I have to disagree with Mr. Thielk, which is odd because I think he and I share values and concerns. He would probably disagree with that. (smile)

What happens in Jefferson County, Washington will not significantly impact the drowning of impoverished cities in Africa or Asia, or importantly, here in America. Please note the word “significantly,” and don’t trot out “… if everyone just did what’s right and it starts here….”

That’s what we say when we want to feel good about ourselves, not when we have to make a real sacrifice. It’s simply not true when resources are limited. There are priorities.

Yes, tourism contributes to the “vehicle miles traveled” (VMT) number in Jefferson County, as do the Grand Canyon and Yellowstone to their surrounding counties. The town of Kelso may have seen a decline in VMT, but Port Townsend isn’t Kelso. More bike paths in Port Townsend won’t save the Congo, although they may prolong a couple of lives at Cape George.

But what Mr. Thielk calls  “the absurdity” of spending $60 million to protect the town against rising sea levels, rather than on carbon mitigation, captures the point best. That’s a false abstraction based on ignoring a difference in scale.

Yes, “Pay $60 million to protect against rising sea levels, instead of $60 million to prevent rising sea levels!?” heralds the absurd. Seems obvious.

But another version goes: “Pay $60 million to save the heritage and primary sources of income of Port Townsend and Jefferson County, versus paying $60 million on projects that will do almost nothing?” Put that up for a vote.

Mr. Thielk asks if “Somalia and Chad (aren’t) more deserving of that $60 million to mitigate desertification or starvation?” The humanitarian needs are obviously greater, but is that sufficient? What are the trade-offs? How far will $60 million go if used to directly protect or relocate Chad and Somalia?

Or should we just give the money directly to Halliburton and call it a day?

There may in fact not be any greater benefit of that $60 million on a real return-on-investment basis than saving Boat Haven and all its jobs, two major grocery stores, a hardware store, a marina, downtown Port Townsend, and the primary road out of town in case of an earthquake or a flood.

Think local. – ED.