Online-only letters

Salmonella outbreak

Fight for safer livestock laws

"Lawmakers rip agencies' salmonella investigation" [Times, News, Aug. 1] gives up the consumer for the interests of industry. Food warnings originally directed at tomatoes (now jalapeños) resulted in lost sales. The Food and Drug Administration and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are scolded for trying to save lives at the expense of the food/agriculture combine.

A better tracking system would supposedly reduce the warnings and resulting effects on sales to the minimum. A better solution would go after the source of these dangerous contaminations (listeria, E. coli, salmonella): livestock manure carried by the water table to nearby crops.

Today it is salmonella-tainted peppers from Mexico, yesterday it was E. coli-tainted spinach from California. In the real world, the variables of contamination are limitless.

Routine use of antibiotics in livestock feed is the fountain from which these food-born hazards originate. Their virulent character is defined by exposure to these drugs. Legislation that would limit the use of antibiotics in animal feed is routinely offered to Congress and routinely defeated by the lobbying efforts of agribusiness and the drugmakers.

If vegetable growers really wanted to limit their liability in food-born incidents, they would throw their collective weight behind safer livestock regulations.

— Art James, Port Orchard

John Doe v. Bellevue schools

Ruling rightly protects the innocent

Friday's editorial bemoaning the courts decision to refuse to force revealing the names of teachers only accused of sexual misconduct is a slap in the face of responsible journalism ["Court condones school secrets," Times, editorial, Aug. 1].

The presumption of innocence is one of the greatest advances in jurisprudence guaranteeing that an innocent person shall not be punished for a crime he or she did not commit. The fact that the crime in question is especially odious should make this principle of law more, not less, critical in the administration of justice.

The ruling will not allow schools to hide the crimes of a teacher as alleged. If the reporter can't figure that out, he is a fool. If he can, he is a shameless advocate for sensational journalism over justice. This is especially true when the accusation is one that will most likely result in all manner of lynch mob non-justice, from social and financial ruin to the jailhouse murder of someone who may prove to be totally innocent.

— Harold R. Pettus, Everett

Secret allegations shouldn't be made public

Your editorial "Court condones school secrets" is astonishing in its implications. Since when are secret allegations included in the public's right to know? What has The Times become, the arbiter of playground gossip disguised as news?

We, the public, do have a right to know the identities of convicted sex offenders among us, yet I read articles all the time about the poor, misunderstood offender who has "paid his debt to society" and now wants to sue those who would continue to socially ostracize him. I already know whose side the American Civil Liberties Union lawyers are on. Whose side are you guys on?

I dare you to find me even one parent with substantive evidence against a genuine molester who would accept the kind of "dust under the rug" settlement your editorial implies is commonplace. I know I wouldn't. A much more likely scenario in my experience would be a false accusation supported by a parental threat to sue the school district that leads to the kind of secrecy deal the recent court decision upholds.

For the sake of argument, let's assume there are instances where unwarranted secrecy deals have been struck. The editorial board's attention would be better spent on gutless school administrators and overly restrictive teacher-union policies that make bad teacher firings so rare. The focus of state law is to protect the innocent, not nail the suspected.

Oh, and just one additional point of order: Underaged false accusers retain their anonymity. Your editorial board willingly shelters a juvenile liar's identity (the law requires it) yet supports irreparably damaging an adult's reputation on a mere allegation. Shame on you for shallow thinking and knee-jerk emotionalism. What price is a man's good name nowadays?

— Fred A. Strine, North Bend

Is there a better alternative?

So Washington Supreme Court judges rule that "privacy trumps identifying teachers."

What hurts more? To be misidentified until legally cleared of charges or for a child to continue to be abused with no legal soft spot to fall?

Voters can answer that question soon.

— Earline Byers, Des Moines

Times' position is wrong

I am horrified that you intended to publish names of teachers accused of sexual misconduct, whether the accusation turned out to have merit or not. You were stopped by the courts, thank goodness, but instead of being chastised by their decision, you then published a front-page article, as though your position was something to be proud of.

Have you lost your minds? Haven't you ever heard the maxim "innocent until proven guilty"? What country is this again?

Suppose a teacher has really done nothing wrong. His or her life would be ruined; the cloud of suspicion would hang over the accused forever. Discipline is difficult enough in schools; think about what would happen if every kid knew that an accusation could result in the destruction of that teacher's reputation. What a relief that six of those judges don't share your backward views.

Thank goodness you don't shape the society we live in. Oh, wait. Oh, no.

— Sandra VanderVen, Seattle

Immigrants

Lawbreakers are lawbreakers

I would like to remind the Rev. Wm. Chris Boerger and the Rt. Rev. Gregory H. Rickel that the "immigrants" or illegal aliens, to give them the legal term, who are being arrested and incarcerated are no different from any other parent who breaks the law and gets caught ["Immigrants aren't welcome here," Times, guest commentary, Aug. 1].

We live by the choices we make, and it's an unfortunate fact that the actions of the parents also affect their children. Maybe these mothers and fathers should have thought about that before they chose to become lawbreakers. And, yes, it was a choice.

— Merry Dobbins, Dallas, Ga.

Exxon Mobil

Business profits not impressive

In your story on the profits posted by Exxon Mobil ["Exxon profits sets U.S. record," Times, Business, Aug. 1], you neglected to mention the other half of the story, which is that while they earned $11.68 billion in the second quarter, they also paid $10.5 billion in income taxes, $9.5 billion in sales taxes and more than $12 billion in "other taxes."

Their return on revenue was not very spectacular ($11.68 billion on revenues of $138 billion). So it is an OK business but not great.

Plus, their stock fell. (I am not one of their stockholders.)

— Richard Prout, Seattle

Obama's stimulus-check plan is theft

I never look a gift horse in the mouth. When Congress and President Bush proposed their $1,200 stimulus check I was more than ready to take it. Economic stimulus or not, it was my money first, after all — just detoured through Washington, D.C.

But Sen. Barack Obama's new plan to hand out, if elected, a second stimulus check of $1,000 is another thing entirely ["Economy running out of steam," Times, Business, Aug. 1]. According to Obama, this $50 billion plan will be financed by taking, by force, the legal profits of Exxon Mobil, a legal American corporation, and handing them to somebody else. In most any other free society this would be considered theft. But not here; not any more. Who does Obama think he is? Caesar Chavez?

Apple computer had more total profit than Exxon Mobil on less sales, but nobody talks about confiscating their profits. Maybe Obama should take a look at Microsoft. Two hundred dollars for a little 40-cent disk with some software on it sounds like "excess" profit to me. Let's grab it.

We are living in strange times, indeed, when a major candidate in a free-market system can get a roof-raising cheer from the masses for advocating robbery. But, then, when you promise to cut them in on the take, what's not to cheer for? Shameful.

— Steve Prestek, Kenmore

State superintendent race

Bergeson the best candidate

I am writing this letter in support of Terry Bergeson for state superintendent of public instruction ["Schools contest focuses on 'new,'" Times, Local News, Aug. 3].

Her candidacy has been marked by 12 very credible years in precisely that role, with results that prove her actions have been successful.

The presidential elections over the last few campaigns have entertained the question, "Is the United States in a better position now, after my administration?" Bergeson can answer that question on a state level for education with a definitive "yes," pointing proudly to a rise in student achievement by all measures.

Bergeson has an underlying knowledge of theory and practice, not only based on her years as superintendent, but also from her previous experiences within the teaching community.

Never just pleased with one area of excellence and national prominence (i.e. reading), Bergeson has recently moved into the realm of nationally competitive mathematics education. She rallied her troops this summer to roll out new research-based math adoptions.

After searching the nation for the best practice information, Bergeson's administration has moved quickly to keep Washington's children on the top end of an education, always involving teachers in major decisions, from developing new statewide learning standards to developing and scoring items on our state assessment tests.

Twelve years of excellence and passion driven by a desire to serve the children of this state has shown that Bergeson is one of the most hands-on and effective change agents ever to serve the Washington State educational system.

— Craig Shurick, Gig Harbor

We need Randy Dorn

We need Randy Dorn for state superintendent of public instruction. He is calling for changes parents have demanded for years, while opponent Terry Bergeson continues to promote her disastrous agenda.

Bergeson disconnected Washington schools from the national mainstream. She crafted the math WASL to drive a methodology that defies logic and research. Then she eliminated the Iowa Basic Skills Test. The IBST tests math skills Bergeson nixed and measures Washington students against all others nationally. Her reform math agenda failed to improve IBST scores, so she cut the test in favor of the WASL. But even the WASL has shown her plan to be a disaster.

Bergeson has repeatedly ignored the outcry of parents. Teacher unions statewide have voted no-confidence in her. Legislators required that Bergeson improve math standards. She resisted the process so thoroughly that the Legislature handed it over to the Washington State Board of Education.

Dorn will realign Washington schools with rising national standards. He is a pragmatic leader who listens closely to parents, teachers and experts. He will take our public schools where we, the public, want them to go. Dorn will work with us to be sure our children get the education we want for them.

— Sharon Peaslee, Redmond

Devericks cartoon

Don't forget President Lincoln's success

I wish to express my disgust with the Aug. 1 editorial cartoon that attempts to cast derision upon presidential candidate Barack Obama [Times, editorial cartoon].

Your cartoon does not spell out exactly what "accomplishments" Obama lacks in order to run for president, but it can only be presumed that the cartoon refers to Obama's lack of extensive electoral and/or national office-holding "accomplishments."

A former president of the United States had similarly limited "accomplishments" at the time he ran for office. That president was Abraham Lincoln, who is probably the greatest (and most accomplished) president in our nation's history!

— Thomas W. Top, Port Orchard

Seafair

Using biofuel isn't really going green

The Times editorial about hydroplane racing going green seems like an obscenely bad joke ["Hydro goes green, too," Times, editorial, Aug. 2]. Using some biofuel may not be as bad for the environment as the usual practice of turning nonrenewable resources into pollution, but it seems nowhere near as environmentally friendly as eliminating hydroracing (and the Blue Angels, too).

I grew up as a Seattle kid in the 1950s, in love with hydros, but the price of gas and the health of the environment weren't such major concerns in those times.

When there is such concern, it seems like public priorities are really messed up, as fossil fuels are wasted for the entertainment of people with powerboats, along with NASCAR for the entertainment of people with RVs and SUVs.

— Tony Formo, Seattle