Letters to the Editor for March 20

Inslee is the Al Gore of the 2020 candidate pool

It is so exciting that Jay Inslee has entered the hunt for the Presidency! If he would get the Democratic nomination for President, it will guarantee a second term for President Trump. Inslee must not remember Gore’s presidential bid using climate change as his big issue. It is funny that Inslee basically has zero to 1 percent name recognition beyond the borders of Washington. It would also show how shallow the IQ pool is for Democratic President hopefuls.

In the March 2 issue of the paper, there is an article where polling shows that Washington is one of the vainest states. That isn’t a surprise in a state that has leaders that feel they are better at writing laws than the writers of the US Constitution and the Constitutions’ Bill of Rights.

It is a shame that a state that has all the benefits that it does is controlled by the voting block of Sodom and Gomorrah (aka Seattle and Olympia). Perhaps if the voting age was returned to 21 as it was prior to the Vietnam War, it would help to bring better lawmakers to the state House and Senate. Idaho is looking like a far better state to live in!

Support oil transport legislative bills

I am writing to express my support for bills currently in our legislature which address oil transport, HB 1578 and SB 5578. These bills would improve safety measures for oil-laden tank vessels and enhance state oil spill prevention rules. Barges transporting crude and sinking oils do not have the same safeguards as large tankers. With the threat of increased vessel traffic in the Salish Sea and our coast, the risk of oil spills looms large. These measures are critical to the survival of orcas, salmon, and shellfish, along with other fish, bird, and mammal species. Oil spills have a direct impact on our valuable local economy and our enjoyment of the natural beauty we are so fortunate to experience here in Washington state.

There is a horrifying history of oil spills in this country. NOAA’s Office of Response and Restoration states that “…even relatively small oil spills can cause major environmental and economic harm…” There have been numerous spills affecting Washington the past 50 years. The Sightline Institute warns, “Washington’s coastlines and waterways are at a threshold…. There is no guarantee that the Northwest can continue to support the vibrant natural systems it is known for.”

It is painful to learn about the death and destruction of species and the severe economic impacts, e.g. to fishing and tourism, due to oil spills. HB 1578 and SB 5578 must be passed in order to preserve the natural resources we all love and identify with as Washingtonians.

This story was originally published March 18, 2019 at 4:32 PM.