Letters to the Editor

BOEING IT OR LEAVE IT!

Gee, maybe we can level all highways, businesses, and houses ["Let Go of Boeing," June 25]. Then we can grow trees and live off berries the rest of our lives. On top of that, maybe we can continue to raise those wonderful unemployment benefits, and that way no one will have to work. Sounds like a wonderful socialistic utopia to me.

Rick Anderson has a blind eye to the fact that many businesses, big and small, are tired of being taxed to the hilt in this state; it's not just Boeing that is complaining. Maybe he should get out in the real world and talk to some of these people.

There is no doubt this state will survive with or without Boeing, but other businesses are also packing up and leaving. Washington has one of the highest unemployment rates in the country, and it is not getting any better.

Anderson needs to wake up! All major metropolitan areas are growing; housing prices are going up everywhere, and they have been since the founding of this country: It's called capitalismyou pay what the market demands. If Anderson wants to go back to the 1970s, maybe he should move to a bustling town like Pomeroy.

Henry Savino

Des Moines

Many thanks for the excellent article ["Let Go of Boeing," June 25]. During my five years at Boeing, the mantra was "Cut spending. Cut costs. Save money. Cut costs. Keep expenditures down. Cut costs. Lower pay raises. Lower benefits. Cut costs." Yet in spite of the fact that over 33,000 employees have been laid off in the name of cost cutting, and Boeing's stock has dropped for the last two years, and Airbus is merrily eating up their orders . . . Boeing's 2002 Annual Report details cash bonuses (some over 100 percent annual salary) and cash incentives that Boeing's senior executives received. Any other employees would have been booted out long ago for such dismal performance. Infuriating!

Jim Nevermann

Langley

I think Boeing should go and take their "do what we ask or else" attitude with them ["Let Go of Boeing," June 25]. Those who are put out of work could always follow Boeing; after all, a lot of people moved here to go to work for Boeing. (I'm one of them, but I got smart and didn't take the job. I looked at Boeing's history of layoffs and decided to work for less money but more job security.)

Rick Anderson's article is the first that I have seen that gives an honest look at the situation. Great work.

Richard Marchu

Federal Way

I want to commend George Howland for his coverage of a complex issue in "Digital Political Hacks" [June 25]. The issue of voter-verified paper trails and the security and integrity of electronic machines has steadily grown to become the most predominant issue in election reform since the passage of a sweeping federal bill last fall.

In California, a panel convened by the secretary of state decided to leave it to individual counties to decide whether to purchase electronic machines with paper trails. In New York, the issue is heating up, dividing such traditional allies as the League of Women Voters, an organization that does not see the need for voter-verified paper trails, and civil rights groups, which believe they are essential to voter confidence.

One clarification to the otherwise fine reporting: The Help America Vote Act does not require states to get rid of punch cards, lever machines, or paper ballots. While it requires that machines notify voters if they over-voteda task that antiquated lever machines, punch cards, and paper ballot systems cannot accomplishstates can develop voter education programs that accomplish the same goals.

Recent reports from Utah, Connecticut, and other states have shown a growing reluctance to adopt electronic technology, not only because of cost concerns, but because of the issues Howland outlined.

Dan Seligson

Editor, electionline.org

Washington, DC

The Washington Green Party is well aware of the potential and real threat of corruption within the electoral system, as was witnessed in the 2000 debacle election, or should we say "selection," of the president. The Washington Green Party has been actively keeping its members aware and encouraging members to write to politicians in Olympia, opposing the Help America Vote Act and demanding a paper audit trail so that votes can be verified and can't be scrubbed. If the Weekly writes more on this subject, which I hope you will, please include the progressive Greens' opposition.

Belinda Coppernoll

Green Party of Washington State

I'm glad this topic is finally getting some coverage ["Digital Political Hacks," June 25]. I work with computer-aided dispatch software and know how easy it is to manipulate data on remote devices a lot like ballot machines. And if those people rigged the election in Florida, then I have little faith that it will not happen again. George Howland did a good job sticking his neck out and telling a story that nobody wants to hear and that needs to be told.

George de Zuleueta

Missoula, MT