Foster families spurned

To the editor -- The foster-to-adopt program through the state Department of Social and Health Services sounds like a wonderful program, doesn't it? It would be if it worked, but the chances of ever being able to adopt the children you take in is slim to none, as my two daughters, who have opened their homes and hearts to little ones, found out.

One daughter cared for a newborn for 10 months before the baby was placed with distant relatives in another state. My second daughter has cared for a boy, now 18 months, for over a year, but he may soon be placed with a relative.

DSHS says "the purpose of the adoption program is to meet the permanency needs of children who are in the care and custody of DSHS. DSHS strives to find safe and stable families that can best meet the needs of the child." I believe that should mean foster families, who are the only family these children know, should be given greater opportunities to become permanent families.

DONNA FOSTER

Yakima

Overflowing population

To the editor -- Have you ever complained about being stuck in traffic? Or how about large dairies setting up shop close to your home? If you produce more than two children, then stop complaining, because it's people like you who are the reason we need 7,000-cow dairies and giant corporate farms.

I went to a family reunion awhile back. I took a photo of all the women in the family. There were five generations of women together in one photo. At the current rate of population growth worldwide, in as few as four generations from now the planet will begin to collapse under the pressure of supporting mankind.

Our society celebrates large families. Some of the largest organized religions in the world preach against birth control. These ways of thinking are becoming more and more irresponsible when considering the future of mankind. China already has laws in place to limit population growth. There are large groups of people spending time and money to fight global warming, to save our natural resources, to preserve animal habitat and wildlands. All of these people are wasting their time and all of these noble causes are meaningless if nothing is done to slow population growth.

GERY JACKSON

Yakima

Just around the corner

To the editor -- Christmas means different things to different people. For some it is a time of sorrow, of missing loved ones. For most it is a time of experiencing the joy of giving and the thrill of receiving. But the business community has all but killed that joy and thrill. It is not just about low prices and plenty of junk to choose from. As Tom Peters preached, it is about value adding. Why should I choose your store over this other one? Are you running scared from a few big-mouthed left-wingers or are you listening to your customers? Most of us want holiday music, holiday spirits and holiday ambiance. We want apple cider, sugar cookies, Santa Clauses, Nativity scenes, angels for the tops of our trees and toy trains underneath.

I urge the business community to ask yourselves, what can I give my customers that the guy down the street can't? And consumers, be vocal about what you want to see in your favorite stores next Christmas.

BONNIE FULKERSON

Selah

The dismal science

To the editor -- Economics has long been nicknamed "the dismal science," if only because knowing what's happening does not mean you can do anything about it. But, like any science, you can ignore the facts at your peril.

No government can create wealth. They can sure print money, but real wealth is created by a small minority of creative, even extraordinary citizens. All the best governments can do is stay out of their way.

I wish all legislators believed that bit of history.

No, repeat, no corporation actually pays any taxes. It's just another item of overhead added to the cost of what they produce and sell to us citizens. Only individual citizens pay taxes.

And no, that is not what you are going to hear from our legislators, as they attempt to tell us all those big corporations are going to pay their "fair share" of taxes. Unlucky us.

The list goes on, each item equally dismal.

So it goes.

Dr. JEFFREY M. REYNOLDS

Yakima