PCC Fan (Not)

Thank you for continuing to address the very real problem of the lack of free paper venues for nonprofits in this town ("PCC Fan" letter, May/June Washington Free Press). I have had an entirely nonpaid "business" distributing free papers for many years for the vegetarian, animal rescue and animal rights communities. Does anyone even remember when even Barnes & Noble in University Village [Seattle] had a whole area for these papers? Slowly over the last five years these racks have been disappearing leaving only the Stranger, Seattle Weekly, etc. No place to leave anything else. Doesn't this ring bells about the general nature of our society these days? By the way, I had a long dialogue with PCC about this but they wouldn't budge. Even though we live in West Seattle where its very convenient to shop at PCC, we moved our membership to Madison Market in Capitol Hill--where they have NO problem acting like a true co-op and supporting the community! Other businesses worth supporting for these reasons are Third Place/Ravenna books and Elliot Bay Books (same conscientious owner). Elliot Bay books recently renovated to offer even more spaces for bulletin boards and free papers!

Eileen Weintraub, current Madison Market member and former PCC member

Compassionate Conservative (Not)

It's amazing to me that so many Americans believe that Bush is truly a "compassionate conservative" and that he gives a hang about we average folks. This, in the face of all evidence to the contrary. Maybe it's because Bush promises each of his support groups a reward for their loyalty: tax cuts for the wealthy, an anti-abortion agenda for fundamentalists, etc., etc.

Let's go to some examples which should raise doubts in the mind of the true believer: the invasion of Iraq and the cover-up of air quality in NYC post 9/11.

It has become clear that the Iraq invasion was planned by the right wing neoconservatives for a decade and the reasons for the unnecessary invasion were trumped up. The weapons inspectors had it right--there were no weapons of mass destruction, no nuclear weapons, no threat to America. In short, no reason to invade other than the "master plan" of the neocons. Bush wanted to demonstrate US power on another weakened third world country and claim its oil. Our children's future is mortgaged because of this adventure. And forget about funding education, medical care, etc.

Second is the EPA cover up of air quality in NYC post 9/11. Little reported, it wasn't until June, 2002 that the EPA determined that air quality had returned to pre-9/11 levels. In the meantime, the heroic rescue workers will carry the legacy of the Bush administration directed cover up (PCBs, soot, dioxin, asbestos).

The actions of a "compassionate conservative"?

Howard Pellett

Tired of Lies

I found your publication in a Port Townsend business, and wow! You are right up my alley! I too am fed up with the lies thrown at us by our administration and how they are ruining the lives of people in our country, those who are elderly and those who are not wealthy, but struggling to get by. We have lost so much since these dictators have been in office.

I am sending $12 for a low-income subscription. I have never been able to find work in our area, have done some child care to help pay our expenses. My husband works, but $221 is taken out of his 2-week payroll check for our medical and dental premium! That's $442 a month! I'm tired of the lies I read in other newspapers and on TV. I sure enjoyed your issue, the first I've seen, and am looking forward to more.

P. Wilson

WWW Washington Free Press