Online only letters to the editor

Cost of the war

Editor, The Times:

"In dollars, Iraq war's cost is nowhere near a record entitled" [Times, News, Mar. 18], concluded the Iraq war is affordable. In dollars, maybe, but in human cost and our nation's international reputation, it is not.

We started the war based upon false information and without understanding of the tribal nature of the Iraqis. Our leader refused wiser counsel. We have failed to convince the Iraqi people of our honorable intentions -- if indeed they are honorable and not attempts to gain Iraq's oil.

A recent count of Iraqi victims, most of whom were innocent civilians, reveals more than 34,000 are dead and 36,000 have been wounded. Furthermore, 3,200 Americans have been killed. And the killing continues because our president refuses to admit the whole affair was a mistake.

— Spencer Higley, Snoqualmie

I have always wanted to know the cost of the war. We have heard the "surge" shows a smidgen of hope. So far the invasion of Iraq (I refuse to call it a war) has cost billions. So can we safely say a smidgen costs at least a billion? Uh, how much is a smidgen?

— Leo Shillong, Bellingham

Is the world crazy or clever?

Before having fully ingested my morning coffee, I read that scientists "are exploring global-warming solutions that sound wholly far-fetched, including giant artificial "trees" that would filter carbon dioxide out of the air" ["Global warming? No sweat" News, Mar. 16]. Umm, has anyone thought about just leaving the trees we still have standing upright in their respective forests to do the job they were meant to do?

It's not just about cutting down on the carbon dioxide, folks. It's about not clear-cutting the entire planet. There are photos comparing the present with a decade ago which show the rapid rate of deforestation. It is just as alarming as the melting ice caps. The irony does not escape me.

If it's my coffee that is causing the forests to come down, well, I guess I'll have to switch to another morning stimulant, like a brisk walk outside where my trees are still standing.

— Maura Callahan, Seattle

I read "Global warming? No sweat " on wild ideas for combating global warming, and I was not much entertained. I believe the human-ecological-footprint metaphor is an apt one, where walking and living lightly is the central idea.

Camouflaging and obscuring our ecological footprint is out. Reducing our out-of-balance footprint by filling in with tech solutions is a possibility. But clever technologies usually create effects beyond our ability to comprehend.

We need to watch that our brainy solutions for a lead-footed problem do not grow into knee- and elbow prints -- those would register big-time ecological stumbles!

In a word, I believe "lifestyle" best characterizes why our present footprint is so large. Highfalutin lifestyles -- the lofty ideal of Western society and the source of considerable inequality around the globe -- is just possibly the main reason our children stand a good chance of finding a bumpy topography of knee- and elbow prints across the face of the Earth.

I'll be watching with amused interest the space umbrellas, artificial CO2-sucking trees, and Geritol ocean treatments, but those are not my first choice for how to treat the planet.

— Lee James, Coupeville

Mass transit

Any relevant government officials take heed: Many of us voted "no" on both the Alaskan Way Viaduct and the tunnel option in the recent election. My reason is simple. No more major road projects should be undertaken from now on without a mass transit component. And these mass transit components, for all types of projects (rail, bus, carpool lanes, monorails, etc.), should be part of a coordinated, cohesive regional long-term plan with phased implementation.

No more Band-Aids -- they don't solve gridlock!!

— Judy Schneider, Seattle

Leave religion out

With the 2008 presidential election already underway, we have seen a worrying trend of the media placing undue attention on the religious backgrounds of candidates.

The Constitution states that "no religious test shall ever be required as a qualification to any office or public trust under the United States." However, it would appear that the government does not need to impose a religious test as long as it has the media to do it for them.

The media must remember that what qualifies candidates for public office is not their religious identity, but rather the commitment to upholding the Constitution.

— Mary-Alice Strom, Marysville

Sleeping pill slip-up

I read with dismay the letter from Cheryl Fontaine ["Wake up, people: The lamb lies down with the asinine," Northwest Voices, March 16] regarding labeling sleeping pills with warnings not to drive.

If she had read the article fully, she would have seen that the problem is not just with taking the sleeping aids and getting into the vehicle, but using these pills as prescribed and then having memory loss associated with activities performed after you have slept.

I can speak from experience that this is a very real problem and one that should have been addressed long ago. I took a sleep aid, as prescribed, slept my eight hours, awoke and drove my morning commute. I had no recollection of how I got to my destination.

I have never again taken a sleep aid, no matter how much I felt I needed it, because of this experience. After researching this issue, I have found many other people have had the same thing happen to them.

This label is important. I would have thought twice about taking a sleep aid if I had seen a warning about memory loss. The FDA, in this case, has taken many years and many letters of complaint to take this situation seriously.

— Jennifer Apple, Sammamish

Becoming Canadians

I read with dismay the socialist-inspired laundry list of proposed bills about to be passed through our Democratic Legislature ["Senate vote puts state closer to offering paid family leave" Local News, March 15]. The 14 proposed bills include items such as paid family leave, simple majority for property tax levies, domestic partnerships and union organizing, just to highlight a few.

If these bills all pass, which is very likely given the prevailing one-party system, I would like to propose an additional bill be added to the list, one which would annex Washington state to Canada.

Seems a little far-fetched? I don't think so.

I'm certain the Canadians wouldn't mind the extra tax revenues, and the transition would probably go without a hitch since it is obvious we are more akin to our northern neighbor than to the rest of the U.S.

And I'm sure we could all learn to speak a little French, eh!

— Madeleine Eddy, Mercer Island

Battle of the brands

Dear Moonstruck Chocolates: I read about your trademark dispute with Moonray Espresso in Duvall and I was both saddened and disappointed ["Grounds for a settlement" editorial, March 21] -- saddened that another mom-and-pop business is being ruined by a company that has the financial resources to do so; disappointed that without Moonray Espresso, Duvall will be without a valuable town resource for its citizens.

For my part, when I compare the two logos visually and verbally, I find no confusion in my understanding as to which is which, and the intrinsic differences. I think you are being unduly paranoid and delusional.

I will not be buying your chocolates and I will spread the word to all friends to do the same. Until this is resolved and Moonray Espresso is allowed to serve the community in security and peace, I will boycott your products. I realize that this will in no way affect your company, but it is my symbolic gesture of support for Moonray Espresso.

— Helen Griffith, Issaquah