Sequim Gazette Editorial and Letters to the Editor
Letters to the editor
Published on Wed, Nov 25, 2009Read More Editorial
Focus on goals
I opened the Sequim Gazette (Nov. 18) after reading other papers and was shocked at the picture on the front page: a "tea bagger" standing on the corner holding up a sign reading
"No Socialized Medicine."
It made me laugh. This attractive older woman, wearing a nice blue coat and hat, appears warm and smiling and of an age to be enrolled in Medicare. What is she thinking?
Socialized medicine, oh I'm sorry, I mean Medicare, has allowed elderly Americans to be well-cared-for, but not our children. In 1935, Social Security was opposed, as well as Medicare in 1965, but today the life expectancy for people age 65 has risen significantly. American is no longer shamed by elderly Americans suffering for lack of medical care.
You don't think we should reach out as a people and try to solve these problems without all of the blame games and labels such as "death panels" and the spouting of dogma?
Large profits and power can distract us from our goals of a better-educated healthy society, and we need this to tackle the looming problems in the 21st century.
Marsha L. Coxford
Sequim
Party/fair was winner
Sequim Prairie Grange's annual Pumpkin Party/Country Fair on Oct. 24 was a big success. Thank you to the volunteers for all your help. Also thank you to Roger and Elly from Sunny Farms for the use of their apple cider press (we made 126 gallons) and the 92 pumpkins they donated. Your help, donations and kindness are greatly appreciated.
Thank you to all our families, friends and neighbors that came out to enjoy and support this event. We are looking forward to seeing you all again next year. The winners of the drawing were: first prize, Dick Wolf; second prize, Mary Gorczewski and third prize, Dona Gallaher.
Dona Gallaher
Sequim
Keep home care
The future of home care for the elderly and disabled - some of the poorest and most vulnerable people in our community and in the state - is in the hands of Gov. Gregoire.
DSHS has proposed an additional $28.4 million in cuts to Agency Home Care in the supplemental budget for FY 2010. This amount is on top of nearly $70 million already assumed in the biennial budget adopted last session.
OlyCAP, the community's helping hand, has provided home care services to the most vulnerable since 1979. This proposal by DSHS puts our 30-plus years of dedicated care in serious jeopardy and puts three other local home care agencies at the same risk.
Statewide, home care agencies lost thousands of clients and tens of thousands of hours of care in the current budget. Washington state has long been a national leader in the care of our elderly and disabled citizens. We have supported individual choice and provided care that helps individuals remain in their own homes, something we would all choose to do if able.
The governor faces great challenges due to revenue declines caused by the deep recession. However, when our economy recovers, we will need quality home care agencies to care for the aging population. The DSHS proposal is short-sighted and one that I urge the governor to reject.
Robin A. Gibson
Olympic Community
Action Programs
Port Angeles
Tea Party
pooper
Your photo caption on page A-1, Nov. 18, quotes the organizers of the downtown "Tea Party" as characterizing their demonstration as a "nonpartisan event" that "honored the U.S. Constitution and Bill of Rights."
Among the messages on the demonstrators' signs were these:
"No Socialized Medicine," "Wake Up America - Political Correctness is Very Dangerous," and "No Stimulus, No Obama Plan."
Would all your readers share these "nonpartisan" views?
Also, did the demonstrators mean to honor only the original U.S. Constitution and its first 10 amendments (the latter containing the Bill of Rights), or did they mean to include the additional 17 amendments which Congress added and the states ratified over the years? (The last amendment was XXVII, adopted in 1972.) In the eyes of the law, "the U.S. Constitution" includes the original document adopted by the Constitutional Convention of 1787, plus all subsequent amendments.
Let's hope the demonstrators wished to honor these other amendments, including No. XIII (1865), which outlawed slavery.
James R. Huntley
Dungeness
Box stores
are assets
In the editorial about the Boys & Girls Club needing support, which I firmly agree they do, there was a comment about "the low-paid work force of the big box stores."
As I walk through these stores, I see members of our community of all ages who would not have work if it wasn't for these jobs. I talk to workers who are happy about the benefits that they receive that are not offered by the small retail stores of Sequim.
When I look through the want ads, I do not see too many jobs for which these workers would be qualified offering $50,000 plus benefits.
The box stores have had a major positive impact on our community. At Walmart I see many seniors supplementing their income with work and benefits. I also see a business that gives generously to the local community - including to the Boys & Girls Club.
I wish that this newspaper would have a more balanced view of the box stores and mention the many assets these businesses bring to our community. Sequim was dying economically after the bypass went in until the box stores came in. The increase in sales tax to provide better sidewalks and roads would not make much difference without the income from these stores.
May they do well this holiday season and in years to come.
Cliff Silliman
Sequim
I opened the Sequim Gazette (Nov. 18) after reading other papers and was shocked at the picture on the front page: a "tea bagger" standing on the corner holding up a sign reading
"No Socialized Medicine."
It made me laugh. This attractive older woman, wearing a nice blue coat and hat, appears warm and smiling and of an age to be enrolled in Medicare. What is she thinking?
Socialized medicine, oh I'm sorry, I mean Medicare, has allowed elderly Americans to be well-cared-for, but not our children. In 1935, Social Security was opposed, as well as Medicare in 1965, but today the life expectancy for people age 65 has risen significantly. American is no longer shamed by elderly Americans suffering for lack of medical care.
You don't think we should reach out as a people and try to solve these problems without all of the blame games and labels such as "death panels" and the spouting of dogma?
Large profits and power can distract us from our goals of a better-educated healthy society, and we need this to tackle the looming problems in the 21st century.
Marsha L. Coxford
Sequim
Party/fair was winner
Sequim Prairie Grange's annual Pumpkin Party/Country Fair on Oct. 24 was a big success. Thank you to the volunteers for all your help. Also thank you to Roger and Elly from Sunny Farms for the use of their apple cider press (we made 126 gallons) and the 92 pumpkins they donated. Your help, donations and kindness are greatly appreciated.
Thank you to all our families, friends and neighbors that came out to enjoy and support this event. We are looking forward to seeing you all again next year. The winners of the drawing were: first prize, Dick Wolf; second prize, Mary Gorczewski and third prize, Dona Gallaher.
Dona Gallaher
Sequim
Keep home care
The future of home care for the elderly and disabled - some of the poorest and most vulnerable people in our community and in the state - is in the hands of Gov. Gregoire.
DSHS has proposed an additional $28.4 million in cuts to Agency Home Care in the supplemental budget for FY 2010. This amount is on top of nearly $70 million already assumed in the biennial budget adopted last session.
OlyCAP, the community's helping hand, has provided home care services to the most vulnerable since 1979. This proposal by DSHS puts our 30-plus years of dedicated care in serious jeopardy and puts three other local home care agencies at the same risk.
Statewide, home care agencies lost thousands of clients and tens of thousands of hours of care in the current budget. Washington state has long been a national leader in the care of our elderly and disabled citizens. We have supported individual choice and provided care that helps individuals remain in their own homes, something we would all choose to do if able.
The governor faces great challenges due to revenue declines caused by the deep recession. However, when our economy recovers, we will need quality home care agencies to care for the aging population. The DSHS proposal is short-sighted and one that I urge the governor to reject.
Robin A. Gibson
Olympic Community
Action Programs
Port Angeles
Tea Party
pooper
Your photo caption on page A-1, Nov. 18, quotes the organizers of the downtown "Tea Party" as characterizing their demonstration as a "nonpartisan event" that "honored the U.S. Constitution and Bill of Rights."
Among the messages on the demonstrators' signs were these:
"No Socialized Medicine," "Wake Up America - Political Correctness is Very Dangerous," and "No Stimulus, No Obama Plan."
Would all your readers share these "nonpartisan" views?
Also, did the demonstrators mean to honor only the original U.S. Constitution and its first 10 amendments (the latter containing the Bill of Rights), or did they mean to include the additional 17 amendments which Congress added and the states ratified over the years? (The last amendment was XXVII, adopted in 1972.) In the eyes of the law, "the U.S. Constitution" includes the original document adopted by the Constitutional Convention of 1787, plus all subsequent amendments.
Let's hope the demonstrators wished to honor these other amendments, including No. XIII (1865), which outlawed slavery.
James R. Huntley
Dungeness
Box stores
are assets
In the editorial about the Boys & Girls Club needing support, which I firmly agree they do, there was a comment about "the low-paid work force of the big box stores."
As I walk through these stores, I see members of our community of all ages who would not have work if it wasn't for these jobs. I talk to workers who are happy about the benefits that they receive that are not offered by the small retail stores of Sequim.
When I look through the want ads, I do not see too many jobs for which these workers would be qualified offering $50,000 plus benefits.
The box stores have had a major positive impact on our community. At Walmart I see many seniors supplementing their income with work and benefits. I also see a business that gives generously to the local community - including to the Boys & Girls Club.
I wish that this newspaper would have a more balanced view of the box stores and mention the many assets these businesses bring to our community. Sequim was dying economically after the bypass went in until the box stores came in. The increase in sales tax to provide better sidewalks and roads would not make much difference without the income from these stores.
May they do well this holiday season and in years to come.
Cliff Silliman
Sequim
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