Letters: Vote by mail, face masks, protests and more | Aug. 28
Rep. Newhouse: how about ballots?
Dear Congressman Newhouse:
I appreciate receiving your newsletters; clearly you are working hard for the citizens of our district on local issues. However, as a member of the House of Representatives, you also bear some responsibility to all the citizens of our state (and nation).
In that regard, mail delivery for the upcoming election is an item of great concern. Washington is a vote-by-mail state, and the president is doing what he can to cause delays in postal delivery of election returns. The timing of his actions makes this clear. This includes both receiving blank ballots and delivery of completed ballots, which can also be temporarily “lost.”
Are you supporting efforts to ensure that delivery is fair and every ballot from those who are eligible is counted? Omission of this topic from your newsletter is concerning, perhaps suggesting that you are okay with the president’s current actions.
I request a clear statement from you, yes or no, do you support the president’s efforts, or can we count on you to make sure all our ballots are delivered, received and counted on time. Thank you for your consideration.
David King, Richland
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Trump roots for America
I don’t know how you feel about Donald Trump (and I know he’s a big blowhard), but he is one of the best “cheerleaders” for America we have ever had. He makes you believe there are great things still to come to America. He makes me feel very patriotic.
And I believe that if he gets elected again and turns our economy back to where we were going before this horrible virus, that he will go down in the history books as one of the greatest presidents.
I watched the festivities at Mt. Rushmore, his speech and the glorious fireworks. Yes, he’s a showman and don’t we need that? Yes, we need to be cheered on, we need to be patriotic again.
With all the dumb things he does, and says, I still think he has done more for America than the last two or three presidents. I ignore his tweets, his bragging about himself, his unfaithfulness and his lies and exaggerations. None of that means a thing to me. What matters is what he’s done for the American people and what he will still do for us if he’s elected again.
There’s one thing you cannot deny about Trump — he’s an American through and through.
Sharon Krauss, Kennewick
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Masks can’t sub for living healthy
The mask and COVID-19 insanity: So, we can now visit our loved ones at senior facilities outside for only a 1/2 hour, sitting six feet apart. My uncle is 95, has a very strong immune system and needs a hair cut. We cannot give him a haircut, because he has to be six feet from my husband and me.
We do not have COVID-19. We practice social distancing to stay away from those of you who are sick or may be sick, because of your lifestyle or because you are wearing the mask all day, which experts have said will make you sick eventually. Let us all look like the Chinese, let us wear a mask for the rest of our lives, and be like cattle going to slaughter.
Wake up, learn how to keep yourselves healthy, exercise, hydrate, stop smoking, stop drinking, stop eating foods that clog your arteries and you will have a much better chance of staying healthy. The numbers, as another letter to the editor stated, went up since all of you are wearing masks. This fact alone should be enough proof for you that protecting others is not about wearing the mask. Instead your health.
Lynda Trumpour, Richland
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Protests viewed in differing ways
The whole BLM (Black Lives Matter) demonstrations/rioting/police situation, is a simple problem: “poor eyesight!”
Some people “see” two groups, others four. Some see:
1. The police enforcing the law, and
2. Rioters/looters breaking it.
Others see two more groups,
3. (A few) police brutalizing/murdering people like George Floyd, and their management/unions doing nothing, and
4. People legally protesting.
Some may accuse me of not being “loyal” to the police.
Ironically, it is because of my loyalty to the police that I protested several times in the Tri-Cities, along with hundreds of others.
Just as I would not look the other way if my child did something wrong, I will not when a policeman also does. I will exercise my constitutional right to protest.
To only see the good, and refuse to see the bad, is what makes a poor citizen as well as a poor parent.
This leads to bad police and bad children who grow to be bad adults.
A special thanks to Sheldon Coleman (letter of Aug. 16), for thanking the many “Heroes” who “daily” face COVID-19, and their loved ones at home. It’s about time!!
I never hear them say it’s fake, or it’s data (that) is manipulated to keep Trump from getting re-elected.
D. L. (Andy) Anderson, Richland
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Your vote matters in ousting Trump
What is narcissistic personality disorder? This disorder includes excessive need for admiration, disregard for other’s feelings, inability to handle any criticism, sense of entitlement and expected to be recognized as superior, even without achievements that warrant it. Bullies are narcissists, and compulsive liars frequently have this disorder.
Does this sound like someone you know about?
How about no intellectual curiosity or impulse control? I shudder to think that use of the nuclear arsenal is within his grasp.
Isn’t this enough to terrify you? Well, how about his six bankruptcies? I wouldn’t want him anywhere near my money, or yours. He even misused funds from his now closed charitable foundation. And how about the more than 1,450 lawsuits filed against him or companies he ran?
Climate change is real, and accelerating measureably during our lifetime. No use in anyone denying it.
COVID-19 virus will not magically disappear. Where was the coordinated FEMA effort to get vital medical supplies, PPE and testing kits when and where they were needed most?
The truth matters. Civility, decency, competence, tolerance, and inclusiveness matter.
Your vote does matter. Please do not elect Donald Trump to another term.
Amy Small, Richland