Opinion

“Climate scientists warned us. When will we listen?” (Eugene Robinson, July 6) opinion piece asks, “One simple question for climate change skeptics: What is it about 121 degrees in Canada that you don’t understand?”

I have thought for weeks, how do we bring healing to the United States? My conclusion is not preposterous. What would America look like without political parties?

As a retired faculty member and citizen of this state, I was enraged to read that the high-paid head coach of the WSU football team is refusing to get vaccinated for COVID ("WSU'S Rolovich not vaccinated," July 22), despite the university's mandate that students, faculty and staff be vaccinated for fall semester 2021.

It is time again for us to vote for the best leaders to run our city. The real trial was the challenge of the last 18 months and the pandemic. All citizens and businesses needed to work together to try to get through this very trying time. It was a time for teamwork and everyone doing their part.

In the public debate about the risk/benefit ratio of getting the COVID-19 vaccine, misinformation from people who have no idea what they are talking about is dangerous. ("State Rep. Rob Chase’s anti-vaccine comments removed from Facebook," July 21)

In our everyday lives we face risks all the time. When we get out of bed in the morning we face risks. We could fall over and get hurt and other bad things could happen, and these risks increase as we get older. I am 80 years old. So we weigh the risks of getting out of bed versus what would happen to us if we just stayed in bed.

Eddie Lucio Jr., a Democrat from Brownsville, has represented South Texas in the state’s Senate since 1991.

I’d like to publicly thank the hundreds of thousands of individuals involved in all levels of the COVID vaccine program. Anyone, almost anywhere in the U.S. right now, can receive a vaccine. I look forward to reading the follow-up articles and books of what it took to get us to this extraordinary place.

Suddenly, Republicans are standing up and extolling all to be vaccinated, now that their congressmembers in low vaccination states (red states) are seeing infection rates explode and THEIR Republican voters die.

As the U.S. troops and NATO forces leave Afghanistan they leave more than just the loss of the materials of war. The guns and ammo and the trucks and explosives and all of the equipment will still be there when the opposing, rag tag army takes over. But the most conspicuous part of the whole 20-year war that will still be there is the narcotics. That has not been mentioned in the recent withdrawal and loss by the invading forces. How did the local forces support themselves during this 20 year battle with the U.S. and NATO?

In the age of convenience, we expect ease of payment for everything from bills to rent, and anything else! Water District 3 recently upgraded their system to allow for a user-friendly and lower cost payment system.

Have government authorities abandoned the health of the Spokane River?

Reading Spokesman letters and opinions, I understand the limitations of free speech in America. I look at the freedom of saying anything the same way I approach a round-a-bout when driving. Never mind the yield signs, does any driver feel they have the right to proceed into the circle?

By Attorney General Bob Ferguson

Ask any working mom, retiree or college student what’s wrong with today’s politics and there’s a good chance you’ll get the same answer: “My elected representative doesn’t listen to me or care about my opinion” or “My elected official routinely ignores the public will.”