As an American currently living in British Columbia, I have been following the upcoming “Silly Season” elections closely.

Fortuntely I was brought up to respect the political process, and my dad fought for the rights of democracy in the Pacific in the “big one” (WWII for you young-uns).

A recent article in The Reporter (“Darigold fined $10,000 for leaking toxic solution into Issaquah Creek”, The Reporter, Oct. 22) highlights a key difference between the candidates for U.S. Senate.

Patty Murray, a democrat, may be long in the tooth of service, but she would be right there on the issue of the recent fining of Darigold for the toxic leak into Issaquah Creek.

Dino Rossi, longstanding candidate and former state senator, might look at it differently. Likely he would have qualms about fining a company which creates jobs for the local community.

This is not to say one is right and one is wrong. In a democracy, fortunately, the voters decide.

Just something to consider.

Steven Amidon

American living in B.C.

Silly season

It’s that season again when political commercials battle drug commercials to see which can be the biggest irritation on television. The irritation, though, is just the tip of the iceberg.

I’m old enough to recall a time when ailing or injured people saw their doctor, who then told them which drugs, if any, they should take.

I still follow that process, but billions are being spent by drug companies to try to reverse it. Besides the illogic of it all, it would seem that a much better use for drug company money could be found than sponsoring “reality” TV.

With respect to political commercials, it’s appalling to realize that the deciding factor in any election could simply be which side spent the most money.

Any potential voter who is so naïve as to make a decision about a candidate or issue based on the misleading, out-of-context sound bites shown on television would do the country a favor by not voting at all.

Gary T. McGavran

Bellevue