Letters to the editor for June 10

Listening to student voices

I attended the LGBTQIA+ Cafe put on by the North Thurston Public Schools for parents, students, and community members last week. It was a lively gathering with food and flags and a sense of celebrating together at the beginning of Pride Month. The group gathered at tables to discuss feelings on the topic of inclusion and exclusion and how the district can move forward to create a safer, more supportive atmosphere for our LGBTQIA+ students and families.

I commend the district for creating this, along with the other Cafes in the series, as an opportunity to do some deep listening.

But the people who really inspired me were the students! They showed such courage in expressing themselves. Their important voices brought authenticity to the floor. They shared tough stories of being bullied and harassed at school. They expressed a need to have administration and teachers step up the efforts to create a safe space for all students. They talked about how important parents and community support was to them. They talked and we must listen!

It is the school district’s responsibility but also the parents’ and community’s responsibility to create a supportive nurturing environment for all our students. They have to know that their neighbors have their backs. They look to us adults to model the kindness, understanding and compassion that they/we will need going forward.

Each child has their own path to find their greatest potential. Please offer them a hand! They are desperately asking us to reach out.

Annie Clay, Lacey

Insurance companies put profit over protection

It was through experience that I concluded that insurance is a scam. Let me elaborate. I had a loss and applied for coverage. Now the dance began. First, I contested the amount the insurance company was willing to pay. I won. The insurance company paid.

Then they canceled the policy, citing potential future losses. Huh? I foolishly thought the purpose of insurance was to cover losses. Apparently, it is to cover losses and punish those that make claims. Ironic, isn’t it? One buys insurance for protection and yet a claim is used as a basis to stop such protection. Sorta of a Catch-22. I may be dancing, but they control the music. So most of us find it easier and cheaper to pay out of pocket rather than risk having rates raise. What’s wrong here?

Insurance is just a hollow vessel meant to ease one’s mind until such time as claims are made, and then deductibles, low-ball payouts, and future increases or cancellations come into play.

We pay premiums for what purpose? To get a policy canceled? To get premiums increased? This happens even after years of no claims and premiums being paid regularly. Often, the insurance premium payments made over time exceed any claim. The only loss the insurance industry appears to be interested is in their bottom line. So what is really being insured? Their profit margin.

Somehow, my mind isn’t eased with coverage. I wish I could sit out the dance.

Fred Yancey, Olympia

Capital gains taxation without representation

I had assumed we live in a republic whereby we are represented by legislators who we select via the vote. I have an issue with the unfairness of the capital gains tax.

My basic issue is that it is not graduated. You pay 15% of gains when you cash in if your income ranges from $80K through $500K, a span of $420K (married couples). Seems unfair to me. Someone who invests during their working life trying to save for retirement and has an income of say $100K pays the same percentage on gains as someone who makes $500K. Seems like capital gains should be graduated similar to income tax.

So, like a good American, I wrote my federal representative, Marilyn Strickland. I requested a response. I received no acknowledgment or response. So I bumped it up and wrote one of my federal senators, Maria Cantwell. Again, no acknowledgment or response. In the past when I had issues I would write to Adam Smith, who was our representative prior to redistricting. He always responded often with a phone call from one of his aides.

So, if I could, I wouldn’t have paid my taxes until I got a response from my elected officials. However that ends up poorly for the taxpayer. We seem to be left with representatives and senators who are too busy being important than dealing with issues of concern for their constituents.

Jack VanZandt, Olympia