Cartoon offended

I took offense at the (June 10) cartoon which depicted pro-life people as “Extremists.” I assure you that the majority of pro-life people do not fit this description. Could you not have made the word “Extremists” singular?

Josie Roberts
Hood River

Sad and cruel

Unbelievable and outrageous!

 I agree with Betty (Mercado) (Our Readers Write, June 19), such a cruel, heartless act in dumping a female cat with her kittens on a busy freeway near Rowena.

In addition, it’s incredible that there were no human injuries or fatalities considering that a motorist may have had the time to try and avoid hitting these unfortunate, defenseless animals. 

PROD’s PET-ED programs in the schools teach children to be respectful and kind to animals.  You might wonder what chance we have to reach children when the adults in their lives or community, whom they learn from and depend upon, model such incomprehensible and inhumane treatment of those in our care.  So sad.

Cleo Sterling
President, PROD
(Promoting Responsible
Ownership of Dogs Inc.)

Call to arms

Our country is at war! Not just the war in Iraq and Afghanistan, and not the so called war on drugs.

This is a fight for single payer, affordable health care for everyone in the United States. Several recent polls show that 90 percent of the American  people want a single payer, government run, national health care plan. But there are powerful forces that are blocking it.

Two years ago a bill was introduced in Congress by Senator John Conyers and sponsored by ninety other congressmen and women. Where is that bill now? It has been buried in committee after committee. You can look it up on Google: type in U. S. House Resolution 676. Read it. It’s hard work, but you should do it. If you agree with me that it is our last best hope for affordable health care for all Americans, then join me and all the other people who are fighting for it.

The one man who is doing the most to stop this bill is Democratic Sen. Max Baucus, chairman of the powerful Senate Finance Committee. In a recent story in The New York Times he was quoted as saying that this issue (national, one payer health care) is off the table. He maintains we cannot afford it, but Physicians for a National Health Program estimates the nation could save (with this plan) over $286 billion dollars a year in total health care costs.

That’s enough to cover all the uninsured, and to provide full prescription drug coverage for everyone in the United States. An insurance option would divide the country and cost more.

People, this is a war right on our doorstep. I believe our health care system is broken. One in every six Americans has no health coverage. Millions more are underinsured. The United States is the only industrialized nation that does not guarantee access to health care as a human right.

We can do it! We must do it! There should be no compromise. The time for a single payer, national health care plan is now. Let the people in Washington know how you feel about it. The cost is not too great and the fight can be won if we are all in it together.

Anne Vance
Hood River

Bicycle nuisance

Contrary to what some people may think I am not really a grouch. There are just some things I do not like, that cause me to seem that way. Such as, arrogant bicyclers who do not follow traffic laws, and ignore stop signs. Also, they seem to consider public and private roads and streets to be their private race track, blocking traffic and access to private property, while trespassing on adjoining properties.

Case in point being the recent bicycle rally, or race, I the Pine Grove area along Van Horn Drive and Eastside Road. Roads were blocked, and access to the Columbia Gorge Fruit Growers office, and the Pine Grove Grange Hall was arbitrarily denied for several hours by those in charge of the event.

For those bicyclers who want to use the public roads for travel, fine, but follow the laws. For those who want to use them for competition, go build your own race tracks, as auto racers and horse owners have done.

Allen E. Moore
Hood River

U.S. cars safer

The American car-buying public is saved! Obama’s put forth a plan to save General Motors. We’ll be able to buy Chevrolets into the foreseeable future. His plan: Give 17.4 percent of the company to the United Auto Workers. Force GM to build Eurocentric automobiles the size of roller skates, that get 35 mpg and have barely enough power to drive 65 mph down our freeways. There are a  number of flaws with Obama’s plan.

First: a case can be made that the primary reason the U.S. automakers are struggling is directly attributable to the UAW’s demands for higher wages and more social programs for its members. Why would we want the UAW to have a share in the future GM?

Second: Historically, the American driving public doesn’t want some little Euro-inspired “Barbie Mobile” that can’t climb hills without shifting down into lower gears. City people can live with these little junkers because they don’t need to spend a lot of time in them. It is important to remember that Europe is different than America. If you drive from the southern tip of Spain to the northern tip of Germany it is just over 1,400 miles. If you drive 1,400 miles east from Hood River you only get to Denver, Colo. It is almost 2,000 miles to the East Coast.

Third: the majority of the American car buying public opts for big cars, SUVs and pickups because they are SAFER than those little Euro/Japanese cars. It is that simple. The small number of fatalities in SUV roll-over accidents, while tragic, are far offset by the number of fatalities resulting from small Euro-Japanese junk colliding with big American iron.

Last: you might as well change the name “General Motors” to “Government Motors.” When it the last time any U.S. government entity efficiently, and more  importantly, successfully operated any private enterprise? Ever?

Personally, I wouldn’t drive one of those Euro/Japanese “Death Traps” if they were free and got 100 miles to the gallon. I don’t believe the “Global Warming Myth” and like feeling safe when I drive my F-150 or Expedition. Thank you.

Cliff Mansfield
Odell

Scouting talent

America’s got talent!

Right here in Hood River! Saw plenty of evidence at the Columbia Gorge Dance Academy spring concert presented this weekend. The show blew our socks off! Everything from traditional ballet to tap to hip hop with a bit of folk dancing thrown in — it was absolutely marvelous.

The dancers were superb, the teachers have to be tops to get such excellent results. And the choreographers made it so exciting, so new, simply breathtaking. Wonderful job, all of you! 

Thank you so much!

Paul and Maria Kollas
Hood River

God and country

A visit to Horizon School gave us hope that at least some of our young people will have the opportunity for a real education that includes God and Country.

They will not be restrained by the phony “politically correct” mania that is a requirement in all government programs. We were impressed with the commitment and dedication of the staff and administration. They have real quality in their curriculum, successful athletic programs and a beautiful new building in a spectacular location. It was most impressive and was a wonderful experience for teachers as well as students.

Then we came home to find a publication of the Hood River News, “A Salute to Our Troops.” After reading it cover to cover we were most impressed with the “Rules to Live By” for each arm of the military service. Again, our young people are learning about the values that made this country great. They will be our leaders of tomorrow.

The values in this school and in our military branches give us hope and confidence that our young people will save the “golden goose” (free enterprise) that made this country rich, free and powerful.

Ernie DeRocher
and Rita Swyers
Hood River