Political contributions: An idea for the ultrawealthy
Re: “Meet the megadonors who have poured $1.2 billion into the midterms” (Sept. 4, Nation & World Politics):
I find it interesting, and sad, how the ultrawealthy are very willing to spend money on elections and politicians, but loudly cry foul when asked to pay taxes.
How about the ultrawealthy pay $1 to the federal treasury for every $1 they spend on political contributions? They can continue to spend to their hearts’ content to influence politics, but also help solve the huge looming problem of our unsustainable national debt.
Stacey Hendrickson, Bonney Lake
Iran war: ‘Military madness’
On the first day of the war in Iran in February, U.S. missiles hit a school and killed more than 100 kids. On Sept. 1, the first day of the newly restarted war in Iran, U.S. missiles hit a wedding party and killed five civilians.
These atrocities only serve to normalize the strikes by Russia on Ukrainian cities and the strikes by Israel on Gaza. We in the U.S. must demand an immediate end to our military madness. Then we can turn our attention to other parts of the world with some integrity.
Harry Stern, Seattle
Free school meals: ‘Bravo’
Re: “Pickled blueberries and yakisoba: Free school meals launch in Seattle” (Sept. 8, Education Lab):
I strongly support the free lunch program, including a morning meal for those interested. To me, those are well-spent tax dollars. Sad to say, there are children really needing this nutrition, and they are generally invisible to people outside of the schools.
I was a voracious walking appetite at 11, growing six inches during my sixth grade, which may explain why this article warmed my old heart, 70 years later.
I say bravo to the various districts that have instituted this. It should be a nationwide program.
Harley Rice, Carnation
I-645: ‘Vote yes’
Re: “Seattle Times recommends ‘No’ on I-645, ‘millionaires tax’ repeal” (Sept. 6, Opinion):
The opinion in Sunday’s paper to vote no on I-645 just makes the people of Washington enablers to the state Legislature, supporting its lack of truth telling when it comes to the millionaires tax.
Like the saying goes, “If it looks like a duck, walks like a duck and quacks like a duck, then it’s probably a duck.” The same can be said about the millionaires tax: “If it looks like a new revenue stream, acts like a new revenue stream and reads like a new revenue stream, then it’s probably just a new revenue stream.”
All of the crowing by the Legislature and the governor about how this new tax will help alleviate our state’s regressive tax system, funded almost exclusively by sales taxes, is just smoke and mirrors. The same regressiveness of our tax structure will still exist and nothing in this new tax was ever intended to start changing that.
Send a message and vote yes on I-645.
Robert Oberlander, Issaquah
Downtown Seattle: ‘Public space is becoming less public’
When my husband and I retired 14 years ago, we chose Belltown so we could enjoy the best of urban life — long walks to parks, museums, the waterfront, theaters, restaurants and events at Seattle Center. For the most part, the city has lived up to that promise.
But in recent years, walking in our neighborhood has become an exercise in vigilance. We can no longer use our sidewalks without constantly wondering whether an e-scooter will come at us from behind or around a corner. The city’s recent attempts to deter sidewalk riding have not worked, and pedestrians — especially seniors — are paying the price.
And now there is a new menace: groups taking over streets so cars can spin and race, forcing residents indoors yet again. Public space is becoming less public by the month.
The solutions are not complicated. For the first problem, ban e-scooters. For the second, ensure rapid police response to street takeovers.
Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson, what do you say?
Paula Matthews, Seattle
Healthcare: ‘Much has changed’
Re: “Why can’t human care be more like a vet visit?” (Sept. 5, Opinion):
Dr. Steve Dudley laments the reality of human medical care as compared to veterinary medicine. There was a time when veterinary medicine and human medical care were much the same. The introduction of Medicare and Medicaid in the mid-1960s allowed the leaden hand of government and third-party payers onto the practice of medicine. Prior to this time, much like modern day veterinarians, physicians could set their own fees for medical care based on their costs, community standards and in competition with their peers. Just like Dr. Dudley seeking care for his ailing cat, patients could select their physician based on availability, price, reputation and competence.
Much has changed since the mid 1960s. Now, the fees for physician services are set by Medicare and third-party payers. These fees have been cut repeatedly over the last 25-plus years and have not kept up with actual practice costs. To remain in practice, most physicians have joined hospital-based practices and become employees. Hence, the deterioration in patient experience.
Despite these facts we are lucky that skilled, thoughtful and compassionate individuals continue to choose to learn the art and skill of medicine.
Mario D. Forte, MD, FACS, Tacoma
Campaign spending: Set limits
Every year on Sept. 17, we recognize Constitution Day. The founders created a blueprint for self-governance and included an amendment process so our governing document could adapt over time.
The 27 amendments added over the years — such as abolishing slavery and guaranteeing women the right to vote — dismantled barriers to build a more inclusive future. Now, it is time for the 28th.
Unlimited outside money, including corporate and foreign-linked donations, floods our elections and drowns out average citizens. Secretive super PACs and ultrawealthy donors shape policy because U.S. Supreme Court decisions have stripped lawmakers of the power to safeguard our democracy.
A Constitutional amendment is the only way to overturn these rulings. Twenty-five states, including Washington, have already passed formal resolutions calling for an amendment to allow reasonable campaign spending limits and transparency rules.
The best way to honor the Constitution this Sept. 17 is to strengthen it. Contact your elected officials and urge them to support a 28th Amendment. Ordinary citizens have expanded American democracy 27 times before, and we can do it again.
Donna Roy, Vancouver
Healthcare: Co-responders are an important component
Re: “Facing healthcare gaps, Vashon Island expands mobile urgent care” (Sept. 8, Local News):
Thank you for the beautiful article. Across our state, nearly 70 co-response programs partner with law enforcement and firefighters to deliver crisis services and healthcare to people through the 911 system.
Co-responders were recognized as first responders last year by Washington House Bill 1811, primary sponsored by Rep. Osman Salahuddin of Redmond. Co-response integrates behavioral health and crisis specialists alongside law enforcement or fire department dispatch for in-progress emergency calls and is grounded in a powerful principal: When people call 911 in Washington, they should receive the right resource at the right time — whether that be a police officer, a firefighter/EMT or a behavioral health crisis responder.
Virtually every public safety agency in King County has a co-response program, and the University of Washington has opened the Behavioral Health Crisis Outreach Response and Education Center to support research, training and workforce development for this important component of public safety.
As society expects more and more from the public safety system, co-response programs like Vashon’s are transforming the first response system to ensure that people in crisis get the right resource at their moment of greatest need, resulting in lower costs, better emergency care and improved outcomes for our communities.
Vanessa Martin, managing director, Co-Responder Outreach Alliance; Brook Buettner, executive director, Regional Crisis Response Agency, and CROA board president; Jenn Stuber, Ph.D., co-founder and executive director, UW BH-CORE
Taiwan: ‘Participation in the UN is essential’
For Seattle, the Pacific is not a distant frontier, but our shared neighborhood.
Along Puget Sound, Seattle serves as a gateway to the Indo-Pacific and a hub for technology, innovation and trade, with deep connections to Taiwan. From economic ties to global supply chains, Taiwan is an important partner in the Pacific Northwest. Peace across the Taiwan Strait therefore matters directly to Seattle and Washington state.
As the United Nations prepares for its 81st General Assembly, restoring trust requires inclusion and fairness. Taiwan, a vibrant democracy of 23 million people, remains excluded from the UN. China’s misuse of UN General Assembly Resolution 2758 is part of a broader campaign of legal warfare. The resolution addresses China’s representation at the UN but does not mention Taiwan or determine its political status. If left unchecked, this distortion could set a dangerous legal precedent and serve as a pretext for future military action across the Taiwan Strait.
Such aggression would threaten peace and disrupt the global supply chains on which the U.S. — and Seattle’s internationally connected economy — depend.
Taiwan has much to contribute, and its participation in the UN is essential to restoring trust and building a more peaceful, secure and resilient Pacific.
May Lin, director general, Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Seattle
Gloria Steinem: Courage, tenacity, graciousness
Re: “Gloria Steinem, defining symbol for feminism | Obituary” (Sept. 4, A1):
In April 2007, I had the unexpected privilege of meeting Gloria Steinem on a flight from New York to San Diego. Somewhere over the U.S., we both ended up stretching in the galley at the back of the plane — Gloria with her tea, me with my coffee.
I introduced myself, and a brief encounter became a wonderful conversation.
I told her that when I began teaching in the early 1970s, I often saw girls and young women limiting their aspirations, particularly in careers traditionally dominated by men. I consciously worked to challenge those expectations and encourage my students to imagine possibilities beyond the ceilings society too often placed above them.
By 2007, after 35 years of teaching, I could tell Steinem that I had watched remarkable change. Former students had become physicians, veterinarians, attorneys, professors, government and union leaders, executives and much more.
I also had the opportunity to tell her that people like her helped make that change possible.
Today, I remember her courage and tenacity — but also her graciousness in simply listening to a teacher describe what social change looked like from a classroom.
I remain grateful for an unforgettable conversation.
Tom Carter, Kenmore
