Windmills blocking all of Eastern Washington’s beauty? Wouldn’t happen in King County | Opinion

Let’s fight picket fence of windmills

The exhaustive review of the Horse Heaven Hill Wind Project performed by the EFSEC, with extensive Washington tax dollars, was largely ignored and overridden by Gov. Jay Inslee. He did so against local stakeholders’ desires otherwise, knowing that his activist general, current attorney general, soon to be Gov. Bob Ferguson, would not stand in his way and would follow in his footsteps.

This project and his previous pet projects (cap and trade, etc.) would add to his environmental legacy, at no political cost to himself or his successor as the eastern part of the state plays a minor role in their election to office.

I am a lifelong resident of the state. During the time that I lived and worked in King County, never did I think to myself that having two hundred windmills, each 200 feet tall, set up like a 25-mile picket fence on my commute from Lynnwood to SeaTac would improve my view of the Olympics.

That is exactly what we will endure as we locals drive from Kennewick to Prosser. Please join me in fighting to reinstitute the original visual impact mitigation recommendations made by the EFSEC by going to www.tricitiescares.org and donating to continue the legal fight.

Patrick Weiher, Richland

No ‘rigged’ claim, just get to work

As Democrats we just lost a fair presidential election. There was no cheating at the ballot box. The voting machines weren’t rigged. The poll workers were trained to be helpful but totally neutral, the Venezuelans did not send down laser beams in order to interfere, nor were there any other wild conspiracies happening.

So, as Dems, we’ll face the hard fact that we lost. We do not have the right to yell “foul.” We cannot storm the Capitol, kill four policemen and cause millions of dollars in clean-up damage, nor can we come up with fake electors in order to overturn a fair and free election.

Instead, we’ll humbly accept defeat, do a little soul-searching, continue to engaged and continue to keep our integrity toward our Constitution and the rule of law, because as a fair and civilized society the peaceful transfer of power should always remain one of our most important hallmarks.

Anna Bopp, Richland

Election coverage slanted leftward

Now that the elections are behind us, it’s time to evaluate the winners and losers. In my opinion, the biggest loser is the mainstream media. It was clear the media had a dog in the fight and slanted coverage accordingly. Positive Harris coverage was in excess of 85% while Trump negatives were above 90%, by my estimate.

We were told not to believe our eyes, experiences and pocketbooks. On one side of the aisle, the campaign was centered on division. If we didn’t support one candidate we were accused of being against women, racist and being anti-American.

The mainstream media was all too anxious to echo these views. The majority of voters rejected these characterizations and mainstream media viewership/readership suffered accordingly. Unless the mainstream media learns from this election, it’s likely to join the institutions of the past.

Donald Havre, Richland

Missing signs not a mystery to him

Last week I had no political signs in front of my house. Earlier this week a neighbor stopped by the house to let me know that someone had stolen the many Harris-Walz signs on our street. She had gotten replacements. Would I mind putting one up in front of our house. I agreed. Two days later, they are all now gone, again. This time, my neighbor’s Dan Newhouse sign is also gone.

Today, I will get more to replace them and the neighbor who had the Newhouse sign will get me one, because signs that are stolen should multiply. In recent elections, stealing signs has been prevalent. Why do people steal political signs?

• Because they promote freedom of speech, as long as the speech supports their cause.
• Because they promote following the law, unless they can be sneaky and not get caught.
• Because they think that if there are too many opposition signs, that people might think their candidate is not going to win.
• Because any opposing view is un-American, so therefore evil and should be silenced.
• Because the Ten Commandments do not apply — when (it’s not) convenient.
• Because they are aspiring bullies, and they can.
• All of the above

Randy Ni, Richland

Lawyers won in redistricting fight

I strongly believe we should be asking more questions about the impact of the 14th Legislative District redistricting. With the exception of Gloria Mendoza, a conservative, every Latino candidate lost their race, even in cases where they raised more campaign funds. This redistricting effort did not reflect the will of the people, but rather the subjective opinions of self-endorsed experts.

If a full inquiry were conducted, I believe it would reveal Latino advocacy groups grasping at straws, ultimately harming rather than helping the Latino vote. While these groups may be optimistic about the future, it’s crucial to examine whether their redistricting request was based on sound political strategy or whimsical assumptions about the electorate. In the end, it seems the only real winners were the lawyers involved.

Adan Mendoza-Sandoval, Pasco

People need to speak more loudly

Part of the country is disappointed, and maybe even devastated today, and a small majority is happy, even elated. I am wondering if any might feel as I do. I think the American people on both sides were used by the campaigns and the media. It felt like they addressed us as incompetent and ignorant. The media was mostly dishonest in their reporting and twisting of words and comments and the cutting of statements made by the candidates to fit a narrative.

I feel there is nowhere to go to retrieve the news without opinion and spin. We have to sift through it all. I think some have lost sight of the words — of the people and for the people — in favor of more selfish interests. I guess the “people” need to speak up more.

Cleta Mayfield, Kennewick

Paved paradise, put up parking lot

As the song goes: ”You don’t know what you’ve got till it’s gone.”

Robin Walker, Richland

Failing to mention military choices

The typical options presented to graduating high schoolers are: trade school, college or military service. Absent from the presented options is a very important opportunity — pursue your education or trade while simultaneously pursing a career in the Army Reserve.

As a reminder, a person can join the active Army (i.e. full time, year-round service) or the Army Reserve usually consisting of one weekend a month and two weeks a year of service. The Army Reserve’s limited time commitment allows a person to simultaneously pursue other opportunities.

The Army Reserve needs to fill all kinds of jobs. More than two-thirds of soldiers fill non-combat jobs offering support to the combat troops.

Service in the military is gratifying in and of itself, but there’s more. The Army offers scholarships to pay for college with guaranteed reserve duty. Service provides pay, subsidized health care, training and even years of service toward a pension (yes, a pension for a part-time job).

Importantly, not only are work absences for military service protected by federal law, but our community vigorously supports its soldiers and their service.

Consider using the Army Reserve as a means to leverage other opportunities for education and employment.

Beau Ruff, Richland