Richland school levies, Klippert junket, COVID vaccine and other Herald letters
Let’s not forget our Afghan allies
We cannot forget our Afghan allies who were left behind when the U.S. pulled out of Afghanistan. Many of these soldiers fought right alongside our U.S. Special Forces soldiers doing the most dangerous work that the U.S. military undertook, and if not for them, an even larger number of our American soldiers would have come home in body bags.
It is not hyperbole to count my Green Beret son, Thomas Kasza, a 2007 graduate of Hanford High School, among those fortunate soldiers who were spared a tragic ending to deployment to Afghanistan because of their Afghan counterparts. They uncovered and dismantled an IED at the precise location where he was going to set up a watch station.
It now behooves the American people and our government to repay these brave Afghans by sending humanitarian aid and expediting the Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) process in order to facilitate their exit from the Taliban government, which is actively hunting former U.S. allies.
Save Team 11 is a nonprofit organization that has been set up to assist some of these brave men and deserves the support of all of the American people. https://saveteam11.org
Elinor Kasza, Richland
Support Richland school levies
I am writing to encourage all Richland School District residents to support the levy proposals on the Feb. 8 ballot. This is another great opportunity to show continued support for the students and teachers in our community. The Richland School District does admirable work and ensures it is making the most of the money it receives to support its students. As a recent graduate of Hanford High (Class of 2017), I saw the ways that the district invested in arts, sports and technology to ensure that I and my fellow classmates were equipped to enter into adulthood.
Graduates from the Richland School District find success in every corner of the world. From graduates taking up jobs in Richland, or on the Hanford Site, attending trade schools or graduating from colleges around the country, the strong foundation provided by the school district leads its students to success. During my time at Richland School District, I gained valuable experiences my peers in college did not have, and I owe to being a student in Richland.
I hope you will take my advice and support both levies this February.
Allison Sijgers, Richland
Klippert junket taught him …. uh
I disagree with the recent Tri-City Herald editorial suggesting Rep. Brad Klippert should reimburse the state’s taxpayers for the cost of his “educational” junket to learn about election security from pillow huckster Mike Lindell. Suggesting that Klippert could have learned from former Washington Secretary of State Kim Wyman is absurd. She has years of election experience, and a reputation for competence and integrity. Compare that to Lindell whose knowledge is … um, … uh …. And his integrity …. Moving on, if you are serious about learning, you seek the best teacher. Clearly Lindell is most qualified for what they wanted.
So, it should be clear that Klippert made the best choice and why this junket is really official state business for all three state reps involved. We should be grateful they took the time to learn.
Brett Menaker, Kennewick
Carbon pricing like good insurance
In a recent letter (We Ignore Role of Climate at Our Peril), Steve Ghan made the very valid point that past predictions of climate change and its consequences by reputable, mainstream scientists have proven to be underestimates. That is due to the cautious, evidenced-based process that underlies scientific inquiry. We have already seen some of the consequences in recent years. Within the limits of uncertainty, scientists currently project that within the next few decades these will very likely become much worse if we fail to act (see recent IPCC reports).
We buy insurance for our homes and vehicles for the very low likelihood of loss. Yet we are failing to pursue the changes and make the investments necessary to avert the much greater likelihood of catastrophes and problems looming in the near future for all of us. Think of those changes and investments as insurance, a hedge against the uncertainty. A good place to start would be putting a price on carbon and eliminating fossil fuel subsidies.
Dennis D. Finn, Pasco
SARC seeking new volunteers
Do you want to get involved with the community but are not sure how? Volunteering with the Support Advocacy & Resource Center is a wonderful opportunity to help make a difference in people’s lives. SARC relies on volunteer advocates to help with our 24/7 crisis line and hospital calls; providing crisis intervention and support either on the phone or at the hospital. Volunteer advocates can also respond to hospital calls for medical exams, answer questions and assist with support.
SARC assists adults and children 24 hours a day by providing support and advocacy to them and their non-offending family members, friends, secondary victims and witnesses to crime. SARC services are free and confidential.
To become a SARC volunteer advocate, 32 hours of training are required. The training is designed to give volunteers the tools they need to work with victims and their families. New volunteers will complete 8 hours of webinars, 8 hours in-person with the remaining 16 virtually. Check our Facebook page or website for the dates and times for the virtual training starting Feb. 22.
Rosanna Herrera, Richland
Inflation caused by money policy
Prices rise for many reasons, including shortages of goods or labor, high demand, panic buying and labor strikes. Those are some of the reasons prices are through the roof today — and gasoline prices will continue to rise and fall as they always have. But economist Milton Friedman taught us long ago that what we’re seeing is not “inflation.” It’s not even “temporary” inflation, as some are calling it. The Consumer Price Index tracks prices, but government money policy produces inflation.
Inflation, according to Friedman, is the debasement of the currency, and that happens only when the money supply increases faster than the GDP. He wrote, “Inflation is always and everywhere a monetary phenomenon in the sense that it is and can be produced only by a more rapid increase in the quantity of money than in output.”
Now, don’t get me wrong. I’m not happy to be paying more for everything, and I welcome the increase in my Social Security benefit. But I think the pandemic will subside and industries such as trucking and home-building will return to normal. When the cargo in all those anchored ships is unloaded and delivered, we may see flooded markets and some falling prices.
Dennis Cresswell, Pasco
Make a sacrifice, get vaccinated
When it comes to COVID vaccination, conservative dialog has constantly repeated the mantra of “personal freedom.” Forgotten in the rhetoric is another founding principle of this country, which is: sacrificing personal freedom for the “common good,” whenever necessary. Sometimes, it is necessary for “we the people” to make personal sacrifices for the common good of everyone. Now is such a time.
The COVID Omicron variant is ravaging the country. After two years of struggle against the virus, it is still with us. Everyone is sick of having their lives impacted by the COVID. The only way to end it is through vaccination. Folks who have refused vaccination need to get vaccinated now, for the “common good” of the country. Now is the time for the anti-vaccination people to sacrifice their personal freedoms and to get vaccinated to end this thing. A true patriot will sacrifice their personal freedom for the common good when required. If you are a true patriot who is unvaccinated, you should get vaccinated now.
Everyone reading this letter who is not fully vaccinated, please consider getting your shot(s) now — for the common good of us all.
Reese Bang, Richland
This story was originally published January 24, 2022 at 10:24 AM.