Obama reveals himself

We are constantly being warned about the danger of an identity crisis – someone stealing someone else’s identity. We have just been given an example of the ultimate grand theft of identity theft.

President Barack Obama now has taken the identity of an emperor. He is in charge of the executive branch and is constantly telling the legislative branch (Congress) what to do and now he is threatening the judicial branch (Supreme Court) to reach a decision that he wants.

This is particularly perplexing since the president taught constitutional law.

David Hamer

Spokane

I-502 too narrow

I appreciate former Seattle police Chief Norm Stamper’s fine stands against the drug war, and for police accountability. Too bad his audience had no chance for questions. I would have challenged his endorsement of Initiative 502, which would too narrowly legalize marijuana in Washington.

Stamper rightly condemned the oppression that has victimized millions of citizens for the victimless crime of marijuana use. He emphasized the medicinal value of the herb for many who suffer from illness. However, he neglected to address I-502’s unfairness to Washington’s medical marijuana community.

The Seattle Weekly recently critiqued the initiative’s blood limit of 5 nanograms of THC for adult drivers. This inaccurate and unnecessary rule would basically prevent any licensed user of medical marijuana from driving.

Most of these patients, although normally competent to drive, would never get their THC levels that low. The article quotes doctors and law enforcement personnel who say the focus should be on impaired driving, rather than a blood test.

The initiative would also prohibit personal cultivation of the plant in any amount. Yes, there is welcome revenue to be gained from taxing commercial sales, but a state that allows home brew should also tolerate homegrown.

Morton Alexander

Spokane

Paying for access to state parks

Has anyone else noticed it now costs $10 to visit a state park in Washington? How about the $99 fine for not purchasing the $10-a-day Discover Pass?

I have now had to cancel three planned day trips because of this wildly unreasonable new fee recently voted in by our desperate state government. I do not want to pay the Discover Pass fee because I should not have to.

What was once a free visit to Washington wilderness is now a cash cow for the state. A picnic at Spokane’s Bowl and Pitcher now costs $10 per vehicle per day.

The money for public services is a state duty. Our state is failing at this. The rapid rise of public costs being shifted onto citizens is alarming; most of these services have historically been paid for by the state. We already pay taxes to support our state government. It is not wise to continue to push funding onto the public by milking us for all we are worth.

State legislators, use your heads and figure out a better way to stop the economic bleeding. Nickel and diming your constituents is not the way to go.

Jeslyn Lemke

Cheney

(Editor’s note: The Discover Pass was implemented last year. A change signed last month by Gov. Chris Gregoire will allow a single pass to be used on two vehicles.)