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Bills are never black and white

A recent article in the Skagit Valley Herald said McCain had an “inconsistent” voting record on the environment. I do not know about anyone else but nothing scares me more than someone who could be said to have a consistent record on any subject.

Let’s face it, Congress’ bills are never black and white on any subject. With all the amendments they add on a person could be voting for a real good thing and at the same time raise taxes or some other bad thing in the same bill.

William Bates
Sedro-Woolley


Can track cows but not aliens

Is it just me or does anyone else find it amazing that during the mad cow epidemic our government could track a single cow, born in Canada almost three years ago, right to the stall where she slept in the state of Washington? And, they tracked her calves to their stalls. But they are unable to locate 11 million illegal aliens wandering around our country.

Maybe we should give each of them a cow.

Roy B. Naylor
Mount Vernon


Christian morality brushed aside

This old world seems to be on a downward spiral unless something is done to change its course. Where is the utopia that liberal theology claims to be able to establish? Fear, uncertainty, immorality, greed and hostility loom everywhere.

Our ancestors, even just a generation ago, would be appalled at what is considered acceptable standards today. What was good common sense back then is definitely anything but common nowadays.

What was thought of as traditional Christian values, in which this country was founded upon, are now despised and ridiculed. History is being rewritten to root it out of today’s teaching. All are encouraged to speak their minds and share ideas with tolerance prevailing — but wait until someone speaks out for old-fashioned Christian principles. What happens to tolerance then?

A recent letter called Christians greedy — spreading hate and discrimination. Misleading the innocent and vulnerable. What kind of picture is the letter writer trying to paint?

For many generations, who has been quick to give to charitable aid when needed? Who has created and financed more benevolent institutions, such as hospitals, rescue missions, children’s homes and provided food for hungry around the world, etc.?

What were Harvard, Princeton and Yale originally created for? They were founded by Christians to equip our leaders and others in all areas of life, and to honor God and country. That’s a foreign concept today, a past ideal trodden underfoot.

The teachings of the Bible influenced our American laws, which “were” the basic principles of individual rights and freedoms. But today, the message is stifled and rejected. It can’t be allowed to take root and change people’s lives for the better. Fortunately, the opposition can’t succeed in silencing a single word.

Where have the “new truths and enlightenments” led us? What condition is our country in today, with its permissive ethics and morality? Just read your newspaper.

Larry Coggins
Mount Vernon


System sets offenders up to fail

With all the news of crime, drug abuse, drunken driving and other offenses, maybe we should take a good look at our criminal justice system. Perhaps, we are failing to reform in our reformatories, create penitence in our penitentiaries or rehabilitate in any of our expensive facilities.

We are using punishment to try to modify behavior and paying victims for the wrongs done to them. Those incarcerated are set up to fail, and when finally released, they have difficulty finding housing, employment and positive associations. The likelihood of additional crime is certainly ensured.

Politically, this philosophy may be popular since legislators want to be considered “tough on crime.” Realistically, we are expecting these people to overcome barriers that would be unreasonable for even the ordinary law-abiding citizen.

Lowana Krewson
Stanwood