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| September 27, 2012 Shelton Mason County Journal |  |
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GUESTCOLUMN
KOMENCOMMENT
Carter America
is abandoning
human rights
Jimmy Carter's ranking as president
of the United States may forever
be mired in the lower reaches on
the list of 44. It is doubtful whether he'll
ever rise in the estimation of future his-
torians. But what he had to say the other
day deservesrespectful attention. When
former presidents speak, Americans may
disagree, but they listen.
"The United States is abandoning its
role as the global champion of human
rights," said Carter
in an opinion piece in
The New York Times.
"Revelations that top
officials are targeting
people to be assassi-
nated abroad, including
American citizens, are
only the most recent,
By JOHN disturbing proof of how
far our nation's Viola-
KOMEN tion of human rights
has extended."
There have been others who have de-
cried recent revelations of drone attacks
singling out specific human targets that
are personally approved by President
Barack Obama. Leaks out of the White
House have said the president is shown
photographs of proposed terrorist targets
and then selects those to be killed.
This is an uncomfortable image: To
realize the president, the commander in
chief of U.S. military forces, has become
the assassin in chief.
In his opinion article, former Presi-
dent Carter pointed out drone attacks
are continuing in areas of Pakistan, Ye-
men and Somalia that are not in any war
zone.
"We don't know how many hundreds
of innocent civilians have been killed in
these attacks, each one approved by the
highest authorities in Washington," says
Carter. "This would have been unthink-
able in previous times."
He accuses America of violating the
1948 Universal Declaration of Human
Rights, adopted largely through leader-
ship by the United States as the founda-
tion of freedom, justice and peace in the
world.
"It is disturbing," writes Carter, "that
instead of strengthening these princi-
ples, our government'S counterterrorism ....
policies are now clearly' violating at leaSt
10 of the declaration's 30 articles. : ~ :
"At a time when popular revolutions
are sweeping the globe, the United
States should be strengthening, not
weakening, basic rules of law and
principles of justice enumerated in
the Universal Declaration of Human
Rights."
Carter also deplores recent laws can-
celing restraints that were once part of
the 1978 Foreign Intelligence Surveil-
lance Act. The result, he says, allows
"unprecedented violations of our rights
to privacy through warrantless wiretap-
ping and government mining of our elec-
tronic communications."
But it is the drone attacks that have
especially drawn Carter's anguished at-
tention. "The death of nearby innocent
women and children is accepted as inevi-
table," he writes. "The great escalation
in drone attacks (has) permitted repres-
sive governments to cite such actions to
justify their own despotic behavior."
Carter, the 39th of the nation's 44
presidents, has his critics who see his
peace propensities and his worries about
human rights to be counter to American
interests. But the fact he is a recipient of
the Nobel Peace Prize is testimony to the
regard in which he is held by millions
around the world.
And it is perhaps a given that Carter
may never be considered among his-
tory's top 10 presidents, never to be
ranked with Lincoln, Jefferson, Jackson,
Roosevelt and the others. Nevertheless,
Carter has the courage of his convictions,
an important human quality that seems
to be given diminishing value in today's
culture.
LETTERSTOTHEEDITOR
• John Komen, who lives on Mason
Lake, was for 40 years a reporter and
editor, TV anchorman, national TV net-
work correspondent, producer, columnist,
editorial writer and commentator. His
column, Komen Comment, appears each
week in the Shelton-Mason County Jour-
nal.
hot in Mason
V!ter turnout in the primary election
ast month was largely seen as dis-
ppointing, with a little more than
38 percent, rather than the 46 percent that
was projected. There are several reasons
for the apathy, but the most important
may be that many of the primary races
weren't competitive. Roughly two-thirds of
Washington's legislative races have now
been decided before ballots even drop for
the general election.
Even with so many legislative races al-
ready decided, there are several that remain
highly competitive, including right here in
the 35th Legislative District where there are
two competitive races for state House seats.
Incumbent Democrat Kathy Haigh is facing
Republican Dan Griffey for the first seat.
Haigh, who's been in the House since 1999,
beat Griffey by more than 1,000 votes in
2010. In the race for the second state House
seat, Democrat Lynda Ring Erickson faces
Republican Drew MacEwen. Both of these
races will be incredibly close, which is why
it's important you become informed about
these candidates and what they will do if
elected.
Regardless of the specific race, how-
ever, it is vital that all Washington voters
do their research and become informed
on these candidates during the coming
weeks. Washingtonians will be voting for
president, governor,
attorney general, secre-
tary of state and several
other important state-
wide positions. There
are also six measures
on the ballot that have
a large impact on the
state, both fiscally and
By ERIN socially.
Your vote always
MeCALLUM matters, in races both
large and small. We all
remember the 2004 governor's race that
was decided by a margin of .0047 percent
or 133 votes. Washington has a long his-
tory of close elections. In 1990, the state
House race in the 24th District, the Olym-
pic Peninsula, was decided by a difference
of two votes. After three recounts, it was
confirmed that incumbent Democrat Evan
Jones had defeated his challenger Ann
Goos. Surely there were at least two peo-
ple in that district who thought their votes
wouldn't matter.
More recently, there were a total of
eight legislative races in 2010 with a
margin of victory of 2 percent or less. So
regardless of the clich6, every vote really
does count!
In 2013, Washington legislators will
be navigating the nation's new health
care law and managing our state's bud-
get, as well as prioritizing spending for
education. Because each of these issues
will have a major impact on the future of
Washington's economic health, now is the
time to get engaged and help elect men
and women who are business-minded and
competent.
There are nearly 30 competitive races in
the general election that will decide the bal-
ance of power in our state government at
the legislative level, including right here in
the 35th district. Get engaged and informed
so you can help to establish a positive direc-
tion for our state in November. Our state's
economic competitiveness is at stake.
• Erin McCallum is president of the
nonprofit, nonpartisan Enterprise Wash-
ington and the Business Institute of Wash-
ington, both of which help companies and
employees better understand how elected
officials establish public policy, and how to
become more involved in the political pro-
cess. To learn more, you can log onto www.
enterprisewashington.org.
Se ice last year I took note to tt-~e of being harassed or tbrced to Randy Neatherlin has the
rv increase of non-service dogs leave because of their animal proven leadership, experi-
entering several places, in question, once and knowledge to turn
animal law One case i.s when I ad- Where are our Civil Rights county government around.
dressed an employee on a now, as disabled people with He has wide-spread support
small dog entering a store and non-cani:ae service animals? from Democlats, Republicans
was told: Are we now less than second- and Independents alike. He
Myself: "That is no Service class citizens just because was the 2011 North Mason
Editor, the Journal Dog?!" a difi%rent type of service ani- Chamber's man of the year
The State of Washington Employee: "()1~ we allow real that w~rks fbr us'? Walk in and currently a Port of Allyn
Senate passed Bill 1728 that that dog cause the lady is a our sh~)es a day m our life and commissioner. He's chairman
defmed a service animal asregular to the store/' then see the issues you will of the Mason County Planning
"Any Dog or Miniature Horse It was also learned that see t~e problems then. Commission and previously
only." on several occasions some dogs served as chairman of the
This bill was drat%ed by relieved themselves m aisle Daniel Greene Theler Community Center.
the Restam'ants Association ways in a f~w grocery stores. SheltonOther public service includes
of Wash ing~con State in part to Staff were made to clean it up. founding member and chair of
stop what was thought to be This is against the ADA the North Mason Voice, vice
an increase of fraud by indi- Rules of a Service Aamnal ..... Stop the chair for Habitat For Human-
viduals using all sorts of ani- the owner/handler must pro- ity, Mason County Economic
reals as service animals, ceed to clean this mess up. | ~.~,. ,P...-'4-~. Council, W-PPA Legislative
Bill 1728 was an unneed- Also in one case a biggerI t::{ VV~ U It~ Committee, North Mason
ed definition" as'many people dog was seen gq~owling in what ..... Chamber of Commerce, Mason
who catmot, for whateVer ~ea-may be seen as an aggressive Editor, the Journal ..... County.T:IPrCAP Committee,
son, use miniature horses or ~ rammer (another ADA viola.- Mason County is losing • PNW Salmon Center Board,
dogs. tion for a Service Animal Act). lawsuit after lawsuit after Cancer Crusaders, North Ma-
For reasons such as no dog In both cases, the manage-lawsuit. The costs are stagger- son Kiwanis, NM Pee Wees,
policy by landlords or no farm ment did nothing to have the ing. Yet County Commissioner ACA Business Committee and
animals by HOA and minia-dogs removed ~i'om the store Lynda Ring Erickson believes North Mason School District
tare l~orses are seen as such within their legal right by they are "part of doing busi- committees including Budget,
by HOA as well as the cost of ADA Policy. ness and most of them areCurriculum, Facilities, Bond &
Ih~s incident of non-service frivolous." In reality, there's Levy, Athletics and Council of
a miniature horse can be any- '~ "
where f~om $75,000-$100,000 canine issues was then taken nothing frivolous about ex- Key Communicators.
not including the cost of their to both local and state health pensive lawsuits draining our Neatherlin is a family man, a
feed and other maintenance departments by addressingcounty treasury of nearly $3 businessman and a lifelong resi-
that is not included in the cost, it in writing and by phone only million and a county commis- dent with a plan for the future.
are just a t~w problems, to learn from the state th.ey siener so arrogant she won't He'll restore trust with open
However, even though knew this issue and did not admit at least some responsi- and transparent government.
a special committee of the enforce state law, only let it be bility. He'll work to grow our local
Senate called for a public overseen by inspectors. Even Dr. Phil says past behavior economy with more jobs, thus
hearing on this bill, fi'om what though they stood behind and is a strong indicator of future eliminating the need for new
I learned it was not publicly supported Bill 1728, at the behavior. Lynda Ring Erickson taxes. He wants to open up the
known to be in the works.Senate Committee meeting in has reigned as your county Shelton and the Belfair UGAs,
Yet I learned of this corn- numbers also made a few corn- commissioner for the last eight fueling that development'with
mittee and went to show my ments to the committee agree- years and now she wants a new a better-educated work force
concern that this bill was ing with said Bill. job as a state legislator. It's no using educational resources
not going to solve any issues So, we have a law that issurprise her own political party now in place. He will encour-
but create more as would far not etI~ctive, refused to endorse her for the age m6re an-the-job training
reaching problems that did They could have addressedprimary election. Can you af- and whereever possible partner
arise or were not addressed, this problem by simply having ford even four more years of with the private sector to on-
This bill passed and was any and all service animals ]i- her highly questionable and courage more family wage jobs.
sig~ed into law by the Senate censed by the state and ap- obviously costly behavior? Neatherlin's proven leader-
in April and took ett~.et July 1., proved by either a vet, doctor The age discrimination ship will make a difference.
2011. or in some cases trainer of lawsuit cost you and me He listens and responds to
That day I, as well as many some rerituals. $114,000 plus legal fees of public concerns. He believes
others, was disallowed entry That change would have about $25,000. We paid nearly we desperately need more Ma-
to places to shop with our ser- cost less in the long run where $500,000 to settle the Belfair son County deputies and will
vice animals (non-canine or what was spent to draft this sewer land condemnation work with the sheriffto better
miniature horse), bill and have it pass the two lawsuit. The labor settlement protect our families and our
Many who use other types state governme~lt bodies could lawsuit could cost us about $2 businesses.
of animals had no choice but have been bypassed and the million. Legal fees from the Don't be fooled by the other
to surrender their set-cice ani- money directed to a license garbage hauling lawsuit may candidate who's spent most of
reals for the defined animals for these service animalscost all of us about $50,000. his life abroad and is a "Denny
or simply no longer take them with penalties tbr thilure to That's nearly $3 million come lately" to our commu-
with them and face a problem follow set ADA Rules govern- that would have been better nity. Neatherlin is the local
without their service animals ing said animals, spent on more Mason County problem solver with the expe-
because of the law again.This would have brought Sheriffs deputies to protect rience to restore the trust in
I never stopped, but did not a lot of'the frauds to a bait our families and our busi- Mason County government.
take my service animal with and allowed the people with nesses. We definitely can't af-
me to some places, and I live sol,ice animals to live a nor- tbrd to lose another expensive Bob Harris
in fear that something might real and happy lif~, instead of lawsuit. Stop bleeding tax Belfair
happen if my disability came being told they can no longer dollars with new commission-
forth to cause me injury,bring their sel~-ice animals to ors who'll restore the trust in
At the same time, for the:places they once entered t~.'ee government. See Letters on page A-5
1[~ She[ton-Mason County 1{~
USPS 492-800
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Newsroom:
Adam Rudnick, editor
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Gordon Weeks, reporter
Emily Hanson, sports reporter
Advertising: Composing room:
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supervisor
Page A-4 - Shelton-Mason County Journal - Thursday, Sept. 27, 2012