Online only letters

Generation X, generation next

End scene: Show's over for baby-boom politicos

Editor, The Times:

Danny Westneat, in "Generation X, it's our turn" [Times, Local News, Jan. 6], is right about the mess the Bush baby-boomer administration has made of our country.

The administration will deny it, but know it, as hordes in high-profile slots in the White House, Cabinet departments and other agencies have deserted the president over the past year to cash in on their experiences; some, to get hired at handsome salaries by corporations whose businesses they were supposed to regulate but didn't; others, to reap rewards from lobby shops and law practices that profited from their favors. And a few, like former Attorney General Alberto Gonzales, forced out to make speeches, write books and avoid prison.

All reflected the president they served. Do we dare take a chance on any of them successfully touting this experience as qualification to work in a successor administration?

Great creative change in this nation has historically been initiated and led most often by creative, knowledgeable, intelligent, inspiring young leaders. Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., has been showing us he would bring all those attributes to the White House.

Additionally, he has shown the toughness to take on baby-boomer political machines and beat them at their own game.

Finally, he has revealed an openness and humility too rarely seen in politicians. His life story gives reason to believe he has the stuff to go on and be a great president.

Westneat is right about more than the mess. It's time to pass the baton of national leadership to Generation X!

— Dave Olson, North Bend

More than a word

Danny Westneat overlooks the fundamental change making it possible for Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., and Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., to be where they are today: equality, what the blood, sweat, tears and toil baby boomers like Clinton gave years of their lives to achieve.

Obama's candidacy didn't happen because somebody uttered the word change. Gen X-ers seem to forget that every real change requires real sacrifice.

Generation X has at its disposal the best education, the best opportunities, the best technology and the greatest wealth of any group of young people in the world because baby boomers like Clinton pushed back the institutions and opened doors that once said, "Women, minorities and youth not welcome here."

So far, what I have seen among this generation is an appalling ignorance of and respect for history and the political process.

Furthermore, the instant-gratification mentality displayed by a majority of Gen X-ers doesn't bode well for the change they espouse: "If it can't be fixed in a month or two, it won't be worth it!"

That attitude alone is the height of arrogance and selfishness and represents the lack of maturity and vision so necessary for leadership.

— Laura Walker, Silverdale

Matters of life and death

What's religion got to do with it?

Reader Tim Carney states "The United States culture is based on the notion that our creator gave us the right to life" ["A fateful dose: Breathing might improve," Northwest Voices, Jan. 15]. Nothing could be further from the truth.

The U.S. culture is, in fact, based on the notion that we do not have to acknowledge that a creator gave us the right to life. U.S. culture, regardless of Carney's personal beliefs, is, and should be, irreligious.

That should apply to the practice of medicine and the dispensing of medication. If pharmacists are too religious to do their job, they should join the clergy, not deprive a woman of medication because their job conflicts with their personal beliefs.

— Rebecca Rayner, Bellingham

A needed alternative

The Times affirmed that "[former Gov. Booth] Gardner's law will not affect many people. But those it does affect, and their families, will be thankful for its passage" ["Judging the dying: Oregon's experience," editorial, Jan. 10].

I am thankful to you for publishing this statement, particularly your clarification of the extensive and inclusive safeguards. This law is an option for terminally ill, mentally qualified adults who choose to use it. Those who have worked extensively in hospice programs with dying patients, as I have done, know how badly we need this option.

As a social worker and advocate for self-determination, I understand the concern about coercion, but it is groundless. This law enables qualified individuals to make their own decisions about the manner of their deaths.

— Midge Levy, vice president, Compassion & Choices of WA, Seattle

Transit troubles

The clock is ticking

I continue to be confused about Gov. Christine Gregoire's intentions to fix the Alaskan Way Viaduct ["The Wrap," Ron Judd column, Local News, Jan. 6]. We know she will be knocking down the current viaduct in 2012. Unfortunately, she forgot the part where we need a plan to replace it.

The process to find the best way forward for the viaduct has been confusing. Many stakeholders have taken strong stances on all options on the table, from the big tunnel, to tunnel-lite, to a new viaduct, to the surface option.

As a taxpayer, I want whatever we build to be safe and to make financial sense. But at this point, more than anything else, I just want our leaders — ideally the state's top executive — to pick something.

So far, at one time or another, I've read about our governor promoting or condemning each and every one of the options. That means that in the great viaduct debate, the only thing we're closer to is the next big Seattle earthquake.

I just hope "the big one" doesn't knock the viaduct down before Gregoire does.

— Craig Lacy, Seattle

Taking it one step further

After reading that the city of Seattle is considering reprogramming a handful of parking-sticker kiosks to dispense streetcar tickets at stations along the route ["New streetcar doesn't want your money?" Local News, Jan. 10], I was left wondering why the city and county have not considered this wonderfully simple and pragmatic approach for regular Metro and Sound Transit bus service, even as just an interim measure.

One of the most frustrating parts of riding a Metro bus is the frequent delay caused by passengers fumbling for change at the farebox. Why not put a few of these reprogrammed kiosks at high-traffic Metro bus stops on a pilot basis?

Since Metro runs both the streetcar and the bus system, I can't imagine there would be a legitimate reason this could work on one system and not the other. The machines have proved themselves reliable for parking; quickly process transactions; are cheap enough that, already, several per city block have been installed; and also accept credit cards (something Metro fareboxes do not do).

The reduction in service delays would likely more than compensate for the cost of installing and maintaining the machines, and the added convenience and passenger amenities (of which Metro provides precious little for stoic, longtime riders) would help attract increased ridership.

Transit riders must demand these common-sense improvements from Metro rather than wait for pie-in-the-sky, long-term projects to be completed. It is not acceptable to wait years for something we have the technology and wherewithal to put in place right now.

— Andrew Cencini, Seattle

Together, we can do it

It seems there are mixed feelings about the wisdom of Proposition 1, the roads and transit package ["No Plan B but plenty of B12," Editorial Page Editor James F. Vesely editorial column, Jan. 6]. It costs too much, it will be ineffective at reducing traffic, etc.

I believe the key to making this plan work is for larger numbers of people to make use of the public transportation system we already have, and to plan on making use of the light-rail system we will soon have. Of course traffic will not get better if we all still drive. I can't count the number of times I have seen dozens of cars at an intersection with only one person in each car.

Part of the problem is that the public transportation system as it exists is largely ineffective and unreliable. Another part of the problem is that people refuse to make use of it even when it is.

The solution is the proposed light-rail system. In conjunction with the bus system already in place, there will be virtually no place that is inaccessible to public transportation. This plan, while expensive, will work if we make it work.

— Benjamin Williams, Bellevue

Helping hands

Experience is key

"UW alums give peace a chance" [editorial, Jan. 20], which lauds the preeminence of the University of Washington in its representation in the next class of Peace Corps volunteers, should make us all feel good (and as a UW alumnus, I will admit it does). However, we also need to recognize that there is a growing divergence of informed opinion as to whether the Peace Corps experience is of the greatest value to the host country or to the volunteers themselves.

In a Jan. 8 op-ed in The New York Times, former Peace Corps volunteer and Country Director Robert Strauss resolutely challenged the Peace Corps' lack of organizational introspection in evaluating the effectiveness of the program with host countries, instead relying on surveys of the volunteers themselves. That needs to change.

Many countries are requesting older, more seasoned volunteers with more hard skills and life skills. If we keep sending young and enthusiastic recent undergraduates, we will continue to provide the volunteers with a great experience that doesn't remotely meet the needs of the country hosting them.

If ever there were a time when Americans needed to show we care equally or more for our world neighbors rather than ourselves (which was the original intent of the Kennedy administration when creating the Corps), this is the time. Regretfully, that probably means sending fewer students from UW and more recently retired citizens from very diverse walks of life.

— Jay Satz, Seattle

PTA pressure

Squeezing parents dry

Recently, I attended a yearly "state of the school" meeting at my public elementary school. After going over staffing, curriculum and programs it became clear, as always, that there is a basic lack of funding to the local districts from the state level.

Programs that most parents and staff consider essential to producing a well-rounded, literate contributor to society — such as music, art, P.E., library access and field trips — are being partly or wholly paid for by the PTA.

I am fortunate. I have the means, with a small sacrifice, to send my child to private school, as do a lot of the parents who attended the meeting. I choose not to, so that my child can be in his local community and participate in the learning process with a wide variety of children from other backgrounds and cultures.

Our PTA is able to raise a substantial amount of money from parents and the surrounding community. We have many parent volunteers who jump in and help with additional needs.

Other schools are not so fortunate. They simply go without these extras that help foster creativity and provide a rich variety of options to kids who otherwise may not have the chance to experience them. These extras can also keep at-risk kids from losing interest and dropping out of school.

We are not talking about a large amount of money here. Isn't it time we held our Legislature to its stated goals and responsibility to fully fund our schools and reduce class sizes? ["Seattle school parents pressured to pay," guest commentary, Jan. 9.]

This is public money we are dealing with and who better to get it than the future public of our state. While it's headed in the right direction toward a state college, shouldn't some of the $150 million be allocated upstream to the primary and secondary schools where it is so desperately needed?

— Shauna Bellamy, Seattle

Amazing grace

Vanishing into thin air

Sir Edmund Hillary came to Nepal to climb Mount Everest ["The inn at the top of the world," Froma Harrop syndicated column, Jan. 15]. He left behind schools, hospitals and health clinics.

Today, climbers arrive with helicopters and cameras; in their wake is left a mountain littered with trash and corpses.

Hillary was humble and selfless, insisting he and his Sherpa, Tenzing Norgay, conquered the mountain as one. Climbers today pound their chests and stuff their bottomless egos with self-aggrandizement.

Along with Hillary's passing, much of the world's remaining grace, humility and reverence has vanished.

— Michael White, Burbank, Calif.

Problem in the park

Art for all the senses

Regarding reader Kathleen Barry's response to the Sculpture Park crisis ["Displaying insensitivity: Thrash your subjects," Northwest Voices, Jan. 14], I must agree. My daughter and I visited the park within its first month, and even then I expressed my dismay at not being able to touch the art.

I have found in my 68 years that most people appreciate the tactile and want to feel the texture of things (who of us can pass up touching those soft towels, blankets and scarves in the stores nowadays?).

Art is no different. An outdoor setting should allow people to feel comfortable about art, not to be afraid to touch the textures or explore the lines. It should also be weatherproof — especially in Seattle!

— Judy Jones, Kirkland