06/28/09 Letters to the Editor

A good first step

To the editor -- I applaud the efforts of Councilwoman Sonia Rodriguez in proposing a binding code of ethics for the City Council that would prevent council members from profiting from their positions and disclosing information from closed council sessions.

As a fairly recent member of the community, I was appalled that council members Rick Ensey, Kathy Coffey, Micah Cawley and Bill Lover would put themselves in a position so as to be accused of privately trying to change the city's budget policy, which resulted in the city paying out $2,500 of our money to settle a lawsuit.

I encourage the council to adopt measures that would ensure ethical behavior within the City Council.

KEITH B. SMITH

Yakima

Quit misleading

To the editor -- In his June 23 news conference President Obama said it was not logical that if the government provides health insurance the public insurance companies would be put out of business. Mr. Obama continues to mislead. If the government provides health insurance cheaper than public firms and if they tax public insurance coverage as a means to raise money to pay for the government plan, then of course the public firms cannot compete.

In a recent letter to the editor here, a writer praised government operation of education and transportation as examples of how well a new government-run insurance program would operate. One needs to look no further than the tragic train accident (June 22), in which it was revealed that repairs mandated by safety engineers were not made. Further, Amtrak, the train company in the east has been subsidized by the government for decades.

Another recent letter encouraged socialism, pointing to "socialized" services such as government provided Social Security and Medicare, failing to note that workers pay into both programs during their working careers (and could probably obtain better retirement plans and medical insurance if those funds were invested privately during the working years rather than taken by the government).

DICK MAISON

Yakima

Encourage English

To the editor -- Re: The June 21 article, "Five Star Project." I think the Ready By Five program is a great deal for the children of Yakima. I also believe that Maria Vazquez be commended for taking part in the learning process for her son, but wouldn't he be better encouraged in English since he will be going to an English-speaking school? Even if done in both English and Spanish he would learn the words in both languages.

ERLENE COOPER

Yakima