Anti-vaccine opinions, carbon tax, and other Tri-City Herald letters to the editor

Serve and protect or serve and infect

A recent letter published on Dec. 2 bemoaned the slow response of police. The writer ended the letter with the typical anti-vaccine, anti-mask response of, “good thing the government isn’t firing anybody.” The writer may have his opinion, but it is a minority opinion. Personally, I would rather bleed out after a car wreck waiting for the police, than to see the squad car pull up with, “Serve and Infect,” rather than “Serve and Protect,” written on the car.

No one will ever force anyone to have a vaccine, but there is no place in public service for anyone without it. It is beyond comprehension that so many people, including police, firemen, nurses, etc., have so little regard for the health of fellow humans, no sense of community and only think of themselves. If we are short on cops, or other public servants, don’t worry. Soon the ranks will be filled with new recruits who are vaccinated and actually care about human life, rather those who use liberty and freedom as a crutch to infect as many as they can.

Chris Hansen, Walla Walla

Pitts’ comments ‘beyond ludicrous’

While Leonard Pitts’ columns are frequently laughable, I’m surprised that his recent commentary on the “social covenant” was published. Pitts’ premise is that the activities of criminals around the country engaging in massive, coordinated robberies of stores such as Nordstrom are to be blamed on his political nemeses. Somehow, “… authority figures (who) exempt themselves (from) vaccine mandates” have broken a social covenant with the country, and therefore, of course criminals will rob and loot stores! Naturally! This drivel is too much, even for Pitts. He likens the crooks stealing millions of dollars’ worth of merchandise from stores as “a giddy holiday from social norms.” Really, Pitts? I think it’s criminals taking advantage of new, nonsensical laws that effectively decriminalize theft. Laws that were passed by your political friends. To suggest that lawlessness and thievery are the products of a former president “refusing to provide his tax return” is beyond ludicrous. It should be criminal.

Melissa Mooney, Kennewick

Add carbon tax to budget deal

Which issue is more important to you: climate change or the U.S. trade imbalance with China?

Both issues can be solved with a border-adjusted carbon tax. In an Oct. 18 interview with the Milken Institute, Sen. Mitt Romney, R-Utah, said, “One way to get China’s mind concentrated is if there were a price on carbon and a border adjustment tax, so if China is exporting products which have a very high quotient of emissions, that will come with a very high price.

“I spoke with the CEO of one of our largest steel companies. He said when China makes a ton of steel, four times as much carbon is emitted as when we make a ton, and yet Americans buy the Chinese steel because it’s cheaper. We can have a border-adjustment tax that recognizes they put a lot more pollution in the air.

“There is only one change that dramatically affects the amount of global emissions and that is a price on carbon. … There is growing recognition that that is the pathway that is going to have to be taken.”

Tell the Democrats in Congress to add a carbon price to their reconciliation bill.

Steve Ghan, Richland

Science and skill can’t beat politics

In the Dec. 5 Tri-City Herald, an article noted that Clint Didier declared that the pandemic is over. Another article noted that only 46% of the people in Franklin County have been vaccinated. So one asks “Why?” I believe that the main reason is due to “politics.” I am reminded of the saying: “Science and skill may win out over ignorance and stupidity, but never over politics.”

Jerry Johnson, Kennewick

This story was originally published December 13, 2021 at 7:20 AM.