How about other officials’ joining the mayor so it’s a resounding rejection to making merchandise of your citizens?

Robert Ross
Vancouver

Bad news on green jobs
As state senator from the 8th Legislative District, I believe Washington’s drastic climate-change legislation will dramatically raise the cost of energy and transportation for companies, and thousands of jobs will be cut to pay for it. Environmentalists and politicians assure us that they’ll make up this job loss by creating “green jobs.” Economists say what’s more likely is that thousands of workers cut from family-wage jobs all over will be scrambling for fewer, lower-paying “green jobs.”

The result: Punishing energy prices, a depressed economy, and a net job loss statewide. When utilities are forced to produce inefficient sources of energy, like wind power, it’s like banning tractors on a farm and using animal-drawn plows. When it takes more workers to produce the same amount of food, the cost of food skyrockets.

We can’t let this happen. We must pursue efficient energy sources like zero-emissions nuclear power. It will address climate change while keeping our jobs and our economy strong.

Sen. Jerome Delvin
Olympia

Beware keyboard germs
The July 13 story, “Tainted keyboards common, study says,” was not new news. Five years ago, a University of Arizona microbiologist analyzed 7000-plus samples from personal work spaces and found the average desk harbors 400 times as many bacteria as the average toilet seat. The germiest part? Keyboards, telephones, fax machines.

I was surprised to read that “Library officials said the keyboards would now be cleaned on a weekly basis.” I run a library employing six student assistants. One of their daily tasks, using disinfectant wipes, is to de-critter all keyboards, mice, telephones, door handles, and anything most people touch — except, of course, books, magazines, and media items. Now there’s a scary thought — imagine what they are harboring.

Bruce McClay
Vancouver

Oil reserves stand ready
The July 16 editorial, “Offshore madness,” stated that there are petroleum sources such as the Bakken Formation in North Dakota and Montana that are “expansive, but untapped.” There are numerous producing oil wells in Mountrail County (N.D.) right now, which you can verify. A well that started producing two years ago is still going strong; it produced 1,883 barrels in the first seven days. One farmer gets a check for tens of thousands of dollars every month from two wells.

The crude needs little refining: It is light, almost like gasoline, and sweet. The new technology for drilling makes it profitable to reach these resources. These large petroleum reserves should not be considered “untapped.”

Marilyn Karlsen
Brush Prairie

Keep airwaves unrestricted
I support HR 2905, the Broadcaster Freedom Act, securing the First Amendment rights to free speech in electronic media. The First Amendment is the cornerstone this nation was built on. Efforts to monitor and control this freedom have been the subject of debate since 1776.

In the 1936 election, Republicans realized how effectively radio could communicate views to the public. However, the Democratic House and Senate passed a law, “The Fairness Doctrine,” to restrict broadcast of a single view without airing the opposing view even when no one paid for the air time. This shut down radio broadcasts of controversial information.

In 1987, President Reagan was instrumental in repealing that law by removing government control of private industry and deregulation. U.S. Rep. Mike Pense, R-Ind., introduced HR 2905 to prevent the FCC from reinstating the Fairness Doctrine. The amendment passed 309-115.

We should all be contacting our senators to pass this measure.

Eva Halter
Vancouver

More math teachers
The State Board of Education is considering a proposal — CORE 24 — that would require students to take more math and science classes to graduate.  Administrators object to these changes, citing shortages of math and science teachers.  Nonetheless, CORE 24 is a good idea.  As a director at the Washington Policy Center, I can report that our students must prepare for the highly competitive global marketplace.

Administrators clearly have a problem finding math teachers because of state-imposed barriers. Our research shows that a person with a deep understanding of math can be a more effective teacher than a person with a math teaching certificate. In Washington, 240,000 people have university degrees in math or similar subjects.  Restrictive teacher credential laws prevent these talented professionals from being hired.

Updating the curriculum  with CORE 24 is necessary. 

Even better, lawmakers should ease teacher certification restrictions so schools can get more talented professionals into classrooms. 

Liv Finne
Olympia

Police should be priority
I cannot believe there have been so few responses about the City of Vancouver’s cutting police funding. The July 17 letter “Need for police ignored” from Carl G. Halgren is correct. More police are needed.

One of the main jobs of government is to protect its people. Mayor Royce Pollard and the Vancouver City Council are more concerned about financing a hotel and selling property for a loss. When are the people of Vancouver going to wake up and vote these people out of office?

Paul E. Nelson
Salmon Creek