Lower Columbia Area speaks up: Letters to the editor for the week of Aug. 8, 2025
Our weekly round-up of letters published in the Daily News.
The current Republican administration is embarking on the most radical reactionary program in this country’s history.
A misbegotten trade war, combined with fiscal irresponsibility and the attempt to transmogrify the Constitution along the lines proposed in Project 2025, have led us to this — whatever this is.
The administration’s disinterment of mercantilism and regressive trickle-down economics is an example of Zombie Economics. The current resurrection of ideas properly buried by modern economic theory and empirical evidence, needs to be drastically modified or economic growth will be significantly slowed.
The administration’s America-first trade policies are based on faulty economic reasoning. The self-contradictory nature of protectionism was fully revealed by David Hume, Scottish philosopher, in a famous 1752 essay, “Of the Balance of Trade.” He wrote that protectionism shrinks markets, therefore reducing overall income and wealth. The expansion of trade among countries allows for increased specialization and division of labor, hence total output, income and wealth. This places the president’s beliefs about the efficacy of tariffs and protectionism at least 273 years out of date.
The ideological belief that the solution to perceived economic malaise always involves shrinking the public sector has been buried by empirical evidence. It is apparent that MAGA-infused economics is a curious confused mixture of defunct economic doctrines combined with a restrictionist immigration policy that will shrink the labor force and retard its growth.
How are policies based on historic failures a path to a better future?
Edward Phillips
Kalama
Letters to the editor policy:
Letters should be original and no longer than 250 words. Letters must include the author’s name, street address or telephone number for verification. The newspaper does not share that information with third parties. Only the name and city of residence are published. One submission can print per month. All submissions are subject to editing for length, spelling, grammar and clarity. Send submissions to letters@tdn.com or The Daily News, PO Box 1666, Longview, WA 98632.
Well folks, looks like this Longview City Council race is a good one.
It’s interesting to see who is running. I’ve been told it looks good from the outside looking in, but when candidates get in, it’s a lot different with all the laws and every thing else that the state wants done.
Then elected leaders’ eyes open up, and in their mind they think “This is not what I expected.”
Ray Van Tongeren
Longview
Letters to the editor policy:
Letters should be original and no longer than 250 words. Letters must include the author’s name, street address or telephone number for verification. The newspaper does not share that information with third parties. Only the name and city of residence are published. One submission can print per month. All submissions are subject to editing for length, spelling, grammar and clarity. Send submissions to letters@tdn.com or The Daily News, PO Box 1666, Longview, WA 98632.
Recently, I saw a shirt that said “Elect Clowns, Expect a Circus.”
We should keep the circus at the fairgrounds and out of City Hall. I’m tired of the shenanigans of some of the current City Council members.
Here’s our opportunity to get a slate of educated and mature people on the council. One of them is Wayne Nichols. His background, work experience and attitude are just what our fair city needs to get us back on course.
If you haven’t met him yet, I hope you’ll find the opportunity. He is a fine gentleman and I know you’ll be as impressed as I am. He will do a terrific job for Longview and get us back on the right track.
JoAnne Baker
Longview
Letters to the editor policy:
Letters should be original and no longer than 250 words. Letters must include the author’s name, street address or telephone number for verification. The newspaper does not share that information with third parties. Only the name and city of residence are published. One submission can print per month. All submissions are subject to editing for length, spelling, grammar and clarity. Send submissions to letters@tdn.com or The Daily News, PO Box 1666, Longview, WA 98632.
At the June precinct committee, meeting all the Longview City Council members were invited to make a statement.
Spencer Boudreau without a doubt commanded the meeting; he knows the city and has straightforward solutions to continually serve Longview’s future.
He knew exactly how many city police serve on the force, how many stop lights are in town, challenges with various sewer projects. He’s by far the leading candidate to serve Longview City Council.
Thank you Spencer for your outstanding service and your commitment to the community! It’s refreshing to see someone who leads with passion, cares about fiscal responsibility and has clear solutions for the future.
Blessings!
Jeffrey Nading
Longview
Letters to the editor policy:
Letters should be original and no longer than 250 words. Letters must include the author’s name, street address or telephone number for verification. The newspaper does not share that information with third parties. Only the name and city of residence are published. One submission can print per month. All submissions are subject to editing for length, spelling, grammar and clarity. Send submissions to letters@tdn.com or The Daily News, PO Box 1666, Longview, WA 98632.
More like this...
The current Republican administration is embarking on the most radical reactionary program in this country’s history.
A misbegotten trade war, combined with fiscal irresponsibility and the attempt to transmogrify the Constitution along the lines proposed in Project 2025, have led us to this — whatever this is.
The administration’s disinterment of mercantilism and regressive trickle-down economics is an example of Zombie Economics. The current resurrection of ideas properly buried by modern economic theory and empirical evidence, needs to be drastically modified or economic growth will be significantly slowed.
The administration’s America-first trade policies are based on faulty economic reasoning. The self-contradictory nature of protectionism was fully revealed by David Hume, Scottish philosopher, in a famous 1752 essay, “Of the Balance of Trade.” He wrote that protectionism shrinks markets, therefore reducing overall income and wealth. The expansion of trade among countries allows for increased specialization and division of labor, hence total output, income and wealth. This places the president’s beliefs about the efficacy of tariffs and protectionism at least 273 years out of date.
The ideological belief that the solution to perceived economic malaise always involves shrinking the public sector has been buried by empirical evidence. It is apparent that MAGA-infused economics is a curious confused mixture of defunct economic doctrines combined with a restrictionist immigration policy that will shrink the labor force and retard its growth.
How are policies based on historic failures a path to a better future?
Edward Phillips
Kalama
Letters to the editor policy:
Letters should be original and no longer than 250 words. Letters must include the author’s name, street address or telephone number for verification. The newspaper does not share that information with third parties. Only the name and city of residence are published. One submission can print per month. All submissions are subject to editing for length, spelling, grammar and clarity. Send submissions to letters@tdn.com or The Daily News, PO Box 1666, Longview, WA 98632.
Well folks, looks like this Longview City Council race is a good one.
It’s interesting to see who is running. I’ve been told it looks good from the outside looking in, but when candidates get in, it’s a lot different with all the laws and every thing else that the state wants done.
Then elected leaders’ eyes open up, and in their mind they think “This is not what I expected.”
Ray Van Tongeren
Longview
Letters to the editor policy:
Letters should be original and no longer than 250 words. Letters must include the author’s name, street address or telephone number for verification. The newspaper does not share that information with third parties. Only the name and city of residence are published. One submission can print per month. All submissions are subject to editing for length, spelling, grammar and clarity. Send submissions to letters@tdn.com or The Daily News, PO Box 1666, Longview, WA 98632.
Recently, I saw a shirt that said “Elect Clowns, Expect a Circus.”
We should keep the circus at the fairgrounds and out of City Hall. I’m tired of the shenanigans of some of the current City Council members.
Here’s our opportunity to get a slate of educated and mature people on the council. One of them is Wayne Nichols. His background, work experience and attitude are just what our fair city needs to get us back on course.
If you haven’t met him yet, I hope you’ll find the opportunity. He is a fine gentleman and I know you’ll be as impressed as I am. He will do a terrific job for Longview and get us back on the right track.
JoAnne Baker
Longview
Letters to the editor policy:
Letters should be original and no longer than 250 words. Letters must include the author’s name, street address or telephone number for verification. The newspaper does not share that information with third parties. Only the name and city of residence are published. One submission can print per month. All submissions are subject to editing for length, spelling, grammar and clarity. Send submissions to letters@tdn.com or The Daily News, PO Box 1666, Longview, WA 98632.
At the June precinct committee, meeting all the Longview City Council members were invited to make a statement.
Spencer Boudreau without a doubt commanded the meeting; he knows the city and has straightforward solutions to continually serve Longview’s future.
He knew exactly how many city police serve on the force, how many stop lights are in town, challenges with various sewer projects. He’s by far the leading candidate to serve Longview City Council.
Thank you Spencer for your outstanding service and your commitment to the community! It’s refreshing to see someone who leads with passion, cares about fiscal responsibility and has clear solutions for the future.
Blessings!
Jeffrey Nading
Longview
Letters to the editor policy:
Letters should be original and no longer than 250 words. Letters must include the author’s name, street address or telephone number for verification. The newspaper does not share that information with third parties. Only the name and city of residence are published. One submission can print per month. All submissions are subject to editing for length, spelling, grammar and clarity. Send submissions to letters@tdn.com or The Daily News, PO Box 1666, Longview, WA 98632.
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