Letters to the Editor for March 27

A contradiction in policy

Currently, the state Legislature hopes to expand the medical authority of licensed naturopaths. At the same time, the governor has declared a state of emergency due to a measles outbreak. This is a classic problem. You cannot have your cake and eat it, too. The people of this state wish to support a science-based approach to medical care, and at the same time, throw science out whenever they feel like it. Until we face this contradiction, we cannot move forward together.

Paul Bunge, MD, Olympia

Don’t patronize bikini coffeehouses if you don’t like them

On numerous occasions while driving past bikini coffee stands, I’ve seen city employees and fire department personnel patronizing the business. I work for a private company and would never be allowed or would want to stop in a company vehicle. I think there’s nothing wrong with the businesses and choose not to patronize them, but as long as they operate in areas the city deemed suitable then there should be no issues. They are businesses that are trying to be profitable and pay taxes just like everybody else.

New and encouraging energy bill

President Trump has denied the existence of climate change, and has now promoted a coal industry lobbyist to the position of Environmental Protection Agency head. It’s a demoralizing situation, when the Earth’s climate clearly continues to deteriorate due to our atmospheric carbon dioxide emissions. But all is not lost, even at the federal level.

In the new 116th Congress, a bipartisan group of congresspersons has introduced the Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend Act of 2019. HR 763 establishes a national carbon tax, the proceeds of which would be returned to every American in the form of regular rebate checks.

For those wishing to see a clean energy future, it is encouraging that economists and analysts predict the legislation’s approach would give a real boost to low-carbon sources such as wind and solar, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 45 percent by 2030. The local Citizens’ Climate Lobby chapter has been promoting this idea for some time. I encourage others to learn more about this exciting and forward-looking bill.

This story was originally published March 25, 2019 at 4:03 PM.