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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Letter To The Editor

SPOKANE MATTERS

Poll results off; Close vote ahead

Once again, Valley incorporation is on the upcoming docket and The Spokesman-Review publishes an article with very unusual polling data.

First, in 1990 and 1994, Spokesman-Review polls were off by approximately 10 points each. This year, using a 400 sample of likely voters, it appears that Valley incorporation is all but done.

However, The Spokesman-Review poll is misleading. Barring an unforeseen barrage of advertising, this election should be very tight. Polling conducted by Elton Research shows the incorporation vote to be very close indeed.

For a political poll to be scientific according to the Gallup theory, one must draw a pure or representative sample of the electorate. For the numbers to be reliable, preferably with a margin of error of no more than 3 percent, you must either conduct several smaller surveys or one large one with no fewer than 750 voters.

All those who wish Valley incorporation to happen should be aware that they must take nothing for granted. They must vote. Last year, we at Elton Research predicted the vote to be 56-44, which turned out to be accurate.

Often, polls that show a large lead affect elections, in that they motivate or de-motivate certain voters. Valley people, please be aware this election is a close one. That may change between now and election day, but please get out and vote, no matter what your views are. David Elton, owner Elton Research & Political Services, Spokane

City unfair to property owners

I am curious why Irv Reed of the city said at the City Council meeting that the Ronalds must have a shoreline permit to build. Barbieri did not need one to build Cavanaugh’s River Inn right to the river’s edge. Why such discrimination against another developer?

I feel the Ronalds are being persecuted by the city and I definitely do not think the city should use taxpayers’ money to purchase this property. Evelyn Malone Spokane

YOUTH ISSUES

Kegger no way for teens to celebrate

The Cheney High School and Middle School Student Assistance committees, Substance Abuse Committee, Middle School Parent Advisory Committee and the Parent Network encourage all parents to monitor their children’s whereabouts.

In a time when casual alcohol and drug abuse is on the rise and young people 17 to 24 years old are dying from alcohol-related accidents at an alarming rate, all parents need to be a partner in planning healthy, meaningful activities for their children.

High school students fight parental involvement, but this is when they most need their parents. The best of students sometimes make poor choices. Knowing where our children are and who they’re with can make a big difference in the decisions they make.

There have been many rumors that some high school students are selling T-shirts for an end-of-the-year kegger. Apparently, they’ve sold many of these shirts. Rumor has it that a few parents support the function. Certainly, the senior parents’ all-nighter for graduates becomes a farce if this is allowed to happen.

The senior all-nighter is an effort by seniors’ parents to provide a safe, fun environment for the graduates immediately following graduation. They work many hours during the year to raise funds so their graduates don’t have to go to things like keggers. Many seniors’ parents are outraged that other parents put our children in harm’s way by providing or even giving approval of a kegger.

Parents, please monitor your child’s activities. Possibly, we can save a student’s life. Joe Richer, coordinator Student Assistance Committee, Cheney Public Schools

Recognition of good youths gratifies

On behalf of the staff and students of School District 81, I applaud the editorial board and, specifically, Anne Windishar for her April 3 editorial, “Statistics prove most kids good.”

Those of us in the Spokane community who work with young people on a daily basis know that most kids are good. Only a small percentage creates disruptions or negatively impacts our community. Too often, too much attention is focused on the disrupters.

I applaud The Spokesman-Review for its efforts to highlight young people who work hard at school and contribute toward making Spokane a better community for all of us.

There are so many young people who deserve our recognition and support. As a community, we are fortunate to have recognition programs like the Chase Youth Awards. Spokane should be very proud of all the young people who are positively engaged, and as a community we must continue to seek solutions for the small percentage of young people who are misdirected and disruptive. Most kids are good, and we look forward to continued public affirmation of their value to our community. Gary A. Livingston, superintendent Spokane Public Schools

TERRORISM

Where it counts, we’re not done yet

Your child gets gunned down at school. Your spouse goes to work and is killed in some unspeakable way. You put your baby in day care and she’s blown away by an act of terrorism.

No place is safe.

Ours is a country divided. And, in light of the tragedy in Oklahoma City, it all seems foolish. Should Big Bird be saved? How much for lunch programs? Should we fund the arts? Welfare, health care, the spotted owl?

While we fight, this great nation’s security falls in ruins.

Drugs come pouring into our country, bringing juvenile crime, violence and death. Gangs hold cities hostage. Hostile nations and fringe groups threaten and destroy our citizens.

Does anyone want to know how many of the bomb victims were black or white, rich or poor, on welfare or working? How about whether those poor dead babies had proper nutrition to start their day?

As the bomb in Oklahoma City shows us, life isn’t fair. However, out of these ashes has risen the true America.

Some say America has lost her compassion. Yet each day, whether in a small crisis or a horrific tragedy, the American people come through - all colors, all religions, all political persuasions - helping, sacrificing, comforting, fighting to survive, our tears and blood mixing.

Ours is a big land with a big heart.

Our greatest strength is each other.

Our government should pursue criminals so we can once again freely pursue life, liberty and happiness.

God bless America and grant strength to our fellow Americans in Oklahoma City. And may we always remember what’s really important. Gail Robinson Deer Park

What a shot from the hip

Your editorial of April 20, “Killing innocents is no way to protest,” is one big reason why people listen to talk radio, read the Internet and express their low opinion of elected officials in polls and anti-government movements. The vicious bias you showed against these organizations is mind boggling.

There was no evidence anywhere that the Oklahoma City bombing had anything to do with any American organization or institution. We did have reason to suspect foreign religious fanatical groups that believe in terrorism and have done this kind of bombing over and over again.

Your lack of credibility and your bias were showing. That was a shameful editorial. Nancy Parker Walla Walla

RELIGION

‘Belief comes before baptism’

Of all the opinions on baptism in the Easter story, no one had it right.

The command of baptism is taught so plainly in the New Testament that anyone can understand it if they can get away from their sectarian beliefs.

In the April 20 Roundtable page, Linda Reilly adds her 2 cents to the controversy. It’s easy to see that she has very little knowledge, if any, of what the Bible teaches on baptism. She asks, “When did loving the lord become conditional?” The answer (1 John 5:3): “For this is the love of God that we keep his commandments.’

Just before Jesus was received into heaven, he gave this commandment (Mark 16:16): “He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved.” Most denominations and sects pass over this command as though it didn’t exist. The command is there, and 1 John says if we love God, we will keep his commandments.

Belief comes before baptism, therefore it eliminates babies. Nowhere in the Bible is sprinkling or pouring mentioned. Colossians 2:12 says, “Buried with him in baptism.” Sprinkling is not a burial. Chet Whisman Spokane

IN WASHINGTON STATE

Free-spending days are over

Hello, hello? Was anybody around for last year’s election? Judging by the article in the April 16 paper, a few legislators weren’t. They think voters still want state budgets marbled with pet project pork and fat with selfinterest spending. They think it is the job of a state legislator, especially a state legislator who holds a position of power, to bring home the bacon, regardless of the worthiness of the project or the burden such pork ultimately is to taxpayers.

Well, here’s a news flash from last November for those legislators and leaders who have an endless wish list and who still cling to the notion that taxpayers’ have a limitless checkbook: The party’s over.

Taxpayers just can’t afford it anymore. We want government officials who take a careful look at every project and every program before just arbitrarily giving it a line item in the budget. We expect leadership that understands government doesn’t give anything to anybody that it didn’t first take from somebody else.

I commend Rep. Jean Silver and the other budget writers in the State House who are scrutinizing state spending. It’s high time that we have people writing the budget who fund projects and programs based upon merit instead of political favors. Fran Wills Spokane

Democrat out of step with Republicans

Apparently, Rep. Dennis Dellwo still doesn’t get the message from last year’s election as to why his party lost control of the state House of Representatives. Evidently, he still thinks a legislator is judged by the amount of pork he or she can stuff into the state budget.

Dellwo thinks the system where one “kingpin” legislator controls the House Appropriations Committee is just the ticket for ensuring a state budget fat with goodies for the chairman’s community, ignoring the fact such a system might be unfair to state taxpayers. He laments the fact that House Republicans give more legislators input and have tried to ensure a balanced approach to the budgeting process. He and his fellow Democrats are apparently distressed about the Republicans’ lean budget that holds the line on spending and strips away the traditional pork barrel spending of the past.

Too bad, Rep. Dellwo, but House Republicans did get the message from voters. They clearly understand voters’ desire that legislators consider taxpayers’ pocketbooks before loading up the state budget with pet projects. House Republicans have lived up to their promise to put the brakes on out-of-control state spending. Most of all, they are abiding by voters’ wishes to change a system that bestows power on one individual to the detriment of taxpayers across the state.

Hooray for Republicans like Rep. Jean Silver; she got the message. Maybe if Rep. Dellwo didn’t get it in the last election, voters will make certain he gets it next time - by voting him out of office. Bob Jones Spokane

LAW AND JUSTICE

Affirmative action simply unfair

Get with it, Anne Windishar (Opinion, April 14). It not the CEOs who are most affected by affirmative action.

It’s the guy with a family who loses out on promotion because the quota demands a woman in the job, even if she has less experience.

It means an 18-year-old not even being allowed a hearing for a bus boy’s job because he’s white.

It means a black flunking a journeyman plumber’s test and whining that it’s not his fault, that it was a white man’s test. Does a black need different information to change a faucet? Does the faucet know who’s making the change?

Affirmative action should not be this, but it is. And it is causing resentment and hatred.

It’s the preferential treatment regardless of ability now accorded to everyone but white males. It is demeaning to blacks and women who must be considered in need of special help because they “really can’t cut it.”

A recent ABC poll says that 47 percent of blacks think they have been given a leg up and are ready to say goodbye to affirmative action. Data show also that they are moving into higher-income brackets - $50,000 and more - at an increasing rate.

Since when have women been a minority? Preferential treatment leaves the door wide open for blackmail and extortion. Sexual harassment threats can always bring the employer into line.

Let’s get back to equality before the law and forget the quota stuff. Sherry Bliss Spokane

IN THE PAPER

Cartoon good for a snort

I really got a snort out of the April 19 Roundtable cartoon, “The adventures of Milton Piggee.” The only thing missing were the ears of a jackass on the little Piggee, which fittingly would have given the cartoon and the piglet multiple meanings. Dick Brauner Spokane

Travel column should go on

I agree 100 percent with Jean Rickman (Letters, April 20) on how much Royce Gorseth’s columns have been missed. His travel tips were interesting and informative.

I hope that either Mr. Gorseth will return as a columnist or someone else will take resume similar work. Cary Miller Hayden Lake