Letters To The Editor

GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS

Sacred oath blithely ignored

As our new Congress takes office, its members all take an oath of office that begins, “Do you swear that you will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies foreign and domestic.”

The reason we have such a huge bureaucracy and a nearly $5 trillion national debt is because members of Congress have failed to abide by their oath of office.

James Madison, the father of the Constitution, said, “The powers delegated to the federal government are few and defined.”

Article 1, Section 8, of the Constitution defines these few areas in which Congress can spend our money. Guess what? Over 50 percent of the 1995 federal budget is to be spent on programs, including agriculture, housing, education, energy, health and human services, that the Constitution gives no authorization for.

We don’t need the Republican contract with America or the Democrats’ middle class bill of rights. All we need is a Congress with integrity. Integrity to live by the oath sworn before God and man to uphold and obey the Constitution of the United States. Steve Dunham Spokane

Conservatives, should think, question

In response to Earl G. Fox’s letter of Jan. 7, I’d like to say many things.

First, how can you make such blanket statements? I am a devout liberal and I don’t depend on our government to provide me with anything. But then again, I care about people and not just the almighty buck. I use my money to help others and my time to bring love and caring to those who need help.

But if I, like “conservatives,” were to sit and count my money, I’d first look at where most of it is going in the government. I’d try to reduce the bill of billions of dollars that are going out each month to retired legislators. They are usually already very wealthy. Why do they need to pile up more when there are millions of my fellow Americans who are homeless and their children hungry?

Who do the conservatives always have to start cutting at the bottom of the heap instead of at the top?

Corporate welfare in America takes much more of your tax dollars than does help for the poor. Corporate farming gets billions in tax crop support. Check into the welfare for the oil industry, the tobacco industry, the FAA.

Before you canonize House Speaker Newt Gingrich, ask him why he had to have a limo with a driver even before he was sworn in as speaker. You paid for that, Mr. Fox. Virginia Goldman Spokane

Spouse’s role needs delving

Having chosen our representatives for the next two years, we would do well to consider something before the next election arrives.

With no consideration for party loyalty, I would like to state that either we have less co-spousal responsibility from our electees or else we need to investigate spouses with the same intensity that we now spend on the candidate alone.

Our present co-presidency is not historically comparable to the Roosevelts or the Wilsons, where unexpected health considerations forced the spouse to a more active role than “pillow-talk consultant.”

Republican, Democrat or other, the role of the incoming official’s spouse needs to be declared and considered by those who snoop and publish. Not only does this administration seem like a co-presidency, but the ratio of nominees to high places that were Mrs. Clinton’s college buddies as compared to Mr. Clinton’s school friends seems rather high.

The wonderful nature of marriage is that sharing of friends and ideas is mutually beneficial. But where a country is actively concerned, we must have some declaration of intent and expectation of influence. Any aspect of past experiences that will color our country’s future is appropriate for questions. Margaret Hansen Spokane

We’re signed up for ‘97 surprise

Paula Jones Corbin’s lawsuit alleging sexual harassment by then-governor Bill Clinton gets a lot of publicity, but I don’t see why. The suit reveals nothing about Clinton’s character that we didn’t already know.

The media should eschew the lurid and instead question the administration’s fundamental competence. As an example, in 1993, Treasury Secretary Lloyd Bentsen picked the time when interest rates bottomed to refinance our debt with cheap shortterm notes. This was the exact opposite of what millions of prudent homeowners did. They used the big drop in rates to refinance their homes with longterm mortgages.

You might imagine Bentsen’s ploy is like a cheap mortgage with a gigantic balloon payment due in 1997. Only a dreamer expects rates to be lower in 1997 than they were in 1993, so taxpayers are virtually certain to get clobbered when that debt gets refinanced at higher rates.

All those who voted for “change” in ‘92 certainly got it. I hope they enjoy paying for it, starting in 1997. P. Norman Nelson Colbert

LAW AND JUSTICE

Jails not overcrowded enough

Our system seems to pride itself in success - that being the freedom of every criminal. Grant Kennedy is a registered sex offender, but this information was not allowed in court during his recent trial for having anal and oral sex with a 17-year-old family member. Kennedy was found “not guilty” by the jury.

Kevin Boot was allowed to go free, after reportedly pointing a gun at two teenage girls and threatening to kill them, because Superior Court Judge Marcus Kelly ruled that officers illegally entered a home to gather evidence. Kelly tossed out the evidence because the officers failed to obtain a search or arrest warrant. We are now reading about the murder of Felicia Reese.

The grin on Boot’s face tells me that he is quite pleased with himself. He has not received any true punishment through his lengthy criminal career and he is most likely certain that he will go without punishment this time.

The system is set up with loopholes and avenues for the criminal to evade prosecution and to be set free. We hear about the overcrowding problem in the jails. Until the criminal knows that there is a true punishment for their crime, and that the punishment will happen without fail, we will always have an overcrowding problem.

I suggest that we pile them in - overcrowd until a jail cell is no longer a comfortable holding tank until gaining freedom but a place that a criminal realizes is the end of the road. Sue Barden Newman Lake

Give catching suspect priority

John Hunt Whaley (Letters, Jan. 9) sure supported Judge Marcus Kelly’s decision. They must be old buddies from the Gonzaga liberal system.

I suppose one would have to review the record to get the proper perspective of the case. Nothing was said about the exigency of locating the subject, Boot.

Were the police in hot pursuit or could they have waited to secure a warrant from some unavailable judge, and let the suspect escape? Catching the suspect should be of prime importance. K.D. Bryant Spokane

No, we’re breathing fearfully

It is ironic that the headline posted to the right of the picture of Kevin Boot reads, “Spokane residents breathing easier.” It is not pollution we should be worrying about in Spokane but rather ruthless and sociopathic individuals.

Equally worrisome is the court system that lets these individuals roam the city, free to prey on anyone. The police in this city work hard arresting those who violate the law, only to have this revolving-door system negate their efforts.

I am sure that if it had been Judge Marcus Kelly’s daughter who was executed in cold blood, his way of thinking might change. You are just as dead if shot by someone 16 as by someone 26.

Spokane residents breathing easier? I doubt it. Ray Lindsley Jr. Spokane

Get tough with wrongdoers

In the Jan. 5 article, “Crime remains main topic as legislators set to return,” you discussed Initiative 159. Well, I hope they do approve it as it is written and make it a law. It’s time we crack down on the criminals.

Gov. Mike Lowry’s proposal asking for tougher sentences for felons who commit crimes with a firearm and also increased sentences for certain sex crimes committed by juveniles is more than reasonable. He also proposed that the Legislature allow judges to impose sentences based on the severity of the crime, not the age of the juvenile.

In 1989, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in Stanford vs. Kentucky that the imposition of the death penalty for a crime committed at age 16 or 17 does not constitute cruel or unusual punishment (as protected by the Eighth Amendment to the Constitution) merely because of the accused’s age. I’m 18 years old and I say let the punishment fit the crime.

Courts need to stop coming down on law enforcement officers and be tougher on criminals. We’ve got police officers doing a hell of a job and putting cuffs on these criminals. But when the criminals finally go to court, they walk because of technicalities. It’s time we support the blue, our public protectors, and come down on the offenders. Amy Knisley Spokane

CHRISTMAS

Again, that old pagan refrain

Just like clockwork, every Christmas it’s the same old song: N. Johnson’s letter of Dec. 31, “Christmas origin not Christian.”

I am a Catholic and I celebrate Christmas. Yes, I’ll confess, we are the grinches who stole a pagan holiday for our own purposes.

The Catholic Church never claimed Jesus was born Dec. 25. He declared we commemorate the birth of Jesus. This commemoration turned into a celebration of the “Incarnation” early in the fifth century. No one knows the exact date of his birth but why does it really matter when Jesus was born?

Let’s review Johnson’s letter:

Pope Julius I was pope from 337 to 352 A.D., not 285 A.D.

Saturnalias festival ran Dec. 17-24, culminating in the celebration of Sol Invictus on Dec. 25, which was established by Emperor Aurelian in 274 A.D. as the main cult of the empire.

Mithras, a Persian sun god, was actually a mystery religion, not founded on a historical person nor connected with datable events. Johnson claims he was “born” on Dec. 25, 600 years before Jesus. Imagine that - nailing down the exact date and yet no one can pinpoint Jesus’ birthdate a mere 600 years later.

If you object to Christians using pagan holidays, then check this inventory of pagan customs and practices: the wedding ring; throwing rice at a wedding; celebrating birthdays of children or presidents; and national holidays like Memorial Day or Veterans Day.

Makes you wonder which side of the fence you stand on, doesn’t it? C.J. Ferraro Spokane

Jesus’ birth date not the point

In Neil Johnson’s Dec. 31 letter he states that “Jesus was not born anywhere near the end of December.”

That’s probably true but so what? We don’t know on what day Jesus was actually born but does it really matter? What matters is that we are commemorating the birth of the savior of the world.

Johnson concludes: “So, far from being a Christian holy day, Christmas is nothing more than an ancient pagan festival glossed over with the facade of Christian myth and legend.”

Oh really?

While it is true that Dec. 25 was originally the date of the ancient pagan winter solstice festival (Saturnalias), what is often overlooked is the church’s intent in choosing Dec. 25 in the first place. The church was not Christianizing a pagan festival, as Mr. Johnson seems to suggest, but was establishing the celebration of the birth of Christ as a rival celebration.

Today, the world has all but forgotten about the pagan gods of Greece and Rome but at least a billion people on the planet believe that what is essential to Christmas is Christ himself. David A. Buckna Kelowna, British Columbia

THE MEDIA

Idahoans, speak up for CPC

It’s imperative that those of us who want to save the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and our public television stations speak up immediately.

Let our congressional representatives know that Idahoans don’t want to cut public television and radio. Ours is a sparsely populated state with below-nationalaverage incomes. People here cannot simply turn the dial to cable. Ninety-seven percent of Idaho residents are now able to tune in to Idaho Public television. Only sixty percent can or choose to subscribe to cable in North Idaho.

It doesn’t seem right that those who were elected in a wave of change now turn their backs on us and take away our access to the airwaves - which belong to the people - and force us to pay those monopolies that control cable and satellite. Enhancing the business position of monopolies was not the message I saw being given in November.

Taxpayers fund about one-fifth of the cost of public broadcasting - a minuscule amount when compared to the amount we taxpayers provide to commercial broadcasting. By allowing businesses to deduct all advertising expenses from income taxes, we are in effect subsidizing those never-ending commercials. Think what a boon to the economy, the airwaves and our sanity it would be if we removed this income tax deduction.

Whatever your programming tastes, public broadcasting offers something for everyone: educational, children’s, nature, and made-in-Idaho specials. Will any commercial station bring us coverage from the Idaho Legislature? Outdoor Idaho? The Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival?

Contact our congressional representatives today. Laurie Carlson Coeur d’Alene

Gingrich asked for it

In an interview with CBS’ Connie Chung, House Speaker Newt Gingrich’s mother said her son had referred to first lady Hillary Clinton as a “bitch.” Chung and CBS then aired the remark.

Newt is furious. He wants an apology from CBS for airing the remark. Does he deserve one?

Newt made the statement, “she’s a bitch” to his mother about Hillary Clinton of his own free will. His mother repeated it of her own free will. CBS reported it because it’s the network’s job to report anything that’s news. If Newt wants his comments to go unreported, he shouldn’t make them.

The only one who’s really owned an apology in this incident gets no mention at all.

“Newty,” as his mother calls him, owes the first lady a big apology. He has proven that he isn’t fit to empty the box of Socks the cat, let alone hold public office. Newt is angry because his true nature is being exposed. The blame is all his. Bill Quinn Spokane

Firefighter deaths underreported

I’m extremely disappointed in The SpokesmanReview’s coverage of the deaths of the four firefighters in Seattle. I heard the news of numerous injured Seattle firefighters taken to a hospital and of four trapped beneath the burning rubble of a collapsed warehouse after an explosion. I heard all of this on the Friday night 11 o’clock news.

I searched Friday’s paper and found a small article. The story hit the national TV news on Friday at 5. On Saturday, I expected to find a big story. Instead, I found an article on page 3 of the Region section.

The deaths of two workers at the Kingdome occupied your front page for days. Are firefighters’ deaths that inconsequential?

Being a professional firefighter for 15 years, I have come to terms with myself that firefighters die performing this career. Each time a brother or sister firefighter dies, it touches all of us.

This was one of the most tragic occurrences in Washington’s history and you treated it as though it was a minor story. Your trivial treatment of these deaths has made me feel as though it is publicly acceptable for firefighters to die in the line of duty.

Those brother firefighters lost their lives doing their job of protecting life and property but it by no means makes their deaths any less tragic. They deserved more honor and respect than you gave them. They earned it. Steve N. Hatcher Veradale

Republicans are not all rich

And you wonder why we refer to your paper as the socialist review.

Front and center on the Jan. 8 paper, under the picture of Sen. Bob Dole, you start your caption, “Along with blue blazers and furs, smiling Republicans …”

Don’t you know that President Clinton’s cabinet has the largest number of wealthy people ever placed in one cabinet? And that there are more Democrat millionaires in Congress than Republican millionaires?

Why do you keep trying to perpetuate the myth of the rich Republican? To nail down my point, my neighbor is a Democrat. I am a Republican. He is richer than I am. There, that proves it! H. Duane Brown Spokane