Food fusion promises benefits
The landscape of the grocery market is changing. Over the past twenty years, Wal-Mart has doubled its market share and consumers are increasingly buying in bulk or online. Now the traditional grocery store is fighting for survival.
As traditional grocers, Kroger and Albertsons needed to be flexible and adapt. With their market share declining and competition increasing, they proposed a merger.
Some have raised concerns about this merger. A few things to keep in mind: First, Kroger has stated that it will not close a single store or lay off any employees. In order to compete with Walmart (which will open 150 new stores), Kroger and Albertsons need this merger to remain competitive.
In addition, Kroger has pledged hundreds of millions to keep consumer prices low. According to market studies, Kroger has reduced its profits by 5% over the past 20 years, while Walmart has dramatically increased its market share and profits.
Finally, we should consider what happens if they don’t merge. It’s similar to department stores: remember Sears and K-Mart? Again, the market is changing and companies are trying to survive. If that doesn’t work out, it could mean fewer choices for consumers and jobs being lost.
Colin Hastings, Pasco
Small nuclear weapons make much more sense
I read in my Tri-City Herald that solar panels are going to be installed in the area. Great. It’s always good to read that good farmland isn’t being gobbled up by solar farms. Although they’re recyclable, the panels only last about 25 years. Wind turbine blades, think of the wings of a 747, last 10 to 20 years in service, but in landfills they last forever.
Small, modern, modular nuclear power plants are clean, can provide electricity 24 hours a day for centuries, and have the footprint of a large barn. The area would be a logical location for them.
As one of the communities living with the benefits and responsibilities of nuclear power, I believe we owe it to the American people. There is a better carbon-free energy source. Nuclear is the new green.
I encourage everyone to learn about the new modular power plants and to inform their Congressman.
Matthew T. Ruane, Richland
Congress to blame for chaos at the border
No one will deny that the southern border is a humanitarian and political disaster. Republicans love to tell you that this mess is all Biden’s fault. All Biden has to do is write a magic executive order that will immediately bring everything under control and be so good that there are no lawsuits from the right or the left to block it. It could even set new limits on green cards, speed up the processing of immigration applications, and cut taxes too!
Since the Reagan years, the (incumbent) president has always been blamed for the border. We here in the 4th Congressional District can only blame Dan Newhouse and his 434 colleagues in Congress. It is their job to write the immigration laws. Since the 1980s, they have refused to work together to draft an immigration law and control the border. They simply put the problem off. Every time they fail to pass legislation, the situation at the border gets worse. Now our resources are stretched, and even if Dan and his colleagues succeeded in drafting a workable law, it would still take a long time to clean up this mess.
Don Sebelien, Pasco
Try Rotary’s test during the election
Each year, Rotary clubs from across our region sponsor young adults for a week-long experience called the Rotary Youth Leadership Awards, or RYLA. RYLA is an intensive leadership experience organized by Rotary clubs and districts that gives young adults the opportunity to develop their leadership skills while having fun and socializing.
The Columbia Center Rotary Club invited its award winners to share their week at a recent meeting. Our award winners were articulate young adults who spoke enthusiastically about their experiences. They recognized that being a good leader also means being a good follower and pointed to Rotary’s Four-Way Test as a benchmark that all leaders should strive to achieve.
In fact, the preamble to the four-question test reads as follows:
“From the things we think, say or do,
1. Is it the truth?
2. Is it fair for everyone involved?
3. Will it lead to goodwill and better friendships?
4. Will it be beneficial for everyone involved?
As we begin this election cycle, I encourage everyone to use Rotary’s Four-Way Test or other methods that reveal true leadership qualities to guide your vote. Our community and the world would be better off if we did.
Carol Moser, Richland
Isaacson fits well in the 16th district
We have an excellent opportunity to strengthen our district’s representation in Olympia by electing Kari Isaacson as State Senator for the 16th District.
Kari has had an exceptional career and continues to apply her work ethic, integrity, knowledge and faith in service to the community. I have known her since she arrived in the Walla Walla Valley to lead the Blue Mountain Community Foundation, a valued and highly successful organization serving four counties.
She took responsibility for investing millions of dollars, raising funds and awarding millions of dollars in community grants, and she did it well. Her work touched the lives of thousands.
Kari’s legal training and experience leading complex organizations, including a Fortune 500 company and two major foundations, have prepared her well for her elected office. She has experienced and thrived in diverse cultures and communities.
But what impresses me most is Kari’s boundless yet pragmatic enthusiasm for helping others as a problem-solving leader, dedicated volunteer, and loyal friend. She is able to break down the complicated challenges of our lives into tangible, accessible, and often solvable pieces. Her style is connected, collaborative, compassionate, and collegial.
I encourage you to learn more about Kari and support her with your vote.
Cindy Widmer, College Place
