Enjoy hiking, wear bright colors

Attention all hikers: Let’s prevent having another tragic accident by wearing white, yellow, orange or red clothing! Not only could positive identification be made by hunters but rescue teams could more readily spot you if you needed them. Be safe and enjoy our beautiful mountains.

Sharon Hayes
Mount Vernon


Dems mishandling state schooling

A few years ago, under the aspect that our teachers, particularly the beginning teachers, were being underpaid, the majority of voters were persuaded into passing a cost-of-living pay increase of up to 3 percent per year for all certified public school employees. What was not spelled out was how this increase would play out.

As it now is, by the time today’s toddlers graduate from high school the entry level teachers’ wage could very well grow from $30,000 to $50,000 per year. Proportionally, a current $125,000 administration position could amass into a $210,000 yearly salary. As one can see, the income gaps spread exponentially leaving that much less money going to the classroom.

What’s rather peculiar about this unsustainable inequity is that nobody with any kind of authority has bothered to bring it to the forefront.

The Democrats have been in charge of this state for decades now, and the fact of the matter is that the operation of our public schools has always been their “baby.”

As almost everything in life goes, the correct remedy is usually a more sacrificial choice. This may explain why those who can do something about it would rather take the path of least resistance and/or, in order to preserve their own benefit, choose to be oblivious and do nothing.

Why anybody who truly cares about our children’s education would support these Democrats makes no sense to me.

Marty McNett
Alger


Consider pocketbook this election

It’s time for a change both in Olympia and locally. Legislators of both parties seem uninterested in doing anything to stem the flood tide of taxes, particularly the totally out-of-control property taxes. Rep. Jeff Morris, D-Mount Vernon, even sits on a committee that bottled up a bill — that had overwhelming support — that would have given low-income seniors some relief.

There are many things wrong with the property tax laws (and the philosophy behind them), yet Rep. Dave Quall, D-Mount Vernon, and Morris won’t even respond to constituent inquiries regarding any change. (I guess they like the income the taxes provide the state too much!)

Since the incumbent legislators (Sen. Mary Margaret Haugen excepted) seem unwilling or uninterested in making the needed changes, then it’s time to get rid of them.

Elections are coming. Regardless of your party choice, voters need to secure promises from candidates that they will go to Olympia with new priorities — tax relief uppermost — and then vote them in. The citizens (and their wallets) do not exist for the state, and it is time for all officials, elected or appointed, to hear and heed that message.

I close with this question. What would all those who feed at or otherwise draw from the public trough do if every property owner refused to pay their property taxes?

L. Richard Bowyer
Mount Vernon