You wouldn’t hire an amoral felon to help in your store. Just to run your country | Opinion

We rehired an incompetent man

You own a store. You need a manager. A man applies. You review his credentials. However, you then learn he sexually assaulted a woman. But that was years ago, so this does not dissuade you. And you think he will make you lots of money.

Then you discover that he engaged in financial fraud. Shortly thereafter, you learn he is a convicted felon. Still, you shrug, because you think he will make money for you.

You then remember that a few years back, he incited a riot in the street outside the store that threatened the very foundations of the establishment. Oh well, you say, that was years ago, and he will make me money.

You also have a problem with the store’s heating system that threatens to ruin most of the store’s products. Without prompt attention, it will only grow worse. The man insists, however, there is nothing wrong with the heating system and won’t be doing anything about it.

Would you hire this person to run your store? What about something more important — like running the country?

Donald Dowie, Ocean Shores

Washington should embrace free college

I just graduated with a B.A in Law and Policy with a minor in Latino Studies from UW Tacoma.

My parents have taught me that going to school is important to achieve a future. I’ve been motivated to go to school because I believe school is a mechanism that can be used to make a change in my Hispanic/Latino community. But school can be expensive. With the help of the free resources that exist in Washington State to pay for college, I was able to receive a B.A. But I’m not sure if these resources will continue to exist in the future, which is why I support free college for future college students.

I support free college because I believe every student deserves to have access to a free education because they are the future of the state. In “Promise for Whom?” Denisa Gándara and Ami Li find that free community college programs are “associated with large percent increases in enrollments of Black and Hispanic students.” It shows that a Washington Promise program will not just benefit the students but also the economy of the state.

Pass free college legislation now!

Perla Vazquez, Tacoma

Pardon all the turkeys

Later this month, President Biden will pardon two turkeys at the White House, a symbolic gesture of mercy. Yet, every year in the U.S., over 224 million turkeys endure a far grimmer fate. These gentle birds are raised in overcrowded sheds thick with toxic fumes, their beaks and toes clipped to prevent stress-related aggression.

At just 16 weeks, they are slaughtered — throats slit, bodies dumped into boiling water for feather removal. Meanwhile, their meat, laden with cholesterol and saturated fat, poses health risks to consumers.

But there’s promising news: U.S. turkey production has declined significantly as more Americans embrace plant-based options. This Thanksgiving, let’s celebrate our good fortune with a cruelty-free meal — plant-based roasts, seasonal vegetables, fruit, and grains. An internet search for “vegan Thanksgiving” offers countless delicious, compassionate recipes.

Tad Kerry, Tacoma