Letters: Face masks, Fox News and WW superior court | Sept. 3

Mitchell best pick for superior court

I am writing in support of Mike Mitchell for Walla Walla Superior Court judge, Position 1. Mike has been on both sides of almost every fence the court straddles. He understands each side’s arguments and positions, having made them as an attorney during the last 42 years.

Mike currently serves as Superior Court commissioner (eight years) and judge pro tem (since early 2000s). Mike’s selection was driven by his substantial court experience, reputation for fairness, common sense and integrity.

In addition to Mike’s multi-faceted private law practice, he also serves as a mediator (15 years) and arbitrator (15 years). He was an early advocate of alternative dispute resolution to settle family law and high-asset divorce cases.

Due to the coronavirus, the court has a backlog of cases that require rescheduling. Mike’s vast experience will shorten his learning curve, enabling him to efficiently manage this unprecedented challenging case load.

I trust Mike to serve our citizens with an open mind, listening to all sides before making a final decision. I trust Mike to draw upon his diverse legal experience to arrive at fair and just decisions. Mike is unequivocally the most qualified candidate for superior court judge.

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Shop where all wear masks

Recently a shopper at Ranch and Home in Pasco reported, through a letter to the editor in this paper, their shopping experience with multiple customers, as well as employees, not masking up as currently required in Washington State.

On Aug. 19 while shopping in the Kennewick Ranch and Home, I observed the same behavior. Customers and employees shopping/working with either no mask in place or a mask partially in place (the same as no mask). As I prepared to exit the store without making a purchase, I stopped by the service desk to advise the attendant of what I had observed, and informed her that I was taking my money to stores and merchants that supported the efforts to protect both their customers as well as employees, as well as doing their part in helping to reduce/eliminate the Covid virus we are fighting.

I encourage all to shop only at stores and merchants that are helping to protect all of us. Spend your money with those that truly care about us.

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Authoritarianism is what’s scary

Is it true that Fox News is the most-watched TV channel? There seems to be a big disconnect here. I would guess that most people who watch Fox are terrified of socialism. Never mind that democratic socialism as practiced in Scandinavia seems to have produced some of the happiest people in the world or that most of us old folks are happy with our socialist Medicare and Social Security.

Fox would have us believe that leftists or even moderate Joe Biden will turn our country into a Communist state, like the Soviet Union was and China is. But the scary part about those countries was and is their authoritarianism, with one news source sanctioned by the ruler.

What is Fox News if not the unofficial Trump news? They spread his and the far right’s opinion and convince viewers that every other source is fake. I saw a T-shirt the other day that said, “Defund the Media.” No! We must have a free press, with ethical reporters who search out and share the truth. Please, for all our sakes, search out other news in print and on TV.

This story was originally published September 3, 2020 at 12:01 AM with the headline "Letters: Face masks, Fox News and WW superior court | Sept. 3."