Birth control upsets natural order

In regard to Mr. Johnson’s letter:

It is lame to quibble over square footage, when no one knows the precise number. The fact remains that the world’s entire population could fit in the state of Texas with the same population density as a large city. What is truly alarming about Mr. Curtis’ racist, eugenist and misogynist overpopulation theories are the environmental consequences.

Consider this: In 2005, biologists John Woodling and David Norris conducted a study of fish in Boulder Creek in Colorado. They discovered that out of 123 fish captured, the normal 1:1 male-female balance was seriously disrupted; 101 fish were female, 12 were male and 10 were a hybrid of male and female. The scientists traced the unnatural feminization of fish to estrogen samples detected in the creek. Surprisingly, the amounts of estrogen were barely measurable but had devastating effects on the fish population.

The two scientists concluded that the estrogen is coming from human sources, primarily from contraceptives. Hormones from the pill, patch and similar methods are not metabolized but excreted in the urine and end up in the local water treatment plant. Next the water is released into surrounding rivers and streams.

“It’s the first thing I’ve seen as a scientist that really scared me,” Woodling stated. “It’s one thing to kill a river. It’s another thing to kill nature. If you’re messing with the hormonal balance in your aquatic community, you’re going deep down. You’re twiddling with how life proceeds.”

According to the Seattle P-I, scientists have detected the presence of a female protein in male fish in waters off of Tacoma, Bremerton, Everett and Port Susan. This problem has been discovered overseas and appears to be worsening.

How ironic that those who seek to limit the human population to save the earth may be responsible for its destruction.

Margaret Barton
Anacortes


Wrong about me, U.S. military

Mr. Sellen, I failed to name Joe Kennedy; he and Jack were my favorites. Robert may have served in the Navy. If Ted served, it is news to me. To state what I write about is purposely erroneous is a lie. I reject Sellen’s statements as they are everything he accuses me of.

To accuse the U.S. military of being like the Chinese, or any of our enemies, does not surprise me. That and worse has been the standard of many people for years. I protest all who do anything that harms our troops, or that which prolongs war as troops get hurt or die. I’m tired of those who say our troops have been denied armor and get poor care in our veterans’ hospitals.

In every war of my lifetime, we have been unprepared — with one exception, Desert Storm. I am a vet; my brother served for three years, was wounded twice, and earned two purple hearts and bronze and silver stars. To say I have a different criteria for service for anyone is ignorant at best. All of my family members were Democrats at one time.

Kerry is notable because his service was exactly that of this maligned president’s, except, his unit was called. Those who served with Kerry for his brief time in Vietnam, heard Kerry when he came home. I heard or saw them, including the doctor who refused to give Kerry his third purple heart for a wound that a Band-Aid would fix.

No vet would believe anyone could serve three months, get five medals and not spend a day in a hospital. My brother spent time in the hospital both times on Luzon, fighting the Japanese. Most of my group, 2nd Infantry Division were killed or wounded in Korea. I am here for one reason: I had gone to the 82nd Airborne, where only 500 volunteers went and the rest trained recruits and draftees.

I’ll leave others to consider the truth and facts about me, I know both. Sellen knows nothing.

John Hammons
Anacortes


Shouldn’t bail out Freddie, Fannie

Our elected representatives are about to spend billions of taxpayer dollars to bail out Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae. These are shareholder-owned public corporations, not government agencies.

Their CEOs and board member pay themselves tens of millions of dollars every year to loan money to people that you and I would never loan money to. It’s absolutely outrageous to put our nation further in debt to prop up these poorly managed organizations.

Call your representatives and tell them to stop throwing our money away on these failures.

Larry Smith
Bow


Hop off Obama train to disaster

This is my second letter — for whatever reason my first was not published. This one is going the same direction.

Your overtone of “liberal-Democrat-support,” Bush bashing and now attacks of the Republican candidate John McCain disgust me.

Ellen Goodman’s July 25 column has set me off again. She would not be here today to write her “liberal” nonsensical opinions if we had let the 9/11 terrorists go ahead with the U.S. takeover. Wake up, folks, and get off your “Obama gravy train to total disaster.”

Think about it.

Lee Jensen
Anacortes


State of government management

Know those who would perpetuate division, and a more divided society of unhappy victims of capitalism, workers against owners, stockholders against management, and a continual dependence on unrelenting government Band-Aid solutions. Limiting growth with more restrictive legislation and higher taxation is not a viable answer. Congress, with an 18 percent approval rating, appears as a partisan do-little Congress leading to nowhere.

Workers should be encouraged to join into workable relationships approaching a positive solution. Business should be rewarded, encouraging incentives in creating innovative products and methodology essential in helping stimulate creation of America’s sustainability.

Communist and socialistic governments seemingly realize that failed economic policies in their past didn’t offer the incentives and growth they now pursue. The results of capitalization can be seen globally whenever it is encouraged with government support.

Meanwhile, Congress still hesitates, argues, and does little to make us less energy dependent on foreign sources, some of whom would celebrate and promote our country’s demise.

We’ve ignored opportunities to modernize refineries. We aren’t locating and extracting existing or new sources of available gas, oil and coal while planning future energy innovation of solar, wind, nuclear and geothermal. Present facilities are needed using existing resources as a bridge until new sources are on line.

Politicians have unsuccessfully attempted to create credible energy by subsidizing the use of food crops for ethanol. Ethanol is less efficient and costs $1.25 for every $1 value produced. Are these the same people authorizing the continual production of pennies at a cost of 2 cents each?

Choose wisely, using hearts and minds as we listen to potential future leaders of our nation. Consider experience and a proven track record of candidates who not only speak but are willing and able to understand a trend or threat. Pick candidates who will proceed with courage and conviction to find solutions and fix problems.

John Wilkinson
Anacortes