Letters To The Editor
WASHINGTON STATE
Government is us - and we care
Brad Benson writes that “government never has been, and never will be, compassionate” (“Compassion the province of individuals,” letters, Aug. 19). Benson, a Republican, is campaigning to be our 6th Legislative District state representative.
I disagree with him. I believe this for one simple reason: Our government is us. Tell those devastated by fire, flood, tornado or earthquake that our government is compassionless when we help them get back on their feet.
Tell survivors of Nazi death camps that our government was compassionless when our soldiers liberated them. Tell the family who is “downsized,” thanks to corporate greed, that help they receive from the government - from us - is devoid of compassion.
Our government is compassionate because the majority of us are compassionate.
Benson has felt the effects of a compassionate government. He has enjoyed a federal and state subsidized education, from kindergarten through college. He was an employee of the federal government, enjoying free government health care. Now he wants to be our representative, an employee of our state government.
I hope that Benson, a successful man, is thankful today for a California state government (Republicans and Democrats) that, many years ago, believed a child named Brad Benson deserved compassion.
If elected, will a man who believes in a compassionless government try to make that belief a reality? John Griffith Spokane
Galizia better-qualified
I have seen a lot of people run for office. This year, Republican incumbent Larry Crouse is facing Frank Galizia for state representative.
I know, like and respect both men, but what is best for the 4th Legislative District? I retired from Kaiser Aluminum after 30 years, so I know and like Crouse. However, I will vote for Galizia because I feel he is better-qualified.
Take time to read about these men, and I think you will agree with me. You do not have to put one person down to build another up. Try looking for the positive; you might be surprised by what you learn. Ralph Millspaugh Spokane
SPOKANE MATTERS
Sweetser responsive to problems
The editorial “Public burned by prosecutor’s errors” (Aug. 18) ignores the fact that Spokane County Prosecuting Attorney Jim Sweetser inherited an office that was racked with problems and under attack for allowing too many serious crimes to be plea-bargained.
Sweetser has limited plea bargaining and increased trial rates for the deputy prosecutors. When there has been a problem, such as the furlough of James Jones, Sweetser has taken immediate steps to resolve the problem.
When significant changes are made to workloads without a corresponding increase in staff and attorneys, there are going to be some problems. Sweetser is addressing those. Overall, he has done a good job and should not be condemned for isolated shortfalls that he has addressed immediately. Tony Tompkins Spokane
Paper too hard on Sweetser
Recent Spokesman-Review stories about the county’s deputy prosecutors lack depth because they have failed to focus on major accomplishments of the prosecutor’s office since Jim Sweetser was elected.
Editorial board members should visit and view for one day the inner workings of Sweetser’s complex office. Such an experience might alter the board’s opinions.
Every time I read the newspaper, I am under the impression the prosecutor’s office, instead of the criminals, is on trial.
Remember Kevin Boot, who kidnapped and brutally murdered Felicia Reese? He is serving a life sentence without possibility of parole. Remember Kenneth Comeslast, who was convicted of aggravated murder for a gang-related double murder? He is serving two consecutive life sentences without the possibility of parole. Remember Blake Pirtle, who brutally executed the Burger King employees? He is on death row awaiting execution.
I commend Sweetser for taking an aggressive stance toward all further releases of felony offenders. Michael A. Porfirio Spokane
Fund surplus raises questions
Mead School District will have a surplus of between $5 million and $6 million because construction costs of Mount Spokane-Mead High School will be less than the original $37.5 million price tag. Better this than a $5 million to $6 million overrun.
However, I am not pleased that property tax dollars are being used to create a surplus. Since the district is suggesting that another $10 million bond issue soon may be necessary, is it likely that this, too, will create another multimillion-dollar surplus? Or is it possible that sufficient money already is in hand so no future bond issue will be necessary? Dick Stowell Colbert
ILLICIT DRUGS
National drug war not the answer
The increase in drug use among teens has become a political issue. The war on drugs has been disappointing for two reasons:
Illegal drug trade is extremely profitable.
The root cause of teen drug abuse is at a family level.
Teens from loving, caring home environments are much less likely to use drugs. Teen drug use is a symptom of the decline in the American family. How many children have two caring parents or a positive role model?
The drug war must be addressed at the community level. We need more teen centers, Boys Clubs, and YWCA programs that expose youth to positive adult role models. Chris Wellman Cataldo, Idaho
Give drug dealers top priority
We see where Idaho prisons are full to the point of being swamped with drug users, drunken drivers and those caught driving without privileges.
One answer could be a reduced sentence for the drug users who inform on dealers. That might put the dealers in the pen also. I’m sure there are far more users than dealers, but it would really put a lid on dealing drugs if the users starting telling on these low-life thugs.
Then again, we also know that the government is the biggest and most corrupt of all the dealers and also the greatest importer of illegal drugs. But it would be a start. Art Krebs Sandpoint
Skip TEAM and bust pushers
It is my sincere belief that the DARE program has been a major contributing factor in the huge increase in juvenile drug use. Too much emphasis leads to experimentation.
In Spokane, by administrative sleight of hand, instead of abolishing DARE, we now have TEAM. The supposedly new program will be staffed with two full-time and 24 part-time officers who could be deployed on law enforcement.
Cut the fancy programs and make it too hot for pushers to operate in our city. Kathryn Korkus Spokane
GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS
NEA pushes its political goals
Did you know that one group will have more delegates at the Democratic National Convention than any state? That group is the National Education Association.
NEA offered a $1,000 subsidy to each NEA member elected to the convention: a grant of $400 in cash, $400 in merchandise, plus air travel expense.
Why is NEA so eager to have its members serve as delegates? Just remember, the NEA is a union and the prime goal of the union is not education. It is more jobs and more schools that require more tax funding.
To create more jobs, the NEA not only supports “mandatory kindergarten with compulsory attendance” but also “early childhood education programs in the public schools for children from birth through age 8.” It continues to endorse gay-lesbian demands.
The NEA’s answer to the problem of teen pregnancy is not to teach abstinence or self-discipline, but to teach self-esteem and to demand that schools set up on-site child care services.
The NEA endorses all the trendy liberal fads but opposes standardized testing of students and competency testing for teachers. There was no mention of phonics education or teaching children to read in resolutions adopted at this year’s NEA convention. Vivian L. Irons Spokane
Kaun has earned voters’ loyalty
I want to tell people what Susan Kaun did for the residents of Liberty Lake and for others in Spokane County.
Back in the mid-1970s, Kaun recognized the awful condition of the lake and helped form the Liberty Lake Sewer District. Under her direction, the lake was reclaimed and remains pure to this day. True, she stepped on a few toes and cost residents a little money to accomplish this. But the value of our property is far more today than if she had done nothing or had failed. “Failure” is not a word in her vocabulary.
She is passionate in fighting for what she believes in. She is equally passionate in fighting what she knows to be wrong. She knew Liberty Lake was dying and fought to save it. She knew Modern Electric Co.’s electrical workers were underpaid and fought to bring their wages up to scale.
Kaun knows local dairy farmers were badly mistreated and many lost their herds when Rep. George Nethercutt lost interest in them. She is fighting to help them recoup some of their losses.
I don’t understand how some of the people and political action committees of Spokane County could endorse that Democrat-come-lately from Whitman County who shows passion only for her fellow farmers. Kaun has done so much for so many people in Spokane County, it’s unbelievable some of them would betray her now.
I’ll not betray this friend of Spokane County. I will vote for Kaun in September and in November. Shirley Gonciasz Liberty Lake
Commentators - who needs them?
The media - ABC, CBS, NBC, major newspapers and magazines - are taking their lumps and criticism after the Republican convention.
The so-called political commentators and TV and news sources they represent are acting as children who have their “noses bent” and showing their poor taste. They are so jealous of being unable to communicate what they think the speaker’s intention was.
We can be thankful C-SPAN and CNN gave the speeches without breakaways to biased and often incorrect views. We listened to many after the convention and some were quite apt. Others showed their bitterness and showed their lack of being good commentators.
Let us hope that during the Democrats’ convention we will be able to listen and witness without the media interposing. We need to make decisions and vote for betterment in this great nation. I think we the people can make good judgments. Lloyd Martin Cheney
OTHER TOPICS
Enlisted people paid too little
I was recently a guest aboard the aircraft carrier USS Constellation on its voyage from its home port of San Diego to Everett for Seafair. What impressed me most was the superbly trained crew.
I was shocked to learn that the pay of many lower-ranking enlisted men and women crew members is so little that they qualify for food stamps. Regardless of how dedicated and patriotic they are, retaining them in the military is impossible when the country shows how little their service is valued by paying them a fraction of what they can earn as civilians.
As the commanding officer pointed out, the ship and its aircraft utterly depend on the skill and dedication of the lower-ranking sailors who maintain them.
All military services have this problem. Under the Clinton administration, military pay has fallen 13 percent below comparable civilian levels and 17,000 junior enlisted personnel are eligible for food stamps. That’s shameful. In a dangerous world, it’s incredibly shortsighted.
Only five years ago, our superb military services carried out Operation Desert Storm in the gulf war. We can predict with certainty that the need for something similar will arise again. The services won’t be capable if we continue to drive the men and women who make it happen out of the military by not paying them enough to keep them.
Edwin G. Davis Spokane
Fair official’s decision foolish
Re: “No fair! cries family after rules exclude pig,” news, Aug. 24): The Kootenai County Fair excluded Rosie the pig. I cannot believe that for $2.50 any public official could be so stupid and insensitive.
If that be the case, no wonder our young people have lost faith in the system. I have intervened in the matter to ensure that this 12-year-old-girl will not have to sell her horse. All I can say to the officials involved is: Shame on you. John Funk Deer Park
Skimpy reward an injustice
Re: the story about the kid who turned in $1,800 and only got a $5 reward (Region, Aug. 22). That was a real injustice.
Our society is supposed to teach kids to be honest. Teaching kids to be honest is not shorting them on something they deserve. The woman could have taken the boy to dinner or given him a larger reward. Valorie White Spokane
Dog story has sad, common ending
A friend and I are driving down the freeway, returning to Spokane from Coeur d’Alene. The temperature is in the mid-90’s.
I glance to the left. “My God,” I say to my friend, “there is a large dog running in the grass between the two freeways.” I continued west until I could cross the freeway going east, hoping we wouldn’t find him injured or dead. At last, there he is, lying in the grass.
I’m thinking, “Please don’t head for us or away from us and cross a freeway.” He didn’t. He was exhausted, thirsty and starved. We petted him and got him back across the freeway. At last, the dog is in the back seat of my car. We go to a gas station for water, then home. I put my golden retriever in the house, with food and water for the poor, starving, big, gentle golden lab mix.
On Aug. 12, I take him to SpokAnimal C.A.R.E., where he received veterinary treatment and care. I placed an ad to see if he had an owner. Tried my best to find him a home, but had no luck. On Aug. 13 he is in the Humane Society. SpokAnimal can’t keep strays.
On Aug. 22, the dogs, puppies, cats and kittens keep coming in and as many have to die. The darling we rescued is dead. He, like millions euthanized every year, did not receive the humane treatment he deserved.
Again, I plead with you: Please have your dogs and cats spayed and neutered. Eileen Deaton Spokane