In her July 6 column, “An open letter to Fed chief,” Julia Anderson sent her urgent requests to the wrong man. The Federal Reserve is concerned with setting monetary policy, regulating the banking industry, stabilizing the financial system, and providing financial services to depository institutions. Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke doesn’t have the power to bring down gasoline prices, get a “green” car on the market, make nuclear power an energy option, change how we manage timber in the Pacific Northwest, or reform health care.

As for Anderson’s other three requests, the Federal Reserve can only indirectly affect economic growth, the value of the dollar, and commercial interest rates. The only thing the Fed can change is the federal funds interest rate.

My advice is to pay closer attention to the policies being promoted by our presidential candidates. Send those “urgent requests” to your members of Congress. They are responsible for legislation. Check out www.federalreserveeducation.org/fed101.

Elizabeth Menozzi
Vancouver

Compromise with 3 days

I think that Elizabeth Hovde’s suggestion in her July 10 opinion column, “Let’s muzzle fireworks free-for-all,” that we totally ban fireworks is unreasonable and unnecessary. Do we really need to ruin the enjoyment of the many patriotic Americans in Clark County who love setting off fireworks just because some people don’t like to be up late a few nights a year? On the other hand, I don’t think that it would be unreasonable to shorten the season some. Could we all agree to compromise on a three-day fireworks season — say, the second, third and fourth of July?

My family and I shoot off fireworks every year, and I don’t think that you can really celebrate freedom if you aren’t even free to shoot off your own fireworks. One of the great things about being an American is having the freedom to celebrate freedom.

Bill Schultz-Rathbun
Brush Prairie

Change law through vote

As I write this, it is July 15 and fireworks are still going off in my neighborhood. Calling 911 has not helped as the police appear to only issue warnings. It appears that the only effective way to curtail or change this insane fireworks policy is on election day to remember those officials responsible for setting the policy.

Jim Chamberlain
Vancouver

Tour serves community

The Earth-Friendly Garden Tour on July 13 was inspiring, relaxing, informative — and free. To view the many local gardens on display and ask questions of the friendly hosts and volunteer master gardeners was a delightful way for anyone who has a patch of soil to pick up ideas and knowhow for implementing natural gardening techniques.

Kudos to the organizers, volunteers, and host gardeners who did an outstanding job providing maps, location signs, focal point labels, guidebooks, and helpful information. What a tremendous service to our community — and our Mother Earth.

Kay Hudziak
Brush Prairie

Poor budgeting by city

In light of the budget cuts for the Vancouver police and fire, (July 10 story, “Budget cuts hit Vancouver police,”) I remember that the city manager got a substantial 12.3 percent raise voted by the Vancouver City Council earlier this year. Yes, the budget cuts are spread across all departments but why would the city council vote an increase for any department head when one could have seen this coming?

Bob Zak
Vancouver

Mayor asks for lion’s share
So Sam Adams, the mayor-elect of Portland, wants to get his hands on the money from any toll that might be set on the new Interstate-5 Bridge and the Glenn Jackson Bridge. He wants this money to help cover expenses on projects south of the bridges. A July 10 story reported, “Portland City Council backs new bridge, with many reservations.”

Not only does Oregon take a portion of the income of anyone who has the great joy of earning a living over there, now his highness the mayor wants more or he and the Portland high counsel won’t sign off on the project. My response to him would be, well, never mind, this is a family paper after all.

Vern Collins
Vancouver

Public power is for public

As a co-facilitator with Citizens for Local Power, I find Don Brunell’s July 8 guest opinion, “Skagit would regret seizing live power lines,” inaccurately compares Skagit Public Utility District’s potential costs to Puget Sound Energy’s. He uses figures implying Skagit would have the whole bill PSE had in last year’s outage. Skagit’s would only be what their regional damages were. Further, PUDs willingly help each after storms because they know their day for help could come with the next storm.

Regarding power access, the 1980 Power Act specifically helps public utilities access BPA’s cheaper power. As for “reliable service,” numerous contractors, developers and ratepayers dispute Brunell’s claim of PSE’s “reliable service.”

Even PSE’s bill-insert surveys differ. Numerous stories highlight PSE’s focus on dividends instead of maintenance or debt retirement, hence their need for $5-plus billion in foreign investment. Public power is the public’s right and privilege. PSE lives by the grace of its ratepayers, not the other way around.

Steve Hamm
Nordland, Wash.

Voting 101 explained

With the Aug. 19 primary just around the corner here are a few thoughts to make voting easy.

1. Make sure you’re registered to vote, when in doubt check with the elections department.

2. Remember incumbents have messed it up already, so give someone else a chance. Just say “no” to incumbents.

3. If we can get new people in office maybe they can live with the current taxes. Just say “no” to new taxes.

It’s as easy as 1,2,3.

Bob Blue
Camas