Watch for traps
On June 20 my dog got caught in a steel-jawed trap set along the edge of Farmers Irrigation ditch between Portland Drive and Riverdale Road. Luckily, we were able to get her out of the water and she survived with only a badly injured foot. Had I been a minute or two later in finding her she would have drowned.
Steel-jawed traps are deadly and can easily cause the death of a pet or child. Members of the public should be cautious walking with children or pets in the vicinity of area ditches and streams.
Bill Mellow
Hood River
Scare tactics
In response to Sandra Ihrig's letter, "Say 'no' to more waste" (June 18) I would have to agree. I myself am not sure I want more radioactive waste in the Northwest.
She is right, the first responders would be local; but to say they would in turn infect hospital workers, then their families, then the local community is ludicrous. They have measures in place to handle that. That would be like saying I microwave a potato, take it out and stand it next to a raw potato and it in turn will get radiation.
She did not say what her personal experience was to radioactive exposure; was she the potato in the microwave or the raw potato next to it? I wonder, do you weigh more than you should if you have elevated levels of heavy metals in your system? Am I going to die from fishing with lead sinkers? Am I the potato?
You should stick to facts next time instead of fear tactics and it will sound more intelligent.
Jim Burdick
Parkdale
Why buy bottled water?
Recently, a very good (in my opinion) commentary in a regional newspaper asked the question, "Why does the Oregon state government spend $90,000 on bottled water for its employees?" Further, it went on to say that this action insinuates that our public water system is inferior and sends a wrong message about the value and importance of public water systems.
Additionally, why would anyone in the state of Oregon pay a single penny for good, clean, cool, abundant water that flows semi-freely from every faucet in every home, office or restaurant in the state?
I just don't get it. Do you?
Phil Jensen
Hood River
Show consequences
Regarding the four teens charged with the Odell vandalism rampage (Page one, June 22 issue), please give equal front page treatment to the court's final disposition. Publicity could go a long ways toward deterring such ridiculous future actions.
Dave Dockham
Hood River
Many added
to debt
I would like to comment on Mike Farmer's letter in the June 11 edition.
The first thing that caught my eye in your article is that you chastise "liberals" for doing the same thing to Mrs. Palin as you did in your article to President Obama.
Mrs. Palin put herself and her family into the national spotlight and is earning millions of dollars doing it, she is a public figure; she even abandoned her governorship mid-term in this pursuit. Mocking criticisms comes with the territory these days and I believe this behavior is just an extension of what we see our politicians doing to each other.
The problem with your criticism of President Obama is that you didn't present any facts to back up your statement. So I will.
Yes, we are in serious trouble concerning our national debt, and as a Democrat I am not happy with many of President Obama's decisions. However, if you look back to the 1960s and President Kennedy, each Democratic president lowered our debt-to-GDP ratio while each (yes, all of them) Republican president raised the national debt-to-GDP ratio.
President Obama is the first Democratic president since Kennedy to increase the debt-to-GDP ratio. You can view these facts on the federal government's CBO Historical Budget page. The current national debt load for each individual is stated as $44,900. This would be an accrual of the debts of all presidents, including President Obama, and not JUST President Obama.
I would also like to add that the current proposal to raise the national debt ceiling is being met with sharp criticism from Republicans, including our own Greg Walden.
However, I find it very interesting that the raising of the debt ceiling was supported by Walden seven times under President Bush. This understandably had to be done because we were giving the biggest tax breaks to the top earners while starting two wars. This has never been done in our nation's history and one of the biggest contributors to our current debt problems.
Peter Dallman
Hood River
Commented