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

Letters

Wrong about Idaho primary

The point you missed in discussing the Idaho primary (May 18) is that it is a process solely for party members. The party is selecting its candidates, not the general public, and certainly not the gutless independents.

The heart of the issue is that there are not enough people who choose to get involved in the process. As a Bonner County chairman for a good many years, I can assure you there are lots of people who bemoan politics but choose not to be involved, although in reality we all are whether we like it or not.

In Bonner County, the dedicated party members routed the newborns. We need to ensure that the two-party system works; otherwise we have the European multiparty system.

If you think that works, think again. In my judgment it was your editorial that was wrong, wrong, wrong. In Idaho, we need to make the primary work, which will strengthen both parties.

Paul Rechnitzer

Sagle, Idaho

Is McMorris Rodgers listening?

What do we do when our congresswoman blocks us from communicating with her? On the day Cathy McMorris Rodgers appeared on “Meet the Press” a few weeks ago, she also blocked me from commenting on Facebook. I sent her an email asking her why. No response. I called her office and was told they’d return the call. I’ve never heard back.

I wrote a letter to The Spokesman-Review that wasn’t published. What does a constituent do when her representative in Congress refuses to even acknowledge a constituent’s existence and right to communicate with her? Who is one to turn to when Cathy McMorris Rodgers is your representative and appears to want you to just shut up?

There is my vote in November, but it’s just one vote. Does anybody else want her to hear them? Is she listening?

Deborah Lawrence Hale

Spokane

Support Hadian for governor

I would like to share a wonderful Washington gubernatorial candidate with you. His name is Shahram Hadian, and he is a conservative Republican. He is the only truly pro-life, pro-family and pro-business candidate seeking this office.

Hadian was born in Iran. In 1978, his family fled just before the shah was overthrown. They came to America and later moved to Canada. As he grew up, his parents ran small businesses. Shahram legally became a U.S. citizen after close to 15 years of waiting. He converted from Islam to Christianity and became a pastor. He has served as a teacher, coach and police officer, and has traveled with his company, the TIL Project.

Hadian is not an establishment candidate, believing in principles over party. He is a Republican because the party reflects his beliefs, not because it’s expedient. He is well-read on all issues and will not compromise on principles.

As a young adult and first-time voter, I am eager to vote for a man who stands on the principles I believe in! Please consider this amazing candidate by viewing his website, hadian2012.com, or his speeches on YouTube.

Jeremy McCracken

Mead

More on hepatitis C

Dr. Alisa Hideg missed a couple of points in her May 8 article on hepatitis. Hepatitis C can be transferred by bodily fluids, and also through impure recycled water in a dentist office. This happened to me (and possibly others?) in 1999 at a local dentist’s office after a small surgical incision had contaminated water flushed over it.

The infection was luckily caught a few months later when I donated blood at the blood bank. I had to go through six months of grueling treatment to kill the antibodies that I was infected with, but the treatment worked and I am hepatitis C-free.

If hepatitis C is detected early enough, it can be successfully cured, as happened to me. Some dentist offices may still recycle their water and purify it, and people should be aware of the dangers in something as simple as a dentist visit. This dentist has since retired, sold his practice and is now deceased.

Also, Hideg says ibuprofen is hard on the liver. My doctor tells me ibuprofen affects your kidneys, not your liver. I wonder who’s right?

Linda Taylor

Spokane