Letters to the Editor

A holiday to remember

I have served the past 10 years helping at the church feeding the needy, but skipped this year. I went to turkey dinner at a friend’s house; things have changed. No longer are the meals on time, but the younger guys don’t remember what time to come, let alone what they were supposed to bring. They did remember there was a ball game and what time it was. They picked the most comfortable chair, and that is where they sat and sat. Grandparents arrived and said hi. They all noticed they were there at halftime. Then comes Christmas time. They all enter with wet hair and hangovers, only to tell you they have to go to another house for dessert. Do they give you a hand in the kitchen? Oh no — they save those fingers for texting who is having the late-night party. That’s when their eyes open like deers in a headlight, and they come alive. But we all know grandparents don't last forever and their turn will come up. God help them all.

Eileen Ayers

Fairview

Something better than nothing

Guess I am confused by the statements made by Mr. Bowerman in the Tuesday, Dec. 4, issue of the Gresham Outlook regarding the taxation of those who bring in more than $250,000 a year. If that tax increase generated the amount he states, $85 billion, we would be that much ahead. I always thought something was better than nothing. I don’t begin to understand his attack on the president when it has been Congress that has failed us. The GOP doesn’t seem willing to compromise on the tax issue, in the fact that the wealthier won’t be strapped for cash if they are required to pay more. What happened to the edict that those who have more should help those who don’t?

Mr. Bowerman speaks of the president’s “alleged arrogance.” Funny, as I always thought the same thing about Bush when he was making decisions that put us in this financial crisis in the first place.

Alyson Huntting

Gresham

Studded tire users must pay

Stud lovers should be made to pay for the damage they do to our roads. The damage far exceeds that of trucks that are performing necessary services. Skiers get off their dead rumps and put chains on for their day of play, and should not expect the rest of us to drive in the ruts for hundreds of miles all year long. The solution is very simple in a conservative world: Calculate the cost of stud damage to the roads and tax the studded tire sales to cover it, period!

Richard Crampton

Gresham