The Editor:
I’m bewildered by Trump’s reasoning about tariffs on Canada. He’s ignoring the USMCA free-trade treaty he negotiated in his first term, which he called “the largest, most significant, modern and balanced trade agreement in history,” in a January 29, 2020 statement. It’s still in effect. He signed it. Breaking the treaty signals that he (and by extension, the U.S.) can’t be trusted. The world now wonders if it’s worth signing anything with him. The uncertainty caused by his on-again, off-again policies has long-term effects, making it impossible to know U.S. intentions from one day to the next.
Fentanyl and illegal immigrants entering the U.S. are Trump’s reason for tariffs. But, is fentanyl coming across the Canadian border a valid reason? The amount of fentanyl seized at the northern border is minimal – historically, less than one percent compared to the southern border, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection data. More recently, Canada implemented actions that have decreased northern border fentanyl seizures to near zero.
As a reason for tariffs, Canada not preventing the small number of illegal immigrants coming into the U.S. is really confusing. It’s the U.S. that decides who can enter; the U.S. is in charge of its border. In effect, Trump is saying it’s Canada’s job to control entry to the U.S. Is he saying this to set up our good, hard-working U.S. border agents to be fired for so-called incompetence? My suggestions: Stand by the treaties you’ve signed. Stop using a straw-man drug enforcement argument. Stop asking Canada to protect our border. Remove and don’t apply any new tariffs.
Finally, every time Trump calls Canada’s Prime Minister a governor deepens Canadians’ anger toward all of us. Labeling Canada’s Prime Minister a U.S. governor is false, but, reflecting their reputation as nice people, the Canadian Prime Minister hasn’t been using Trump’s true label: convicted felon.
Chuck Kinzer
Birch Bay
The Editor:
After last weekend’s “spring forward” to daylight time, I’m feeling the effects of the time change and am again wondering why we keep doing this year after year. Research shows serious problems with the March time change as evidenced by increased rates of heart attacks, strokes, medical errors and auto accidents, as well as decreased worker productivity.
So should we stop this back and forth time change in March and November and remain on daylight time year-round? I think not. This was tried in both world wars and also the winter of 1973-74. In late 1973, 80 percent of Americans were in favor of it but after two months of year-round daylight time, approval plummeted to 42 percent. The increased morning darkness, which the Washington Post called “Darkness Time,” contributed to the deaths of several children on their way to school. Here in Whatcom County, daylight time in the winter would mean post 9 a.m. sunrises for almost four weeks in December and January.
Year-round standard time has advantages. According to the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, standard time contributes to healthier, more natural sleep patterns. It’s all related to our circadian rhythm, the internal “clock” in our brain that regulates alertness and many body functions. Healthcare providers at the Cleveland Clinic say our circadian rhythm tells our body when to sleep and wake up, as well as influencing hormones, digestion and body temperature.
But most people’s circadian rhythm is not exactly 24 hours. One University of Washington biologist says that our bodies naturally want to sync up with daylight hours and that the morning light we miss with daylight time is unhealthy for both body and mind.
In even stronger language, neuroscientist Joseph Takahashi warns, “Daylight saving time, in terms of medical and health consequences, is the worst choice.”
Staying on year-round standard time would be the best choice for health and safety.
Beth Sanborn
Birch Bay
The Editor:
In response to Raymond Cushing’s letter complaining about negative comments re our current president. Get ready for more, Mr. Cushing.
Trump and his supporters need to know that there’s a cost to dishonesty, traitorously serving another country’s agenda go the cost of our own, and his bullying. When he stops this, the rest of us will lighten up. After January 6, I find it hard to believe anyone supports this Russian stooge, who’s much more a 1930’s German than American. He would have brought marshmallows to the burning of the reichstag.
Jack Kintner
Blaine
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