Richland mushroom cloud, Franklin County, Ben Franklin Transit and other Herald letters
‘Stupid is’ what politicians plan
It seems that every week as I read about the comings and goings in the Tri-Cities that things are going from “stupid is to stupid does.” Today, it’s to lower the budget for the Ben Franklin Transit to cutting gas-powered cars by 2030. Sounds like a lot of seniors are going to starve to death in their home or freeze to death when they tear out the dams. Or die because they can’t see their doctors or have medical services or procedures.
You may want to save a few cents now, but this service is really going to be needed in the years to come. Fewer of us will have cars because old folks and poor people can’t afford the new electric cars. I am afraid the senseless politicians, greenies and our leaders miss this logic!
I am one who used this service for several months after a serious medical issue. Gratefully, I rode the Dial-A-Ride to many medical appointments. Without it, I would have died in a care facility. I also did some much-needed shopping and going to the pharmacy.
Be careful and wise!
James Schueler, Kennewick
Weaning off oil would benefit us
Weaning ourselves from dependence on fossil fuels will help to address the problems of global warming and make the planet healthier and more livable for all of life. However, recent events have also made it clear that this dependence leaves our economy more open to the whims, machinations and disruptions by dictatorial autocrats. This has happened repeatedly since the 1970s. If the energy base of our economy were largely decarbonized and resilient, we would be much less susceptible to the shocks and volatility in prices we have seen recently; and tyrants and terrorists around the world would lose a major source of their financing.
Dennis D. Finn, Pasco
Support our kids, vote yes on levy
The most important investment we can make in our community centers around our children and their education. Studies have shown when students graduate from high school, it creates opportunities to enter the work force, military or go on to college. Most importantly, it gives young people opportunities to be successful. It is no wonder police chiefs and prosecutors around this country are active in an organization called “Fight Crime: Invest in Kids.”
I have had the honor of serving on the National Leadership Council during my tenure as the former Kennewick police chief. Our educators, superintendent and staff do an excellent job of educating our students and preparing them for the next step in life. As a healthy and safe community, we need to do our part by supporting the Kennewick School District’s upcoming levy by voting yes! Levies are for learning, that’s what we want our kids to do, but we have to support them. Please join us in not only voting yes, but also spreading the need and helping to pass the upcoming Kennewick School District levy!
Ken and Trish Hohenberg, Kennewick
Perhaps it’s time to revisit bomb
When I see and hear about the civilian deaths in Ukraine, I am appalled.
As terrible as this situation is, it may be an opportunity re-examine our own history.
The world’s two greatest massacres of innocent civilians:
Hiroshima (70,000 to 135,000 immediate deaths); and Nagasaki (60,000 to 80,000 deaths).
At Richland High School, we glorify these worst of all possible crimes with our Bomber, nuclear cloud mascot.
Does Richland teach about all the scientists and developers who signed a petition opposing (the bomb’s) deployment?
Instead of leveling an unoccupied island to demonstrate the power of this weapon, our leaders chose to deploy death over densely populated civilian areas.
I am hopeful our new principal will be open to discussion of a less painful mascot.
Michael Harrington, Pasco
Do wolves push cougars here?
Cougars (mountain lions) are being spotted in the Tri Cities area. The question is why? There may be several reasons. One possibility is based on a study in Wyoming that found that as introduced Canadian wolf populations expand (since Canadian wolves are apex predators), mountain lion kittens are slaughtered and adults are driven either to relocate or starve.
The wolves introduced to the West are Northern Canadian wolves that developed into a large breed. Northern Canadian wolves are larger than the Idaho Gray Wolf (the original natives). The Idaho Gray wolf was facing extinction, not the Canadian wolf. These larger wolves even challenge grizzly bears. The unintended consequences of wolf reintroduction has negatively impacted farmers, elk and deer herds. As a result, the wolves are pursuing bison and expanding their range well beyond Yellowstone. Now it may be driving cougars to relocate or be exterminated. Perhaps a lesson in unintended consequences is one we should consider as we make decisions going forward.
Tony Umek, West Richland
Duplicity shows, Rep. Newhouse
Thank you, Mr. Richard Reuther of Kennewick for your fine letter (“We Remember What You Did,” Tri-City Herald, April 10) in reminding this old brain of mine of (Rep.) Dan Newhouse’s support of Donald Trump’s ugly and rotten attempt to blackmail Ukraine’s Zelensky by withholding arms if he would not find “dirt” on Hunter Biden. Party and corruption over honor and truth, Mr. Newhouse?
And now Mr. Newhouse wants us to believe how noble a man he is by standing tall with the Ukranians — what hypocrisy, how expedient of him! Just like a politician — find out which way the wind is blowing and try to put a shine on his image.
Not to worry, duplicity will get the man re-elected.
Bink Owen, Walla Walla
‘Green’ tech has many hidden costs
I read in the paper on April 1 about switching to zero-emission vehicles to save lives and money. I read where the U.S. Energy Information Administration, U.S. Environmental Protection (Agency) and American Lung Association were all in on going green — cars, wind turbines and solar panels. None of them took into consideration the embedded cost to the environment, pollution, disease, child labor and the inability to be recycled.
1) The car battery contains 25 pounds of lithium, 60 pounds of nickel, 44 pounds of manganese, 30 pounds of cobalt, 200 pounds of copper and 400 pounds of aluminum, steel, and plastic. It should concern you that all those toxic components come from mining. It takes 25,000 pounds of brine for the lithium, 30,000 of ore for the cobalt, 5,000 pounds of ore for the nickel and 25,000 pounds of ore for copper. All told you dig up 500,000 pounds of the earth’s crust for just one battery. Not to mention disease and child labor, here’s why 68% of the world’s cobalt a significant part of a battery comes from the Congo. Their mines have no pollution controls and they employ children who die from handling this toxic material.
Should we factor in these diseased kids as part of the cost of driving an electric car?
2) Solar panels contain sulfuric acid, gallium and acetone, just to name a few (toxins). The Silicon dust is a hazard to the workers and the panels cannot be recycled. 3) The wind turbines are the ultimate embedded cost and environmental destruction, (for example) the birds, bats, sea life and migratory insects they kill. And (they) cannot be recycled.
There may be a place for these technologies, but you must look beyond the myth of zero emissions.
Ira Johnson, Kennewick
Is Beaton insured and responsible?
While claiming to be fiscally responsible, (Franklin. County Auditor Matt) Beaton wants others to pay for damage he caused to public property. I assume he is a licensed driver in Washington state and therefore has up-to-date insurance, which will pay for most of the damage. Is Mr. Beaton a responsible citizen or not?
Tom Weir, Walla Walla