Why stop there?

I like the USDA’s idea of encouraging all to have a meatless Monday as a way to save water. [“In the face of severe drought, public displays of political gluttony,” Opinion, Aug. 4.]

We could follow that up with showerless Tuesday (no, you can’t take a bath instead). Then maybe don’t-run-the-water-while-brushing-your-teeth Wednesday. There are many good ways to conserve water with very little effort.

An alternative would be the Republican plan to “proceed as usual.” In which case in the near future, most of us might have no choice except to have a foodless Monday. (Politicians and multimillionaires will be excepted of course.)

— Ted Coskey, Seattle

No shortage of vacation time for Congress

A rain dance may have worked better. Or at least some legislation to provide relief to drought-plagued industries.

Instead, certain Republican members used their remaining hours of work before setting off for a five-week vacation to stage support for eating meat and lots of it.

Perhaps they have insider information that it really isn’t as hot as weather reporters are saying or cows slaughtered before lack of food and water kills them are already fat enough to eat.

Maybe they were just in that playful mood that people get in before a vacation. After all, it may have been as long as a month since they gave themselves a week off.

— Bertha D. Cooper, Sequim