Common sense, what George Washington really said about guns and other Herald letters
Common sense
Some things the government has a hard time defining: recession, inflation, woman, viable fetus, riot, assault weapon, vaccine, racism.
Wisdom: My dad told me, when I was young, your brain is like a bucket. There is all kinds of stuff in your bucket. Common sense has the least specific gravity and education is very heavy. As you become highly educated, your bucket gets full. Common sense is the first thing to pour out. Unfortunately these people end up in charge of the government and won’t listen because they are so smart!
Rick Wilson, Kennewick
What Washington said about guns
The Tri-City Herald Editorial Board missed an opportunity to comment on rogue statements by candidates. Candidate Brad Klippert cited George Washington as a proponent for unfettered gun rights. The citation, however, was never uttered by our first president. The reference has been debunked and referred to as “either a complete fabrication or a case of misattribution” by the Papers of George Washington Project at the University of Virginia.
The Second Amendment Foundation called it “perhaps the most infamous bogus saying attributed to a Founding Father.” This reality did not stop the oracle of Fox News, Sean Hannity, from using it to support arguments for gun rights. Mr. Klippert is not the first, and surely will not be the last, to mistake fiction for fact when it might further their cause.
The Mount Vernon Library and the Papers of George Washington Project report numerous erroneous claims of quotes attributed to our Founding Fathers. The clearest statement that Washington made regarding firearms was in his first state of the Union address: “A free people ought not only to be armed, but disciplined.” A far cry from “firearms anywhere and everywhere.” The Editorial Board’s admonition “beware the lies and manipulation” applies equally to candidates and voters!
Laurence Oats, Benton City
Reduce BFT tax or eliminate it
I’m outraged at the recent “moral decision” by the Ben Franklin Transit board to retain the current transit tax. What was moral about it? They ignored the majority of residents who are economically suffering, reflecting their (the board’s) arrogance and lack of concern for residents.
The BFT coffer, already with a surplus, continues to grow, while staff obtain federal and state subsidies and other funding for operations and to buy equipment.
Be aware, residents, that this tax has no end date (“Sunset Date”) and will continue until we do something about it. The board is composed primarily of elected officials from the two participating counties and the six major cities. If you’re tired of this tax burden, vote against them in the upcoming elections.
BFT needs to either reduce the tax rate or eliminate the tax and learn to live within a budget commensurate with the documented needs of the greater community (ridership). Large, multi-passenger buses operating with few to no passengers most of the time certainly doesn’t reflect fiscal and oversight responsibility.
C’mon, BFT board, use the surplus, and also reduce the rate or eliminate the tax!
B.E. Beldin, Richland
Reagan’s advice
In response to the letter chastising folks for not being like President Reagan and never criticizing another Republican: I assume the author of this letter does not read nor watch much public news. Starting with the “former” president, then working down/or up through the current House and Senate GOP members who have and continue to berate their party members, led by the aforementioned “former” president.
Dorothy Rawson, Pasco