Letters to the Editor

To the editor,

Voting may seem like a waste of time. What does it matter who is Sheriff or Commissioner? I live and let live. But it does affect you, whether you realize it or not. Some are hesitant to openly support one candidate over another, but you can fill out a ballot without proclaiming your choice from the rooftops. You may not have an impact on national elections, what with rampant vote scam, but here in our little corner of the world you have an impact. We have the privilege to live in a country where each citizen has the right to vote, and your vote matters. The current state of the country is in part our fault. We may not have had an actual hand in its demise, but what have we done to stop it? Years of sitting back and not paying attention to the legislation elected officials were putting into place has led to this. Bad things happen when good people do nothing. Start small and let it ripple outward from here. So, I ask you, who do you trust with the future of Columbia County? I have made my choice. Now you must make yours.

Ruth Tapio

Dayton, Wash.

To the editor:

I was recently fortunate to visit your small and beautiful city during the “All Wheels” event. I was very impressed with the number of participants and viewers of the wonderful antique automobiles on display. I had a wonderful time and enjoyed the friendly atmosphere and the citizens of Dayton.

Dayton is truly a town to cherish and preserve. This is often easier said than done. Yes, we can all cherish someone or something but preserving something often takes on different meanings to different people. Many think that to preserve Dayton, it must not change its appearance or its values. All things change overtime. The key is to guide that change so that it reflects the future that we all want with the physical look that’s acceptable to the majority, but more importantly, we must be vigilant to assure the values of life, liberty, justice, truth, dignity and responsibility are preserved. This takes a free people willing to refute the “Naysayers” and defend the values and ideals of the majority of its citizens. I pray that the citizens of Dayton will standup and defend those values identified above.

After reading a number of “letters to the editor” and comments to those letters, it appears to this outsider that there exist individuals within the community who have an agenda to tear down the community rather than find new and different ways to meet the changes while preserving the community values and to do so, by maintaining acceptable “Standards of Conduct.”

We can all stand on a corner and shout and throw rocks at those trying to bring about reasonable and acceptable change, but a bigger man/woman will put aside their differences and pitch in to help solve problems and seek acceptable solutions. I hope this is the route the “Naysayers” of Dayton choose.

John W. Jones

Dallas, Tex.

To the editor,

Natasha Hill is just the right candidate to replace Cathy McMorris Rodgers, who has been our Representative in the 5th Congressional District for 18 years and continually votes against the welfare of the people in Eastern Washington. CMR has held the position long enough, and it is time for a new representative who will be in touch with the people. Natasha grew up in Eastern Washington and still lives here, and is not just a strategic visitor.

Our present representative has voted against the welfare of women and families, which would seem unusual, as she has given birth to 3 children while in office. She has voted against protecting women against violence, for unequal pay for women, for removing children’s access to school lunches, and limiting needed healthcare. She is also against abortion even in case of rape and incest

We need a fresh, intelligent younger person to listen to us in the 5th District. Natasha has proven herself effective in functioning as an attorney and the running her own law office, and doing an outstanding job serving on the Redistricting Committee for Spokane County this past year,

Natasha will advocate for the welfare of women and children and students. She will listen to constituents of every demographic group; she is in tune with what is needed in our Eastern Washington communities, and she is honest. We need someone whose votes are consistent with what she says.

Vote for Natasha Hill in the upcoming Primary Election before August 2nd.

Nancy Street

Cheney, Wash.