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Page A-6 Shelton-Mason County Journal Thursday, Dec. 3, 2020
was, aimed 56,5 page 2x25
Kudos to
election team
Editor, the Journal, ~
The title of the letter by Carl Olso
in the Nov 26 edition of the
had a timely “thank you,” fitting for
a Thanksgiving edition. It reminded
me that I want to give a public “thank
’ you” to Mason County Auditor Paddy
McGuire and his staff, as well as elec-
tion volunteers, for their tireless and
exceptional efforts to ensure fair elec-
tions for Mason County voters. I have
lived in the county for over 40 years,
and haven’t missed voting in an elec-
tion. I cannot remember another time.
when our auditor wrote numerous
articles over several weeks before an
election that explained many differ-
ent facets of the voting system in the
county. The voter information insert
that went out to county residents
explaining how to register, where the
ballot boxes were located, how ballots
would be checked for legitimacy, and
several other facts about this impor-
tant election was clear, helpful and
timely. I appreciate the hard work of
all who are part of the election team
in our county and I am also thankful
to live in our all mail-in ballot state,
especially after seeing the difficulties
and health risks many fellow Ameri—
cans in other states faced as they car-
ried out their civic duty.
While I disagree with many of Mr.
Olson’s sentiments regarding the in-
formation leading up to the election
as well as the results, I can agree that
respectful discourse about our differ-
ing points of view is vital to help us
work together as one nation to solve I
the many problems we face. I believe
we can agree to respectfully disagree
on some things while we continue to
work to find common ground and a
way forward on others. I was sorry to
see that he stooped to the name call-
ing in his letter that seems to have
become the norm for many now when
it comes to political discussions; that
does nothing to engender respect for
differing opinions. And finally, I do
want to point out that his last state-
ments about the Electoral College
helping to ensure representation for
smaller counties in selecting our sena-
tors and governor is not accurate.
The Electoral College is only part of
our national presidential elections as
defined by the US. Constitution, Ar-
ticle II, Section 1. It has nothing to do
with determining our state congres-
sional representatives, state senators
and representatives or our governor.
Those positions are popularly elected
by a plurality of the votes cast in
Washington.
t
Leslie uttman
Allyn
. About that
Ukraine claim
Editor, the Journal,
In a letter to the editor titled .“For
right thinkers,” published on Nov. 26,
it was alleged that Vice President Joe
Biden had bragged about pressuring
Ukraine to fire its top prosecutor, Vik—
tor Shokin, to stop an investigation
tied to Biden’s son, Hunter Biden.
A minimum of research into the
matter revealed that this allegation
was totally false.
Biden did in fact play a role in
having Prosecutor General Shokin
fired. It was because Shokin was not
investigating corruption among the
Ukraine politicians and businesses
which was his primary responsibility.
. It was widely recognized that Shokin
was bowing to political pressure and
was believed to be extorting money
from those same people and corpora—
tions he was supposed to be investi-
gating. There was also the matter of
the arrest of two of Shokin’s top depu—
ty prosecutors and the seizure of hun-
dreds of thousands of dollars in cash,
bags of diamonds and precious stones
along with evidence linking Shokin’s
involvement. Shokin.quashed that
investigation and fired the lead inves—
tigating prosecutor.
Shokin’s firing came as a result
of international pressure from the
United States government, European
diplomats, the European Union, the
International Monetary Fund, which
was threatening to withhold $40 bil-
lion in aid, and other international
organizations as well as the National
Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine
and the Anti-Corruption Action Cen-
ter in Kiev. I
It wasn’t until Biden, with the
blessing of all of those organizations,
threatened to withhold $1 billion in
loan guarantees, that the Ukrainian
parliament finally acted to remove
Shokin in the spring of 2016.
The only time that the Ukraine
gas company, Burisma Holdings, was
linked to a corruption investigation
was in 2012, two full years before
Hunter Biden ever became associated
with it and that investigation was
actually into the Ministry of Ecology
over its granting of special permits to»
Burisma. That investigation resulted
in fines being paid.
It’s always best to check one’s facts
rather than just repeating some poli-
tician’s accusations.
Don Rutherford
Shelton
A call to wits
Editor, the Journal
In September, Toby Kevin wrote
a letter to the editor about Shelton
citizens carrying weapons at the
“Back the Blue Rally.” In November,
I answered his letter. I suggested
that Mr. Kevin had selective outrage
as he criticized members of the rally
for carrying weapons but failed to
criticize the destruction caused by
antifa rioters.
Recently Mr. Kevin responded.
He quoted Winston Churchill about
engaging in a battle of wits with an
unarmed man. Mr. Kevin wrote a
62-word ad-hominem attack on me,
then ran aWay. His last sentence
was “I am not prone to argue.” This
is true. He prefers to attack the let-
'ter writer rather than debate the
issue. This tactic is used by pseudo-
intellectuals as they try to silence
people who disagree with them. Mr.
Kevin, I stand by my argument. You
can refute the facts in my letter; you
can continue name-calling, or you
can run away. What’s your choice?
An intellectual response, a temper
tantrum, or AWOL?
Ardean Anvik
Shelton
Be kind and
carry on
Editor, the Journal,
Upon reflection after the holiday,
I feel grateful for many things, con-
cerned about some things, and sad
about other things.
I’m grateful for the Journal which
I think has been nothing short of he-
roic in your efforts to continue pub-
lishing in a pandemic which affects
physical, emotional, and financial
futures for business and the public.
Well done! PS. I am really enjoying
the columns by writer Alex Fethiere
among other features.
I’m grateful for the front line
workers, many my former colleagues,
who risk life and limb while “just
doing their jobs.” Firemen, doctors,
nurses, health aides, hospital work—
ers, police, EMTs, grocery workers,
postal workers, teachers, bank work-
ers and many other not-so-high—pro-
file-folks who go to work to keep the
wheels turning. Thank you.
The League of Women Voters
in general, and the Mason County
' League of Women Voters specifically,
has worked diligently registering
voters, hosting candidate forums,
and using many media formats to
get out the vote. In this 100th year
of women’s suffrage I’m proud to be
a member of this important group.
Much appreciation for~your hard
work, MCLWV, for supporting the
basic tenet of our democratic repub-
lic: fair and free elections.
I’m concerned about the divisions-
in politics that has’cau'sed deep rifts
in governmental goals, communities,
even families —— mine included. Let-
ters to the editor every week point
to different realities, oppositional on
many key issues, and sadly, vitriolic.
Politics seem to provide a prismatic
View, reflecting not actual events, but
events filtered through social media
and colored‘by our own prejudices
and predilections. My personal hope
for a remedy is to step back, think
about my own “mote in the eye” and,
as has become my mantra, be kind
and carry on. .
Sadly, many, too many, lives have
been lost in this horrific plague.
People are losing their livelihoods,
and way too many, their homes. Kids
are missing school, and the life les-
sons of social behavior they learn in
the classroom. Doctors and nurses
are exhausted after many months
going to work afraid, overworked,
and under equipped. As a retired RN
who worked during HIV, SARS, and
Ebola outbreaks, I can attest to the
physical and emotional stress of just
getting up and going to work every
day with threats .to my health and,
the health of loved ones I am close
to, in the back of my mind. I humbly
recommend that each of us do our
best to end this crisis with a few
simple acts of kindness: wear a mask
outside your home, wash your hands
often, stay home as much as possible,
keep in touch with family, friends
and neighbors — especially those
who live alone. And, shop local, order
takeout, tip extra, support our impor-
tant charities: United Way, Commu-
nity Lifeline, Elevate Mason County,
Sound Learning, MCSSA (karaoke
bingo is a blast), Turning Pointe and
Great Bend Choir, to name a few.
Scientific facts are not negotiable.
It doesn’t get to be a fact if questions
are unanswered. Factually: a vaccine
' for the general population is months,
maybe longer, away, the spread of
the Virus is slowed by some simple
. measures I’ve mentioned a few of,
businesses, schools, entertainment .
venues cannot open successfully until
COVID—19 is controlled.
I think a national effort in which
every state is included in putting
in place reasonable measures and
equally provided with PPE and other
tools, is our best hope for returning
to something approximating normal-
ity. We need another stimulus pack-
age, and we need to avoid foreclo-
sures to keep people in their homes
— not just a charity for them, but to
avoid increasing infection rates, and
subsequent stresses on health care
and social services which affect us
all.
Let’s bury'the hatchet, (that ough—
ta date me), be kind and carry on.
Connie Simpson
Shelton
Thank you, 3
Alex Apostle ’
Editor, the Journal,
Shelton School District Superin-
tendent Alex Apostle announced his
retirement to start at the end of this
school year and the School Board has
started the search for his replace-
ment. I encourage the School Board
to include community’members in
the interview process and I encour-
age participation by community
members.
We tend to take so much for
granted, but I will remind everyone
where we were 5% years ago, just
before Apostle came to Shelton. The
community was battling with the
School Board about the pool. Meet-
ings were hostile and comments
were vicious. Apostle connected with
community leaders and the pool was
kept open. During his time in Shel-
ton he has led the way to new build— f
ings, new athletic facilities, learning
academies and so much more oppor-
tunity for our students. He strives
to include parents, faculty, students
and community members in every
committee that involves change. I
have participated in these commit—
tees and appreciate the opportunity
to do so. He makes himself available
through monthly community forums
and is present at school activities.
Under his leadership, our commu-
nity has come together behind our
schools like never before. He will be
difficult to replace. We as a commu-
nity cannot settle 'for less. We need
someone who will continue what has ' i
been started.
Thank you, Alex Apostle. I appre- ,
ciate all you have done for Shelton.
Helen Thomson
Shelton
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