Letters to the editor — May 16

Judges need more discretion in sentencing

A judge’s job is to implement the law after thorough study and evaluation of each case. We do not allow them to do that with our mandatory minimum sentencing laws, and the three-strikes law in particular.

These laws do not always make sense yet our judges without question and without wisdom must follow them. In many cases, this is truly unfortunate.

Regardless of the individual situation, we simply send people to be warehoused, making some of them tax burdens for life with zero opportunity of release ever.

As evidenced by our overfull prison population and the ever-increasing Department of Corrections budget and the need to construct more and more prisons, it is time to review our sentencing policies and to enact some reform measures.

Let’s give the power and the tools back to the judges so they can do their jobs.

Andrea Robbins, Olympia

Carter was wrong to meet with Hamas

James Earl Carter, once again, demonstrated what a wise choice America made in voting him out of office in 1980. Not content to be a former president, he has chosen to interfere in the foreign policy of the United States by meeting with Hamas.

Carter was asked not to meet with Hamas. He was warned that the visit would only serve to legitimize the group. Because he knows better, he met with the terrorists anyway. He left the meeting proclaiming peace was possible and Hamas would accept Israel. Hamas clarified that they would only offer a 10-year truce if Israel met all of its demands. Hamas has stated that a worldwide jihad is its goal.

Maybe Carter should recall his colleague, Neville Chamberlain, who sold out Czechoslovakia to Adolf Hitler for “peace in our time.” World War II was the result of his treachery and appeasement.

In order to negotiate peace, both sides need to have a sincere desire for peace. Carter obviously does not understand that basic principle. All he did was create propaganda for terrorists bent on war and show exactly how naive and pathetic he truly is.

George Steele, Shelton

Use stimulus check to preserve lands

In just a few days, nearly every South Puget Sound resident will receive a check from the federal government that is designed to serve as an economic stimulant.

For those folks who can afford to do so, I would urge you to contribute all or part of your check to the Capitol Land Trust.

Our county is growing extremely fast and open space is being swallowed up every day with new houses, warehouses, business locations and public facilities.

The Capitol Land Trust (209 Fourth Ave. E., Olympia) will immediately pool your check with those of others to purchase uplands and beaches for future generations. Your money will circulate through the real estate market and the goals of the federal program will be met.

I am very concerned that we are not setting aside enough open space and park lands for our grandchildren. This could be your opportunity to help guarantee a more livable county for our future generations.

Ralph Munro, Olympia

Levy dollars help gifted students, too

My son currently attends Lacey Elementary School. When we were searching for schools for him to attend, we knew that we needed to find an advanced/gifted/highly capable program. I searched Olympia and Tumwater, but North Thurston was the only school district with the foresight to have a full-time program (TAG).

The district understood that kids, at an early age, are sponges and that the gifted kids have specialized needs that can’t be met in a normal classroom setting. It’s wonderful that most high schools have AP and honors classes, but, more importantly, these kids need to have advanced learning at the very beginning of their education.

If you walked in any of the TAG classes, I know that you would be amazed that these kids are normal kids with normal kid behavior, however, the conversations you hear and the knowledge they have is beyond belief. To not receive their current level of learning in the future would be a complete disservice to these kids.

Finally, I cannot even imagine these kids not having PE, music and art. What would you have done without those classes? Those classes are sorely needed, not only for enrichment, but also to enjoy something other than their core studies!

I urge all of the North Thurston school district voters to vote “YES” for the levy on Tuesday. Please vote “YES,” for the sake of our kids — the future of their education depends upon it.

Katie Mangino, Lacey

Budget cuts are not essential to learning

In a recent Olympian, supporters of the North Thurston school district levy listed various areas that would be cut if Tuesday’s levy doesn’t pass. Without realizing it, they line out exactly where cuts need to be made!

Elementary school art, music, band and orchestra teaching positions will be eliminated. These are programs that do not serve the majority of students. Eliminate them!

High school sports participation fees will increase to about $200 to $250. This is a small amount for the students participating in sports compared to the projected $100 per household increase incurred if the levy passes. Students could earn the fees by mowing lawns or baby-sitting.

Middle school extracurricular activities will be eliminated. They are just that — extracurricular and unnecessary.

These are just a few examples of cuts mentioned. None of them are crucial to educating students. If the levy fails and these areas are cut, teachers can finally concentrate on just providing quality basic education to district students.

Kathy Evans, Lacey

Extras add to education

I am a conservative, a Republican and someone who supports the replacement levy for the North Thurston school district.

What do children look forward to when they go to school? Math? Essays? Push-ups? Reading textbooks all day long — all while maintenance gets deferred? No, they look forward to sports, music, art and the things that, if they don’t do well on the core classes, will be withheld until their grades come up.

These extra things do cost money, as does everything, but they are worth it. They give these kids a complete education, just like many of us had.

By the way, who paid taxes for your education? I doubt it was any easier for them.

John Heinley, Olympia

School district should have lowered tax rate

When you paid your property taxes did you see how much of the money goes to the schools? My property tax statement shows one-third goes to the North Thurston school district.

The North Thurston school district is asking you to vote for a maintenance and operations levy. They say it is a replacement levy and will not cost more, but you will pay more if your property value went up and nearly every piece of property in Thurston County increased.

Since we have many military families living in our area the federal government subsidizes schools to pay for the education of their children. Is this money considered in the budget?

Lacey is one of the fastest- growing areas when it comes to building homes so these new homes will generate more tax dollars even if people do not have children in the school district they will have to pay school levies.

So would it not be wise to lower the tax levies? They would stand a better chance to get these levies passed.

Eileen Oldendorff, Olympia

Taxpayers didn’t pick up the tab

Thank you so much for the positive editorial about the Seeds of Compassion Children’s Day. Yes, it was a once-in-a-lifetime event for all the fortunate children and adults who were in attendance! I was amazed by the stillness of so many children who sat listening to the Dalai Lama’s words about compassion.

It was not funded at all by taxpayers’ dollars.

Transportation was completely paid for by the Seeds of Compassion organization, which sponsored the event.

My third-graders’ writing about the day is priceless. THEY know what it was and is all about!

Karen Milliman, Olympia