Letters for Thursday, Dec. 28, 2023
Love new LTE policy
It was like a wonderful early “Christmas Gift” reading about your new “Letter to the Editor Policy.” In this crazy world of conspiracy theories, unchecked “facts,” and those who love to provoke anger and hate in their writing, I find your policy refreshing. Thank you. I especially like the fact the letters should be based on our local community and keeping the facts straight and verifiable.
I’ve always thought a newspaper was the heartbeat of a community and I like that the “Letters to the Editor” will focus on our local community.
Carol Woodward
Spokane Valley
Not a fan of new letters policy
Recently, The Spokesman-Review published a policy change to letters to the editor that only letters about local issues will be accepted after Jan. 1. I’m not sure I understand the reasoning behind this change and as an occasional letter writer I find this new policy very disappointing.
With that said, apparently this will be my last letter regarding Donald J. Trump as the leading Republican candidate for president in 2024.
This election will have huge implications for the nation and obviously locally, too. His Christmas message definitely should make everyone concerned about our nation’s future, if he were elected. Part of his Christmas letter this year he wished merry Christmas to “world leaders, both good and bad, but none of which are as evil and ‘sick’ as the thugs we have inside our county.” Referring to President Biden and Jack Smith, Special Counsel for the U.S. Department of Justice, Trump wrote, “May they rot in hell. Again, merry Christmas”.
I hope The S-R rethinks their letters policy.
Chris Powell
Spokane
Go figure this logic
How can you be found guilty of a crime you’ve never been charged with? Guess we best tread lightly in the Rockies.
William Baxley
Spokane
Area homeless result of corporate welfare?
A Christmas Eve Spokesman-Review headline reads, “Half of WA babies born into poverty;” actually, a stat of 47% reported later in the article, roughly 40,000 born each year under the state’s Medicaid program. It further reports that 53% in Spokane County were born via Medicaid, and greater than 70% in Adams, Grant, Ferry, Okanogan and Yakima counties. Wow!
A proposed law, previously co-sponsored by Spokane’s Democratic Rep. Riccelli, would create funds for low-income families to make up for the state’s growing wealth gap. However, Ritzville Republican Sen. Mark Schoesler doesn’t support “baby bonds” because, he says, “a family’s income often improves with time.”
So, will the 53% of Spokane’s babies born into poverty eventually achieve economic stability as implied by Schoesler? Or will many join our rising homeless population due to income inequity and our nation’s growing wealth gap?
Trump’s 2017 TCGA tax plan drastically reduced corporate taxes and provided for unprecedented tax breaks to the rich, permanently! Related tax legislation at the time provided for temporary modest tax breaks for the middle class. Now, corporations make record profits – e.g., Big Pharma, petroleum, etc. – and we still subsidize the oil and gas industry.
Why all of this while federal debt grows in leaps and bounds due to decreased revenue? Many conservatives deplore social programs – Social Security, Medicare, etc. – however, our growing wealthy gap, income inequity and increased homeless in Spokane are a result of “welfare” for corporations and the rich!
Phillip Moyle
Spokane