Election aftermath
Tuesday's presidential election had people talking and weighing in on the issues and the candidates.
As votes were being counted, our readers quickly voiced their opinions, likes and dislikes on the Columbia Basin Herald's Facebook page.
Here is what they said about some key issues and races:
On state marijuana Initiative 502, allowing the state to legalize and regulate marijuana. We asked readers what they thought the federal government would do because the initiative will likely set up a potential fight between state and federal government.
Their responses included being sad the initiative passed, glad because so much money won't be lost to the drug cartels and going so far as to call it a "poorly written bill" that will keep marijuana users in the court system. People won't buy marijuana from the state, rather, they will keep purchasing the drug from the cheapest seller, a reader contends.
One reader questioned what our country was like when alcohol was legalized and another person commented the initiative would cost more in the long run. Banning alcohol instead was suggested by a reader.
We also asked readers to weigh in on the re-election of President Barack Obama, who has another four years in the White House after defeating Gov. Mitt Romney.
We asked if readers were happy with Obama's win. Thirty people indicated they "liked" his re-election and 13 people disagreed. The online tally of likes and dislikes were a direct contrast to Grant County's election figures Tuesday night. Romney was leading with 65 percent of the votes and Obama received 32 percent of the votes cast.
Overall reactions are mixed on the entire election; some people are jubilant about the various outcomes while others are worried about our nation's direction. Some races, like Washington state's governor race between Rob McKenna and Jay Inslee, are still too close to call and leave some unanswered questions.
On the local level, incumbent Grant County Commissioner Carolann Swartz returns for a second term after securing a victory against James Liebrecht, a former Moses Lake city councilman.
Matt Manweller, a political science professor from Ellensburg, won a District 13 state House seat against Kaj Selmann, a Moses Lake business owner.
But no matter what side you're on, we encourage you to keep reading, commenting and informing yourself about the issues. If you don't like the election's outcome, get involved with city and council government and push for the changes you want to see.
- Editorial Board