Letters to the Editor 06/06/2018

To the Editor:

In the May 30 edition of The Nugget, Paula Surmann submitted a Letter to the Editor chastising Greg Walden for becoming more conservative and no longer caring about regular people. I'm not sure what I've missed, but aren't lower taxes, smaller government, peace through strength, rule of law, standing for the national anthem, creating jobs, securing our borders, support for the unborn, free speech, right to bear arms, transparency at the highest level of government and "One Nation Under God" conservative values that "regular people" voted for in the last presidential election?

Paula then goes on to blame Walden for 64,000 people losing health coverage. I thought Obama Care was supposed to fix all that; plus we were guaranteed to keep our current doctor and healthcare coverage as well. Millions lost their coverage and doctor.

Paula then reads Greg's mind telling us he doesn't care about protecting us from big banks. I believe she is referring to the partial roll-back of the Dodd-Frank bill restrictions, which in fact was the result of a bi-partisan vote, 67-31 in the Senate.

As her last attempt of besmirching Greg's character, Paula is ruthless as she pulls out the "global-warming card," throwing poor Greg completely under the bus where he is now quite possibly responsible for fires, floods, hurricanes, and tornadoes.

Where's the LOVE?

Jeff Mackey

••••

To the Editor:

Obviously things aren't going to get any better in town traffic-wise, regardless of the current or next-gen (or next-next-gen, or next-to the-nth-gen) TSP.

This Memorial Day weekend exemplifies the issue, with bumper-to-bumper traffic through (and beyond) town.

A few comments/suggestions:

• If you can, bike to/around town.

• Couple big signs at each end of Cascade Avenue: "Stop for pedestrians, but for God's sake don't stop in the intersection."

• At every cross-walk (maybe on the rectangular pads in the bulb-outs): "Stand here to cross," or "Act like you want to cross," or SOMETHING.

• The bike shops (and parents) in town might want to educate their patrons that a person on a bike is just another vehicle; a person walking a bike is a pedestrian.

• Parents: PLEASE educate your kids and teach them not to run across a cross-walk. One lane might see them and stop while the other doesn't (I've seen it many times).

• Do I even need to mention the "Don't Turn Left Or Try To Cross Cascade During Tourist Season" rule?

• The roundabout works well in principle, but only if everyone uses it correctly. Education is key: Don't stop unless you really (really) have to, coming or going. There's at least one more of these in our near future, so we all need to know how they work.

I realize I'm preaching to the choir here, but if each of us passes along the knowledge to guests and family we may, at least, delay the inevitable gridlock that's coming in the years ahead.

Pete Rathbun