en-us https://www.intensedebate.com/users/299904 Comments by jheath506 http://www.komonews.com/news/local/Seattle-eyeing-high-tech-solutions-to-gun-violence-162171805.html#IDComment400549260 So apparently our government thinks that instead of determining why there are gun battles and stopping them before they happen it is better to let them shoot and try to figure out the who,why, what, afterward. I'm not convinced this makes any sense. These shot tracking systems don't work that well anyway. Good detective work and community involvement is more effective. Thu, 12 Jul 2012 19:15:35 +0000 http://www.komonews.com/news/local/Seattle-eyeing-high-tech-solutions-to-gun-violence-162171805.html#IDComment400549260 http://www.komonews.com/opinion/kenschram/Schrammie-Pasco-bent-on-silencing-the-ice-cream-truck-151741495.html#IDComment361645811 Mixed feelings. They can get really annoying. I mean CIA rendition torture annoying. But this really isn't worthy of a police officers time. If the trucks were allowed to play music only when in motion, as most of them do, that would be a good compromise. Wed, 16 May 2012 18:50:15 +0000 http://www.komonews.com/opinion/kenschram/Schrammie-Pasco-bent-on-silencing-the-ice-cream-truck-151741495.html#IDComment361645811 http://www.komonews.com/opinion/kenschram/Schrammie-6-million-for-an-animal-overpass-150800505.html#IDComment357310431 Bridge cost $500,000 Signs directing animals to bridge $150,000 Teaching animals to read $5,350,000 And there will still be jaywalkers. Nothing to see here. It's a typical public works project that in the end will not do much good. Wed, 9 May 2012 18:19:38 +0000 http://www.komonews.com/opinion/kenschram/Schrammie-6-million-for-an-animal-overpass-150800505.html#IDComment357310431 http://www.komonews.com/opinion/kenschram/Ken-Schram-Well-deserved-kudos-to-those-investigating-the-Keller-case-149527095.html#IDComment351434057 Nicely said. I am one of those who is distrustful of law enforcement. I am delighted to acknowledge the good job done in this investigation. Mon, 30 Apr 2012 18:22:19 +0000 http://www.komonews.com/opinion/kenschram/Ken-Schram-Well-deserved-kudos-to-those-investigating-the-Keller-case-149527095.html#IDComment351434057 http://www.komonews.com/news/local/Anaheim-school-superintendent-to-head-Seattle-School-District--149524715.html#IDComment351411869 Banda is going to regret this, and so is the school board, and so will we. Our school system is in trouble. Susan Enfield had this job in the bag. No interview, no competition. She ran away after some time in the job. Why? Why did the Chief Academic Officer leave? Why and why and why and why? So the school board, instead of going way outside the system and hiring someone like the late General Stanford, who had no educational background but incredible leadership experience (a brilliant move, unfortunately cut short by Stanford's untimely death) hires instead a superintendent from a district with only elementary schools? Doing the same thing over and over again expecting a different result? That is the definition of insanity. I hope I am wrong about Banda. Good luck. Mon, 30 Apr 2012 17:41:28 +0000 http://www.komonews.com/news/local/Anaheim-school-superintendent-to-head-Seattle-School-District--149524715.html#IDComment351411869 http://www.komonews.com/news/local/Starbucks-to-stop-using-crushed-bug-dye-148127185.html#IDComment342835841 Why on earth is Starbucks apologizing? People want organic? What do they think that means? Are crushed bugs more dangerous, more "yucky", and more disgusting than some artificially created gunk? I know, in this case, they are replacing one "green" ingredient for another. I don't suppose the same people that complain about the crushed bugs will consider what the bugs do on the tomatoes? Or the chemicals sprayed on the plants to get rid of those bugs? Stop apologizing, Starbucks. Please pass the grasshoppers. Thu, 19 Apr 2012 19:13:18 +0000 http://www.komonews.com/news/local/Starbucks-to-stop-using-crushed-bug-dye-148127185.html#IDComment342835841 http://www.komonews.com/opinion/kenschram/The-Schrammie-A-library-mess-146118005.html#IDComment331685204 Libraries should be accessible seven days per week, but ALL branches do not need to be open every day. It was only about three years ago that hours expanded for most of the branches in Seattle. If we return to branches being open 5 days per week (staggered hours and days) there would be very little inconvenience to the citizens and a lot of money saved on operating expenses. I am inclined to vote no. We now have special levies for parks, for 911 and for education levies. We want to add another special levy to keep libraries open? OK, then show me. If library funding is a temporary funding issues, then libraries need to cut and save, just like the rest of us. Wed, 4 Apr 2012 18:35:25 +0000 http://www.komonews.com/opinion/kenschram/The-Schrammie-A-library-mess-146118005.html#IDComment331685204 http://www.komonews.com/news/local/Ken-Schram-Dont-turn-lotto-dreams-into-a-tax-nightmare-145181685.html#IDComment327971936 I like your take on state income tax. It needs to be a part of a significant tax reform and not an additional tax. Freezing property taxes probably wouldn't fly, but at this point in the discussion there are no bad ideas. Fri, 30 Mar 2012 18:09:44 +0000 http://www.komonews.com/news/local/Ken-Schram-Dont-turn-lotto-dreams-into-a-tax-nightmare-145181685.html#IDComment327971936 http://www.komonews.com/opinion/kenschram/Schram-Special-attention-needed-for-debate-on-legalizing-marijuana-143339856.html#IDComment319741254 Although I have many issues with legalizing marijuana, I hate the hypocrisy. If alcohol is OK, why isn't marijuana OK? Personally, I would like to prohibit the sale of alcohol, but hey, we tried that and it was a disaster. So, I will support the legalization of marijuana, collect the taxes and just assume that we will spend the tax money dealing with the downside, just like we do with alcohol. Mon, 19 Mar 2012 17:35:44 +0000 http://www.komonews.com/opinion/kenschram/Schram-Special-attention-needed-for-debate-on-legalizing-marijuana-143339856.html#IDComment319741254 http://www.komonews.com/news/local/Rep-Norm-Dicks-announces-he-will-not-seek-re-election--141184633.html#IDComment306376704 I must agree with the majority of comments so far. No matter how good a representative you may be, 36 years is way too long. It is time to go and time to bring in some new ideas. Don't blame these long terms on the politicians, though. They do not keep re-electing themselves! Fri, 2 Mar 2012 16:45:27 +0000 http://www.komonews.com/news/local/Rep-Norm-Dicks-announces-he-will-not-seek-re-election--141184633.html#IDComment306376704 http://www.komonews.com/opinion/kenschram/Kens-emails-Those-not-celebrating-same-sex-marriage-bill-139527523.html#IDComment295036346 Dear religious fanatics: Gay marriage is not going to be mandatory. You are free to marry a person of the opposite sex as many times as you want. I hope this makes you feel better. Regards Jheath506 Fri, 17 Feb 2012 18:50:21 +0000 http://www.komonews.com/opinion/kenschram/Kens-emails-Those-not-celebrating-same-sex-marriage-bill-139527523.html#IDComment295036346 http://www.komonews.com/news/local/Seattle-police-chief-This-department-isnt-broken-135791728.html#IDComment240182166 Someone call Pat O'Day. Chief Diaz is in denial. He just got the intervention, now he needs some aversion therapy. Then he can start to recover. The SPD is absolutely broken. Not the beat cops (most of them) but the higher ranks and the Union both need significant overhauls. Sat, 17 Dec 2011 18:43:19 +0000 http://www.komonews.com/news/local/Seattle-police-chief-This-department-isnt-broken-135791728.html#IDComment240182166 http://www.komonews.com/opinion/kenschram/Ken-Schram-Innovative-DUI-penalty-might-save-lives-135747358.html#IDComment239419928 It's a start. Add tuition and expenses for college and we are getting somewhere. I don't quite know how this could be enforced with the driver in prison, but the idea is sound. Fri, 16 Dec 2011 20:10:19 +0000 http://www.komonews.com/opinion/kenschram/Ken-Schram-Innovative-DUI-penalty-might-save-lives-135747358.html#IDComment239419928 http://www.komonews.com/opinion/kenschram/Schrammie-Wasting-485000-on-viaduct-museum-135176723.html#IDComment234282378 Today's edition of the Seattle Times has a column by Danny Westneat that explains why the museum is to be opened. In a nutshell, it is mitigation for the Pioneer Square neighborhood. Capitol Hill has the tunnel being constructed and we have our own mitigation. Is it a great use of money? Perhaps not. Think about this, have you ever asked for mitigation if you are inconvenienced? I bet you have, it's called overtime, or comp time, or maybe a meal allowance. Same thing on a smaller scale, Wed, 7 Dec 2011 18:54:11 +0000 http://www.komonews.com/opinion/kenschram/Schrammie-Wasting-485000-on-viaduct-museum-135176723.html#IDComment234282378 http://www.komonews.com/opinion/kenschram/133814313.html#IDComment221977461 I have been opposed to charter schools for years, but I am beginning to change my mind. School districts need competition. Length of days, the number of days, and even test scores mean little. It is quality, not quantity, that matters. Parental involvement would be great as well, but that isn't likely to change by anything the educational system does. The entire system needs to be reconsidered. Tweaks ain't gonna do it. Mon, 14 Nov 2011 20:04:32 +0000 http://www.komonews.com/opinion/kenschram/133814313.html#IDComment221977461 http://www.komonews.com/opinion/kenschram/131992193.html#IDComment208826346 II have a car I don't use much. If Prop 1 passes, it's gone. I will go carless and use taxis or zipcar as needed. So the governments go from some revenue to no revenue. For the cost of insurance, tabs, and upkeep I can rent a lot of rides. Mon, 17 Oct 2011 19:07:13 +0000 http://www.komonews.com/opinion/kenschram/131992193.html#IDComment208826346 http://www.komonews.com/opinion/kenschram/131147413.html#IDComment203519927 I read that release from the Mayor's office and thought I missed the point. Thanks, Ken, for confirming that this proposal is as ridiculous as it read. Wed, 5 Oct 2011 18:28:36 +0000 http://www.komonews.com/opinion/kenschram/131147413.html#IDComment203519927 http://www.komonews.com/opinion/kenschram/126526263.html#IDComment179142740 It isn't over until the President signs the bill. Also, there is nothing here that can't be changed, or ignored, tomorrow. Mon, 1 Aug 2011 18:03:14 +0000 http://www.komonews.com/opinion/kenschram/126526263.html#IDComment179142740 http://www.komonews.com/news/problemsolvers/126223698.html#IDComment177772391 I'm going to disagree with the consensus. There has to be a point where we cut off the flow of money. This Officer didn't get shot, didn't drown, didn't die in a tragic accident. It was natural causes! OK, he was on duty, but if he died of a heart attack on his couch would we be so generous with the widow? Do the same generous pension benefits go to a garabage collector who has a heart attack? 99% of the time the garbage collector is more important to society. Disease kills more people than miscreants. No, the widow should not get benefits This is what life insurance is for. We can't have smaller government and limited taxes while giving lifetime benefits like this. Wed, 27 Jul 2011 15:04:39 +0000 http://www.komonews.com/news/problemsolvers/126223698.html#IDComment177772391 http://www.komonews.com/opinion/kenschram/124865534.html#IDComment168745497 If WSP is concerned about safety they should ban truly dangerous explosives--you know, like gasoline. Otherwise, this is just an excuse to expand their authority. "Mission creep" is the most dangerous part of this so called terrorist threat initiative. Fri, 1 Jul 2011 17:31:30 +0000 http://www.komonews.com/opinion/kenschram/124865534.html#IDComment168745497