Letters to the editor

Challenging rights

Eyman's wrongs reach past wallets into equal protection

Editor, The Times:

In regard to "Eyman files measures to undo gay-rights law" [Times, Local News, Jan. 31], I'd say once again this self-aggrandizing troublemaker has got it all wrong. This time, though, he's trying to jerk around our citizens' sense of fair play and equality, not just our wallets.

First of all, Tim Eyman complains about legislators being influenced by "special-interest groups." Isn't it in the best interest of every citizen in our state that all of our children, friends and neighbors have equal opportunity for housing, jobs and insurance, no matter their sexual orientation? And thank goodness we have a Legislature that has finally made this a reality in Washington state.

Speaking of the Legislature, Eyman is quoted, "The voters have watched this disgusting display of arrogance and selfishness for weeks." It is Eyman's arrogance — that he knows best — that is once again on display. Even worse is his display of selfishness at grabbing at a civil-rights issue to serve his own relentless grandstanding.

Let's ignore him this time, support all of our citizens, and move on to deal with issues of real concern to us all.

— Valerie Easton, Seattle

Cost of undoing business

After filing his latest initiative to thwart newly granted gay rights, Tim Eyman had this to say about politicians who had voted in favor of the bill: "Politicians are deciding based on special-interest group pressure and their own re-election calculations. The voters have watched this disgusting display of arrogance and selfishness for weeks."

I do not believe that my desire to be equal under the law is either selfish or arrogant. I do, however, feel that paid initiative sponsors display a disgusting level of arrogance and selfishness when they put their own discriminating viewpoints on the ballot.

Eyman's actions are based on special-interest group pressure and his own initiative-sponsored income calculations, and have been for years.

With his latest initiative Eyman seeks to make himself the poster child of a movement of hate. Discrimination written into law does not make it all right. Shame on you, Mr. Eyman.

— Jim Morrison, Seattle

Pandora's shocks

With the recent passage of the so-called "gay rights" legislation, our elected state officials have opened Pandora's box. The bill, which prohibits discrimination based on "sexual preference," will now afford legal protection to [people with] deviant sexual preferences.

Due to the language of the bill protecting "sexual preference," our schools will not be able to legally refuse to hire someone who has a sexual preference for children.

This was truly a dark day for the state of Washington and a great day for those who seek only to undermine society's morals, and foster anarchy.

Granted, some of our legislators who supported such a bill had their hearts in the right place; they just failed to recognize the damage their actions will inflict upon our fellow citizens, and allowed themselves to be used by those who would destroy our freedoms.

We must now all come together to support a referendum that will repeal this ill-thought-out legislation before irreparable damage is done.

— Mike Hawkins, Edmonds

Health and welfare

A pernicious strain

Other than the pure outrage at the fact that Wal-Mart and other employers are able to shift tens of millions of dollars of health-care costs to the state each year, two points from "More than 3,100 Wal-Mart workers got state health aid" [Local News, Jan. 24] stand out.

First, although not unexpectedly, is Wal-Mart's perspective on the issue. Faced with legislation that would force it to provide an adequate health-care plan to its employees, the company noted those laws would do nothing to contain soaring health-care costs. True. But who shoulders those costs would change, and that's the important thing. Why should taxpayers be forced to support the profits of corporate America, the biggest welfare queens of all?

Second, and more disturbing, is the fact that this information about the true costs of corporate welfare is secret and shielded from public view.

That's not how democracy should work and those laws that hide corporate malfeasance from the voters should be trashed, and soon.

— Tim Wright, Seattle

Cure for common good

I think Tim Eyman needs to don his battle armor, mount his white steed, brandish his sword and charge into battle against corporations that are plundering the state budget by not providing adequate health insurance for employees and their families.

Corporate welfare from the taxpayers of Washington state has to stop. Eyman to the rescue!

— Elizabeth Williams, Seahurst

Seattle v. Pittsburgh

Tied in the end

I loved Kathy Newman's "Why this Seattle native is rooting for the Steelers" [guest commentary, Jan. 27]. Not only is she an excellent writer; she knows this city.

On the other hand, since she no longer lives here, I have to point out a few factual errors in her assessment of Seattle.

First, I can park for less than $10 a day very close to Sea-Tac Airport, with an excellent shuttle service at my disposal. With a little luck, I'll be able to take the train someday.

Second, I do live in a multiracial, working/middle-class neighborhood where we have no sidewalks and wonderful muted streetlights — and people still drive slowly when they pass a neighbor walking the dog. This neighborhood, by the way, is in northeast Seattle.

Granted, we are a few decades behind Pittsburgh regarding an appreciation for our history and respecting the part immigrants and laborers play in it; but Seattle is a young city and, so far, I am impressed.

I also have to put in a plug for the extended Seattle urban core: Seattle Center, Pike Place Market, the Seattle Aquarium, our (ahem) two stadiums, and in the center of it all, the new Seattle Public Library — places where kids of any economic fortune can find things to do

I'm not really upset with Newman, since I, too, am a transplant to my home city. Apparently, what Seattle and Pittsburgh have in common is a population that pays attention to where it lives.

— Carrie Bowman, Seattle

Flirting with the truth

Cheating on the sly

Regarding "Winfrey says she feels Frey 'betrayed millions of readers' " [Entertainment & the Arts, Jan. 26]: When my family accuses me of story exaggeration, I quote Pooh-Bah from "The Mikado," Act Two:

"Merely corroborative detail, intended to give artistic verisimilitude to an otherwise bald and unconvincing narrative."

— Robin McCall, Seattle