Not proposed
Dear Editor:
Liberty Bell is not currently proposed as a wilderness, so far as I’m aware. Perhaps it was, when the Environmental Assessment was written? This error appeared in a quote last week from the U.S. Forest Service Environmental Assessment concerning the possible Mineral Withdrawal. American Alps does propose a “North Cascades National Preserve” run by the park and extending up to Liberty Bell, from the present park. It also would exclude mining, but other existing uses would be permitted to continue. Go to their website for details. Traditionally better funding for the National Park Service might alleviate some of the parking problems there. Dan Evans is one of the sponsors.
Eric Burr, Mazama
Russian meddling
Dear Editor:
We in the valley are lucky to have a commentator as intelligent as Solveig Torvik. I would like to add the following to her recent column.
There is new evidence that the Russians in fact turned the last presidential election. Perhaps our best election scholar, Kathleen Hall Jamieson, has shown this. So convincing is the evidence that the former head of National Security said that “it stretches credulity to think the Russians didn’t turn the election.”
If we don’t fix our electoral system, we will certainly lose democracy. And it will be our own darn fault.
Richard Zerbe, Winthrop
Love that asphalt
Dear Editor:
As a resident of Twisp who regularly rides a bike around town, I must say that I am overwhelmed by the recent improvements to the streets of Twisp east of Glover; the parking lot at TwispWorks; and the parking lot at the Methow Valley Community Center. Bravo to all those people and organizations that made this “asphalt miracle” happen. And all within a few weeks!
Cruisin’ around on my classic cruiser bike has never been smoother!
Rico Stover, Twisp
Natural gas could help
Dear Editor:
Consider a random sample of 100 people from the world population. Only four are Americans. Thirty of our sample are so poor they cook over solid fuel open fires. Some use coal or wood but many burn dung.
Estimates are that as many as two million people a year die from respiratory diseases connected with cooking smoke. More deaths than from malaria. Most of them are women and children.
Bringing natural gas to the world’s poorest cooks raises them out of sickness and drudgery. Carbon fighting is silly and cruel, a way for chicken littles to signal false virtue. Abundant natural gas exports are a way to raise up all of the world’s poorest. Shame on those who oppose because of preceived fears of carbon.
Dan Aspenwall, Winthrop
