Letters To The Editor

IDAHO VIEWPOINTS

Highway crew top-notch

A few people have a negative attitude about government. When you add rebuilding roads, the hassle of being held up by the construction and a seeming lack of consideration for the public that is sometimes encountered, the attitudes become complaints.

Recently my husband hauled some of the gravel for the Burma Road job for East Side Highway District and he was very impressed with their professionalism. The public is important to them, and traffic was moved through swiftly and courteously.

There were no bosses having “power struggles” or unhappy employees putting time in for their paychecks - just a bunch of real nice people taking pride in their job.

We’ve decided the good old boys from the good old days have gone to work for East Side Highway District. From Ken Renner, his crew and office staff, to Commissioner Dick Edinger, it was a pleasure doing business with you. Pat and Donna Conery Rathdrum

Highway work impressive

I enjoy complimenting the Idaho Transportation Department for a great job they did on the highway between Rathdrum and Spirit Lake.

What I like that’s so important is the white line on the edge of the road. I also want to compliment the painters who mark the highways. It amazes me how straight the lines are. Apparently, the equipment they use must be computer operated. Whatever it is, the operators must be masters of the trade. When I drive at night that white line is a godsend, especially when it’s raining.

Thank you, good people, for a super good job. We’re really proud of you. Keep up the work and never let the white lines go out of sight. Howard Batchelder Rathdrum

Supporters help Catholic school

As the drawing for our First Annual Classic Car Raffle approaches on Sept. 2, I’d like to take this opportunity to thank those who support Holy Family Catholic School in this endeavor.

Many local businesses graciously display our first and second prizes - a 1963 Red Corvette Convertible and 1993 Harley Davidson. Others display posters and sell tickets for the raffle. Dozens of volunteers give of their precious time to distribute flyers or sit with the prizes (many times in the hot sun) and chat with those who share our dream. A sincere “thank you” to all who help.

Coeur d’Alene’s last Catholic school closed its doors in 1971. Kootenai County is ready for the return of Catholic education. As a matter of fact, many of our children travel to Spokane for Catholic education.

A Catholic school would not only bring many gifts to the Catholic community, but would complement our public schools by providing a choice for parents seeking Christ-centered education for their children.

Over the last several months, Holy Family Catholic School has been using the motto, “Be an Angel!” The children of local Catholic families have spent a number of mornings inspiring crowds by dressing as angels and marching in holiday parades. We hope the community will continue adding to our growing ranks of “angels.” I urge your support of Holy Family Catholic School. Mary A. Stewart Post Falls

SPOKANE MATTERS

US West shortchanging public

In response to Rebecca Nappi’s Aug. 9 editorial (“Let’s get tough with US West”), the officers of The Communications Workers of America (CWA) Local 7818, were glad to see you come to the defense of US West employees.

If the public doesn’t already know, the outside technicians in the Spokane area are being forced to work mandatory overtime, at least 55 to 60 hours per week. In the heat of summer, how is that working safely? They’re doing the best they can with the amount of people currently employed. They want to give good customer service but the processes they have to work with slow them even more.

This weekend, the public will probably hear of the possibility of a work stoppage due to the breakdown of contract negotiations with CWA. US West will state that customers won’t notice any difference in their phone service. They won’t, provided: they already have a dial tone and it doesn’t die; they don’t need an operator to assist them with a long distance or directory assistance call; and their service doesn’t suffer a cable cut or the effects of a major storm.

US West may attempt to blame their service woes on employees doing their best to serve the customer. Those employees in Spokane didn’t ask to be “re-engineered,” or relocated out of the area.

Employees are doing everything possible to provide service to our customers. Our hope is that US West will soon regain consciousness and give you, the customer, enough people to do the job. Jeannie Morris, president Communications Workers of America, Local 7818, Spokane

GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS

Worst ‘trough suckers’ on the right

In response to Esther Trusler, Donna Kuhn, and (syndicated cartoonist) Chuck Asay (Letters and illustration, Aug. 9):

First, Ms. Trusler speaks of how the pagan left and the liberal trough suckers are bleeding the nation dry.

Excuse me, but I have asked very little of federal funds except when I was in the military. But Title X funding, which the majority of those who voted (not even 30 percent), want dismantled, costs taxpayers less than corporate welfare, private school welfare, home school welfare, farm welfare and foreign aid to our enemies have. The radical right is doing far more trough sucking than the liberals.

Donna Kuhn would have been more than correct if she had castigated the top echelon of the FBI and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms for foolish and grave mistakes. But what she complains about as torture for the Branch Davidians was meant to break the siege. CS gas isn’t dangerous. I was exposed to CS in an enclosed and closely confined environment as part of gas mask training.

Chuck Asay is prepared to declare that what happened to the Branch Davidians is equivalent to what happened to Rodney King. What happened to his criminal past and criminal act? The Branch Davidians were white. The agents were white.

What truly separates the incidents is the other ignored fact: Koresh was a doomsday anti-Christ who accumulated a lot of weapons.

In this case, the government should have acted. What would Koresh have done if left alone? Joan Harman Coeur d’Alene

Help Republicans prevent disaster

With the national debt rapidly approaching $5 trillion and interest paid to finance the monster soon to engulf half the federal budget, you might think congressional Democrats would realize this crisis and jump on the bandwagon of deficit reduction.

Instead, they are rallying with nearly every interest group and screaming about the loss of their causes’ funding. I know these reductions may be painful, but we have to start with domestic programs because the military can’t be the scapegoat anymore.

I find many older Americans’ attitudes about revamping Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security completely selfish. They don’t seem to care this country is going bankrupt and their children will be left with only crumbs from the previous generation’s bread. Fortunately for younger America, the new Republican majority is addressing the unpopular issues of reducing spending, waste and returning power to the states.

I urge you to become active in the local Republican party, now. There are several campaigns currently under way that need energetic, dedicated volunteers in order to win. Help keep the momentum going, so we can take back the future which was stolen from us during 40 years of Democrat control.

True, there may be some pain now but a major catastrophe preparing to hit a few years down the road is being averted. Stephen A. Taylor, vice chairman Spokane Area Young Republicans

Title X fund should go to states

Sandra Meicher, director of Planned Parenthood of Spokane and Whitman Counties, praises her clinics’ family planning and health care services (Guest column, Aug. 3). She believes Rep. George Nethercutt acted irresponsibly when he voted to dismantle Title X grants to agencies that plan families by abortion.

Ms. Meicher stated that withholding these cash benefits to poor women denies them the means to prevent pregnancies. Excuse me, but abortion and condoms are not the only ways to “plan families.”

Washington state is the 15th highest in the nation for teenage pregnancies. It’s a poor investment of our federal tax dollars when $205,000 (out of $193 million Title X money) is used to support an agency that undermines the integrity of the family by providing birth control, “safe sex” sex education and abortion services without parents’ knowledge or consent.

I applaud Rep. Nethercutt for supporting the (failed) Livingston amendment, which would have passed the $193 million on to states and communities to spend on maternal and child health programs or to migrant health centers. Investing in our children’s health makes more sense for our nation’s future than investing in their death. Penny Lancaster Spokane

LAW ENFORCEMENT

Officers, agencies earned praise

Regarding the recent explosives theft at the Lucky Friday Mine in Mullan, Idaho: We, as citizens, often complain and bad-mouth our police departments and federal law enforcement agencies, especially when there’s a possibility one of the agencies or officers has done something wrong. We often take our law enforcement agencies and the many dedicated officers for granted.

I want the Shoshone and Bonner county sheriff’s departments, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, FBI and all involved agencies and their dedicated officers to know I appreciate their quick, efficient actions in identifying suspects and recovering the stolen explosives. Tim Castle Osburn