http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/opinion/index.html en-us Copyright 2013 The Seattle Times Company Tue, 21 May 2013 17:38:03 PDT Tue, 21 May 2013 17:38:03 PDT MattBase 1 http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/art/ui/stlogo_231.gif http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/ http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/opinion/2021029266_donalperopedxml.html?syndication=rss Adding a U.S.-Canada border fee would have significant negative impacts, writes guest columnist Donald Alper. Opinion http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/opinion/2021029266_donalperopedxml.html?syndication=rss Tue, 21 May 2013 16:22:24 PDT http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/opinion/2021029304_bruce22educationreformxml.html?syndication=rss Education reform enacted by politicians can go only so far, writes editorial columnist Bruce Ramsey. What happens at home matters too. Opinion http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/opinion/2021029304_bruce22educationreformxml.html?syndication=rss Tue, 21 May 2013 16:41:04 PDT http://blogs.seattletimes.com/northwestvoices/2013/05/21/no-nba-for-seattle/?syndication=rss Stern’s retirement could bring NBA back “This is going to be short for me. I have a game to in Oklahoma City,” David Stern told reporters on Wednesday [“A Stern burn,” Sports, May 16]. Ouch. David Stern, or anyone else for that matter, deserves the benefit of doubt when Northwest Voices http://blogs.seattletimes.com/northwestvoices/2013/05/21/no-nba-for-seattle/?syndication=rss Tue, 21 May 2013 13:46:04 PDT http://blogs.seattletimes.com/opinionnw/2013/05/21/the-obama-administrations-war-on-whistle-blowers/?syndication=rss The Obama administration is compiling a dismal record on whistle-blowers, which we editorialized against today, including this appalling fact: more people have been charged with leaking information about U.S.-sponsored torture than have been charged with torturing. (see Steve Coll’s profile of Opinion Northwest http://blogs.seattletimes.com/opinionnw/2013/05/21/the-obama-administrations-war-on-whistle-blowers/?syndication=rss Tue, 21 May 2013 11:31:06 PDT http://blogs.seattletimes.com/northwestvoices/2013/05/21/irs-questions-political-groups/?syndication=rss Groups shouldn’t receive tax exemptions The article about the part of the tax code allowing tax-exempt groups to participate in political activity was informative, illuminating and a welcome reprieve from the breathless “scandal” coverage of the issue [“Why is any political g Northwest Voices http://blogs.seattletimes.com/northwestvoices/2013/05/21/irs-questions-political-groups/?syndication=rss Tue, 21 May 2013 10:01:06 PDT http://blogs.seattletimes.com/northwestvoices/2013/05/21/fluoridated-water/?syndication=rss Say no to fluoride A tube of fluoridated toothpaste instructs us to call poison control if a child swallows more than a pea-sized amount. Yet, children ingest the drug all day long, in our water and in other products [“Fluoridated water? Not all Portlanders will drink to that,” NWMonday, Northwest Voices http://blogs.seattletimes.com/northwestvoices/2013/05/21/fluoridated-water/?syndication=rss Tue, 21 May 2013 09:46:04 PDT http://blogs.seattletimes.com/opinionnw/2013/05/21/auditing-the-irs-scandal-for-details/?syndication=rss The kerfuffle over the Internal Revenue Service’s treatment of tea party groups seeking tax exemptions might be more bureaucratic mush than political malice. A lengthy story Sunday in The New York Times by three reporters describes the implosion that occurred when the Cincinnati IRS offic Opinion Northwest http://blogs.seattletimes.com/opinionnw/2013/05/21/auditing-the-irs-scandal-for-details/?syndication=rss Tue, 21 May 2013 09:31:05 PDT http://blogs.seattletimes.com/northwestvoices/2013/05/21/consumer-driven-health-care-vs-obamacare/?syndication=rss Patients are capable of making decisions Froma Harrop not only gets her facts wrong on consumer-driven health care; she also does not understand the limitations of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), or Obamacare [“Consumers are not the best health-care drivers,” Opinion, May 19]. The ACA doe Northwest Voices http://blogs.seattletimes.com/northwestvoices/2013/05/21/consumer-driven-health-care-vs-obamacare/?syndication=rss Tue, 21 May 2013 09:16:06 PDT http://blogs.seattletimes.com/northwestvoices/2013/05/21/investigation-of-the-benghazi-attack/?syndication=rss ‘Political circus’ started with Obama administration I read Trudy Rubin’s guest column with dismay [“The real scandal of Benghazi,” Opinion, May 18]. She claims that Republican Rep. Darrel Issa’s tenacity in pursuing and uncovering Benghazi facts is “ &helli Northwest Voices http://blogs.seattletimes.com/northwestvoices/2013/05/21/investigation-of-the-benghazi-attack/?syndication=rss Tue, 21 May 2013 08:46:04 PDT http://blogs.seattletimes.com/opinionnw/2013/05/21/bellevue-city-councils-ethics-challenge/?syndication=rss Corrected version The Bellevue City Council needs a strong ethics policy because of the size and scope of the city’s responsibilities.  Three council members have been investigated and cleared of conflicts of interest in recent years.  An outside investigator cleared Bellevue City Co Opinion Northwest http://blogs.seattletimes.com/opinionnw/2013/05/21/bellevue-city-councils-ethics-challenge/?syndication=rss Tue, 21 May 2013 17:37:49 PDT http://blogs.seattletimes.com/opinionnw/2013/05/21/tim-eyman-in-spokane-speaking-for-the-rights-of-the-left/?syndication=rss The state’s master of tax limitation by ballot measure is no lefty, and voters of a progressive stripe typically scorn anything with his name on it. But Tim Eyman of Mukilteo says he’s for the people’s right to vote on ballot measures whether right or left. That is an issue in Spok Opinion Northwest http://blogs.seattletimes.com/opinionnw/2013/05/21/tim-eyman-in-spokane-speaking-for-the-rights-of-the-left/?syndication=rss Tue, 21 May 2013 10:01:05 PDT