Letters to the editor for Feb. 16

Proposed driving laws are age discrimination

Senator Sam Hunt is proposing age discrimination for drivers at age 70.

Senate Bill 5560, among other things, classifies those 70 years of age as an “older driver” and encourages them to give up their drivers license in return for a state ID card. It also will give the Department of Licensing the authority to require these drivers to take driver refresher courses.

You would think that Hunt, who is 80, would know that those of us who are 70-plus are some of the most safe drivers out there. What makes a 70-year-old unsafe is when he or she is driving the speed limit and keeping a safe distance while someone 20 years younger is weaving in and out of traffic and running red lights.

If you are going to require refresher courses, don’t discriminate based on age. Require it of everyone.

David Cook, Olympia

Thanks for giving big picture on school BIPOC groups

Thank you for the excellent article explaining the issue regarding the BIPOC group within Olympia School District. It is very helpful to understand the larger picture driving the need for the creation of groups such as this one.

It is extremely unfortunate that the excellent staff at Centennial Elementary School has been subjected to threats and insults. Every employee there works at the highest level to help each child reach their own individual full potential.

Pam Galloway, Olympia

Chinese balloon is just hot air

To all those that continue the intrigue of the Chinese spy balloon, what is the big deal? The pundits, media and politicians are treating this as if it is 1957 and Russia just launched Sputnik.

There are currently over 4,800 active satellites orbiting Earth. Over 2,900 belong to the United States. The nearest competitor, China, accounts for around 500. Rumor has it that some of these satellites are sophisticated enough to read a license plate from space. Who knows how many balloons are floating around the earth gathering a variety of data. Our credit card companies, cell phone companies, search engines and auto GPS probably know more about our daily lives than our families.

I could drive to the gates of a site in Montana that houses an intercontinental ballistic missile with multiple nuclear war heads. Washingtonians are aware of the areas in our state where nuclear weapons are based.

The United States spies on our allies, enemies, and competing economies alike, and they on us. It is a safe measure of checks and balances. China’s balloon seems like little more than a juvenile attempt at “tweaking” our country. Enough with the Chinese balloon.

David P. Palazzi, Olympia

The real tragedy behind George Santos

Many are rightly outraged by the lying by newly elected Congressman George Santos of New York. His run and election to high office was blazed by Donald Trump and his populist allies who normalized lying as a path to success.

Santos was smart enough to recognize this systemic corruption and follow his leader’s example. Deceit no longer means disqualification. From the Carolinas, to Georgia, even out west in Arizona, MAGA candidates seek power and fame while brandishing lies and falsehood.

Don’t get me wrong. Politicians of all stripes tell lies, and it is our duty to hold them accountable, including Santos. Even so, we cannot ignore the real tragedy unfolding in our time. Let us work to expunge deceit and embrace the expectation of truthfulness in our political system.

Richard Brandt-Kreutz, Olympia