Letters To The Editor

BUSINESS AND LABOR

Strike does not justify thuggery

I’m incensed about the Boeing union terrorists. It’s an employee’s right to strike, but nobody has the right to force others to conform through terror.

The thugs terrorizing workers who don’t acquiesce are the lowest of scum. Anyone who intimidates defenseless women with gasoline fires and threats deserves to be jailed with murderers and rapists. From such dregs, “scab” is a compliment.

They make all unions look evil. The poor victim of this nefarious attack needs her paycheck. If she isn’t willing to sacrifice her children for the self-serving wishes of radical union members, it should be her choice. The union people are voting with their feet” by walking out. Don’t victims have the right to vote with their feet by walking away from the union?

It isn’t surprising a few vicious, vile, criminals hide behind union “solidarity.” What’s disgusting is that “decent” unionists condone the violence. Hypocrites are just as bad.

Simple human decency should impel union leadership to disavow violence and turn violators over to the police. Anything less accepts the criminality as the union’s.

As a union member, it’s my duty to decry unionists’ criminality. Stop the terrorism. Convince by reason.

Is terrorism union policy? It’s not too much to ask the local’s officers to apologize to each victim and to assure them the criminals will be turned over to the police.

Unjust methods don’t suit just causes. Nobody allowing this terrorism has the right to complain about anything Boeing is doing to them. Paul Lecoq Spokane

Fight with your pocketbook

“the ragged edge” series about radical patriots emphasized guns, private property and the fear of a “new world order.” The right to private property has to have limits because the world is becoming so overdeveloped and overpopulated that restrictions are needed just to insure the future of clean air, water and soil or people won’t survive at all.

The “new world order” is caused more by multinational corporations than government bureaucracy. As we Americans rush out to overindulge in Christmas shopping, do we read those little labels “made in China” which should read “this is really cheap because we no longer hire American union workers.” The recent failures of striking unions reiterates that American workers have no protection from low wages, low benefits and layoffs. The only way to stop this is with consumer power - boycotting foreign-made products, not shooting government employees.

How many of the radical militia refuse to buy products made by companies using the new world order of hiring virtual slave labor overseas? That would be truly radical. Sara Kendall Spokane

PEOPLE IN SOCIETY

Who would steal baby Jesus?

Tis the season for caring, sharing and giving. Neighbor greeting neighbor with a warm smile. The haves of the world reaching out to the have-nots, and the world coming together in peace and harmony. It’s time when people dare to believe that the human spirit is still basically a good and kind thing.

Although this is a joyous celebration of the goodwill in men, there are still those who choose to mar the season with wrong and sorrowful acts. Crime, and the people who perpetrate it, don’t take the season off, unfortunately. We’ve come to expect the random muggings, burglaries and thefts that also accompany the holiday season.

I guess with all the serious crimes being committed, I shouldn’t bother troubling over my loss, but this small crime truly dampened my Christmas spirit and caused me to think.

The nativity scene displayed in my front yard was relieved of it’s Mary and baby Jesus figures late one night. Joseph was left kneeling next to an empty crib in the manger. My 3-year-old daughter first discovered the crime and said the monsters had taken baby Jesus.

I realize that this doesn’t compare to the major crimes of the world. The monetary loss is truly insignificant, but the message it sent troubled me deeply. Stealing baby Jesus, what message did this person send the world? Merry Christmas?

Maybe my 3-year old was right. Maybe it was monsters. Mick Jackson Veradale

Quit sowing hate talk, reaping murder

Congratulations to the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual Association (GLBA) at Washington State University for receiving ASWSU committee status. The senators who supported GLBA, refusing to change their vote in spite of intimidation and threats by members of Living Faith Fellowship (LFF) and Campus Christian Fellowship (CCF) were great.

The fact that people were threatened and intimidated because they supported a gay, lesbian, and bisexual group shows how desperately we need this group. Violence from those who spew religious dogma is a real threat to us and our supporters. We are beaten, raped, and murdered by those who believe the rhetoric of groups such as LFF and CCF.

For those who spew this rhetoric, I ask: How many of us must lose our blood or our lives, how many more queer youth must kill themselves, until you get the connection between your rhetoric and the violence?

It’s not coincidental that in 1992, during the OCA’s assault on Oregon’s queer community, hate crimes against queers were six times that of 1991 and 1993. It hasn’t stopped. Two days after GLBA members faced a gruesome display of hatred, two lesbians were found murdered in Medford, Ore.

Stop the violence! Stop the hate! Natalie Shapiro Moscow, Idaho

GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS

Balance the budget now

Whenever I have enough time or courage to read the letters to the editor, I’m amazed how many people are mistaken, or deliberately distort, the truth about the federal budget proposals.

The Republican budget proposal is increasing. There are no cuts in spending overall. The budget goes from $1.5 trillion in 1995 to $1.8 trillion in 2002. Medicare goes from $4,800 to $6,700 per person, plus Medicaid goes from $89 billion to $124 billion in the same time frame. What cuts?

Who is going to do without? Where does need end and greed begin? The good old USA is $5 trillion in the hole with another 200 billion added to the national debt each year under the Clinton plan.

I suspect the confusion on the federal budget is caused by what is called “base line budgeting,” where each federal department automatically gets a 10 percent increase in their budget. If they get only a 5 to 7 percent increase, they call it a cut. Try that on your boss the next time he gives you a pay increase. If it’s not as much as you expected, you can tell him it was a cut in your salary.

Put me down as wanting a balanced federal budget sooner than seven years. Next year sounds good to me. Remember we’re now spending our grandchildren’s money.

If we bankrupt this country, all of us will be out in the streets. Who will the liberals blame? Probably Ronald Reagan. Gerald J. Quinn Sr. Veradale

Clinton should get out of the way

Regarding the budget standoff between President Clinton and the Republicans: Bill Clinton says he’s right and has statistics and polls to prove it. Republicans say they’re right and have statistics and polls to prove it.

The only known fact is that the majority of Americans who voted voted in an overwhelming sweep for the Republicans in the last election, which is a clear indication of what the American majority really wants.

Step aside, Clinton, you’re acting like a spoiled child who didn’t get his way. America has spoken. Tony Nisbet Spokane

Greed behind Bosnia venture

Recent letters to the editor have attacked President Clinton for his Bosnia policy. Well, what about Congress?

Congress agreed to provide the money for the Bosnia operation if Clinton would approve an extra $8 billion worth of pork barrel spending in the defense bill. That’s $8 billion worth of fighters, bombers and ships that the Pentagon did not want. It’s corporate welfare that will benefit a few defense contractors.

Is not Congress agreeing to risk American lives for a price? What about the budget deficit? Is not Congress supposed to be balancing the budget?

Congress may be a bigger hypocrite than Clinton on this issue. American involvement in World War II was not popular until after Pearl Harbor. S.S. Howze Sagle, Idaho

Clinton’s only goal: re-election

Murphy’s Law, which states “If anything can go wrong, it will,” is currently in force throughout the world. Strange and terrible things are happening, and anyone who has their eyes open can see that many events, especially in crime, are taking place now, which were unheard of just a few short years ago.

William Clinton is one of those who apparently hasn’t been paying attention to ol’ Murphy. Willie wants just one thing, and that’s to be re-elected in 1996. He just came back from campaigning in Europe and seems to have secured the voters of many Irish, Germans and Bosnians.

The question remains whether or not Americans will support him in his bid. If some American troops get killed in Bosnia, where Murphy’s Law just may prevail, tough patootie.

William Clinton has only one real goal in mind. Bob Palmer Opportunity