06/25/09 Letters to the Editor

Don't trust dairies

To the editor -- As I was sitting in my lawn chair enjoying the evening air, I suddenly noticed a putrid smell descending upon our community. A disgusting manure cloud permeated our town and caused me to flee indoors to escape the fecal contaminated air. I began thinking about the rash of commercials the dairy industry has flooded local radio channels with. I wondered if the public understands about the dairies' claims to be good neighbors.

Where we live, we have learned that you better run the other way if a dairyman says he wants to be a good neighbor. Although there has been a tremendous decrease in the fecal coliform levels in the Granger Drain, don't be fooled. It still does not comply with state water quality standards, according to Greg Bohn, Department of Ecology, who did the Granger Drain Study, stating five dairies were the point source of pollution for the Granger Drain. The dairy industry failed to mention this in its recent advertisements.

Don't let the dairy industry's recent radio ads fool you about not having antibiotics in milk or using them with their cows. Those of us who are concerned about public health encourage you to go to the Web site dairies don't want you to read, notmilk.com .

JAN WHITEFOOT

Harrah

On discrimination

To the editor -- Re: Phyllis Strom's June 17 letter.

The statement "discrimination has not diminished since treaty signing days (1855)" is not fair. Native Americans didn't have the right to vote, assemble or protest then. They do now.

Unfortunately, people of many races, cultures and religious traditions have suffered at the hands of others. Africans were enslaved and taken from their homeland. Jewish people were exterminated by the Nazis. Japanese-Americans were imprisoned after Japan's attack on Pearl Harbor. I could go on.

Every time two different groups of people meet and one is technologically superior to the other, the other will see his or her culture negatively impacted.

HENRY HERRON

Yakima

Legalizing pot

To the editor -- With the state of Washington so short of money, why not legalize marijuana? It could be sold at the liquor stores. Have an ID card that is punched each time a sale is made. This way the state would have control. Plus the income from the sales would go to the state, not out of the country.

LEE MAGNUSON

Yakima

Fewer babies

To the editor -- I frequently read about various economic and social welfare programs designed for low-income families. Many programs are directed to low-income parents who are in some way dependent on public welfare assistance. From what I gather, the numbers of low-income families are expanding in Yakima and in many parts of the world.

Why not have fewer babies -- especially if you can't afford them? The dramatic increase in the world's population makes for a strong argument for birth control programs. It is interesting that so few (low-
income) assistance/remediation programs publicize birth control as a long-term solution.

I know that in the minds of many, birth control is a taboo subject.

As for me, I spent two years in India and do not see any virtue in overpopulation/poverty.

LARRY TADLOCK

Yakima