Letters To The Editor

BUSINESS AND LABOR

Here are the facts about WEA

The Spokesman-Review recently focused attention on a small group of teachers who don’t want to pay a fair fee for representation. Through editorials and letters, a surprising number of factless allegations and misrepresentations have been given credence.

It’s time to correct a few fallacies.

Teachers who don’t want to join the Washington Education Association aren’t forced to become union members.

Legal precedent, set by court decisions, has established the fee these challengers pay for the representation they are provided.

Fees paid by teachers who challenge membership don’t support political activities, even if they benefit from them.

When WEA works with the state Legislature to make schools safer, to reduce class sizes or to raise teacher salaries, the objectors don’t pay. When we speak out about successes in our public schools, as well as about the need to improve, the objectors don’t pay.

When we try to balance slanted media reports and self-serving political commentary with facts, the objectors don’t pay. And when we try to recruit new members whose full dues will help in these efforts, the objectors don’t pay.

Not one cent of objecting teachers’ fees are spent on direct contributions to political candidates.

More than 65,000 public education employees comprise the WEA family. Like any large family, not every member always agrees with what the family does.

WEA’s actions are governed by the U.S. Supreme Court, state and federal law, and independent arbitrators. We’re continuing to represent the best interests of students, public schools and educators - even those educators who don’t want to pay for it. James Seibert, executive director Washington Education Association, Federal Way

Helpful people recognized

It was refreshing to see the articles about public servants (“Honest work,” IN Life, Sept 1), after all the media coverage of people like the Unabomber and the city hall bombings.

It’s ironic that the Department of Mines employees who were recognized for their public service have all been laid off. My heart goes out to the Department of Corrections, Department of Social and Health Services and employment security personnel who worked valiantly on the front lines of society helping address the problems of those who aren’t self-sufficient.

Scott Emerson ought to be credited for his excellent work in the East Central neighborhood. There has been a distinct and tangible improvement throughout the neighborhood in terms of numerous unsightly problems as a result of his work. There seems to have been a actual change in behavior of people who have been causing problems over a long period of time.

Thanks for the coverage and the recognition of Emerson. Lois Irwin Spokane

Story, editorial good reminders

On behalf of 700 members of Spokane Chapter 32 of the National Association of Retired Federal Employees, I wish to compliment the Spokesman Review for the Labor Day story highlighting government workers.

Your positive words of encouragement recognizing the need for their labors is appreciated. Staff writer Rebecca Nappi’s editorial (“Some better than government work,” Our View, Sept. 2) is especially appropriate to remind the public of services taken for granted in a time when many delight in bashing government.

Thank you for remembering and recognizing the local, state and federal employees who contribute to the quality of life we all enjoy. Dwight Pace Spokane

YOUTH

Charity begins in childhood

“What else do they do besides camping and selling candy?” Remember the that new box of crayons? Was it a box of eight, 16 or a box of 64 with a sharpener in the back? The box was more important than recess when you entered school.

Through the unselfish efforts of the volunteers and youth members of Camp Fire Boys and Girls, and the coordinating efforts of local staff, many children’s lives have been made a little better.

As executive director of The Single Parents Outreach Connection, committed to helping single parents and their families survive the day and take steps toward achievement of their personal and economic potential, I want to acknowledge all the boys and girls with Camp Fire Boys and Girls of the Inland Empire who volunteered their time to help their peers, the clients we serve and the children in our schools throughout Spokane County.

Philanthropy is not something we should acquire as adults. It starts when we are children. It may be through the school supply drive recently conducted by Camp Fire, making a pledge to the Children’s Miracle Network or by taking time to hold a door open for someone older or less physically able than ourselves.

Camp Fire Boys and Girls is helping our children learn today that their efforts make a difference. We could all take a lesson. Brusan Wells, executive director Spokane Single Parent Outreach Connection

HEALTH AND SAFETY

Speeding crackdown? By whom?

Now that school is open there are a lot of TV ads proclaiming how tough the police are going to be if a person is caught speeding in a school zone.

I sure hope they do a better job of enforcement around the schools than they did around Mission Park this summer. All summer, the speed limit was 20 mph. Nobody paid any attention to it, and I never saw a police car patrolling in that area. In fact, I never see police cars anywhere controlling traffic.

Speeding is a citywide pastime and it looks like a lot of revenue for the city is getting away. Cheryl Killingsworth Spokane

Roskelley ought to butt out

The Sept. 5 Spokesman-Review carried a headline, “Commissioner seeks crackdown on teen smoking.” I think Spokane County Commissioner John Roskelley must have bumped his head into a rock on his way up one of those mountains. What makes a county commissioner think that he is entitled to run people’s personal lives?

Roskelley, if you have young children of your own, you tell them what to do and quit throwing your weight around. While you’re at it, remember there is an election day coming up. Bob Thompson Spokane

GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS

Clinton shows goodness where it counts

Compassion, kindness, understanding, acceptance, strength and intelligence are also part of one’s character and President Clinton has shown these qualities many times over.

His character has been under attack from the beginning. Out and out lies bordering on the ridiculous have been told about him from the start.

Look at his record, all that he has accomplished even with a Republican Congress. How can anyone say his character is evil? Look up the word in the dictionary sometime before you cast stones. None of his critics is without sin, yet they all are hurling stones at him, blind to themselves and the candidates they support, who are also only human.

On what do these critics base their morals? The same book tells us not to judge, to forgive as we’ve been forgiven, that man looks on the outside but God looks on the heart, and without love you are nothing.

Love is kind, not judgmental. President Clinton has shown love to our nation. Karla Kirby Spokane

Clearly, Dole doesn’t get it

During his acceptance speech at the Republican National Convention, Robert Dole glossed over the imperative relationship between community and family when he said, “It doesn’t take a village to raise a child, it takes a family.”

Where would children be today if they did not have the public school systems, libraries, sports leagues or after-school programs?

Where would parents be without the peace of mind of another set of adult eyes minding neighborhood children as they play in the street?

America is built on the premise of the word “united.” Together, communities must stand as a safety net, for their parents and for their children. Strong families create strong communities and vice versa.

Family Service Spokane, with the help of the community through United Way, has served thousands of families in times of crises and stress over the past 92 years. In many cases, this work has prevented more-serious problems in families which could impact the community.

It’s time to look for the cure, not the cause. Instead of using “family” to score political sound bites, it’s time to support solutions. Through family services, information, education and advocacy, families can and will survive.

It takes more than just one person to make a family. It also takes more than just a family to make one person. A healthy society is built on strong families and communities - together. Try to separate them and everyone stands alone. Barbara Foltz, director Family Service Spokane

Democrats snubbed one of their best

Many disappointments came out of the Democrats’ meeting in Chicago. The party’s refusal to acknowledge its walking away from constituencies that have traditionally supported it - gays, the welfare lobby and ethnic minorities - comes to mind immediately.

Particularly illuminating, however, was the cynical and cavalier way they treated one of their best people, former president Jimmy Carter.

Although the public does not consider his presidency to have been laudable, he surely deserved better treatment at his party’s national convention. He is the only living Democratic ex-president. He is a man of high intelligence, invaluable experience and international respect. Most importantly, he is arguably the most scrupulously honest and morally consistent man to have served as president in our lifetime.

Carter took stands to give control of the Panama Canal to the Panamanian government. He resisted the impulse to employ a military solution to the hostage crisis in Iran. He imposed sanctions against the Soviet Union as a protest against the invasion of Afghanistan, including the unpopular boycott of the Moscow Olympics.

All these decisions were coolly received by the public and were of questionable value. But they were choices grounded in his high moral convictions about right and wrong. He certainly was a president of ethical constancy and philosophical centeredness.

How unfortunate for the country that the Democrats chose to refuse to honor one of their own who actually has a moral compass and has practiced principled leadership. Robert Hijiya Spokane

Tax system totally corrupt

The Clinton-Gore administration’s current tax proposal is a perfect example of the corruption built into the tax code.

The rhetoric is that it’s family friendly. Targeted tax credits are news-speak for We know better how to spend your money than you do. If you don’t spend it where they want you to, you cannot have it. There are four basic ways to spend money:

Spending your own money on yourself.

Spending your own money on someone else.

Spending someone else’s money on yourself.

Spending someone else’s money on someone else.

Which one is the government? The targeted tax credit removes your ability to make the best decision for yourself. In essence, you’re spending tax money on yourself. They haven’t even removed the transaction cost. They still take the money from you and you have to beg to get it back April 15.

The corruption enters this system through the lobbyist walking the halls paying for tax breaks for some special interest, not the country as a whole.

The administration has introduced a new way to milk you for cash. Now, two groups pay for the tax credit: those who receive the tax credit and those where the tax credit is required to be spent. If it becomes politically expeditious to turn their back on you after they’ve taken your money, they will. Remember the promised 1992 tax break? It never happened, did it?

If you want control over your future, tell them to not take your money. If they don’t listen, throw them out. Justin Havens Moscow, Idaho

IN THE PAPER

Newsletter item got spin treatment

In his Aug. 14 column, Frank Bartel mentioned an article published in the July issue of Washington Business, the newsletter of the Association of Washington Business.

In summarizing our coverage of a recent AWB-sponsored forum on the insurance commissioner’s race, Bartel wrote that our newsletter ” … reported that all four Republican challengers favor a free market approach friendly to insurance companies.” That is not accurate.

In fact, insurance companies were never mentioned in the article. Rather, the candidates focused their remarks on how best to ensure consumers the widest possible choice of affordable health care coverage. The exact sentence in question reads: “They (the candidates) all said they support a free market approach to insurance that offers choice for consumers while maintaining competitive prices.”

Bartel is free in his column to spin things the way he wishes. However, he needs to make it clearer to readers what is his spin and what is fact. Don C. Brunell, president Association of Washington Business, Olympia

Cartoon made sorry statement

Re: Milt Priggee’s Aug. 25 cartoon:

So, your little character can’t look at the powwow the same way since area tribes got into the gaming business? Why? Was some antiquated, romanticized notion about Indian people changed by the tribes’ leap into the business of making money and creating jobs for their people?

What’s with the ludicrous tough guys in mobster suits? Try to do a little more homework before casting such vile aspersions. Watch out. Stereotyping isn’t that far removed from something more insidious and ugly: a subtle, racist undertow.

This annual powwow is sponsored by the American Indian Community Center, a nonprofit organization dedicated to serving Spokane-area Indian families. The powwow is about celebration, renewal and community. The powwow committee works long and hard to create a gathering that has meaning for participants and audience alike.

The unfortunate consequence of your cartoon is the diminishing of this powwow and the many volunteers and generous contributors who helped bring it to life.

Perhaps you owe these people an apology.

For your information, the seventh annual Spokane Falls Indian Encampment and Pow Wow was a huge success. There were 19 drums represented - almost double the numbers of years past.

Dancers came to Riverfront Park from all over the Western states and provinces. In spite of the heat there were large, appreciative audiences. Where were you? Nancy P. White Spokane

Editorial writer gets it right

Kudos to Elana Ashanti Jefferson for her editorial on opposition to so-called creation science being taught in schools (“Balanced lessons, not indoctrination,” From both sides, Aug. 23).

This theory is not science in any meaningful definition of the word. They ignore vast scientific evidence, geologic and fossil-derived, to proclaim the world began according to the narrow definition in the Bible. Earth was created in six days, it says. How do we know what God’s day is? Our day is one revolution of the Earth, 24 hours.

Perhaps God’s day is one revolution of our galaxy around the universe or one revolution of our entire universe around a constellation of universes.

God doesn’t have to be frozen and encapsulated in human works and terms to be believed in and worshiped.

The Bible is a holy book because it represents the inspiration of primitive men trying to understand a world that seemed vast to them but now seems only too small to us. Dorothy Carter Spokane