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’ LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Trump’s
leadership
is helping
Editor, the Journal
A few summers ago, my
adrenaline was stimulated
when I happened to disturb
a hornet’s nest. Vivid in my
mind is the sight of a min-
iature army, in formation,
ready to drill an attack on
me.
As I read not one, not two,
not three but four letters
responding to my comments
correlating liberalism to elite
ideology, I am reminded of
that immediate feeling of
flight or fight. ,
I witnessed a Pavlovian re-
sponse, attack, in last week’s
letters to my audacity to
question the inability of some
national and state “leaders”
to acknowledge President
Trump’s positive accomplish-
ments. How dare I refer to
the left as characteristic of “...
a fevered barrage of negative
and belittling remarks about
one’s opponent.” Loaded for
attack came these letters
with over-the-top rhetoric,
with diversion tactics, with
negative accusations, with
distorted interpretations of
my words and with negative
personal insinuations. Oh
my, is this not evidence of the
very characteristic I referred
to as “... a fevered barrage
of negative and belittling re-
marks about one’s opponent?”
I reread my letter. The
first two words were “our
country” not “the country.”
Could all this venom come
from a typo in a heading I did
not write?
We all have pet peeves.
My pet peeve is distortion of
my words. Of course a typo
is forgiven. The deliberate
distortion of my written word
to suit a liberal writer’s nega-
tive narrative is not. To infer
I am a pawn to anyone, as
one writer suggested by co-
mingling my words with my
husband’s, is above the pale.
Such letters foul discussion
by disrespect and dishonest
intent, thus proving unwor—
thy of a reply. I should thank
the staff for the typo since the
typo inadvertently baited the
TDSers (Trump Derangement
Syndrome).
Contrary to popular opin-
ion, I rely on financial news
channels for information on
world events. Currently I am
tracking the US. coronavirus
percentages of deaths. Why?
President Trump is a leader
among leaders with the US.
rate 1.3% (216 deaths di-
vided by 16,638 cases 1.3%)
which is down. from 2.2% last
week and much lower than
the world rate of 4% (11,153
deaths divided by 2,666,115
cases 4%). The 1.3% is down
from just a week ago —
worth repeating.
The national media is fix-
ated on the sensational vol-
ume of cases, not the decrease
in the United Statesdeath
rate percentage. Give credit
to our president. I see heroic
efforts to lower the curve,
to financially stabilize our
Thursday, March 26, 2020 — Shelton—Mason County Journal — Page A-5
Journal Letter Policy
The Journal encourages original letters to the editor of local interest.
Diverse and varied opinions
are welcomed. We will not publish letters that are deemed libelous or
scurrilous in nature. All
letters must be signed and include the writer’s name, address and phone
number, which will
be used for verification purposes only. All letters are subject to editing
for length, grammar and
clarity. To submit a letter, email adam@masonc‘ounty.com or mail it to
PO. Box 430, Shelton,
WA 98584. Until further notice, please do not drop off letters at the
Journal office.
citizens and to untangle our
codependence on China for
drugs. I see a media intent on
disrespect and sensational-
ism.
Irene Graham
Union
Wanted:
Selective
shoppers
at Safeway
Editor, the Journal
This last Sunday, my wife
and I finished our shopping at
Safeway. At the checkstand
we were surprised to find out
that we can no longer buy
what others can.
We do not have a smart
phone, just an older flip
phone. We cannot use the dig-
ital coupons for store specials.
They used to accommodate
those of us who could not use
their digital coupons by sim-
ply adjusting at the checkout.
It was very simple and not
time consuming to fix so that
all could participate in their
coupon specials.
Higher management no
longer allows this simple
procedure-so that all can
participate and enjoy weekly
specials as well as regular
shopping needs. If you are
a regular Safeway shopper
like we were, we just thought
others might like to know.
Personally, I believe this is
shortsighted, now promoting
selective customers at Safe-
way.
P.V. LaPrath Jr.
Shelton
’Target rich
environment’
in letters
Editor, the Journal
During the World War II
battle of the Philippine Sea in
June 1944, there was a mas-
sive aerial engagement that
became known as the Great
Mariana’s Turkey Shoot. In
it, over 300 Japanese aircraft
were shot down. Afterwards,
a US Navy fighter pilot said
wryly, “It was a target rich
environment.”
Well, the March 19 Jour-
nal’s letter section was
certainly a “target rich envi-
ronment.” The usual liberal
suspects came out in force.
Mssrs. James Biehl, Burt
Mullen and William Busacca
had strong words for me and
others. I should ignore them,
but since they led with their
chins
First, to Mr. Biehl: Don-
ald Trump’s front teeth are
capped. So are mine. What
you call a “silly combover”
is at least his real hair. Joe
Biden didn’t get the nickname
“Plugs” for nothing.
You said to me, “Be care-
ful of making comparisons.”
Physician, heal thyself. I
was making no comparisons.
Mr. Biehl, if yOu are going to
lecture someone, it will serve
you well to at least know
what you are talking about.
You salvaged an otherwise
flawed letter with an excel-
lent final paragraph, how-
ever. Nicely stated.
Mr. Mullen, I believe there
is no clearer case of influence
peddling-than the recent ca-
pers of Joe Biden and his son,
Hunter, in Ukraine, yet you
suggest that Hunter was just
trying to “make a living in a
foreign country.” I had to stop
here. You must have OD’ed
on the Kool-Aid.
I wish you luck in the fu-
ture as a “blue dog” (fiscally
conservative) Democrat. You
brag about this in most of
your letters, but you’re in a
party that wants to tax us
until we bleed. How do you
square that circle?
William Busacca began a
letter (to another writer) in
which he first catalogs what
he believes to be the elements
of Donald Trump’s villainy.
He ends by telling a joke:
“Try watching something
other than Fox News once in
a while to get a more even
perspective on what’s really
going on.” Barf.
I hope these exchanges
continue. Our country faces
a terrible virus, which I’m -
confident we can overcome,
but we are also facing a na-
tional election. Both events
are hugely consequential,
but in different ways, and I
know we can walk and chew
gum at the same time. If we
take care of ourselves, and
more importantly, each other,
America will win.
Robert E. Graham
Union
Kudos to letter
writer Graham
Editor, the Journal
Given the liberal bias of
the area, it’s rarified to see a
letter as well written as by
Irene Graham. Inslee, Mur-
ray, Schumer and up the line
could care less about the fate
of the nation, but only for
their self-interest, continue to
hold their office and line their
pockets.
To Irene, keep your
thoughts penned. I enjoy
reading sensible thoughts in
my own baked hours in Palm
Desert. Although summers
in Kitsap are great as well as
the various activities on the
Canal, i.e., Hamma Hamma.
William Price
Palm Desert, California
Bernie’s '
solUtions
aren’t the
solution
Editor, the Journal
Bernie Sanders believes
government is the answer to
everything; he wants to pro-
vide free health care costing
$52 trillion and a free college
education costing $2.2 tril-
lion. He also wants housing
for all at $2.5 trillion and
Universal Child Care at $1.5
trillion. The total tab, includ-
ing Green New Deal at $16.3
trillion, is $74.5 trillion. (One
study says the Green New
Deal alone could cost up to
$93 trillion). Sanders will add
a 4% tax to everyone earning
over $29,000. A $15 minimum
wage earner makes $31,200
annually so Bernie will even
tax minimum wage earners.
Bernie’s own estimate
is that we have 80 million
people without medical care.
Assuming each of these will
have but one doctor visit each
year, that’s 80 million more
doctor visits than now. How
will that impact the current
medical system? How long
will you have to wait to see
your own doctor? How do you
legislate more doctors, more
nurses, more lab technicians, .
more administrators, more
hospitals, and more equip-
ment?
Bernie’s Medicare for All
and ObamaCare won’t work.
Bernie’s one-size-fits-all solu-
tion would destroy the private
medical insurance coverage
and force everyone into ques-
tionable government cover-
age. The VA is an example of
disastrous government medi-
cal coverage. Besides, who
gives Bernie the authority to
take away my health care?
That’s my freedom of choice
he’s taking away.
Even Joe Biden agrees a
single-payer system is not
the solution. In a Democratic
debate, Joe Biden told Bernie
that Italy has a single-payer
system and it’s a complete di-
saster during this coronavirus
‘ crisis. It’s so overtaxed that
hospitals ration medical as-
sistance; they were perform:
ing last rites on the elderly
and saving the beds and other
medical help for younger,
healthier patients.
The primary support group
for Bernie’s socialist positions
is the young people. Current-
ly the millennial generation
is on spring break; many are
totally ignoring the medical
, advice on coronavirus. If they
are not concerned with the
health of the older genera—
tion, including their own par—
ents; if they totally ignore the
' advice of medical, social and
political leaders as it pertains
to the coronavirus concerns,
how can we trust their judg—
ment in politics?
Ardean A. Anvik
Shelton
Let’s use crisis
to strengthen '
community
Editor, the Journal
The United States is in
a’ national crisis and while
many responsible actions are
being taken (some months
behind other countries), this
crisis can help us rethink
what true national security
looks like: Science-based
preparation and execution for
emergencies of many kinds,
medical care for all, housing
for all, food for all, clean wa-
ter, land, and air for all, and
compassion for all. While the
US. has spent trillions for
nuclear weapons and other
military hardware, we were
caught unprepared for a virus
and its aftermath. We should
take this opportunity to re-
prioritize our thinking and
spending.
If we decide to prioritize
green/clean energy/transpor-
tation (Green New Deal) and
sustainable/ equitable devel-
opment, housing, health care .
for all, justice/fairness for-
all, equitable free preschool-
college education, working
with nature and indigenous
peoples, and cooperating with
the international community
(Paris Climate Accord) and
the UN. prohibition of all nu-
clear weapons, we could have
true national security.
Let’s use this crisis to
strengthen our communities,
country and world so that to-
gether we can have a sustain-
able planet where everyone
lives respected and adequate-
ly sustained physically and
emotionally.
Michael Siptroth
Belfair
A poem
about life
Editor, the Journal
Life needs health
Before wealth
It won’t work the other
way
My world case in point
Look at the person in
charge
Now
Elections have conse-
quences
Vote proof
Life needs health before
wealth
Signed,
Virus
John Haupt
Union
see LE1T ERS, page A—6