Letters

If you have ever been played, you feel foolish first and angry second. Donald Trump has a disapproval rating of 53.6 percent. Astoundingly there are 39.8 percent who approve.

In an April 9 letter to the editor, a professor emeritus, in his defense of man-caused climate change, writes that certain aspects of science do not change. They are facts. He writes, "That humans have oxidized large amounts of coal and oil and carbon dioxide was given off and that has increased atmospheric temperature are facts. Our minds are not closed, they are able to recognize facts."

A recent Sue Lani Madsen column about Snake River Dams mentioned that their purpose is to provide barge freight, flood control (remember when Portland was flooded) and power. No mention of the irrigation of crops worth tens of millions of dollars. Take them out and you turn those acres back into sand and sage brush. Also, you would be reducing a large river into a small river, with mass areas of silt and mud adjacent to it for a hundred miles for a few fish.

Any time it is possible to prevent crime, I embrace the approach.

Having lived almost 40 years of my adult life in Washington, I have watched our Legislature struggle without success to fully fund public education (as ordered by the Washington Supreme Court in 2012).

Concerning the recent failure of the Republican attempt to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act:

I have lived in Washington state since 1975. I've felt proud that we've been leaders in education, health care and quality of life.

Sometimes it is possible to have fun in "Trump World." On March 29, a Gallup Poll gave him an approval rating of only 35 percent. Then he declares an end to the war on coal, announcing that this move would spark "a new energy revolution and lead to unbelievable prosperity." Simultaneously the coal industry experts say the move is unlikely to spur a quick turnaround if any.

I am a vet. I am fortunate to be able to use the Mann-Grandstaff Medical Center and have done so for about 15 years. I have received excellent care not only for medical issues but also from the very personable staff. In fact in all respects, while health care in Spokane is generally good the VA hospital, in my opinion, sets the standard for health care in Spokane.

As the story of U.S. Rep. Devin Nunes, Republican chair of the House Intelligence Committee, unfolded, it became juicier and juicier. As tales of Nunes' secret West Wing rendezvous with President Trump's staffers, subterfuge involving high level White House staff, and secrets from his fellow committee members came to light, I wondered if our congressional representative were even paying attention.

In 2006, the U.S. Senate unanimously confirmed Judge Neil Gorsuch to the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals with a voice vote. Among those voting for his confirmation were Sens. Barack Obama, Joe Biden, Harry Reid, Diane Feinstein and current Minority Leader Chuck Schumer. Our own senators from Washington, Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell, also voted to confirm him for that position.

As an avid hater of basketball for most of my life, I found myself in the strange position of following Gonzaga men's basketball.

Donald Trump has proven what most Clinton supporters knew: his leadership abilities are limited to bullying, lying and assigning blame to others.

The U.S. House and Senate have voted to allow internet and telecom companies to share your personal information, including web browsing history, without your consent. No Democratic congressman voted for this. Our own Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers voted yes, as did Idaho Sen. Mike Crapo. Rep. McMorris Rodgers received $75,000 from the telecom industry, and Crapo received $11,000. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell took the grand prize at $251,000.

On March 21, the U.S. Senate joined the House and voted for the state of Alaska to authorize extreme killing methods on public lands.

No president has ever been perfect and made everyone in their country happy and satisfied. Many people have complained about Trump, but if you think about it, they would've done the same for Clinton. Yes, Trump has lied and had complications with the citizens. Clinton could've done things worse by starting World War III.

For a big bag of money, Congress and our own Cathy McMorris Rodgers have sold out our Bill of Rights again. This time to Comcast. The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers and effects against unreasonable search and seizures shall not be violated, unless the thief is a multinational corporation and they are liberal with their bribes.

Duplicity thou art a Democrat! All the crying by the Democrats (and pseudo-Republican John McCain) about how use of the nuclear option to confirm Judge Gorsuch is wrong and loudly shouts out "hypocrisy!" It was just fine when Harry Reid did it, but now, with the shoe on the other foot, it's a "tragic affront to common sense."

In 2016, I returned home to Spokane and received amazing training, care and opportunities through an AmeriCorps position, as I finished up my graduate program. My six months with Second Harvest of the Inland Northwest and their partnership with Spokane Regional Health District provided me with life experience that allowed me to move to Portland, Oregon, to pursue a career in public health.