Seattle Press on Line - Letters to the Editor

Letters to the Editor

Oct 11, 2001 -- Beneficiaries of Property Tax Spending Should Applaud Regulatory Delay

To the Editor,

Ironically, I picked up a copy of your September 13 edition at the King County Courthouse on my way to a property tax appeal hearing.

It was ironic because what caught my eye was the headline “Property Rights Advocates Hail Shoreline Regulation Delay.” That delay, and hopefully permanent cancellation of those rules that illegally represent the Department of Ecology’s regulatory wish list rather than what the state’s Shorelines Management Act actually calls for, means that the sky-high property taxes paid by waterfront owners will continue to represent human use valuation.

Those who benefit from high-value waterfront tax revenues, while at the same time calling for effectively eliminating human use from waterfront, including homes, in order to benefit fish, will cry a different tune when the waterfront taxes are transferred to their own tax accounts as waterfront evolves into unusable low-tax or no-tax open space.

Another irony is that the record fish returns we are now experiencing are credited by scientists to favorable ocean conditions, including government-mandated fish catch reductions, not to fresh-water riparian land lock-ups.

Maxine Keesling
Woodinville

International Court Was America’s Idea

To the Editor:

I’m puzzled by Robert Wassman’s letter (September 27) opposing UN Secretary General Kofi Annan’s position that international terrorists should be tried by the International Criminal Court (ICC). History firmly rejects the notion that these institutions are as "intrinsically anti-American" and nefarious as the writer contends.

The last of President Wilson’s Fourteen Points, a call for "a general association of the nations...formed under specific covenants for the purpose of affording mutual guarantees of political independence and territorial integrity to great and small states alike," was a vital step towards the establishment of what would become the League of Nations (the UN’s underpowered and short-lived predecessor). Similarly, the charter of the United Nations (a named coined by FDR)—drawn up in San Francisco in 1945 and subsequently ratified by the US and a majority of other signatories—outlines "...a centre for harmonizing the actions of nations...", and specifically tasks the UN with the progressive codification and development of international law.

One of the cornerstones of this body of law was established when the UN General Assembly unanimously affirmed the principles set forth by the charter of the Nuremburg Tribunal and the judgment of the tribunal. The Nuremburg Trials (which, of the four Allied powers that occupied post-war Germany, the US and the US alone insisted upon convening) were conducted in such a way as to be unimpeachably fair (under the direction of Robert H. Jackson, chief US prosecutor—on leave from the US Supreme Court). Although the Nuremburg Tribunal was criticized at the time as an ex post facto proceeding lacking jurisdiction, the dividends paid by these efforts were significant, including the documentation of Germany’s crimes beyond all question, the irrevocable destruction of any Nazi dreams of martyrdom, and the establishment of a valuable precedent.

Kevin Tripp
Anchorage, Alaska
(formerly of Seattle)

Faris Responds to Caminiti

To the Editor,

Benella Caminiti wrote (Letters, September 27) to object to all forms of overwater residences, but was guilty of exaggeration and inconsistency. In the same way that apartment dwellers support government services, live-aboard boaters pay taxes as part of monthly moorage fees to the owners of extremely valuable waterfront property. Houseboat owners are also assessed by King County, just as are other homeowners. The very few boaters who anchor out in a bay are subject to annual boat registration fees, which were not lowered by I-695. They also, of course, pay income taxes, sales taxes, etc. Those hardy souls also leave room at the dock for other boaters, which can only help the economics of the boating industry. I was dismayed to see how Ms. Caminiti twisted the truth to suit her argument, and attacked a wonderful form of simple living. I continue to honor the live-aboard community.

American Foreign Policy Gives Perspective

To the Editor:

I am very disturbed at the "American Jihad/Holy War" tone being set by our so-called leaders. I, too, grieve for the lives lost, and I want to prevent any more deaths. When I read about polls showing that Americans favor a military response, even if it means that thousands of innocent people will be killed, I wonder, I get suspicious. I know that how polls are worded can make a big difference in how you interpret the results. I don't know anyone who supports such military action, and I wonder: who is shaping the poll?

And I wonder that it has taken such a tragedy to make Americans realize what millions of people worldwide have suffered for decades. But the number of people killed by U.S. or U.S.-supported actions runs to the millions. Two hundred thousand East Timorese died when the U.S. armed the Indonesians and gave blessing to the invasion of East Timor. A CIA-staged phony revolution in Guatemala in 1954 set into motion a chain of events that left 300,000 peasants dead over the years. The U.S. overthrew the elected government of Iran, and installed the Shah, with SAVAK, his secret police force of torturers. These actions are terrorism every bit as much as the events of September 11, 2001.

About a million Iraqis, more than half of them children, have died as a result of our sanctions against ONE hated man—and the U.S. and Britain bomb Iraq daily, ten years after the end of the Gulf War. That too is terrorism. And George Bush is going to "rid the world of evil?" What is that Biblical quote? "And why do you look at the speck in your brother's eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye? Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and THEN you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye." [Matthew 7: 3, 4, 5]

What especially saddens me is that, whether it is young Americans being sent to die in the name of some ideology like "ridding the world of Godless communism," or innocents abroad being slaughtered by our technology—the "armchair warriors" of this nation are NEVER the ones paying the price with their lives. Bush and Cheney both found ways, via the perks open to the sons of the wealthy, to let the sons of poorer men go to war in their places. And George Bush has the temerity to talk about "cowards?"

Sandy Mitchell

Renewable Energy Reverses Energy Dependence

To the Editor,

Our national security is under serious consideration, but Senator Inhoffe’s amendment to the defense appropriations bill (S. 1416) is not a rational energy nor national security plan. It provides millions in grants to traditional fossil fuel producers for the next 10-12 years. It opens the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to exploration in hopes of giving the United States a six month supply of petroleum and we would have to wait 10 years to receive it. While it provides user grants for alternative energy, they will cover new and old installations for only the next five years. Apparently, some industries are hoping to use the current alarm in our country for their own financial benefit. We also have many people in our own government with strong and direct ties with the oil, coal and nuclear industries. I would hope that all would provide unbiased leadership to the public, but that’s not always the case. Our leaders and we the citizens must be vigilant to make wise decisions in all areas, especially during a crisis such as the one we’re currently facing. It’s important that we not destroy what’s left of our pristine natural lands simply because we’re desperate to solve another lingering problem. Destroying the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge would not solve our national security problem. It would only add to further degradation of our planet.

This is an exciting and interesting time to be alive. I trust that our nation will commit to developing the technology for using renewable energy now, rather than later. I would rather give up non-renewable, polluting and dangerous energy sources now, while we still have a choice, than to wait until it is no longer a choice. Investing in renewable, clean and safe energy will lead us to energy independence and a sustainable future for all.

Karen Hertz
Bothell

The Answer is a Null Set

To the Editor,

A free society is inherently risky. We are free to drive and will continue to do so even though we are at risk on the roads at the rate of over 40,000 fatalities per year. That’s over 109 every day. Our guns kill another 27,000 per year, but we’re not going to turn them in either. The crazies are always going to be with us. Albert DeSalvio, Ted Bundy, Charles Manson, Timothy McVeigh, Ted Kaczinski... the list is very long. But it’s a tiny fraction of the whole. And we’re not going to turn in our knives. And now the bin Laden terrorists. Sure we will catch and kill some, but not all. And they’re not all Middle Easterners, remember “Stalag 17”? The deadly spy was the handsome tall blonde man named Price! Nor does it follow that we should suspect all our neighbors. One of mine is a little old lady named Dorothy who doesn’t worry me all.

Even an efficient Nazi Police State crawling with cops cannot guarantee complete security. Nor would we want it—not at that price. Perhaps now that the dust has settled some we can admit this and relax a bit. Yes, we can and must screen better at the airports, but let’s not suffocate or bankrupt the industry in the process. Neither are we going to search every car at the airport. Nor patrol every bridge, ferryboat, mall, tall building, sports stadium, classroom, office, tavern, barber shop, yard sale... The beauty and strength of America comes from our freedom. Sure it’s dangerous to go outside, we are exposed, always will be, but we are willing to accept the risks which go with a free society. Moderation in all things, especially police. Our senses of freedom and humor allow us to laugh off the risks as being tolerable. The best honest answer is, it’s a null set, there is no answer. But I expect no politician could admit it.

Jeff Douthwaite

Candidate Responds to Seattle Press Survey

Dear [editor],

I don't want you to think I have forgotten you. I have been so busy that I am just getting around to answering all of my e-mail. I still have over 150 that I haven’t even read yet. My son and daughter live in New York of all places. What is this world coming to. I mentioned terrorism in the voting pamphlet but I thought I was talking about the past. May God help us all. Thank you for your interest and hopefully things will get better. I am not sure what war will accomplish except more tears. Pray for all of us.

Omari Tahir-Garrett
(editor’s note: this e-mail was received September 13, too late to get into our Primary Election feature.)

Seattle Legislators Love Us

We are glad to see that The Seattle Press has returned to newsstands and will continue to provide Seattleites with the sense of community that only local papers can. The mix of familiar bylines and new features helps bridge the gap between the Press we knew and the Press we will get to know.

We are thankful that David has stepped up to the plate to help continue an important part of Seattle’s urban culture and look forward to your unique style and approach to the culture, news and the information that affect our everyday lives.

We’re glad your summer vacation is over.

Welcome back.

Democratic Speaker Frank Chopp (D-43)
State Rep. Ed Murray (D-43)
State Rep. Phyllis Kenney (D-46)
State Rep. Jim McIntire (D-46)

County Executive Should Pull Plug on Sound Transit’s Waste

Mr. Sims,

You know Sound Transit’s own documents show an inability to offer any measurable traffic improvements. You know the current ridership estimates are less accurate than a dot-com business plan. You know the capital cost budget will grossly exceed current estimates. You know the operating budget is beyond the reach of our region’s tax-base. You know that surface rail will both be unsafe and cause huge east-west traffic delays.

The only thing no one knows is why you continue to support this completely flawed money-pit of a project. Voters gave you permission to build a 26-mile system for less than $1.6 billion. It failed. You no longer have permission to spend our money on this toy train.

Do the right thing. Cancel this abomination before it sucks the life out of our local economy.

Craig Fiebig

At Least Spell His Name Right

To the Editor,

Ron Simms [sic], an oppressor of the people, has never seen a tax he thought too much. Nor has he seen a nonsense program he did not like. Simms has failed; we need someone who would responsibly run King County. Ron Simms [sic] opposed your rights, we must vote against Simms [sic] and we must vote YES on the King County Charter Amendments.

King County employment has increased 70 percent while its growth has only been 30 percent. Your property tax has increased substantially more. Participate in the “Seattle Tea Party” and throw Ron Simms [sic] overboard. A vote for Ron Simms [sic] is a vote for over-taxation, for frivolous spending and for restriction of your constitutional rights. Vote NO on Ron Simms.

Roger W Hancock

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