Letters

Program cuts welcomed

For Jim Camden (Feb. 12) to say “no one” would like to see key state programs cut is as ridiculous as Gov. Chris Gregoire saying her proposed sales tax increase would only be temporary (Jan. 8). Camden should talk to some of the Ron Paul supporters at the upcoming caucuses. He would find lots of people who would like to cut the state budget by 50 percent or more.

A 50 percent cut or elimination of many of these key programs would slow our socialistic redistribution of wealth, improve our state’s economy and give what’s left of our middle class some tax relief. When are our state legislators going to figure out that the Keynesian economics of spending ourselves rich doesn’t work?

Many people agree with economist Frederick Bastiat that this continuous increasing of taxes, spending and borrowing by our state government is nothing more than legalized plunder.

Steve Dunham

Spokane

Dunn deals reveal values

Looks like Bob Dunn had done quite well for himself representing the city’s brass ($15,000 attorney fees for Brad Thoma, and $833,000 for Jay Mehring). And yet, The Spokesman-Review says the city “deserves credit for keeping its human services set aside despite a very constrained budget.” The city originally allocated $898,000, much less than the 1 percent negotiated with Mayor John Power in 2001. This amount is only $50,000 less than Dunn has made with his Dunn deals with the city (not to mention the millions he will make representing the owners in the Columbia Bank lease).

Then the editorial crew chastised NATIVE Health for questioning the way the funding is distributed. And we wonder why our communities of color feel disenfranchised. The editorial ends with a horrible comparison of human service funding to “contact sports,” suggesting that NATIVE Health and other organizations learn to play the game. The lives of those most in need are not a game.

Seems like the only game in town is fat attorney fees, and the good old boy network of the Spokane police back in business. I’m so done with our current form of legal and social “justice.”

Louise Chadez

Spokane

Rejoice with retirement

Say it ain’t so, Joe! West Valley School District Superintendent Polly Crowley is either resigning or retiring June 30, depending on which word you choose from the article in The Spokesman-Review. Why? What school administrator, with a cushy $249,000 a year salary, overseeing a district with less than 5,000 students, walks away from it?

Guilt? Nah! Our lavishly paid super has something else planned. Lobbyist for the Washington Education Association, maybe? How about a political appointment from our outgoing governor? Possibly. No matter what it is she plans, everyone within her realm will pay a hefty price for her presence! Anyway, my wallet thanks her also for leaving!

James L. Youngman

Millwood