Letters to the editor for Aug. 2

The Snazas set a poor example

In reading the recent statements by the Snaza brothers — the sheriffs in Thurston and Lewis counties — qualifying how they will enforce, or not enforce, the governor’s mask mandate, I’m not certain what laws I should be compelled to follow in Thurston and Lewis counties.

My understanding is that law enforcement is supposed to enforce the laws, not determine which laws should be enforced. The Snaza brothers approach to the mask mandate is a small example of why law enforcement is currently being challenged in this country. They are not following the contract they have with society. If law enforcement picks and chooses what laws they want to enforce, then why shouldn’t society?

If law enforcement enforces the law, then the law will more likely be followed by society. The Snaza brothers’ public display of defiance to the law in these trying times continues to reflect poorly on law enforcement in general.

To make it easier to support the mask mandate, I suggest the Snaza brothers read the headline: “33,000 fewer COVID-19 deaths if 95% of people wear masks.” Just enforce the mask mandate as you would when enforcing speeding violations or apprehending an armed suspect — you are saving lives.

Otherwise, if I ever do break a law in Lewis or Thurston county, my defense will be that I chose to not follow the law because I “don’t want to be like a sheep.”

David P Palazzi, Olympia

Cast a smart vote

A smart vote is much better than a quick vote.

But the real culprit is the under-informed vote. We all do it. I do it. And it’s often with commendable intent — to discharge my democratic duty as a voter. But without adequate information and reflection, our vote dilutes the pool of informed votes cast by people who have foraged through the sometimes formidable amount of material, talked to their friends, maybe even talked or at least listened to candidates — i.e., done most of the things that provide a basis for making an informed decision. The under-informed vote is how the wrong people get into office or, more often, get retained in office.

How well thought out have your votes been? If you don’t really know enough to make a choice, don’t just vote for someone because they prefer the right party, they’re an incumbent, have a name you’ve heard before, are a nice person, or have a good reputation. These aren’t bad reasons; they’re just not enough.

Done your research and still stuck? Look at endorsements and contributions to and from the candidate. Talk to a trusted acquaintance who is in the know and shares your politics. Contact a group that hold your values and regularly endorses candidates. Ask your lawyer friends about the judicial races.

Now, let’s go get smart and vote — in that order.

Walter R. Jorgensen, Tumwater

Who are you going to vote for?

You have your ballot. There are a lot of names on it — a lot! But how to choose who to vote for? That’s the hard part.

Do you go to each and every candidate’s website? That will take a great deal of time. Can you trust the candidates’ websites to give you a balanced view? Or do these websites sing a candidate’s praises while leaving out anything unflattering?

What about candidate interviews by political action groups or political parties? Those might be a good way to learn about a specific candidate, but you’re not going to see that candidate compared to an opponent for the same position.

So how are you going to decide?

The League of Women Voters is a non-partisan, impartial group that delivers good, solid information. For the 2020 primary elections, the LWV moderated a series of virtual candidate forums. All candidates were invited and you’ll get to see candidates of all political affiliations answer fair questions.

The forums for Thurston County races, including the 10th Congressional District, can be found at lwvthurston.org/forums. Each forum is clearly marked so it is simple to find the race or candidate you want to watch.

I urge everyone to check out the LWV forums. I have found them to be the best source of information for filling out my ballot.

Shari Silverman, Tumwater