NO MORE WEST DENIAL
I want to offer a large thank you to Merilee D. Karr for her excellent article, "Killer Mosquitoes" [June 4]. I sent the article to my apartment owner with a letter requesting that he get back to me on how he will be dealing with the pond (standing water) in our garden area. Merilee's article gave not just the reason to be proactive but also the contact phone numbers for further information and assistance. This is the kind of article that I find so positivenot just the fear factor for ratings, but the facts and contacts, in order to take action.
Sally Webb
Seattle
DON'T PANIC
As a public educator, I'm glad when local media become allies in helping to educate the public about important issues such as West Nile virus. I'm torn and disappointed, however, when the stories are presented with unnecessary sensationalism especially by a free weekly paper that shouldn't have to resort to headlines such as "Killer Mosquitoes" [June 4] in order to sell papers.
Although people need to be informed of the risks of West Nile virus, we should also be careful in contributing to a public health scare. While the arrival of the virus in the Northwest is sure to grab headlines, it is important that the media participate in the effort to place the virus in a context relative to other everyday risk factorsand present the public with good, science-based information and practical, effective methods to minimize the risk of exposure to humans and domesticated animals.
West Nile virus, unlike SARS, does not spread from person to person. A person is far more likely to be killed by cigarette smoking or a motor vehicle accident or influenza than by West Nile virus. Local agencies are structuring their response (including use of insecticides and monitoring of storm water areas) accordingly.
Rachael Dillman
City of Springfield Environmental Services
Springfield, OR
LIBERATING BOEING
Knute Berger has come to the conclusion that libertarians and other fans of extremely limited government came to a long time agothat government should be restricted to things like defending the country, maintaining a system of justice, and delivering the mail [Mossback, "Boeing 7$7," June 4]. Berger tacitly makes a brilliant case for extremely limited government, something I am not sure he set out to do.
The current efforts by Gov. Locke, Sen. Cantwell, and County Executives Sims and Drewel to keep Boeing in the area showcase many, many horrible aspects of some in government: elected officials deciding which company or industry or group of people should thrive at the expense of many others; elected officials exploiting the fears and greed of many people; elected officials groveling for taxes. . . .
Berger makes many good arguments against the power of elected officials, but then he does a 180-degree spin and suggests that they should have more power by suggesting that the power of bureaucrats and elected officials should be institutionalized by nationalizing the company, and perhaps the industry. That is like suggesting that the best way to put out a fire is to add more propellant. The best way to wrest thuglike control from elected officials, no matter if Democan or Repubilcrat, is to articulate the message that libertarians have been singing for years: governments of all jurisdictions severely limited by the wisdom found in the U.S. Constitution.
Eric Tronsen
Shoreline
TAKEOVER BID
Boeing's too important to leave in private hands [Mossback, "Boeing 7$7," June 4]. Most thinking people know that you can't sell airplanes if workers can't afford to buy tickets to fly in them. But Boeing's profits risealong with executive salarieswhen they lay people off. CEO Phil Condit and other corporate officers in Chicago have no interest in the struggles Washington workers are having just to keep food on the table.
Gov. Locke, who should protect the public, is instead caving in to business interests that, under the guise of the Boeing crisis, are pushing anti-worker laws they've long dreamed of.
If Boeing is as important to Washington as Gov. Locke and the Seattle City Council tell us, then the state needs to take it over, run it as a state enterprise, and ensure it will stay here forever. This Boeing retiree calls on the state to "nationalize" Boeing in order to keep the jobs in Washington.
Henry Noble
Seattle
HENDIE ON M'S
I just read Mike Henderson's article regarding the Mariners' broadcast team ["Swung On and Belted!" June 4]. I listen to or watch upwards of 150 games each season and know exactly what he means. He left out one thing, though: We've got to find a way to stop these fellas from saying "grand slam home run." Is there such thing as a "grand slam triple"? It makes about as much sense as saying a "run-scoring RBI." Every time I hear Rick Rizzs define the grand slam, I want to cut off my ears with a dull knife.
Josh Duffus
North Bonneville
EMISSIONS OMISSIONS
Mark D. Fefer's article about Metro bus emissions [SW Behind the Wheel, "Bus-ted," May 28] contained misinformation and omitted some important information that was supplied to the reporter while he was researching the article.
