TNT letters: A message from the Grim Reaper; election lies; police appreciation

Jan. 6 Committee

I was not in favor of the U.S. House select committee now investigating the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol being formed. I thought we had already heard endless news stories about Jan. 6 and that re-hashing it all would further erode (if that’s possible) trust in our government (broadly construed here).

Now I think they have done some service to the issue, though, as usual, the commission is in danger of muddying up the one key issue — which is that many key actors in that riot did absolutely intend to prevent the constitutional and peaceful transfer of power. That is the bedrock value of U.S. and western democracies — the peaceful transfer of power, rather than coups or takeovers.

I don’t know who exactly should be prosecuted or what penalties apply. I just hope that this message — constitutional and peaceful processes to transfer power — comes through loud and clear when it’s all done.

Robert Saunders, Steilacoom

Pollution and consumption

A message from the Grim Reaper,

As you know, it’s my job to carry the living to their deaths. I take this death business very seriously. Lately business is booming, and it looks like it’s only going to get better. This makes me quite happy.

I owe it to CO, CO2, ozone, CFCs, methane, lead, nitrogen oxides, sulfur dioxide, particulate matter, fertilizers, pesticides, pharmaceuticals, plastics, to name a few. Their increased presence in the world is boosting the body count by poisoning the air, water and soil, changing the climate through global warming, and nurturing the growth of disease.

Kudos to the fossil fuel industry for its clever misinformation campaign, financial institutions for their boundless funding of fossil fuels, politicians for steadfastly blocking environmental and climate change legislation, ranchers for raising those vast herds of cattle and manufacturers for polluting the air and water.

Mostly I credit humans, for their overeating, over-driving, over-fishing, over-fertilizing, overindulging. They’ve always been good at killing each other and other species. Now they may just wipe out all life as they know it.

I think I’ll be needing more help …

Ray Lepore, Tacoma

Police appreciation

Everyday we are confronted with shootings, stabbings, thefts, hit-and-run incidents and occasional prisoner escapes. Often, these crimes have no apparent suspects or obvious clues.

I am always awed that four or five days later there is news that the police have made an arrest in such matters. To me, this is an indication of very effective police work under stressful conditions.

While I do not support excessive force or irresponsible use of firearms, I think we, the public, should be grateful that our police forces are so effective in carrying out their demanding jobs.

Donald Bremner, Gig Harbor

Election lies

Gov. Inslee has proposed a bill to outlaw lies from elected officials about validated election results. This has become a necessary measure, as Trump’s playbook to undermine democracy has spread to state and local government elections. Paul Guppy of the Washington Policy Center claims the bill would mean that “people are not allowed to debate the outcome of elections honestly.” On the contrary, there’s nothing in this bill to prevent challenges to results, the filing of fraud complaints or honest disagreement. It simply prevents those we elect from stoking anger and fear.

Ken McDouall, Tacoma

This story was originally published February 3, 2022 at 5:00 AM.