Wall woes: Work with Mexico on border control

The administration is spending millions (probably ballooning into billions) on walling off the southern border of our country, ignoring the promise on the Statue of Liberty.

Along with our reputation in the rest of the world deteriorating, the president of Venezuela compares our appointed president with the devil, further exasperating our relations problems. It is unclear whether the wall will even work, given one Indian tribe’s resistance to a wall along its share of the border, a probable lawsuit that could hold up the proceedings for years, uselessly draining away even more millions.

Well, here’s a thought: Instead of wasting the money on this dubious wall project, how about sharing it in a mutual agreement with Mexico to implement its own WPA program (the way FDR did in the 1930s which put millions to honest work), putting the Mexican people to work on jobs that country vitally needs. The investment will certainly help keep the Mexican citizens at home instead of their trying to come here (might be cheaper in the long run than the unending waste of trying to wall immigrants out).

We should make it legal to keep those who are now here for the jobs they are willing to do, as long as it is done with fair pay and the dignity they deserve.

In addition, this proposal will eliminate the political finagling of huge contracts to favored companies to build the wall (I’m surprised Cheney’s Halliburton isn’t reported at the top of the list).

ROBERT BALCOMB

Silverdale

County auditor: Washington is the best candidate

In his bid to become Kitsap County Auditor, Walt Washington received 78 percent of the Democratic Precinct Committee Officers’ vote, representing a major landslide victory.

Democratic Precinct Committee Officers recognize Walt Washing-ton is the only candidate who understands the current operations of the department and offers relevant audit and elections experience. Karen Flynn, who has held the office for the past two decades and is in the best position to assess the future needs of the auditor’s office, supports Washington’s appointment as her successor.

Commissioners Jan Angel, Steve Bauer and Josh Brown would be wise to appoint Washington, who is clearly the most qualified and broadly supported candidate among the three contenders.

MIKE ELIASON

Keyport