Letters to the Editor

Now that Referendum 51 is dust and the governor is still thinking we have to do something about traffic congestion, a question arises that is answered every workday. Doesn't anybody have eyes to watch the freeways and see how many single-occupancy vehicles there are and conclude that all those commuters seem to think the traffic "problems" certainly aren't bad enough to get them out of their car?

There is, in fact, no crisis until the shoe actually pinches.

Bob Shupe
Seattle

Message has been sent that more roads not way to go

The defeat of Referendum 51, passage of Initiative 775 and probable passage of the monorail issue send a message to local leaders: We need more sensible and cost-effective transportation solutions than we need more lanes for Interstate 405.

Sound Transit needs to refocus its remaining funding on building regional extensions for the monorail. One hundred twenty million dollars would extend the Green Line to Northgate. Changing the airport light rail line to the monorail would save $300 million or more; enough to add a Southcenter stop and get all the way to the airport. It's time for Ron Sims to admit defeat.

We also need a balanced regional plan next year. Replacing or repairing the dangerous Alaskan Way Viaduct and building a new Evergreen Point Bridge with an Eastside monorail line should be the top priorities. The fact that R-51 spent three times as much on widening I-405 as these important projects is just one of the many reasons it failed. Let's not make the same mistake again.

Daniel LaVassar
Seattle

We're going to see a Lott more of Trent

Ohmigosh! Trent Lott is coming back? That can't be happening to us!

Dan Caine
Seattle

Democrats failed to get out the vote

I am somewhat ashamed of my country today. In the past 14 months, we have responded poorly to fear (New York City is the exception). In every close race, Republicans capitalized on that fear, scaring those on the fence to vote for them or their safety would be in jeopardy.

"For the sake of our country . . ." "For the sake of our security . . ." Republicans catagorized Democrats as people not interested in our security, even as un-American. They were divisive. And my country voted. The Democrats squandered their opportunities. Our economy continues to slide. There are 2 million fewer jobs in America than there were when George Bush took office. Where were the Democrats?

Our education system is ranked among the lowest in the industrialized world. Where were the Democrats?

Everyone wants homeland security. But at least half of us are uncomfortable with the government having too free a rein when it comes to our civil liberties. Where were the Democrats?

North Korea has the bomb and is developing it to be long range enough to get us. They were part of that so-called axis of evil. The Saudis are the ones supporting Osama bin Laden and his band of terror, not Iraq. The rest of the world, nearly every other country resents President Bush's "cowboy diplomacy." Where are the Democrats? The Bush administration does know how to show strength.

Douglas Brouillard
Oak Harbor

Would-be voter finds it impossible to cast ballot

I moved to Seattle in October 2000 from western New York. I wanted to vote in the presidential election of that year and also this year's midterm election. I did neither. It was not that I did not register or did not try to vote, it was because I could not locate the polling place.

Unlike the five other states I have lived in and voted in, polling places here don't seem to be identified. Just one little sign Tuesday at the polling location, but no arrows, nothing to guide me to the voting booth. Even when I asked, it appeared from responses that folks thought I was nuts. I ended up walking around the building for about 20 minutes before heading back to my car very, very frustrated, again without casting my vote.

Why not large signs, flags, distance markers, arrows, etc., as in every other state in which I have voted. Why not make it very, very easy. My vote does count, but apparently not in Seattle.

Lawrence J. Beck
Seattle

Absent absentee ballots didn't make it any easier

The contention of county election officials that all who requested absentee ballots received them is absolutely untrue. I am one, though most likely not the only one, who did not receive a ballot. On Monday, I called the elections office to ask why I had not received it. I was told that it was most likely my fault for not having filled out paperwork correctly and that if I wanted to vote, I would have to go to the precinct polling site.

Imagine my surprise when the next morning I woke up to read in the P-I that county officials assured the public that every person who requested an absentee ballot received one, and that there was no major problem. Blaming registered voters for the problem is one of the most ridiculous things I have ever heard from King County officials, and that's saying something.

Josh Dazey
Kirkland

CITY BUDGET

Cut costs before punishing 'customers'

The article "Fees may rise to fill Seattle budget gap" (Friday) is the classic example of how government in Seattle just doesn't get it. Nowhere in this article is there any mention of cutting costs as opposed to increasing fees. Yes I know that these are mostly user fees and penalty fees, but this is not the point.

Common sense would be to reduce costs first, not punish your customers and constituents first. Why not consider consolidation of similar programs and reducing duplication of work? Why not put a moratorium on hiring and freeze all wages for 12 months? (Oh yeah, Gov. Gary Locke supposedly did that and government is bigger then ever.) Why not freeze all budgets at 2002 costs, no increases for 2003? Why not stop all acquisitions of new capital equipment such as new computers, new police cruisers, new buses, etc., for one year? Stop the junkets, reduce consultant costs and demand performance from employees?

Of course these decisions would take political courage, something that is not widely seen in this day of polling, cronyism and lobbyists. If Seattle really wanted to do the right thing, it would list the cuts it will be making first before listing the fees the city plans to increase.

Fair and balanced budget restraint is what the voters want, not passing the buck for poor performance.

Art Francis
Issaquah

WILL COLUMN

Men have no right to debate women's issue

George Will's Oct. 27 column "Awkwardness of abortion culture" is so far right it deserves a response. The true awkwardness comes from a man debating a women's rights issue. The old adage "If men could have babies abortion would be a sacrament" could be applied here.

A further awkwardness comes in arguing the pre-birth rights of quadruplets against the post-birth rights of being born with a drug-addicted father and a repeat criminal for a mother. Funny how the anti-abortion people put the fetus status over the live babies status.

No wonder our prisons are overflowing. If these anti-abortionists would spend half as much energy to provide for children being born into dysfunctional families as they do toward removing the choice of women who cannot provide for their children, the country would be in better shape.

A further awkwardness comes in trying to affirm the sanctity of human life over all other life. "Abortion kills something. What is it?" A sperm is something, an egg is something, meat, which I'm sure Will consumes, is something. Is Will saying we should stop the destruction of all life in order not to be considered murderers? Sorry, life is not so simplistic as some conservatives would have it be. Getting an insight into Will's mind should be a reality check on what kind of struggles we have had and will continue to have in the name of social progress.

Jack Pedigo
Seattle

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