to the HOV lane is painful.

If the HOV lane was eliminated, traffic would move much faster.

Have you ever noticed that there is no traffic mess once you cross the bridge? An average car burns over a gallon of fuel an hour sitting in traffic.

Let’s help our environment and cut out the wasted fuel and time. Let’s get rid of the HOV.

Maybe then we wouldn’t need a new bridge.

Scott Dalesandro

Vancouver

Congress must consider passing legislation for a public health care plan, allowing people to chose private or public plans.

Availability to all would be a blessing to those who have not been able to afford health care.

Currently, my family is dependent upon the state of Washington Retirement Health Care plan. This plan is an HMO, and very expensive.

Middle-class people are caught in a bind: No health care and you jeopardize your financial future by risking all your assets. I am unwilling to risk that, so we are billed almost $1,500 a month. How many can afford that bill (and remember, co-pays add on to the monthly costs)?

The time is now to find a national health care plan with real bargaining clout. In order to control costs and compete with private plans, a strong public health insurance option must be made available.

Costs continue to rise, and with the economy, more and more people find health care unaffordable.

As a nation, we should meet a standard of accountability that means affordable medical insurance is available. We need to make the health care system accountable and transparent to Congress and the voters.

Time is of the essence; we need to get costs under control and health care on track.

Jane Doyle

Vancouver

Nancy called and Brian answered, and we all got the shaft. I’d like to ask how our Congressman Brian Baird, D-Wash., can vote on two of the largest pieces of legislation (stimulus and cap-and-trade) in the country’s history without reading them completely. (Reported in June 27 story "Wood-waste provision drew Baird’s vote.")

Congressman, come back to the district and defend your votes, or shall we come to Washington, D.C., and look beyond House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and ask you why?

Philip L. Johnson

Battle Ground