Letters

Iraq

Pay for health care

at home before in Iraq

It’s beyond outrageous to learn that the Bush administration wants to spend $950 million of taxpayers’ money for universal health care in Iraq. HHS Secretary Tommy Thompson defended the plan, suggesting that access to health care is the same as having coverage.

Compassionate conservatism? This makes me want to vomit.

ROBERT M. MULLIGAN

Bellevue

Employment

Government’s rules encourage jobs flight

Some attention has been turned to the nation-wide acceleration of “outsourcing and off-shoring” of American jobs to India, blamed on the corporations’ greedy CEOs, to move their production operations to such countries as Mexico and Red China, where cheap (sometimes slave) labor result in higher profits. But there is another even greater pressure on U.S. corporations to move their businesses out of the U.S. in order to cut costs, by sending wellpaving jobs in manufacturing and technology abroad.

Actually, those decisions by corporate leaders are usually driven by federal bureaucratic policies such as excessive environmental regulations (the EPA), irrational standards of workplace safety (OSHA), immoderate employee medical insurance, licensing regulations, etc., that make it financially impossible for companies to remain in the U.S. Sadly, such relocations are often subsidized by our own government, via the Export-Import Bank (Ex-I’m).

This “federal regulatory monster” of unelected and unaccountable bureaucratsdevises its own laws, and is empowered to enforce them, acting as accuser, judge, and jury. Congress has thus far been able to dodge the blame for this regulatory excess; so voters must demand that Congress assume its Constitutionally delegated responsibility and absorb the political costs of regulating productive citizens.

PHILLIP ERICKSON

Bothell

Medicare

Taxes paying for plan that won’t help seniors

For weeks, the Bush administration has been using our tax money to run misleading ads for the new Medicare law. Though studies show most people will pay more and millions could lose existing coverage, the $12 million ad campaign says. Same Medicare, more benefits.

Now, a congressional study has found that the ads include omissions, overstatements, and a political tone; are not appropriate for public education.

It’s clear that the real intent of these ads is to whitewash President Bush’s huge drug lobby give-away in this election year. I consider this an outrageous political maneuver.

The media firm hired to run Medicare’s TV ads, National Media Inc. of Arlington, Virginia, also works for the President’s reelection campaign, the Republican Party and drug companies.

This ad clearly is a misuse of public funds for political purposes and should be taken off the air immediately.

BOBETTE S. JONES

Seattle

Growth

King County plan would lock up key rural lands

On March 9 I attended the first King County Council Growth Management committee meeting and listened to the overview of the proposed Critical Areas Ordinances and the Comprehensive Plan amendments as transmitted from the Executive Branch to the Legislative Branch – the Council.

Executive staff insists there are charges resulting from the public hearings they’ve held. But the overall tone of the 9th, including the featured speaker, portends unacceptable rural area lockup.

While copies of document sections under discussion are available at the weekly sessions, citizens should buy and study the documents with highlighter and red-ink pen at hand.

MAXINE KEESLING

Woodinville

Olympia

Sales-tax proposal was good and worth passing

Though it is premature to praise our state legislators for passing a new approach to sales tax distribution – proposing such a measure demonstrates wisdom usually found outside of government.

Since the inception of Lynnwood and the demarcation of its boundaries, businesses have been embraced and coddled while residents have been systematically deprived of adequate coverage by municipal services.

Naturally, reasonable people take up residence in neighborhoods that encourage and nurture a healthy community. With this proposed legislation their sales tax payments can follow them home.

Lynnwood is an odd place. While walking through downtown -oops, there is no downtown – while walking along the paved thoroughfares between stripmalls, I frequently feel like my wallet is being watched. Watched like a big bag of carbohydrate-enriched junk food at a Jenny Craig convention.

Lynnwood has a way of making you feel like a meaningless cog in the proletariat wheel. Like your only purpose in life is to shovel your paychecks into the hyper-salivating mouth of the egomaniacal bourgeoisie. Reason enough to spend more time at home and shop on-line.

I understand the opposition to this legislative suggestion. Keeping sales tax receipts in the city of collection will ensure an uninterrupted flow of capitalist flagships. It will further strengthen Lynnwood’s commitment to meeting the needs of the commercial class. However, Lynnwood’s opposition betrays their actual identity in this cast of plutocrats – the unsophisticated panhandler.

MAREK SOLOMON

Mountlake Terrace