Washington’s future depends on establishing a path to citizenship | Opinion
America desperately needs a path to citizenship
As we move into the 10th month of President Donald Trump’s purge of those who are here illegally, it might be time to take a more common sense approach to our methods.
We all want to rid our country of any undocumented immigrant who has committed a heinous crime. But, what about the majority of the millions who are hardworking and law-abiding? Do we really want to separate parents from their children, some who have been here for years without a criminal record?
And, what will this do to our economy? What will the price of food be when companies have to pay much more to get enough workers to do the dirty work that’s required in our processing plants and farms? Do we want to pay $12 a pound for chicken or $4 for an apple?
Do we want to go through the pain of trying to send millions of good people back to their home countries? Let’s give the law-abiding illegals a path to citizenship or at least a Green Card. This would save the billions of dollars and broken families it would cost to expel 12 million good human beings.
Phil E. Robinson, Lakebay
SNAP benefits are vital for the disabled
I am a Mental Health Counselor supporting people living in Pierce County who are elderly and disabled. Most of my clients live off less than $1,000 per month in Social Security payments. SNAP and food banks help them survive. No one is eating fancy, and all of them need help from caregivers for daily activities like showering, making meals and putting on clothes.
On Nov. 1, SNAP benefits were cut unnecessarily. Money is there to cover this emergency — paid for by us, authorized by Congress. In refusing to fund SNAP, Trump and supporting Republicans are throwing children, the elderly and disabled poor people under the bus.
Next week, I will be sitting face-to-face with my clients to try and help them figure out how to eat without SNAP. The problem: alternative resources are not there. Food banks are overwhelmed due to demand and federal funding cuts. I cannot make food magically appear for my clients, and I cannot afford to pay for their groceries to feed them.
Our government has a moral obligation to care for our most vulnerable citizens, not starve them for political gain.
Melissa Ford, Tacoma
The Four Lower Snake River dams must be breached
“Now is the time to talk, not fight over hydropower and salmon.”
The intent of this recent statement, from the Northwest Public Power Association and other groups who oppose breaching the four Lower Snake River dams, is to say that dam breaching should be off the table in any attempt to save our wild salmon runs and the orcas who depend on them for food. This position is unsupportable.
No one is advocating to end all hydropower in the Pacific Northwest. Rather, there is a science- and law-supported push to breach the four Lower Snake River dams, which provide a total of only 4% of the Northwest’s power.
When Washington state reviewed the situation, its conclusion was that, regarding the Lower Snake River, breach of the dams would provide the greatest benefit to the salmon.
So yes, now is the time to talk, not fight, acknowledging that breaching the four Lower Snake River dams is step one towards a sustainable future for our wild Snake River fish runs. And we must act quickly if we are to save our iconic salmon and orcas. Time is running out.
Marjorie Millner, Vancouver