Focus on gas prices

Newly elected governor Jay Inslee has stated that he will jump-start Washington’s economy by investing in green energy. [“Gov.-elect Jay Inslee: ‘Let’s get to work’,” page one, Nov. 10.] Inslee should instead place his focus on reducing gas prices.

Four years ago, gas was $1.89 a gallon. At its height, it was $4.54 a gallon.

High gas prices mean higher prices for everything that uses fuel ... getting food and clothes to market, public transportation, construction costs, restaurant meals, etc.

Reducing gas prices would put more disposable income into people’s hands where they could spend it on food, shelter, heating their homes and maybe even something frivolous. People could resume their charitable donations.

Green energy is great, but we need to be energy independent, whether that is green, new oil reserves or a pipeline from Canada. We should not be relying on Middle Eastern oil, thus supporting the true War on Women.

Let’s shrink the obscene oil-company profits, get more money into people’s hands, become energy independent, and reinvigorate the economy by decreasing the price at the gas pump.

— Vicky Cibicki, Cashmere

The D’s have it

Now that the final result of Washington state's gubernatorial raceis in the record book, one thing became clear inthat outcome. Put a “D” in front of any candidate for a major officein this stateandthe win istheirs.

The voters of Washington had a rare opportunity to elect a candidate [Rob McKenna] for governor so superior to his opponent that the consequences of his defeat can only be regarded as sad at best. Voting a straight party ticket has once again let an opportunity for superior performanceslip through our fingers.

It isunfortunate that such voter's lacked the intelligence for thoughtful selection that allowed the outcome we got. Well, wedeserve the consequences.

— Frank Stull, Sammamish

Grand experiment a flop

What gall. Less than a week after running daily full-page ads for Rob McKenna and editorializing against Jay Inslee, The Seattle Times has the audacity to tell the governor-elect what he should do about taxes. [“Some advice for Gov. Jay Inslee”, Opinion, Nov. 11.]

Well, Inslee has every right to tell the Times editorial board to collectively “go take a hike.”

By the way, how did that grand experiment go showing how political advertising works in a newspaper? Not so well, huh? Next time use all that money you spent and give all your reporting staff raises.

— Steven Greene, Camano Island

Your candidate lost

I have to say, the editorial board of The Seattle Times has got some kind of nerve.

First you endorse the Republican candidate, then you advertise/campaign for the Republican candidate, and when the Republican candidate loses, you have the nerve to write an editorial offering advice to the Democratic candidate — advice telling him he should pursue the policies suggested by the Republican candidate.

Face it, your candidate lost and elections have consequences. One of those is that the loser doesn’t get to tell the winner what to do.

­ — Linda Gorordo, Snohomish

Some advice for The Seattle Times

The Seattle Times editorial board sure has a lot of chutzpah giving advice to Jay Inslee.

But as long as we're handing out advice, here's some for The Seattle Times: Next time don't put your journalistic objectivity into question by buying political ads.

— Lawrence Sylwester, Seattle

Over-the-top support

It was good to see The Seattle Times get spanked for their over-the-top support for Republican Rob McKenna. Endorsing is one thing I have no problem with; The Times went far beyond that.

It kind of puts them in the realm of "Citizens United" (in subjugating the masses). It was a relatively close race for governor and quite possibly The Times actions contributed to Jay Inslee being elected. Nice.

— Richard B. Ellenberger, Normandy Park