Online only letters to the editor

No separation of power

Editor, The Times:

After the Democrats took over Congress, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi pledged "impeachment is off the table," assuming that President Bush would now seek a bipartisan accommodation. Events rapidly showed she was delusional.

Now, after preparing an emasculated version of the Iraq war bill, she has threatened to take the president to court if he resorts to a signing statement to circumvent it. All this will do is achieve a court ruling saying it's perfectly constitutional for a president to use signing statements to ignore laws passed by the Congress.

Bush has argued that, since he is commander in chief, all legislative, judicial and executive power are in his control for as long as there is the threat of terrorism. Basically, the separation of powers no longer exists in America. This is blatant abuse of power, and it is Congress, not the courts, that has the responsibility to take corrective action.

This is precisely why the founders of our nation included an impeachment clause in the Constitution. Impeachment is the only way Bush can be contained for his egregious use of signing statements, by which he has invalidated many laws (or parts of laws) passed by Congress since 2001.

— Robert Alan Wright, Yakima

Primary election suggestion

I'd like to propose that all states have the same primary date to avoid undue influence by states willing to move their primaries up in time for the election [See "New primary date worth the hassle," Times, editorial, May 15].

No state should have more say in the process than any other. I imagine to achieve this ideal would require a federal mandate.

I also suggest that the primary election date be far closer to the actual election than it is now, to spare Americans the endless campaigning.

— John Ohannesian, Seattle

Digging up good ideas

"If the price were higher there would be less use ... Price is the only thing that is going to kill demand," according to T. Boone Pickens in "Pickens' future: oil shortages and hard choices" [Business, May 13].

How could this be true? It was only two years ago when the average price of one gallon of gasoline was less than under $3, and yet now, the demand is as high as ever. Not only is this an untrue statement, but the suggested alternative? Natural gas. Is natural gas technology even ready? No it is not; neither is hydrogen fuel-cell technology.

The question now becomes, what alternative technology do we have now that can effectively take the place of gasoline?

The answer is as obvious, yet as protected as any secret in history. Electricity! From 1996-2000 General Motors developed the EV1. This all-electric vehicle handled like a sports car, reached speeds of more than 70 miles per hour, and had a range of 300 miles on one charge, the equivalent of many average tanks of gas.

At a reasonable price, the success of this vehicle effectively meant the eventual collapse of our country's infrastructure, which is based upon our being the largest crude-oil importer in the world. Eventually, all of the EV1's were taken back by GM after their lease, and destroyed.

Sometimes, in order to see the future, one must sift through the past for the ideas that fell through the cracks. The technology is here, it is up to us to demand it.

— Rand Lutomski, Seattle

Switchgrass solution

Food and fuel prices are hitting record levels, in part because corn is being more heavily used for ethanol production. Corn-based ethanol provides less than 26 percent more energy than is required for its production, while fast-growing cellulosic plants, like switchgrass, provide 80 percent more energy.

And while conventional ethanol reduces greenhouse-gas emissions 10 to 20 percent below gasoline levels, reductions with cellulosic range from 80 percent below gasoline to completely CO2 neutral.

When it comes to ethanol, switchgrass may be our salvation. Lets encourage its use for ethanol production instead of corn. Our pocketbooks will thank us, and along with fuel conservation and higher mileage vehicles, it could go a long way toward preserving homeland security.

— Randy Marlatt

The whole world is responsible

I believe our experience in Iraq and Afghanistan overwhelmingly shows it was a mistake to invade, and it is a greater mistake to stay. Chaos, hardship, genocide and destabilization of the Middle East will probably intensify upon our leaving. Terrorism based in the Middle East will probably increase.

However, staying longer only briefly delays, and probably significantly increases, the problem that the Middle East represents to the world.

We can find fault with almost any world-affairs decision — afterwards.

No one, not Republicans, Democrats, religious leaders or other nations, can disclaim a share of the responsibility for the problems of the Middle East and terrorism.

They are worldwide problems, and dealing with them is a worldwide responsibility.

We have to learn to deal with terrorism and other problems originating anywhere in the world to secure the protection we are entitled to have.

It is time to leave Iraq and Afghanistan.

— Roger A. Lowe, Kirkland

Plan after plan

Regarding the current troop surge, Republican House Representative John Boehner recently said: "By the time we get to September or October, members are going to want to know how well this is working, and if it isn't, what's Plan B."

Just how many Plan B's is that now? Isn't it clever how the Bush loyalists are making the current plan — whatever it happens to be at the time — seem like Plan A? By my count, we're at Plan E — which we must, of course, "give a chance."

— David McKenzie, Federal Way

PTA praise

Ellen Goodman's recent "Expect to be mommified" [syndicated column, May 11] revealed not only the wage discrimination faced by women in the workplace, but also serious misconceptions about the work of the Parent Teacher Association (PTA).

First and foremost, PTA is an advocacy organization. PTA leaders work directly with local elected officials and legislators to advocate for children as part of the nation's largest lobbying organization for children. To quote from leadership materials of the Washington State PTA, "National PTA efforts have led to positive changes in child labor laws, public health service, federal education laws, parent involvement policies, school lunch programs, juvenile justice protections, and mandatory immunizations."

PTA officers also manage budgets — some with hundreds of thousands of dollars — all while following strict state laws regarding the financial practices of nonprofit organizations. They manage teams of volunteers without a single incentive program, except for the power of the words "Thank you." They work effectively with a wide range of people, interacting regularly with children, district administrators, fellow parents, teachers and civic leaders, occasionally all at the same time. PTA leaders are proficient at juggling multiple projects — often while also holding a full-time job outside the home, as well as in it. And since they do it all for a salary of $0.00, I think we can safely say they're blessed with tremendous initiative.

And sometimes, they will also sell you a cupcake or wash your car.

Whether you seek an event planner, a lobbyist, a manager, or an HR staffer, you will find qualified experts in every PTA. Perhaps Goodman's next column can tell us which firms don't appreciate these talents. I suspect I can live without whatever they're selling.

— Audrey Bennett, Bellevue