Letters To The Editor

IN THE PAPER

Periscope item got in too deep

An item in the Aug. 15 Public Periscope column, “Whistleblower tattles on himself,” relates to the whistleblower complaint that I recently filed with Spokane County concerning the manner in which Carol Darby was hired by this agency as a policy coordinator at $7,500 per month. The article states that I am a party to that whistleblower complaint along with Spokane County commissioners Pat Mummey and Skip Chilberg - effectively, that I have whistleblown on myself, as well as on my counterparts.

That statement is not true. Instead, I filed a complaint against commissioners Mummey and Chilberg under provisions of the county’s whistleblower policy claiming improper governmental action on their part.

The article goes on to say that I had language inserted into Carol Darby’s contract requiring her to spend a minimum of 32 hours a week at the courthouse. Now, apparently, I am relying upon that same language as the basis, in part, for my whistleblower complaint.

Again, this statement is not true. Ms. Darby herself requested that the terms of the contract be based on an average 32 hours per week. I have correspondence from Ms. Darby that predates any contractual arrangement with Spokane County requesting that the time frame be observed. That correspondence, along with my whistleblower complaint, is available for public review to interested parties. Steve Hasson Spokane County Commissioner

Story poorly done, needlessly hurtful

I have attended the Rocky Mountain Academy in Bonners Ferry, Idaho, for the past 18 months. Your July 19 article on the tragic and shocking death of a student who attended my school was not only infantile and trite in content, it deeply offended and angered me and many of my friends here who have felt the impact of this senseless tragedy as well.

Suicide is an incredibly shortsighted and selfish solution to one’s problems, and it saddens me that my peer chose it. But your speculative and irresponsible reporting did nothing but cheapen the loss of his life further by turning his obituary into a secondhand restatement of interpreted facts.

The article went on to list the monthly tuition and identities of graduates of this school whose parents were well known. Of what possible relevance to a young man’s death could enrollment fees and celebrity gossip have? A person took his own life at my school and the effect that has, and will continue to have, on my life and the lives of my friends is tremendous and grievous.

Your article only glamorized and supported the very kind of insensitivity and ignorance that led to my classmate’s death. Dylan Drummond Bonners Ferry, Idaho

School not as it was portrayed

I am a student at Rocky Mountain Academy. I am disturbed by two recent Spokesman-Review reports concerning Rocky Mountain Academy which contain unnecessary statements that distort the reality of what this school is about.

This school is not a secluded haven for affluent people’s children who abused drugs and alcohol. It is rather a school that helps young people find their own way of life in a positive setting and by giving them more of a perspective on their lives.

I hope that in future articles you decide to report the reality of the situation and not unconfirmed speculation that distorts the purpose of Rocky Mountain Academy. Michael Nigro Bonners Ferry, Idaho

`Dinky hamlet’ slap uncalled for

Was it really necessary for your wannabe reporter to refer to our town as a “dinky hamlet”? (“North Idaho gets national respect as retirement area,” Idaho edition, Aug. 9) As a fourth-generation Priest Riverite, I resent that!

In addition to the beautiful scenery and unsurpassed outdoor recreation, we have an active business community here, including three sawmills, two banks, two doctors, two dentists, several law firms, accounting firms, two malls, a supermarket, three convenience stores, a drug store, gas stations, two motels, seven restaurants, three bars and other retail establishments too numerous to mention, a weekly newspaper, a library and a golf course. We have an active chamber of commerce and a development corporation working to bring more manufacturers to our industrial park. We have a restoration commission working to restore the landmark Charbonneau Hotel.

And, believe it or not, we even have electric lights, telephone service and cable TV.

Of course, we do lack some of the amenities of bigcity living, such as a soaring crime rate, traffic tie-ups, air pollution and all that good stuff. But I guess we will survive. Mary L. Will Priest River, Idaho

CRIME LEGISLATION/FIREARMS

Liberals have no patent on principles

On Saturday evening (Aug. 13), C-SPAN had one of its most enlightening and entertaining schedules in some time.

First, there was Rep. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) blaming the Republican leadership and the 58 National Rifle Association Democrats - whatever that means - for defeat of the House rule on the crime bill.

Then there was President Clinton’s hastily arranged and previously unscheduled address to the National Association of Peace Organizations, blaming the NRA and the Republicans for the same thing. He did, however, extend political forgiveness to the 11 members of the black caucus who voted no, since they voted as a matter of principle, according to him.

The president and Rep. Schumer seem unable to realize that others have principles too, such as being against $8 billion of pork and in favor of protecting the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding citizens.

Why is it that liberals demand a ban on so-called assault weapons as part of this crime bill, while at the same time their conferees deleted the NRA-backed provision for additional punishment for criminal use of a firearm? What kind of a crime bill is it which potentially punishes honest citizens for possession of firearms while refusing to add extra penalties upon conviction for the criminal use of one?

Bill Clinton will be protected for life by Secret Service agents armed with machine guns, yet he asked on Sunday for our prayers that semiautomatic rifles be banned and that criminals not receive extra punishment for using guns. What a guy. Vincent Reagor Nine Mile Falls

Amendment concerned with militia

The Supreme Court ruled years ago that the Second Amendment refers to a “well regulated militia,” as stated in the first sentence of the amendment, and not to individuals. In fact, the 7th U.S. Court of Appeals stated, in Quillici vs. Village of Morton Grove (1982), “We conclude that the right to keep and bear handguns is not guaranteed by the Second Amendment.”

So why does Ron Koleber (Letters, Aug. 14) make false statements about the Second Amendment? The gun lobby many years ago began a campaign of misinformation through propaganda that the amendment referred to individuals rather than to the militia. This persistent campaign hoodwinked the unsuspecting public that the amendment gave individuals the right to keep and bear arms, even though the courts consistently ruled the exact opposite.

Assault weapons have no place on the streets of our civilized nation. The awesome power of these weapons was demonstrated recently when a mentally disturbed individual legally bought an assault rifle, went to Fairchild Air Force Base and killed four people and wounded 23 others before he was killed.

Don’t let the special interest gun lobby endanger you and your family’s personal safety. Write or phone your two senators and congressional representatives today and tell them to support a ban on these deadly assault weapons. Walter A. Becker Pullman

Show bill is not just boondoggle

Regarding the $33 billion crime bill that was recently defeated, I would like, as a taxpayer, to see an itemization of who, what, where and how much of this money is going to what program. From what I have read, over $7 billion is earmarked for social programs alone. Of that $7 billion, $10 million is being given to Lamar University in Texas to “thank” Congressman Jack Brooks, D-Texas, for sponsoring this bill.

Remember the $16.2 billion “stimulus” package of taxpayer dollars that President Clinton was going to inject into the economy to boost its growth? When the Wall Street Journal on April 6, 1993, published a sample of who, what, where and how much, support plummeted, and the American public later found out that the economy was doing so well that it didn’t need any help. The fact remained there was enough pork in that stimulus package to feed, clothe and house the nation’s homeless for a good many years.

Congress should put aside all the politics and name calling and wake up. Let America’s taxpayers know exactly what this legislation disguised as a crime bill is funding.

Why is it that our illustrious representatives in Congress can fund with our hard-earned dollars anything under the sun without letting us know what it is they are funding? The travesty is that we, the people - the taxpayers - continue to let this happen. Charlotte L. Benjamin Spokane

Those nay voters got it right

The hypocrisy of President Bill Clinton is almost unbelievable.

Because 225 members of Congress chose to vote against his midnight basketball, ballroom dance lessons, arts and crafts programs and drug dealers as drug counselors, he tells us we have been confused by wellfunded, organized special interest groups.

All us ordinary, God-fearing, hard-working Americans aren’t smart enough to know we have been confused. Good old God-fearing, podium-pounding, true-blue, family-loving, draft-dodging Bill will tell us.

Too bad, Bill. At least some members of Congress had the common sense to vote against this wasteful, porkladen legislation.

If this so-called crime bill had actually addressed crime, such as with mandatory sentencing for armed assault, new prisons, etc., and left out the irrational anti-firearms provisions and ineffectual social programs, it would have passed without a hitch.

Actually, we have sufficient laws on the books now to control crime and misuse of firearms, so what we really need is an enforcement bill to stop the leniency of the court systems.

Now we are told the real arm-twisting on the unruly congressmen is about to begin. Imagine, promises of unlimited pork, vote trading, and/or intimidation by no lesser zealots than Rep. Tom Foley and Bill Clinton.

Hopefully, the dissident congressmen will resist this unethical onslaught by the Clinton staff. Fred Malstrom Spokane

GOVERNMENT

Keep enterprise government-free

Doug Floyd’s Aug. 12 editorial about privatizing liquor sales was well done and right on point. John Webster’s opposing view represents much of what is wrong with big-government addicts.

Government should not be in competition with private enterprise at any level, certainly not at the retail level. This is a prime example of privatizing government activities. It needs to be done, and soon.

It gags this writer to think the state would insist that current liquor store employees be hired by private enterprise, and at current pay levels yet. But maybe that’s necessary to get this job done. The bottom line, however, is to get the government out of private enterprise, which can always do the job better. Maury Hickey Spokane

Change might aid underage imbibers

In the talk of selling liquor in supermarkets, there is no mention of the possibility of shoplifting by minors. This is controlled in liquor stores in a way that would not be possible in a supermarket. D.E. Carter Spokane

Bureaucrat lacks retailing savvy

Regarding the privatization of liquor sales, the “twilight zone” is alive and well in Olympia.

Liquor Board Chairman Joe McGavick wants booze to be sold by private retailers but he wants the state to be the wholesaler.

There are no “wholesalers” left in the real world. Discounters sell for less because they buy for less from manufacturers, not because they are such nice guys.

Chairman McGavick suggests that the state’s liquor sales staff of 700 employees can be forced into the private sector at the same wage and perk level as the state provides. That bright idea must be the result of some very extensive research. If discount outlets get their noses under the corner of the state’s wholesale tent, the ensuing battle would make Custer’s last stand look like a Sunday school picnic in the Palouse.

Ask any retailer what happened when the state tried to maintain an artificial profit level on cigarettes.

The state has already sold its soul in the liquor trade. The board hopes through expanding sales to be able to fund more social workers/psychiatrists to deal with people fighting alcoholism.

McGavick should leave retailing decisions to someone who understands the system and collect his hard-earned $5,635 per month bureaucratic salary picking interior color schemes for his chain of “government springs.” (I suggest they be painted plum, as in “political.”) This would be a whole lot closer to his level of expertise. Tom Baker Waitsburg, Wash.

State employees’ position not as stated

Frank Bartel’s Aug. 10 column paints a picture of state employee compensation run amok. But the facts tell a different story. For instance:

The state’s own salary survey shows that state employees on average earn about 14 percent less than their private sector counterparts. But in the past two years, state employees have gone without a general pay increase.

In the past year, state employees have saved taxpayers some $50 million on their health benefits plan. State employees continue to pay more out of their own pockets for health benefits, but they’re also making wiser health care decisions. That’s allowed the state to reduce the amount it contributes for each state employee’s health insurance premium. Those costs have gone down 14.5 percent under what was originally budgeted. Private business would do well to try to match that success.

On retirement benefits, state employees get no free ride. Unlike many employees in the private sector, Washington’s state employees are required to contribute between 5 and 6 percent of their salaries (depending on when they were hired) toward their retirement. The money is invested in the economy, creating jobs and supporting businesses. On retirement, state employees get the return on their investment in the form of a pension. I believe that investing and getting a decent return on an investment is a basic underpinning of our American capitalist free enterprise system. Tim Welch, director of public affairs Washington Federation of State Employees, Olympia

Send welfare checks to landlords

I rented to two women; each had one child. At any time I came to collect or find out why my rent wasn’t paid, I found they had many reasons - “someone stole our checkbook” and various other excuses - including bum checks. Always there were extra kids, men and women present, but I was told they were socalled visitors or relatives. I had my suspicions but accepted their many stories.

When I was finally able to evict them, there was mail arriving for 10 different people using this address. I’m out four months’ rent and $550 for garbage left in my garage. Utility bills, which are billed to the landlord, also had to be paid by me. There were three different colors of paint smeared on the walls and ceilings.

Why must the landlord be the loser in all these cases?

The welfare department should send the rent directly to the landlord.

No more welfare people will ever rent from me again. I just can’t afford to rent to them for nothing. Peter Therens Spokane