Do you have a card? This is a familiar question asked to shoppers at Safeway, Rite Aid and now Albertsons. If you shop at Haggen’s in Mount Vernon the same question will be asked there, too.

I personally don’t have a card for any of them because my personal information should not be theirs. Because I don’t have cards I have to pay higher prices. Is it coercion when stores won’t allow you to buy an item at the lower rate unless you allow them private information?

Also involved here is the fact that we are a tourist community. All visitors should be able to walk into any store and pay what a cardholder pays.

There are three necessities that apply: food, clothing and shelter. We should all have the right to purchase these items without any strings attached. Write your legislatiors today.

Joanne Carrin

Oak Harbor