Letters To The Editor

SPOKANE MATTERS

Hasson deserves a gender abyss

I found Spokane County Commissioner Steve Hasson’s remark that he encourages women in county managerial positions, as reported by staff writer Dan Hansen in the Aug. 29 Spokesman-Review, puzzling, since several articles have appeared in your paper that would contradict that statement. For instance:

1. His mean-spirited and chauvinistic treatment of poor Pat Mummey when they served together as county commissioners.

2. His selection of Mark Sterk to replace Mike Padden in the state House of Representatives when the Republican Party clearly chose Lynn Schindler for that position. I like Sterk and I think he has done a good job, but I also think Schindler would have been outstanding.

We will never really know since Hasson, as usual, thought he was smarter than the people. Perhaps Hasson couldn’t bear the thought of a woman representing the 4th District?

3. A sexual harassment suit filed by a woman county employee

4. His sexist remarks to a woman reporter when he asked her if she had come to take some “crotch shots.”

I think the women of Spokane County neither need nor want the kind of encouragement Hasson has to offer. All they need is an opportunity to do the job. Donna L. Meidling Spokane

Why, it’s Chuckles the councilman

It certainly was impressive to learn that our errant city council type, Chris Anderson, found time to visit Spokane last weekend. While here, he was able to visit City Hall and leave cute little cartoons for his council compatriots.

I find it hard to believe that this clown is the best we could find to fill a council seat. This city needs and pays for council people who can give their best and are willing to attend council meetings.

Another fact emerges about last weekend during Anderson’s visit to Spokane. The Sunday Spokesman-Review carried nearly seven pages of help wanted/ employment ads in its classified section. Anderson doesn’t seem to understand that Spokane is where it’s at, and that there are many jobs available here. Let’s be sure to keep this in mind when, and if, he comes up for re-election. Maury Hickey Spokane

Remember, Wal-Mart didn’t elect you

Angela McLaws (Spokane, get real about growth,” Letters, Sept. 1) says she could understand the outcry against Wal-Mart if it was proposing a store in the middle of an existing neighborhood.

The reason I vehemently oppose the current Wal-Mart proposal is that it is going to jam, shoehorn style, a multi-store , 24-hour complex in the midst of three existing residential neighborhoods.

Wal-Mart, which can certainly afford to buy any site it chooses, has opted to buy residential land - 39 acres of it - and demand it be rezoned to suit its purposes. Residential land, coincidentally, is cheaper to buy than commercial.

Our elected officials should remember that they were elected to represent our interests, not those of out-of-state businesses like Wal-Mart. We are the taxpayers, and this proposal will do nothing but disrupt the lives of many area families, lower the quality of life in several neighborhoods, increase already congested streets, adversely affect air quality, reduce the safety of many adjoining neighborhoods, increase noise, etc., within a few hundred feet of many of our homes.

Please remember to do the right thing for your constituents, not for big business, when you decide this issue. Lori Hays Spokane

City-only measures insufficient

I agree with Opinion editor John Webster’s Sept. 4 editorial, “City has done much to clean the air.”

Until EPA regulations stipulate that Spokane County must require yearly emissions testing and a decal placed on all vehicle windshields, city and county, air quality will continue to deteriorate in Spokane because the majority of vehicles come from adjoining county areas. Angela Eudaley Spokane

WASHINGTON STATE

Process was fair and reasonable

I object to staff writer Jim Lynch’s portrayal of the process of selecting a Democrat to replace Dennis Dellwo as clumsy (“Three Demos,” Sept. 3).

The Democratic Central Committee notified every precinct committee officer in the 3rd Legislative District to attend a meeting on July 8 to choose a replacement for Dellwo. Precinct committee officers are elected by the voters of each district. Anyone can file at the courthouse as long as they live in that precinct. It’s an unpaid position. Their names are on file at the courthouse and are available to all candidates.

At this meeting, each of the three candidates was given an equal opportunity to have nominators speak for them. Each was given an equal amount of time to speak. Each of them could have contacted as many precinct committee officers as they wished before the meeting began.

After the speeches, blank ballots were passed out and each officer marked their ballot with the name of the person they believed would do the best job in the Legislature for the 3rd District.

No one pressured me to vote for any particular candidate; I voted for who I believe is the best qualified for the position. Lonnie Sparks received the most votes. Therefore, the Democratic Party recommended to county commissioners that he receive the appointment.

I understand the commissioners are free to choose whomever they wish, but I believe this was a fair and efficient way to choose a new representative. Joan A. Rivers, precinct committee officer 3rd Legislative District, Spokane

Beware of ordaining a governor

Thank you for your Sept. 3 front page story on Ellen Craswell, Washington’s Bible-thumping gubernatorial candidate who is a Christian first and a Republican second.

At my age, I have to worry about stroke. Since I didn’t have one while reading the Craswell article, I’m now confident of my physical condition. However, I have a couple of questions that weren’t answered to my satisfaction.

Does Craswell realize that if elected she would be the governor of every last person who lives in Washington, not just members of her own Christian sect?

I worry that as a candidate for governor she might not meet our residence requirements. The article mentioned her “other-worldly bearing,” which seems likely, since bona fide Americans know that they aren’t supposed to use an elected office to impose their religious beliefs on their fellow citizens.

Finally, am I to understand that God is a Republican? If so, why hasn’t He interceded on their behalf to produce a worthy follow-on to their most recent success, Abraham Lincoln? Jim McDonald Spokane

Christian is as Christian does

Before you portray Helen Craswell as a Christian or believe her when she says she is, look closely at what you’re calling Christian.

She quotes Scripture - well, anyone can. Her office is closed on Sundays. There is no Christian mandate for that, and if she were following God’s laws, it would be closed Saturdays.

But she condemns gays and lesbians, mistakenly thinking God has appointed her judge. She is against fair taxation, violating Christ’s order to “render unto Caesar what is Caesar’s” and the apostle Paul’s advice in Romans 13: 1-7.

She wants to eliminate welfare, whereas the commands to support the poor and needy are found on nearly every Bible page. She’s into deregulation, which the Bible condemns as “lawlessness” and rebellion against authority.

Craswell has zero Biblical support for her anti-government, anti-tax, anti-poor agenda, so I really doubt God is her campaign worker or that she has any use for him other than, literally, wall dressing.

When people use their Christianity for political gain, it’s time to check that sheepskin for a zipper. Jitske Hart Spokane

BUSINESS AND LABOR

Resist this high-tech onslaught

A recent news item stated that laser-guided robots are now pumping gas and collecting payment at gas stations in Germany. This is only the latest example of the automated work trend.

Supermarkets on the East Coast are testing shopper-operated checkout stands. A shopping cart has been designed that can be filled with groceries and then run through a scanner that reads prices and tabulates the bill.

Diagnostic computers are replacing car mechanics.

Bank customers are being urged to use ATMs and are being financially punished for using human teller services. A local bank is pushing an account that carries no fees but also allows no human contact.

Automated phone systems are replacing operators. Physicians are making diagnoses via computer from locations remote from patients.

Psychologists are being replaced by do-it-yourself computer programs. Students are being taught via satellite.

Work is being automated rapidly and consistently. Realize that as you cavalierly use the ATM or “press one now,” there is a strong chance that experts are working overtime to force you, too, into the unemployment line.

Whenever possible, patronize businesses that have the human touch, and actively protest against those that have succumbed to greed. Margaret Koivula Spokane

GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS

Olson a leader with common sense

We have a great candidate running for Congress: Judy Olson. As a fourth-generation farmer, her roots are solid, as is her good, common, horse sense.

Olson attended Washington State University, then married a farmer. While farming, she raised three sons and became active in 4-H, Scouts, schools and the community.

Her leadership skills led her to become president of the Washington State Wheat Grower’s Association. She then became the very first woman elected president of the National Wheat Growers’ Association. While holding national office, she became familiar with Washington, D.C., and the political process. She also served as co-chairwoman of the governor’s Agriculture Transition Task Force and was appointed to the Environmental Protection Agency’s advisory group on clean water.

Olson’s down-home friendliness and concern for people is apparent. When you talk with her, you also become aware of her inner strength and leadership qualities. Olson is a problem solver who will never be just another rubber stamp for House Speaker Newt Gingrich. Sally Jackson Spokane

Incumbent wears thin in record time

The history of our congressional district suggests that a congressman, once elected, stays on for at least 20-plus years, as did former Rep. Walt Horan and former House speaker Thomas Foley.

It has been observed that many long-term congressmen changed for the worse with a gradual deterioration of personal policies and ethics. Our freshman congressman managed to shorten that period to 20 months instead of 20 years. He became a virtual hostage of House Speaker Newt Gingrich, as far as votes were concerned. He voted with Gingrich 96 percent of the time.

This procedure left him with nothing to do but follow orders and gather $400,000 with both hands from PACs and lobbyists. Not bad for 20 months.

Lo and behold, he then changed his mind about campaign finance reform by announcing that it wouldn’t be a good idea to do that in an election year. He had 400,000 good reasons for that statement.

Give some thought to the candidacy of Sue Kaun. You, not Gingrich, not lobbyists, not $400,000, will be her priority. Why not have a congressperson of your own? Vote for Kaun and eliminate Gingrich and the lobbyists.

If our congressman did this in 20 months, just think what he would be like in 20 years. You can nip this conduct in the bud. Don Reid Spokane

Think of ‘em as Grand Old Pushers

Unless they can’t read, those writing in to blame President Clinton for the increase in drug use would know that during the Republican era, the crack epidemic was introduced to America, using military bases and tax money. This in turn created the gangs as we know them now. Wasn’t that nice of Reagan and Bush?

All politicians are liars of the first order, but religious-right Republicans are downright dangerous hypocrites. Richard Hall Newman Lake