Letters to the Editor for Sept. 7

Laurel Bushman

Hood River

‘Clean House’

The question: To vote or not to vote!

I ask: “Who will offer the best guidance for the America that I love?”

And for that:

I support Trump’s “house cleaning” proposals far more than Hilary Clinton’s potential treason-sounding tactics supported by hubby Bill’s Blackberry’s destructions to cover-up her questionable behavioral evidences.

So! Let’s clean house and vote for: Donald Trump, U.S. President; Greg Walden, U.S. House of Representatives; and Mark Callahan for United States Senator.

Alan Winans

Hood River

Risks on the rails

Thanks to the Wasco Planning Commission for providing the opportunity to register our concerns about Union Pacific’s proposal to expand rail line capacity through the town of Mosier. I can’t imagine that there is anything new you will hear about this issue, but I also can’t understand why we are even having this debate. Whatever the reason Union Pacific postponed these hearings after the June 3 derailment in Mosier, I assure you, our memories are not so short. People in this area are still recovering from the trauma of oil trains derailing and igniting in front of a school filled with children.

After the derailment I went to a public meeting in Mosier with some very sincere Union Pacific representatives, promising things like 90 days of walking inspection of the rails, new floors for Mosier school gymnasium, promises that people’s fears and complaints would be listened to and addressed, etc. What I believe I witnessed was a group of men who have been in love with trains and railroads since they were boys, trying to defend a system that has grown way beyond itself and relies on grossly inadequate safety regulations. Their jobs, their families, depend on their defense of trains loaded with time bombs that travel across the country, too heavy for the rails built to carry them, and too unsafe for the structures that were put in place decades ago.

There might have been a moment to build trust between the community and Union Pacific after the derailment if the intent of those men at the meeting had been matched by the actions of their corporate executives.

But, when the execs chose to run oil trains through the Gorge so soon after the disaster, despite requests from the government of Mosier, Gov. Brown and our congressional delegation to halt oil shipments until the safety issues could be addressed, Union Pacific demonstrated that their profit margin is far more important than the risk to our lives. Expansion of rails increases risk!

For the sake of our well-being say no to expansion and continuation of oil trains through the Gorge.

Janet Lumiansky

The Dalles

‘Get out and vote’

Washington State is predicted to go strongly Democrat in the presidential elections. We have a very popular Senate candidate in incumbent Patty Murray. Our State Senate is currently Republican, with 25 Republicans to 24 Democrats. It means that it is much more difficult to get bills passed by our Democratic governor. The senate Republicans have been wasting time on anti-choice, anti-trans legislation and dragging their feet on education funding. Klickitat County is in Legislative District 14 and does not have a Democrat in the senate race in November.

Beloved Governor Jay Inslee is in a tight race against his opponent, Bill Bryant, a businessman who is promising a moratorium on all regulations and is opposed to Inslee’s carbon taxes. We must support Inslee as well as our strong state executive candidates, who will enact policy that reflect our Democratic values. We can tip the scale by getting our ballots in the box in November.

Besides the governor’s race, we have four very close state wide executive races. Please research these candidates and support them. For secretary of state, Tina Podlodowski supports postage-free ballots, same-day voter registration, and the Washington Voting Rights Act. For commissioner of public lands, Hillary Franz supports selective tree thinning, publicly owned water banks and clean energy jobs. She opposes lax standards for transporting crude oil by rail. In addition, please support Cyrus Habib for lieutenant governor and Pat McCarthy for state auditor. Visit our local Klickitat Democrat web page and Facebook for further details on issues and candidates.

Shelley Baxter

Secretary, Klickitat County

Democrats

White Salmon

A plan for fuel

I must admit that when I first read Dae Dahlquist’s letter, “Keep Children Safe,” in the Aug. 31 edition of the Hood River News, I was quick to judge. I immediately pegged his parents as the real voice behind the letter, and as the type of people who would sink to that level of exploiting their child for the purposes of pushing their own political agenda. A quick search of the internet revealed to me that my assumption was wrong — very wrong. His work is his. I appreciate where his heart is, but just as important, he has a certain charisma that allows him to speak in front of those whose minds he wishes to change.

I agree that something must be done to combat global warming, and that something is limiting our use of fossil fuels; however, I ask Dahlquist this question in jest: without fuel, how would he get to school or mobilize to oil terminal proposal hearings and/or other functions pertinent to his — our — cause? That’s the million-dollar question, isn’t it?

That said, oil is used for much more than just transportation, and with our population growing, our future promises us more dependence. At imminence, however, is the need for greater rail safety, especially on the Oregon side, but at some point, a comprehensive plan should be developed to replace oil within our everyday lives. Not too tall of an order, now is it? Keep up the good work.

Kevin Herman

White Salmon