Skip to content
Sunday, February 15, 2026
37°F
Sign Out Sign In Subscribe Newsletters Contact Us
  • Sign Out
  • Sign In
    • Home
    • Search
    • Newsletters
    • Subscriber Center
      • Subscriber Center
      • Subscribe
      • Frequently Asked Questions
      • Vacation Hold
    • News
      • News
      • Northwest
      • Submit a Story Idea
      • Submit a Photo
      • Submit a Press Release
    • Business
      • Business
      • Submit Business News
    • Sports
      • Sports
      • Submit Sports Results
    • Contests
    • Life
      • Life
      • Submit a Wedding Announcement
      • Submit an Engagement Announcement
      • Submit a Birth Announcement
    • Opinion
      • Opinion
      • Letters
      • Submit a Letter to the Editor
    • Obituaries
      • Obituaries
      • Place an Obituary
    • Classifieds
      • Classifieds
      • Place a Classified Ad
      • Employment
      • Real Estate
      • Transportation
      • Legal Notices
      • Place a Legal Notice
    • e-Editions
    • About Us
      • Contact Us
      • Terms of Use
      • Privacy Policy
    ECH
    37°F
    • News
    • Sports
    • Life
    • Business
    • Contests
    • Opinion
    • Obituaries
    • Classifieds
    • All Sections
          • News
            • News
            • Northwest
            • Submit a Story Idea
            • Submit a Photo
            • Submit a Press Release
          • Business
            • Business
            • Submit Business News
          • Sports
            • Sports
            • Submit Sports Results
          • Life
            • Life
            • Submit a Wedding Announcement
            • Submit an Engagement Announcement
            • Submit a Birth Announcement
            • Weather
          • Opinion
            • Opinion
            • Letters to the Editor
            • Submit a Letter to the Editor
          • Classifieds
            • Classifieds
            • Place a Classified Ad
            • Employment
            • Real Estate
            • Transportation
            • Legal Notices
            • Place a Legal Notice
          • About Us
            • About Us
            • Terms of Use
            • Privacy Policy
          • Subscriber Center
            • Subscriber Center
            • Subscribe
            • Frequently Asked Questions
            • Vacation Hold
          • Obituaries
            • Obituaries
            • Place an Obituary
          • e-Editions
          • Newsletters
    Articles by Richard Elfers
    Why such a polarized process? | Rich Elfers
    Why such a polarized process? | Rich Elfers
    By Richard Elfers • September 3, 2014 1:26 pm

    “While American politics has always been a shrill, partisan, and ugly business going back to the Founding Fathers, we have rarely been so polarized and so unable to execute even the basic functions of the government, much less tackle the most difficult and divisive problems facing the country.”

    Read Story

    Why such a polarized process? | Rich Elfers
    Why such a polarized process? | Rich Elfers
    By Richard Elfers • August 29, 2014 6:58 pm

    “While American politics has always been a shrill, partisan, and ugly business going back to the Founding Fathers, we have rarely been so polarized and so unable to execute even the basic functions of the government, much less tackle the most difficult and divisive problems facing the country.”

    Read Story

    ‘Duty: Memoirs of a Secretary at War’ | Rich Elfers
    ‘Duty: Memoirs of a Secretary at War’ |...
    By Richard Elfers • August 26, 2014 7:14 pm

    In his memoir, “Duty: Memoirs of a Secretary at War,” former secretary of defense under both Bush and Obama, Robert M. Gates, states that he fought four wars at the same time

    Read Story

    Gates likely glad his job is done | Rich Elfers
    Gates likely glad his job is done |...
    By Richard Elfers • August 19, 2014 1:44 pm

    Robert M. Gates is probably the only secretary of defense who can claim to have had a “honeymoon” for his entire four and one-half years of service.

    Read Story

    Cash still flowing to pockets of a few | Rich Elfers
    Cash still flowing to pockets of a few...
    By Richard Elfers • July 23, 2014 7:03 pm

    This is Apple’s eight-word business plan found on the back of your iPhone.

    Read Story

    Enumclaw Welcome Center a twisted tale | Rich Elfers
    Enumclaw Welcome Center a twisted tale | Rich...
    By Richard Elfers • July 16, 2014 12:41 am

    Enumclaw City Administrator Chris Searcy recalled in his May 27, 2014, staff report that it was the year 2000 when state Route 410 from Enumclaw over Chinook Pass to Naches was designated as an “All American Road.” The name of that section of highway eventually became the Chinook Scenic Byway.

    Read Story

    Expect sparks to fly in the 31st district races | Rich Elfers
    Expect sparks to fly in the 31st district...
    By Richard Elfers • July 2, 2014 5:26 pm

    Watch for sparks to fly in the Cathy Dahlquist/Pam Roach state Senate battle. The campaign will be long, contentious and expensive. Adding to the interest is that both candidates are Republicans.

    Read Story

    Not sharing the wealth in D.C. | Rich Elfers
    Not sharing the wealth in D.C. | Rich...
    By Richard Elfers • June 24, 2014 10:30 pm

    The last time I visited Washington D.C., was in the 1980s. On my most recent visit a few weeks ago, I was shocked by the changes that have occurred.

    Read Story

    China at the crossroads: Part 2 | Rich Elfers
    China at the crossroads: Part 2 | Rich...
    By Richard Elfers • June 4, 2014 7:07 pm

    “Reform is China’s second revolution,” and “To get rich is glorious.” These are words from China’s communist leader, Deng Xiao Ping, who led China from 1978 to 1992. He set out to undo all the damage Mao Zedong had done to China with his Great Leap Forward (1958-61) and the Cultural Revolution (1966-1976) as I discussed in last week’s column.

    Read Story

    Hazards of unfettered power | Rich Elfers
    Hazards of unfettered power | Rich Elfers
    By Richard Elfers • June 2, 2014 8:55 pm

    “Every man did what was right in his own eyes” is a quote from the book of Judges in the Old Testament. It sums up what Mao Zedong did after he took control of China in 1949 and how he imposed his brand of socialist utopianism on the people of China. This was the first of three major crossroads or turning points in Chinese history since the Communist takeover. The two other major crossroads will be discussed in a future column.

    Read Story

    Seas will rise, costs will to up | Rich Elfers
    Seas will rise, costs will to up |...
    By Richard Elfers • May 21, 2014 8:03 pm

    In 2012, something amazing happened: Republicans and Democrats came together during a bitter election-year campaign and fixed the National Flood Insurance Program.

    Read Story

    We need help to face our elephants | Rich Elfers
    We need help to face our elephants |...
    By Richard Elfers • May 14, 2014 12:19 am

    Is there an issue in your life, in your job or in your family that you are ignoring? Are you hoping it will just go away?

    Read Story

    Sometimes government works | Rich Elfers
    Sometimes government works | Rich Elfers
    By Richard Elfers • May 5, 2014 9:00 pm

    Carol Smith, resident of Enumclaw, was called to be in Arlington, Wash., at 6 a.m. on March 28 to help manage the aftermath of the March 22 Oso mudslide.

    Read Story

    • 1
    • …
    • 40
    • 41
    • 42
    • 43
    • 44
    • …
    • Last

    Sign Up For Our Newsletters

    Subscribe to our e-mail newsletter to receive updates.

    Sign Up

    Featured Local Savings

    • News
    • Sports
    • Life
    • Business
    • Opinion
    • Obituaries
    Quicklinks
    • Subscribe
    • Subscriber Center
    • e-Editions
    • Newsletters
    • Media Solutions
    About Us
    • About Us
    • Terms of Use
    • Privacy Policy
    • Accessibility
    • Contact Us
    ECH
    • Sound Publishing Inc. Logo
    • A subsidiary of Black Press Media
    • Work With Us
    © 2026 Courier-Herald + Sound Publishing + Black Press Media. All Rights Reserved.