Letter to the Editor: An all-encompassing response to Page 4

Published 10:00 am Friday, March 27, 2026

Rarely have I felt the need to respond to the entire opinion page but everyone had something to say that I either agree with.

I couldn’t agree more with Rich Elfers that Washington’s tax system is the most regressive in the nation. Politicians need to make an effort to educate citizens that an income tax is the fairest form of tax. We also need to understand that taxes are the way our government functions. Without them our society could not function, so I am for a state income tax as long as it includes a substantial reduction in sales and property tax.

Robert Whale’s comments on deceit bring to mind the many gay Republicans over the years who have supported every legislation to limit gay rights. But the person currently residing in the Oval Office is not that deceitful, he openly displays who he is for all to see, misogynist, grab them by the *****, bully, mocking a disabled news person and telling his supporters to take a protester’s coat, beat him up and throw him out in the cold during his first campaign, racist, calling countries of color ****hole countries yet millions of our fellow countrymen still voted for him.

Jon Buss, who I have disagreed with many times over the years, has never met a tax he agrees with so it was expected he would respond to the millionaire’s tax the way he did.

Jerome Loran confuses political emotional disagreement with what we are actually protesting these days, which is for the saving of our democracy from the wannabe dictator who is currently our president. Jerome need only look back at the events leading up to WWII to see that Trump is following Hitler’s playbook step by step and all of the sycophants around him are only enabling him.

And finally Mark Akers responding to my recent letter regarding abortion. Mark and I have had many in person conversations over the past several years and we each consider the other friendly acquaintances and I thank him for correcting my grammar (choose not chose).

I would remind him that the sexual urge is very strong in the animal kingdom and humans are no exception, and even the best methods of birth control sometimes fail, unwanted pregnancies being the result. Mark would criminalize all abortions, no matter the reason or cause, he would apparently demand that the ten year old in Ohio, a victim of rape and incest be made to give birth even though that event would likely kill her.

Mark also never mentions the male role in unwanted pregnancies and what their responsibilities might entail. Mark relies on his faith to guide his decisions and I respect his right to his beliefs, even though I find faith and belief two of the worst words in the English language, basing your actions on faith has allowed for many of the worst atrocities visited on the human race. I hope that reason and facts would guide our future decisions. Just sayin’.

Larry Benson

Enumclaw