Letters

I just got back from my first hike over the South Hill Bluff after the "misunderstanding." I feel sick to my stomach at the destruction. This illegal road reeks of an attempt to 'beg forgiveness rather than ask for permission'. My hope is that there is no forgiveness and that everyone involved is held as accountable as possible; including fines, withholding future permits, license forfeiture and loss of jobs.

The article about the unauthorized road bulldozed of the South Hill Bluff shows that liars think everybody is stupid. All parties involved know more, and I hope The Spokesman pursues the truth.

I believe in free speech, but I find it hard to rationalize publishing a political cartoon like the Mallard Fillmore strip in the April 15 paper. It doesn't really even attempt to make a point. Sometimes an "offensive" work can stimulate a productive discussion. This work, however, doesn't bring anything positive that this reader can discern. Please think twice before publishing anything else that only seeks to be divisive. It doesn't serve anyone's interests.

It makes me cringe every time I hear a Spokane city official say, "spectacular architectural feature", as city CFO Gavin Cooley recently said. No, he wasn't referring to the University District pedestrian bridge that will cost millions more than is required, but will look really nice. He and other city officials have heard the outcries from the taxpayers of Spokane for another rock climbing gym, to compete with privately run businesses.

As a (relatively) new American, I was intrigued by Leo Fagan's viewpoint on America and Americanism ("One way ticket out," April 16). He seems to believe that America is the greatest country in the world (a view shared by Russians, Koreans, Japanese, French and many other countries), and I am not going to argue with his belief.

Wildlife Services "temporarily" stopped the use of M-44 cyanide bombs in Idaho. It took the near loss of a child's life to realize the insidious impact of this torturous agency on wildlife.

You know, I actually have sympathy for the luckless folks who have to go through the permitting process with a local municipality. Obtaining a permit is daunting, especially when going through it for the first time. Also, it is a moving target. So even if you are experienced at obtaining permits, it is still challenging because changes are always taking place, both internal and external to the municipality.

Cathy McMorris Rodgers may be completely unresponsive to the needs of her constituents (no town halls and no replies to requests for information), but at least she doesn't block you from her Facebook page after you leave a comment that disagrees with her.

Bombing a Syrian airfield in reaction to the gassing of Syrian children may or may not have been the right thing to do, but the way President Donald Trump went about it was certainly very wrong. In this, he again went off half-cocked, for which he should be impeached, assuming that our representatives are not just a bunch of wimps.

Our upside-down state tax code is described as the nation's worst, with our regressive sales tax providing half our revenues while the poor pay seven times the rich.

There is one important aspect of Congress giving our internet providers the right to sell our internet usage without our consent that is not being discussed at this time. Congress has made it easier for the federal government to spy on Americans without obtaining a warrant from the FISA Court. It has long been known that our spy agencies have created storefront businesses to cover their espionage activities. These superficial businesses can now purchase our internet activities under the guise of obtaining marketing information.

Sue Lani Madsen accuses wildlife research scientists of lacking common sense and concern for animal welfare ("Stress and common sense," April 8), contrasting the care she provides her domestic goats with the research methods used by wildlife scientists. She further attempts to argue that the researcher's handling of newborn bighorn lambs caused them to die.

The guard at Mann-Grandstaff VA Medical Center who assaulted a veteran and a small dog was apparently never taught to use his words instead of his hands to solve problems. The situation should have been de0escalated with words. This veteran served our country, put himself in harm's way, for all of us. A kerfuffle about a tiny dog should never have led to assault against him.

I thank Greg Young of Colbert for his farsighted letter to the editor of March 24. The staff of Cathy McMorris Rodgers sent enough form letters neglecting to address my concerns, so I too have a strong desire to see her replaced with someone who will actually consider thoughts of constituents.

Please explain your United Airlines headline in the April 12 paper, specifically the thrust of "after doctor with felony conviction had to give up seat." What is the significance of the fact that this assault victim had previously been convicted of a crime? Are you suggesting that he deserved the brutal treatment he sustained from the pigs who dragged him down the aisle? I believe the doctor had previously been sufficiently punished for his misdeeds. I am disgusted by this so-called journalism.

Now is the time to ask: Am I supporting the right political party? Parties have ultimate goals.

I'm hoping that President Trump has learned that governing, unlike business, means coordinating rather than dictating. Seems to me that he spends more time blaming others than trying to find solutions. Think we would all have more respect and belief in him if he adopted Harry Truman's motto, "The buck stops here."

Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers needs to hear from all her constituents regarding her vote against reducing the cost of prescription drugs. The U.S. has the highest costs in the world.

In the April 9 edition of the S-R, a long article on the proposal to remodel a section of North Monroe Street presented alternative views of how residents, but mainly business owners, view the concept. Turn to page 14 for the balance of the article and you are greeted with the headline, "Some say project could hurt business." Some say the earth is flat or the moon landing was faked, too.