02/13/12 Letters to the Editor

Good and bad of VA care

To the editor -- Re: The Jan. 13 article, "Broken Bodies, Broken Minds, Broken System."

I live with post-traumatic stress disorder. I strongly believe that no one person "has" this. I don't consider myself broken; rather, I'm one of the "wounded warriors in a broken system." PTSD is only a part of me and not all of me. I choose to not allow it to define who I am.

I would like to say that I am truly grateful for having medical care -- especially during these hard economic times. However, it is the manner in which I receive the care that I strongly feel must be addressed and re-evaluated.

For example, the huge gap that exists within the Veterans Administration, which includes the claim processing system, specialized care in the community, and local support/guidance of an advocate that can assist veterans in navigating the system.

Also, there are VA providers who do care and do the best they can. These select providers treat us with the dignity and respect veterans deserve.

I appreciate the support people have shown toward those, who have served and are continuing to serve in the military.

GRACIELA MARROQUIN

Yakima

Why go outside for chief?

To the editor -- What has happened to promoting within? It is disturbing that the local candidates for chief of police didn't make the cut. What better individual who has ties to the community to be chief? Look what happened to the last two officials hired who were not from the community.

CAROLE VIOLETTE

Yakima

Leave businessman alone

To the editor -- I am appalled to think that the Yakima Herald-Republic editors feel that the personal and financial troubles of Joe Morrier are worthy of front page coverage. Mr. Morrier's business is his business and not our business. The Yakima Herald-Republic should strive for a high standard story, worthy of front page coverage. I'm sure your readers would not like their financial troubles talked about on the front page of the paper.

I appreciate Mr. Morrier's effort to improve downtown Yakima with the new Hilton Hotel, Restaurant, Ummelina Spa and Stems Wine Shop.

This area is a nice welcome when driving west on Yakima Avenue. Maybe the Yakima Herald-Republic should concentrate on the good things Mr. Morrier has tried to do for Yakima rather than the troubles he is now experiencing.

PAULA HEAVERLO

Yakima

Amendment not obsolete

To the editor -- Re: The Jan. 24 letter, "Second Amendment." The writer states that the Second Amendment, written more than 200 years ago, is an obsolete part of the Constitution based on the fact that we now have a larger military, law enforcement agencies and more advanced weapons. He wrote, "Gun control should be judged on the basis of present conditions and not as a constitutional guarantee."

I wonder what he considers "our present conditions" to be. I believe certain documents, including the Constitution, hold up over time. Just think how long the Bible has been around. I don't think that's obsolete either.

RICHARD JUSTO

Yakima

Energy export problems

To the editor -- Coal companies want to export coal from expanded port facilities at Longview and Cherry Point. They want a third facility in Oregon at the Port of St. Helens. The two Columbia River facilities require dredging for deep draft vessels and interminable coal car traffic along the Washington side of the river. The Cherry Point plan calls for miles of trains through Spokane and the disturbance of a Puget Sound Aquatic Preserve.

Coal interests will secure the re-election of Jaime Herrera-Beutler, Doc Hastings and Cathy McMorris-Rodgers because the train routes run through their respective congressional districts. Coal interests will support John Koster, the Republican running in the 1st District where Cherry Point is located. Serving big corporate contributors is business as usual for Doc Hastings.

Other investors have permits to build five natural gas export ports on our Atlantic coast. Last year, petroleum products became the most valuable export from the U.S. It's crazy to so rapidly extract and sell these valuable and finite resources that belong to all of us. Our national security depends on keeping adequate homeland energy resources for our own future use. Besides, reducing the export of nonrenewable resources from our public lands would keep domestic prices lower.

ELEANOR HUNGATE

Yakima

Unproven Republicans

To the editor -- It is amazing some still consider a GOP candidate for president, at least the ones in the lead and still running at this date. Whatever might be negatively said about President Obama, it pales to what the GOP candidates have said about each other. That alone should tell us who deserves the office.

The GOP should be embarrassed, very, very embarrassed. They remind me of an angry kid, yelling and screaming, red in the face, and not much to say. From watching the debates, I wouldn't vote for any of them. If they can't deal with each other, how would they deal with real world leaders? For any loyal Republicans, think about your country. No one in the GOP has proven himself even close to be a leader on the world stage.

JEFF MILES

Yakima

Flatly wrong

To the editor -- I have to respond to the Feb. 7 letter, "Flat-lined thinking." I thought at first that this must be clever sarcasm, but came to the conclusion it was not. The thoughts expressed by the author were at once hilarious and sad. To think that someone in the civilized world still believes the earth is flat nearly 51 years after Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin first orbited our planet on April 12, 1961, and almost 55 since the first satellite (Sputnik) did so is incredible (key word is "orbit"). A few trips into space have been made since of course and they even took some pictures.

The idea that the earth is round had advanced a little past the theoretical long before humans actually ventured into space. Regarding the last paragraph of the letter -- I don't believe we need to fight craziness, it should be treated, but I definitely agree that people should educate themselves.

JEFF THOMAS

Selah