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

Letters

Tax foes go too far

We should have a new program that allows individuals to not pay any taxes at any level. I think it would be great. However, the people who take up this offer must also agree not to use any government services at all. No driving on public roads, no police service, no firefighters, no Social Security and no unemployment insurance.

These people would also not be able to work, since you must pay taxes if you work, and also could not shop locally since you must pay sales taxes. Anyone willing to take the challenge? If you choose to do this, don’t try to reverse your decision. You can’t talk to anyone in government since you choose not to pay for it.

Of course this is something that would never happen, but how close to this do anti-tax people want to go? When will Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers wake up to the fact that sometimes we need to have higher taxes to pay for the services we need and want. Why do we have a representative that takes a pledge to never raise taxes when it is clear that the pledge prevents her from truly representing us?

Dan Pederson

Spokane

Time to limit terms

The June 23 letter (“Limit terms, negate cash”) from Judy Layton was right on! Far too much time, effort and money is spent on re-electing people for office. In order to get re-elected, the job is neglected.

How do we start the process of a six-year term limit for presidents and members of Congress?

Re-election should not be an option, even for good presidents. Too much compromising of integrity and principles takes place in order to get re-elected. Mandatory retirement for U.S. Supreme Court justices is also a good idea.

Candy Frankel

Spokane

Need trains for people

Create train systems for people, not for coal and corporate profits. I write in response to Dan Thompson’s June 23 letter in which he thought “laughable” the sensible opinions of earlier writers who recognized the environmental issues surrounding coal trains.

The reality is that trains transporting coal primarily profit corporations from overseas sales while depleting natural resources at a significant environmental price. Why not envision a better way to create economic benefit? Gas prices rise or remain at high levels while the population becomes older and less inclined to motor trips.

Hopefully, railroads can be re-established in more locations and with more frequency. Many other countries are far ahead of the United States in more energy-efficient public transportation. Even less developed nations have developed low-cost public transportation that access rural areas. The time has come to encourage the public to ride trains and to develop the infrastructure to let that happen.

Certainly to have more trains is a good idea. But such trains must be for people, not corporate profit.

Helen Dee Hokom

Colville

Silence isn’t golden

Re: “Clearly a hate-crime, Shea sounds alarm,” by Shawn Vestal (June 23).

So the message I got from Vestal’s dismissive and ridiculing article was that Rep. Matt Shea just got what he had coming to him by daring to publicly identify himself as supporting Israel, having affirming biblical, Judeo-Christian views or expressing pro-Jewish sentiments.

Thank you, Vestal, you have taught us all a valuable lesson. We can now crawl back into our houses of faith while, of course, turning the other cheek. But what should we do when we run out of cheeks? Well maybe your larger point was if we just keep silent it will all be OK, and all the bad people will just go away.

Just for good measure I will cross my fingers and click my heels.

John Johnson

Colbert

Agency worth its weight

When I was a child, my watchful mother demanded a butcher cut off the thumb he was pressing on the scale to add weight and place it in our meat order. He didn’t sell us his thumb but instead reweighed our order with his hands away from the scale. Our order was lighter!

Over the years, I have caught many thumbs on scales. Once, I was shown how an air bleed worked on a gas pump, which allowed a little air into a gas purchase. Taxes are still collected on the phantom ounces of your deli purchase, as well as the phantom quarts of gas that were not dispensed to your gas tank on your fuel fill-up. Only Weights and Measures protects us from these outright thefts.

The untold reason for the city of Spokane’s removal of the Weights and Measures Department is to increase tax revenue through undelivered goods.

Earl Gibbs

Spokane Valley

Police apology needed

Spokane County Sheriff Ozzie Knezovich showed great public relations in thanking the citizens of Spokane for helping two heroic officers shot by Charles Wallace. I believe a similar heartfelt statement from the Spokane police, specifically to the “citizens of Spokane,” could give closure to the Otto Zehm tragedy.

Are we to believe the Zehm tragedy will mark a change in the culture of Spokane police when, on Nov. 4, 2011, in a federal courtroom, 50 officers boorishly saluted a comrade convicted of using excessive force? As former prosecutor James Sweetser wrote, “leaders must put citizens’ interest in truth and justice ahead of the city’s financial interests …” (“Learn lessons of Zehm,” June 12).

Former Mayor Mary Verner and police Chief Anne Kirkpatrick deemed the salute “insensitive toward the friends and family of Otto Zehm.” They failed to mention how insulting it was to the citizens of Spokane, and the nation where the story “Cops estranged from community” went viral.

Former Seattle police Chief Norm Stamper said the officers should have been fired! Mayor David Condon, you did a wonderful job apologizing to Ann Zehm, Otto’s mother. Secure a complete apology from the 50 officers.

Mike Kraft

Spokane

Clancy a real public servant

McMorris Rodgers v. Clancy: No brainer!

Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers doesn’t hold a candle to James Clancy! Who are our public servants? Someone who lies to us about protecting Social Security and Medicare while working to destroy them behind our backs?

Or someone who, every day, worked to help his community and the struggling people in it?

I’ll pick James Clancy over McMorris Rodgers every time!

Long live James Clancy! You are truly an unsung hero!

Stanley R. Carpenter

Spokane

Proposition 74 is anti-liberty

Wake up! Your liberty is at risk! Proposition 74 is allowing a few religious zealots and political opportunists to usurp the “unalienable Rights” of “Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness” to a minority group of your fellow law-abiding citizens.

If a zealous religious faction and political opportunists, through demagogy and deceit, can deny us of our rights because of differences in color, religion, national origin or sexual orientation, what is next? Will we embrace past Christian persecutions of Jews, heretics, Africans, women, etc.? How about an old-fashioned pogrom, burning at the stake or hanging? Where is their Christian love or compassion? Shame on them!

In 1967, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in Loving v. Virginia, “Marriage is one of the ‘basic civil rights of man,’ fundamental to our very existence and survival.”

Think! When you usurp the rights of a few, you risk the rights of all. Contrary to popular myth, sexual identity is not a choice. It is determined at birth and is not reversible.

In the name of liberty, compassion and common sense, I urge you to vote to reject Proposition 74 – for all Washingtonians.

James C. Lanham

Cheney

Protect marriage, sign petitions

Since the dawn of mankind, people have known that God’s plan for healthy families and children is for one man and one woman in a committed marital relationship to care for and to protect each other as well as their children. Yes, this doesn’t always happen; yes, single parents raise healthy children. But the fact is the odds of a child being happy and healthy are greatly magnified when their natural parents are married.

It is less costly to society if a child’s natural parents are married. There are many reasons for government to encourage one man and one woman to be married. I believe most citizens believe this is true. Our legislators, who voted to change the definition of marriage to include same sex couples, are wrong.

Their new legal definition of marriage will open the door to future polygamy. Where does it end? Our children will be taught this is good. The first week in July, Initiative 1192 petitions are due at the secretary of state’s office. Help us put marriage to a vote of the people. Call (509) 435-8870, or email info2protectmarriagewa.com.

Sign and send petitions to Protect Marriage Washington as soon as possible!

Cindy Zapotocky

Spokane

Alternative media needed

I believe Leonard Pitts Jr. (June 25) was comparing old media to new media. Accurately, Pitts suggests there will always be a need for “boots on the ground” professional, hardworking, honest reporters.

Sarah Palin, to RightOnLine.org new media activists, said “every citizen can be a reporter, can take on the powers that be.” What makes new media necessary? Palin suggests (citing many examples) mainstream media is not dependable to provide immediate and unbiased news.

Some under-reported or not reported news I’ve noticed: facts on the Fast & Furious investigation; Occupy protesters’ outrageous behavior, including drug tents, rape, defecating on police cars and millions of dollars in property destruction (occupyunmasked.com); 2008 election coverage of illegal intimidation by Black Panthers swinging batons as voters go into polls; and, more recently, mainstream media cut and pasted tapes of the George Zimmerman/Trayvon Martin encounter.

Exposed, they apologized, but not without damage to the case and their own integrity.

Too many old media outlets and reporters are no longer reporting, but editing or omitting the news to suit their leanings. The people are onto them. Whether by alternative news sources, blogs or citizen journalism, the public desires truth.

Babette R. Banducci

Coeur d’Alene