Letters: Socialism, White House claims and ballot returns | Feb. 23

Beware of China and its example

To those who embrace Socialism: Be careful what you wish for!

More than 30 years ago, I spent nearly a year in the Peoples Republic of China. I lived with the people and on the economy and experienced at first hand the system under which they lived.

Government controlled industry, business, agriculture, the medical system, housing, education and most aspects of personal life. Conditions for the ordinary citizen were hard and poor. But for party members and officials who carried out the system, life was better. They had no wait for a doctor; they got the best apartments; they received the next promotions at the factory; they had access to scarce products.

Most people detested the system that gave lip service to the idea of equality and attempted to enforce it on all except themselves. Most of all, those in power denied human nature and the desire of individuals for the freedom to rise above the crowd and to choose.

Government we must have, but when we turn over functions to it, we allow huge bureaucracies to grow, with all the corruption, waste, privilege and power that accompanies them. We also give up much of our pride, choice, ambition and freedom.

Another doubtful White House claim

One of the administration’s many changing excuses for the assassination of General Soleimani in another sovereign country is that Iran is responsible for the killing of 608 U.S. troops during the U.S.-Iraqi conflict from 2003 to 2011. This old saw was first presented at a State Department press briefing on April 2, 2019, by Special Representative for Iran Brian Hook, whose job was to seek international support for the administration’s campaign of “maximum pressure” on Iran.

However, there has never been any Pentagon study, documentation or data provided to journalists that would support such a figure. Despite years of bad-mouthing Iran, the U.S. has never conclusively pinned a single death on the Iranian government or its forces. Instead, these deaths are more loosely connected to clashes with some of the Iraqi Shiite militias. This administration doesn’t seem to understand that while Iraqi Shiite militias may be provided with Iranian weapons, they are just as nationalistic as any other people and do not take their orders from another country. Rather, as demonstrated by the recent attack of the U.S. embassy in Bagdad, it is understandable if some of them resent the occupation of Iraq by a foreign government.

Sign your ballot, mail it on time

To be assured that your vote counts in the upcoming primary, put it in a mailbox the weekend before Election Day, March 10, or drop it in a designated ballot box before 8 p.m. election day. In the 2019 general election, approximately 300 votes in Richland weren’t counted because they were not postmarked before the deadline. Possibly voters don’t realize that the Pasco mail handling facility was closed a few years ago and mail from our area now goes to Spokane for processing.

In addition, hundreds of ballots were not signed or there was some other problem with the signature. Unlike late mailers, voters with signature issues are given a second chance. Save yourself and the election office the trouble – sign your ballot and write your name the same way you did when you registered,

This story was originally published February 23, 2020 at 12:01 AM with the headline "Letters: Socialism, White House claims and ballot returns | Feb. 23."