Sometimes, the ignorance of young voters can be dangerous.

I rarely comment on letters-to-the-editor, but this one was so ignorant as to be frightening. This missive in the Columbian is a case in point.

Light rail spurs economy

Dale Swanson's Aug. 2 letter, "Idea to stabilize growth," to limit the number of commuters from Clark County to Portland is outrageous. What we need is to fund our public transportation system by voting "yes" in September. What we need is a light-rail system, not a third bridge. A park-and-ride and a light rail spanning I-5 to connect to the already existing system beginning at the Portland Expo Center would alleviate a lot of daily commuter traffic.

We also need to decongest Delta Park. I used to ride the bus daily to downtown Portland for both work and school and it was great. I wish there was a light-rail from Vancouver to Portland. Just look at the revolution of North Portland due to the Interstate line's success. Light-rail spurs economic growth in the areas it reaches. Not to mention in this fragile economy that the lack of good jobs in both Vancouver and Portland makes it even more difficult to suggest that people have such options as quitting their Portland jobs to work in Vancouver.

Vancouver-Portland is going to reach Seattle-like traffic if we don't institute a working and extensive public transportation system.

Amanda Dugan

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Ms. Dugan, a college student based on a cursory Net check, is, apparently unaware that Portland, ALREADY "BLESSED" WITH AN EXTENSIVE LIGHT RAIL SYSTEM, ALREADY RANKS BEHIND SEATTLE IN EVERY TRAFFIC STUDY AND SEATTLE DOESN'T HAVE ONE FOOT OF LIGHT RAIL IN OPERATION.

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Scary, isn't it? This poor child is worried about our traffic problems actually IMPROVING to Seattle's level when they don't have one inch of light rail in operation.

"Vancouver-Portland is going to reach Seattle-like traffic if we don't institute a working and extensive public transportation system."

Really? We should BE so lucky.