ETS! encourages comments, feedback, tips, corrections, and info! Please keep them as concise as possible so we can print as many different voices as possible: ETS!, P.O. Box 85541, Seattle WA 98145, or e-mail ets@scn.org.

Cars Suck

Thank you for your most excellent publication.

I enjoyed Doug Nufer's letter this most recent issue. I reside in Spokane, WA where on May 12, 2000 and one other day so far this year, the police have been out "in force" to protect and defend the rights of non-motorists on the road. Oh, they also promise to have more of these days where the Spokane Police Department actually enforce the law.

It's too bad this nifty idea hadn't surfaced before I was put in a coma by a motorist while riding my bicycle, cyclist Cooper Jones was ran over and killed by a motorist, cyclist Harold Grammer was struck and killed by a motorist, and numerous other pedestrians have been slaughtered on the road by motorists "going the speed limit," as is so often noted in the reportage of these "incidents." If the motorist wasn't drinking and driving, the person with no access to the brake pedal is faulted or no one is "at fault." Ah, the peace and insecurity that come with living in a culture where BIG OIL, automobiles and auto insurance dictate urban design, space and the law...

Peace,

--Than, Spokane

Startling

Press condescension at its best from http://www.ireland.com/newspaper/world/2000/0703/wor2.htm].

The second survey, the Harris Poll, revealed a startling ignorance of the U.S. economy, with 40 percent not knowing the economy was growing, and 35 percent not knowing jobs were increasing. The New York Times commented: "Clearly, a majority of Americans are generally aware of good economic times, but many underestimate how good they are, and a substantial minority seem totally clueless."

Hmmm, could it be that economists exhibit a "startling ignorance" of what makes a difference in the lives of people who aren't rich? Naaah, couldn't be...

--John Franco, via e-mail

Writing In Godot

A movement is afoot to end the practice of voting for the lesser evil. Lesser evils are evil, too! If no decent candidate exists, as in the governor's race thus far, write in someone who shares your values. We will thereby indicate the type of person we want nominated in the future. We will indicate that we are not apathetic, we want to vote, but not for the likes of most major party candidates. Write-in votes for real people, legally entitled to serve, are tallied. If there are enough of them, they will be reported.

--Audrey Lyle, Seattle