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

Letters To The Editor

PUBLIC SAFETY

Longer yellow light helps in Indiana Spokane isn’t alone in its problem with stoplights. I just returned from Indianapolis, where officials are considering a laser system to automatically ticket red light runners. It’s way too expensive, but leaders there are feeling desperate.

Why is it so impractical to at least test the timing of signal changes based on driving speed?

Everyone in Indiana seems to drive faster than the speed limit. Tailgating is terrible. However, on some country highways and suburban arterials stoplights offer a long yellow for braking time. Despite a generous speed limit on those roads, I was told that red light infractions decrease significantly when drivers receive adequate warning from the yellow. I felt relieved; I could go with the flow and not worry about quick stops at the signals.

While our local safety campaign says a lot about not running through red, does it emphasize the yellow at all? In reality, yellow is for stopping, red is for waiting.

I don’t buy our traffic department’s argument that tampering with the yellow light would achieve nothing. The vast majority of citizens want to stop lawfully. It’s the yellow light braking phase that is the problem. I determined this recently after watching a Spokane school bus roll through a red light. Under the traffic conditions, there was nothing else the driver could have done.

Red light runners who are so ignorant they ignore signals will always be with us, endangering our lives and their own. But let’s stop bickering about causes and do some objective testing with stoplight alternatives. Chuck Grizzle Spokane

Scofflaws common on our streets

The double fatality on May 25 was a huge tragedy and totally unnecessary - a nightmare that most Spokanites live in fear of.

All hearts should go out to the victims and their families. If the Spokane police view this as an isolated incident, think again.

I don’t know if the police drive with their families in their private vehicles on Spokane streets when they are off duty, but I wouldn’t blame them if they didn’t. They will see solid red lights run at excessive speed when a light changes at a major intersection, not to mention tailgating and weaving in and out of traffic.

All this suffering and property damage is inspired by a total disregard for the law, for other people and maybe even for themselves. What is red light awareness, anyway?

I don’t pretend to know how to make people respect the law or the rights of others, but a simple place to start would be to enforce handicapped parking and work up from there. James Riordan Spokane

LAW AND JUSTICE

Manslaughter charge insufficient

My concern is that guy who reportedly killed two people at Hamilton and Indiana. I understand, he’s only going to be charged with two counts of vehicular manslaughter. This is way too lenient. Vehicular manslaughter should be used only when an accident is truly an accident. What this person did is far from an accident.

There is no difference between running a red light at an extremely busy intersection at a speed way above the speed limit and stepping out into that intersection and randomly firing a gun at the passing cars. It’s murder, plain and simple.

His alleged actions ended the lives of two young people and scarred many others for a long time, maybe forever. He should pay with his life, whether it’s life in prison without possibility of parole or the death penalty.

Only when such severe penalties are imposed on people who show little regard for others’ lives will such nonsense stop. Scott Odekirk Spokane

Terms of release a big mistake

Way to go, Spokane. Turn another suspected child molester loose on his own recognizance (“Man faces molestation charges,” Region, May 30). I wonder how many other children will have the courage to report sexual abuse?

Why didn’t the judge just slap the accused man’s hands and say, “Now don’t do that again?”

When are the children of Spokane going to have equal rights, instead of their abuser having them? I think what is going on in our courts is abhorrent. Alice Williamson Medical Lake

IN THE PUBLIC EYE

Sandman a fine young woman

In defense of Amber Sandman, the Lakeside sophomore Carla Johnson wrote about in her May 12 article (“Better building blocks,” News, May 12):

So, Amber got tired while in class. We’ve all been there before. Amber is one of the nicest young ladies I’ve come across. I coached her volleyball team last year and she was always eager to learn and was an enthusiastic team player both in practice and in competition.

I will consider myself lucky if my little girls turn out like Amber. Ron Brazington Deer Park

HIGHER EDUCATION

Why permit lesbian to speak?

I read with interest of Margarethe Cammermeyer and her battle to elevate her lesbian status in our country.

My argument is not with the fact that the woman is a lesbian but with the fact that she was allowed to use our Spokane Falls Community College to illustrate her prejudice to an audience.

Would I be allowed to favor an audience at our community colleges with a graphic lecture of the sex life my husband and I have had during the last 26 years? How boring it would be to hear others publicly brag or whine about a subject that is completely private only to those concerned.

I do protest that my taxes were used to bring this program to our community college. I have been a senior student at Spokane Falls and so enjoyed the staff and students there who helped me become computer literate. I have never felt the need to wave a banner to inform others that I am straight.

Cammermeyer, I suggest that you put your flag away in your closet. Phyllis S. Heinel Spokane

ABORTION

Common ground? No way

Re: “Foes in abortion debate find common ground,” News, May 28.

Common ground is a cruel hoax. I’ve participated in discussion committees for years.

From their name, pro-lifers do not see death as a solution even for those who deal in death at the abortion table. The pro-life movement is grass roots, funded by individuals who have no control over what others do in the name of eradicating abortion.

Pro-choice is well funded by every level of government. Key organizations control the activities; sex education, abortions, contraceptives, lobbying, elections, donations and lawsuits. The largest abortion provider sponsored hate campaigns against small, nonprofit organizations providing programs on how to abstain and has sued school districts for teaching abstinence. In their suits they demand that schools be silent on abortion procedures. They have the money - our tax money - an entire legal department and members in both political parties securing funding for abortions as backup contraception. These same agencies funded Supreme Court cases legalizing and liberalizing abortions.

Abortion numbers have declined because there are one-third fewer 20-year-old women due to the legalization of abortion in 1970. Policies must change before the abortion rate changes. Acting as if sex for 12-year-olds is normal while promoting services exacerbates teen pregnancy and creates long-term clients.

Premarital abstinence and adoption must be cornerstones in prevention and welfare reform. Demand that pro-choicers in positions of authority quit defending the status quo and begin acting in good faith before you buy into common ground. LeAnna Benn Spokane

A welcome cause for hope

Concerning the front page article of May 28, “Foes in abortion debate find common ground”:

The Common Ground Network for Life and Choice is a wondrous achievement for this country. With the number of abortions remaining fairly consistent for years, it is clear that our own personal views have done nothing to end this tragedy.

Now there is hope, as leading opponents focus on prevention.

Yet, as parents, if we fail to guide our children toward sexual responsibility, history will only repeat itself.

No one know what goes on behind closed doors - especially our kids. What they don’t know can surely kill. Let us consider the alternatives. Rose Bachman Spokane

GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS

Parental rights bill is bad news

Our Congress members are considering legislation supported by some right-wing political organizations called the “parental rights and responsibilities” act. I urge my fellow citizens to oppose this misleading and dangerous legislation.

This bill is not a parental rights act but instead a parental veto act. It gives one parent the ability to dictate what everyone’s children can be taught.

Further, the act could enable parents to challenge, in federal court, virtually every decision of public schools, libraries and health and welfare programs. It could also prevent minors from having access to comprehensive health care, sex education and would thwart child abuse laws.

No such law is needed to protect parents’ right to determine the upbringing of their children. Jim Pritchard Wilbur, Wash.

Social Security has been looted

Vern L. Klingman’s statement (Letters, May 24) that Social Security is self-supporting and does not add a dime to the deficit could not be more wrong.

A recent article in the Senior Coalition states that “Each year the Social Security system collects $20 billion more in taxes than it pays out in benefits to our senior citizens.”

This surplus money is supposed to be placed in a trust fund to protect future Social Security checks. Instead, this money is being spent on other government projects and in making the deficit appear smaller. IOUs were then placed in the Social Security fund instead of real money. The Social Security trust fund is full of these IOUs.

Some members of Congress are trying to save the system by lowering the cost of living increase. For example, if you are now receiving $700 a month in Social Security payments and your next increase would be $50, a large amount of money could be saved and kept in the system to save it by reducing the increase to $25. However, these changes must be done now, before it is too late to save the Social Security system. Bernece “Bunny” Bippes Tekoa, Wash.

Reform congressional pensions

How would you like to know that your total retirement pension could be up to $2 million? Did you know that you help fund huge pensions with your tax dollars?

Three bills before Congress deal with Congressional pension reform. Congressmen Richard Bryan, Dan Miller and Gil Gulkneht are proposing to bring congressional pensions back in line with those of other federal employees by introducing the congressional pension reform bills (HR804, HR1618 and S228).

It is estimated that the pension plans of Congress members are worth more than double those of similarly paid private sector retirees.

According to an Aug. 10, 1994 article, “Congress’ princely pensions,” Rep., Hamilton Fish would receive an initial benefit of $100,266, with an expected lifetime benefit of $2,210,410. Don Edwards would receive $99,573 initially and an expected lifetime benefit of $1,053,759. Bob Michel, who I believe is now retired, has an expected lifetime benefit of $2,014,456. The list goes on.

Our elected officials should receive some form of pension, but I can’t imagine how anyone can defend the current system.

It’s important that we contact our senators and representatives to let them know how we feel about this issue.

If we’re going to be asked to make sacrifices to help balance the budget and reduce our national debt, Congress ought to work to bring the members’ bloated pension system into line.

To paraphrase Newt Gingrich, everything should be on the table. Terry Montanye Spokane

Republicans know who’s money it is

Fred Meyer of Grand Coulee can’t figure out why Republicans always complain the most about the deficit and then want to cut taxes (“Republicans’ ambivalence shows,” Roundtable, May 23).

Well, Meyer, maybe they know something the liberal parasite we have for a leader and his clones will have to learn: It ain’t their money. Joe Wollman Odessa, Wash.

Eikenberry antics outrageous

Regarding state Republican Party Chairman Ken Eikenberry’s conditions put to presidential candidate Pat Buchanan - Eikenberry is way out of line.

Eikenberry demands Buchanan take a pre-speech loyalty oath to Sen. Bob Dole. What about any loyalty (if he has any) of a GOP chairman to ensure all delegates and the Republican citizens the privilege to equally hear all candidates speak freely?

This is not a dictatorship and Eikenberry should not be allowed to exhibit such actions. Buchanan is a valid candidate and has every right to speak freely.

Shall I remind the chairman of the right to free speech?

I strongly urge the delegates and the public to demand that Buchanan be heard at the convention without any reservations on where he stands. Our forefathers did not give up their lives for our freedom and a system that now thinks it can hush legitimate candidates. Lynn Lundberg Spokane

McCaslin gets it backwards

I read Kate McCaslin’s announcement that she will run for county commissioner. She stated, “What I think is not nearly as important as what I hear others saying in the community. Steve Hasson (like all of us) has his good and bad points.”

McCaslin then proceeds to comment on what she feels are Hasson’s bad points.

Well, as a voter I disagree with her initial statement. What she thinks is definitely more important than listing Hasson’s shortcomings, as she perceives them. Informed voters deserve to know candidates’ thoughts, plans and insights.

Running because she doesn’t approve of Steve Hasson seems like a very flimsy reason for seeking a commissioner’s seat.

Looks like we’re into another negative campaign. Ron Jackson Spokane

MAKING A DIFFERENCE

Silver Spurs shine inside, too

Thank you for Doug Clark’s May 9 column on the Silver Spurs. As Clark points out, the Silver Spurs have had a positive influence on Spokane youths since Red Henderson established the group in 1946. I was one of “Red’s kids” from 1949 to 1955 and I second all that was said.

The Silver Spurs thrived in the early years because they of inspired leadership and stable funding (the Spokane School District and city of Spokane).

Many young people went on to college because Red taught them how to work and take pride in themselves; how to look the world in the eye with a smile on your face and genuine caring in your heart. He modeled his life lessons through his own dedication to youth and his commitment to teaching - values and facts.

We learned much more than dancing and culture. We also learned about business and commerce, responsibility and discipline (we showed up on time or we didn’t perform, no matter how talented we were), manners (we behaved respectfully or didn’t continue with the group), group relations (we depended on each other for moral and physical support), presentation and people skills (we hosted three-hour teaching sessions after most performances).

I personally attribute much of my professional and personal success to the lessons I learned as a Silver Spur. It is time to carefully examine the kinds of standards Red required and find a way to again provide our young people with this kind of quality experience. Isabelle Green Cheney