Letters: Face masks, business opening, government power and more | July 12

Put study money to work on crime

On June 23, the Tri-City Herald printed an article about the frequency of people using a vehicle as a weapon against protesters, rioters, etc. After their exhaustive study, they found a whopping 50 times a vehicle was used this way in 2019. There was no mention of what the study cost, but I’d bet it’s in the millions of dollars.

Now let’s say that those same unmentioned millions were spent in the city of Chicago where in the same time period there were 2,139 shootings that resulted in 490 murders and uncountable injuries because many are never reported.

IMHO it’s unlikely that money spent in Chicago would have zero impact on the number of shootings. Most of the shootings were gang and/or drug related. Many were also random acts where the shooter did not know the victim(s). The shooter(s) were often riding around and decided to “pop a cap” on some stranger walking down the street or a child playing in a front yard.

I suggest we stop these waste-of-money studies and put the money to good use rather than throwing it down the sewer.

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Law enforcement is being selective

Five county elected law enforcement officials announced selective enforcement regarding the wearing of masks.

Recognizing the difficulty of enforcement of health actions and the attitudes resulting from political bias among Washington and the country regarding individual right of choice vs. public safety could not be any more clear.

I grew up observing the selective enforcement of laws; it was called Jim Crow. My respect for law enforcement and the courts is that the majority of professionals in law enforcement are community members and do not practice selective enforcement. I’m sure it was not the message that citizens should consider selective compliance to laws based upon their political bias, but these announcements contribute to a false perception of selective enforcement as an acceptable standard. Isn’t this at the heart of current protests? I certainly do not want to contribute to a false perception that arrests and the issuance of tickets is evidence of selective enforcement.

What saddens me the most is that I elected officials, who have sworn to serve and protect, but do (not) regard the use of masks as a tool to protect my health and safety. Promoting the use of masks should represent our concern for others not losing freedom.

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Trump failing to protect military

The commander-in-chief has failed to protect those military members who are out there protecting us! This is a slap in the face of all former and current military men and women. It is my opinion (that) a vote for Trump this November is a vote against all former and current military members.

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Capitalism fears delayed response

When I was a boy growing up in Los Angeles, where I was born in 1938, my friends and I used to ride the Pacific Electric “Red Car” trolley from my home near downtown LA out to the beach. It was summer vacation, the ride was cheap, noisy, and slow, and we loved it.

By the time I was in junior high, LA’s once sprawling electric-powered mass transit system was gone, replaced by “freeways” and the gasoline-powered cars and buses that clogged them and made LA the poster child for air pollution.

Capitalism destroyed Pacific Electric, but of course it’s also responsible for what LA is today — love it or hate it. What I object to about capitalism is the tendency for capitalist enterprise to pass the cost of its negative externalities along to taxpayers. And they do this whenever they can get away with it — thus LA smog and global warming.

Today, it’s the perverse incentives of capitalism that when COVID-19 came, caused us to wait too long to close and move too quickly to open, losing over 130,000 of our friends and neighbors along the way. Meanwhile, Republicans are trying to scare us about socialism.

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Early reopening was to save store

This is to the person who turned in the owner of the Hallmark store in Richland. He was following all the “rules” for masks, etc., and reopened early so he could save his business, home. He did nothing wrong. I sure hope you’re content with yourself for turning him in for no reason. You should have to pay his fine. As my friend told me years ago, “Rules are for the guidance of wise men and the obedience of fools.”

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Limit on services concerning to him

Dear Mr. Inslee:

It is clear to me as a healthcare professional of the damaging effects of COVID-19. I understand the risk, I am aware of the demands on healthcare and our community at large; I am not ignorant of the need to mitigate spread of COVID-19. The devastation potential is clear.

I am gravely concerned the decision to eliminate worship services has usurped power and authority — taking away the fundamental right to enjoy free exercise of religion.

When did supporting CBD sales become essential and my neighbor’s ability to worship God at church become non-essential?

I am afraid many have misunderstood the role and exercise of governmental powers. At no time should an elected official seek to take away constitutional rights, rather we need you to uphold them.

I fear if left unchecked, this regime of action can create an unsteady, unpredictable and catastrophic disregard to the constitutional rights of United States citizens.

Denigrating worship services demoralizes our nation, our communities, and our families — the heart of Washington.

Amendment I (says) Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press ….

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I stand corrected; I hope others will

(Letter writer) Earl Martin took me to task June 28 in that the physical risks small business owners take may be comparable to that of their employees. He is right, and for that I stand corrected.

Small businesses that “do things right,” as the example Mr. Martin provides, deserve our support. But this acknowledgment does not dismiss my point. Recall the large infection rates reported among workers at meat-packing plants. If corporate owners (or at least their managers) had been participating initially, better protections might have been required. Such desirable behavior, “leading by example” (as described by James Mattis in “Call Sign Chaos: Learning to Lead”), appears to be rather uncommon. This extends beyond businesses.

For the recent rally in Tulsa, President Trump strongly suggested that his followers attend without concern for facial covering or distancing. If the president had physically mingled with his supporters on such a basis, he would be ill-advised, but at least showing the courage of his convictions. Otherwise, he is neither leading nor courageous.

Mr. Martin, I acknowledge your point. Are you willing to acknowledge the truth of some of my assertions? Such discourse and mutual acknowledgment is much absent today.

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Candidate forums set July 9, 16

Tune into NWPB 2020 on July 16 (KTNW-TV) at 8 p.m. for the virtual League of Women Voters of Benton and Franklin Counties Candidate Forums. Races will cover the U.S. 4th Congressional District; the 16th District Senate race, and Superior Court Judge. The Candidate Forums from July 9, which covered county and PUD races, are featured on the websites and Facebook pages of the cities of Pasco, Richland and the League of Women Voters of Benton and Franklin Counties and YouTube.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/d3m8pfwn65n6h9i/BF%20County%20Pimrary%20Candidate%20Forum%20Promo_30_Preview_V2.mp4?dl=0

Important Dates:

State Primary: Aug. 4, 2020

Ballots arrive in the mail two weeks prior

General Election: Nov. 3, 2020

Ballots arrive in the mail two weeks prior.

Voting Information:

Find information about the candidates. Check to see if you are registered to vote.

Update your address and more at VOTE411.org.

Register on-line or at your county auditor’s office.

Exercise your right to Vote! Votes Matter!!!!!!

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Wearing a mask? ‘Just do it’

How hard is it to wear a mask? Personally, I think it is a simple solution to helping our community as well as our loved ones. To live in a society, we agree to do things that will help other people as well as ourselves. Refusing to wear a mask is a little bit like a child saying, “I won’t eat my broccoli”. What does Nike say? Just do it.

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Testing boosts COVID numbers

All Hail Emperor Inslee. (Gov.) Jay Inslee has imposed draconian rules on the local populace for the spike in COVID-19 cases. This is total sophistry.

The number of people tested for corona has skyrocketed, consequently the number of corona cases has also risen. Wow, what a profound revelation.

The mighty emperor Inslee in his infinite wisdom claims the Tri-City area is out of control and will not open the economy until there is a significant reduction in corona cases. The methodology in determining individuals afflicted with corona is totally bankrupt and lacks integrity. If an individual tested comes up positive but exhibits no symptoms of the disease they are considered having the disease and are included in the statistics.

Some health officials have stated mask wearing should be required until the disease has been eradicated. Newsflash: The disease will never be completely eradicated. The virus will mutate and become another version of the original virus. Exhibit A: Spanish flu. With that criteria, we will never be able to eliminate the draconian rules imposed by the great emperor.

A wise man once stated, “Figures don’t lie but liars can figure.” If the shoe fits wear it, Jay.

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Retired deputy: Replace Hatcher

After 30 years in law enforcement, I retired from the Benton County Sheriff’s Office. I was honored to have worked with some of the best people I have ever known in my life. The officers and staff always demonstrated the highest level of professionalism and integrity. It’s disheartening to see what has transpired since Sheriff Hatcher assumed office.

Sheriff Hatcher claims he is trying to fix a broken department with troubled employees. Well, the only thing that has changed in the department is Jerry Hatcher became the sheriff. After seeing the devastation he has singlehandedly caused, I fully support the deputies and know the only integrity issue in the department is with Sheriff Hatcher.

When it comes time to vote, please vote in support of our deputies and vote Sheriff Hatcher out of office.

My thoughts and prayers are with you all.

This story was originally published July 12, 2020 at 12:01 AM with the headline "Letters: Face masks, business opening, government power and more | July 12."