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Question of the Week Do you believe violence in media is a major contributing factor of real-life violence? To vote in this week’s poll, see www.blscourierherald.com
The Bonney Lake Courier-Herald • Page 6
LAST WEEK: Were you shocked that a college sports team would cover up a crime to protect its franchise?
Yes: 25% No: 75%
Wednesday, July 25, 2012 • www.blscourierherald.com
1948 quote gets me Dewey-eyed
I’ve been reading “1948,” an interesting book by David Pietrusza. Pietrusza’s book is a well-documented account of the race for the White House in 1948 when Democrat Harry Truman pulled out a shocker over Republican Tom Dewey. Dewey has been characterized as something of an intellectual stuffed shirt through the years, which may have been true. I came across an interesting scene in the book Dennis Box where Dewey Editor and Harold Stassen were debating in Portland on May 17, 1948 prior to the state’s primary election. The two were locked in a pretty good battle for the Republican nomination. The serious effort to hunt down communists was just beginning to gather steam and would boil over when the Alger Hiss case hit in August 1948 and Sen. Joe McCarthy took center stage in the troubling period of tyranny for our country.
Our Corner
See corner, Page 7
Letters to the Editor
Volume 111 • Wednesday, July 25, 2012 • No. 38
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The following is in response to Rich Elfers’ column in The Courier-Herald, July 4. I am a Christian Zionist who made the decision to be one based on JudeoChristian values and beliefs. I’m sure you’ve heard other Christians quote the Bible verse about those who bless Israel will be blessed and those that curse Israel will be cursed in return. Well, I believe that because I believe the Bible is God’s instruction manual, and that God doesn’t lie. God is not going to consult you before he moves, but he will judge you as you judge others. Maybe you think your opinion matters so much, but in reality you are just a speck on the earth, and why should God listen to you? When you can create the universe and all life in it, then you can tell your creation who you are and how they should live. In the meantime, you live in a universe that you did not create, and the creator has already told you who he is and given you his unchangeable rules for living in it. Should you choose not to comply, he will treat you like the disobedient child you are.
And in case you didn’t know, Jesus is Jewish. He did not convert to Christianity. Christians are adopted into God’s family, and that family is Jewish. Barbara Stowe Raymond, Wash. In regards to East Pierce Fire and Rescue special levy one has to wonder why they are the only fire district in Pierce County Voter pamphlet asking for an excess levy. It’s an easy answer – management. Go back to basic fire and EMS service and get all citizens receiving the service, paying one tax. Some citizens receive the same service without paying any taxes, others pay a smaller tax. If everyone paid equal share, the district would not need to be asking for some citizens to pay $2.38 in 2013 and $2.43 in 2014 (per $1,000 of assesed valuation). This tells the story they have no plans to bring the district to one tax levy. I believe in helping my neighbor but we have carried those areas for 10 to 12 years; now is time to stop service or have them annex into the district and pay the $2 per thousand.
The cities of Sumner, Edgewood and District 12 and 20 gave their station, equipment and property to District 22 (EPF&R) so why are three-fourths paying full bore and the other quarter paying a lesser amount, and will not vote on the levy or see increase in their taxes. Yet the district is paying for full maintenance and insurance on all fire stations in the covered area. Some stations are called unmanned, which means they are manned by volunteer; four years ago there were 80-plus volunteers now most have retired or just quit because of the way they were treated. East Pierce Fire and Rescue was formed because the area became a bedroom community and the volunteers were gone most of the day, leaving daytime calls unanswered. Now, volunteers are gone by union choice so there can be more six figure jobs and only work eight days a month. Each staffed station is equipped with bedrooms, large screen TV and recliners. When the average person goes to work he is paid by the hour but a firefighter is paid for a 24-hour shift with scheduled eight hours of training and meeting Monday through Friday. Saturday Sunday usually do not have training schedule
See letters, Page 7
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