Opinion

No, Dr. Seuss hasn’t been “canceled.”

While I don't question Thorburn's pure intentions ("Conservation should not be driven by ideology," Jan. 24), a belief that one's choice of facts, interpretation of them and formulation of implications are free of the deeply rooted biases and perspectives that form and modify the very perceptions and consciousness of each of us is dangerous.

By Cathy McMorris Rodgers (WA-05), Dan Newhouse (WA-04), Jaime Herrera Beutler (WA-03), and Russ Fulcher (ID-01)

It is time to stop the nonsense that the election was stolen from Trump. There was no wide spread voter fraud. There was no manipulation of vote counting machines. Trump lost the election. Change my mind with facts, not opinion or conspiracy theories.

To the Honorable: Sen. Maria Cantwell; Sen. Michael Crapo; Sen. Jeffrey Merkley; Sen. Patty Murray; Sen. James Risch; Sen. Ron Wyden; Congressman Cliff Bentz; Congressman Earl Blumenauer; Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici; Congressman Peter DeFazio; Congresswoman Suzan DelBene; Congressman Russ Fulcher; Congresswoman Jaime Herrera-Beutler; Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal; Congressman Derek Kilmer; Congressman Rick Larsen; Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers; Congressman Dan Newhouse; Congressman Kurt Schrader; Congresswoman Kim Schrier; Congressman Adam Smith; Congressman Michael Simpson; Congresswoman Marilyn Strickland

EBay allows people to sell Adolf Hitler’s “Mein Kampf” on its site, as well as the infamously false and anti-Semitic “Protocols of the Elders of Zion.” “Peter Pan,” laden with stereotypes about Native Americans, is for sale there, along with the many books of the “Little House on the Prairie” series, which includes minstrel shows, refers to Black people as “darkies” and contains many negative depictions of Native Americans even though the white protagonists were illegally squatting on Indian land.

Are we paying attention yet? How is that “two weeks to flatten the curve” one-year anniversary working out? How is wearing masks working out? 90+% of us are doing so, mostly to protect businesses from government NOT the virus.

We should all support SHB 1156, which would allow cities and counties to adopt ranked-choice voting. This change would allow us to show politicians what’s actually important to us. If you want to vote for the gun rights party, then the Libertarian Party, then the Republican Party, that means something different than if you want to vote Republican, then Democrat, then gun rights. We can show politicians what we want, instead of trusting them to figure out how much the Green Party contributed to voting for Democrats (anyone remember 2000?).

Rivers are the lifeblood of our region. Representative Mike Simpson stepping up with a concept to restore the lower Snake River and replace the lower Snake River dams with new investments in transportation and energy gives me a lot of hope. The benefits of salmon and steelhead restoration extend far and wide: from the communities who depend on them for food and livelihoods, to the 130 different species that rely on them and their nutrients to thrive. As an avid angler and conservationist, I recognize my part in this ecosystem.

As Idaho Teachers of the Year, we are acutely aware of the problems and obstacles created by the COVID-19 public health crisis. We have seen students and educators struggle with the stresses of uncertainty, trauma, and workload, but have few options for where to turn for help. We have seen classes canceled because there are no substitute teachers, staff covering for each other outside of their comfort zone and qualifications because no one else was available. And we have seen our limited number of counselors, psychologists, and nurses overwhelmed by unmanageable caseloads.