Letters To The Editor
SPOKANE MATTERS
Who gave OK for costly undertaking?
This is in regard to the automated garbage collection program the City Council is considering. My question as a citizen is: Who authorized the Department of Refuse to purchase two vehicles for covering the automated collection, therefore putting the citizens of Spokane into a “‘must” pilot program in which one-sixth of the people will benefit at a cost of nearly $1 million? The completed program will have a cost of close to $15 million.
I’m dictating this letter as I’m driving down Freya, avoiding the many chuckholes and the problems we have with the city streets. David Marquardt Sr. Spokane
Send park board to retreat, too
The Jan. 13 article referring to the City Council as “dysfunctional” by Bill Mathis, the $7,000 consultant from California, implies only this:
Yes, they were only dysfunctional and in error to hire a person or a psychologist whose job is to analyze behavior. I had presumed the City Council hired him to suggest and to coordinate business issues affecting the $300 million 1995 city budget.
Since we are paying this psychologist $7,000 for a twoday retreat, I suggest the park board attend and get analyzed in this group therapy. Angela Eudaley Spokane
Fire Crum and listen to citizens
I find it rather astounding that we would have to spend $6,000 to $7,000 to have somebody advise our city’s manager about how to run the town. I have been a strong opponent of City Manager Roger Crum for a long time. Now they’ve found another way to spend our money.
Let’s get rid of Mr. Crum and not bring in advisers. If they want somebody to advise, they should let the people who live here advise. Hank Johnson Spokane
THE MEDIA
Other media caused talk radio
Regarding (Managing editor) Chris Peck’s “Talk radio: should opposing views be aired?” interview on Richard Clear’s radio program:
Poor, poor Mr. Peck. He just doesn’t get it. He is the opposing view. He and his fellow liberal, elitist press created talk radio; the Rushs, the Liddys, the Mike Reagans, the Black Avenger, et al, are the creation of the press and Jennings, Brokaw, Donaldson, Rather. We needed a factual representation of issues, not hype, feeling, emotion and bias.
Mr. Peck, look at your newspaper. What’s the ratio of conservative writers or editorial cartoonists to your liberal writers and cartoonists? Where is the opposing view for the likes of your sacred cow, Gurian, and the rest of your editorial writers?
No, Chris, you are the opposition. You recommend how we vote, how we should think and you opinionate all news and all facts. When I see your paper publish opposing views in the same ratio you print your liberal, elitist, pagan left view, I’ll say, Yeah!, talk radio needs an opposing view.
But quit crying. You and yours lost. Talk radio, the Conservative Chronicle, the American Spectator, National Review, etc., are a result of your bias and oneway reporting. Get off the kick. Michael P. Cady Spokane
Limbaugh, Chung both a waste
The Republicans were justifiably upset with Connie Chung and her antics during the Kathleen Gingrich interview. And yet, the same Republicans pay homage to and heap accolades onto Rush Limbaugh, who has made a career of playing fast and loose with the truth.
Mr. Limbaugh never hesitates to distort facts if he sees fit to. Nor does he hesitate to call people names if they don’t follow his party line.
Neither Ms. Chung nor Mr. Limbaugh has done anything to further our understanding of the problems this country faces. Neither has helped to find solutions to these problems.
Name calling, lies, tricks and innuendo contribute little or nothing to a discussion or a debate, no matter who you are.
Perhaps it is time for the American people to demand more from all media personalities. Fair play and civility would be a good start. Marianne Connelly Spokane
Lame knock-offs not appreciated
I and many others have for years enjoyed the wit and class of Gary Larson’s The Far Side. As with most top-ofthe-line products, The Far Side has spawned many imitators. And, as is usually the case with imitators, they are feeble imitations.
Please, when replacing a classic, realize it would be better to try something totally different from that which is being replaced, rather than trying to fill a void that can’t be filled. Take John McPherson’s Close to Home away. It is not only without humor, it has demonstrated only second-rate imitation. Martin Miller Spokane
ANIMALS
Animals need protection from man
To observe mountain lions, among other animals, in their natural habitat to me would be a thrill. I wholeheartedly agree with Kathy Richmond’s letter (“Trespassers kill a dream”) of Jan. 4. To arrive home and find this beautiful creature slaughtered is disgusting.
God’s gorgeous wild creatures are getting smaller in numbers and some are even extinct, thanks to man - human development of their habitat, hunters and trophy hunters.
My, my, how very proud you men must be to glory in your kill as you mount the head on your wall. Does this make you a man? I think not.
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) is a very flourishing animal rights program, of which I am a very proud member. It is one among many programs always striving to expose and eliminate the senseless slaughter of God’s beautiful creatures.
Keep on and there will be no species left for generations to come. It is not deceit or to buffalo people on this subject, but a fact to make the public aware of the plight of animals. The beast is on the outside of the cage: man.
You are absolutely right, Robert Hogan (Letters, Jan. 10), a wild creature and even a domestic one should never under any circumstances trust a man as there is no meaner, more violent creature than man. What is the solution, Mr. hunter, for wildlife management? Kill? Display trophies on walls?
Thank God for those who are animal rights advocates. Mary Cosentini Spokane
Dreadful idea in sheep’s clothing
Regarding the picture of Veterinarian Janet Jones carrying the cute, cuddly, anesthetized wolf over her shoulders with the accompanying article (Jan. 10):
Too bad you don’t show wolves as they really are, pulling down moose, elk, deer and other animals by the hamstring and voraciously feeding on their still-living, struggling prey. Too bad the wild elk deer, moose, bighorn sheep and other animals couldn’t be consulted about their feelings about having wolves introduced into Idaho and Yellowstone.
Too bad people from the past generation who experienced what wolves do to wildlife and livestock can’t be heard on this issue.
Too bad those who think they know so much about wolf predation on wildlife can’t learn from those who really do know in areas of Canada and Alaska. I am not talking about those “textbook biologists” who work for the Idaho Fish and Game Department and the federal government. I mean real-world scientists who know firsthand about wolves and what they do to big-game populations.
Too bad the residents of Idaho had no say in whether or not we get wolves. Too bad the federal government can get away with ramming wolves down our throats whether we like it or not.
Too bad our elk and deer and other wild creatures will pay a terrible price for that.
Wolves in Idaho. Too bad to even consider it. Lloyd Calderwood Hayden, Idaho
PEOPLE IN SOCIETY
Hunters not all bad
To all property owners whose land has been trespassed on by disreputable hunters, I am sorry.
My partners and I have always gone to landowners if we were unsure of the ownership of a certain parcel of land. We have been refused access more times than it was granted. Many times, the landowners cited past problems with hunters.
One property owner has allowed us access, with the stipulation that we check with him every time we go in. During the last three years, we have checked in and out every time. If he is not home, he has a note pad for us to leave him a message telling when we came and when we left. We also help him police his land while we are hunting.
To all hunters who have trespassed, please stop and read the regulations. Trespassing is against the law.
To all property owners who refuse access due to bad hunters, I’d like to show you our good side. Lenny Long Spokane
Column could’ve been about Muslims
As Muslim fundamentalists, we are in complete agreement with Tom Bisset’s Opinion column in the Jan. 12 Spokesman-Review. Replace Evangelical Christians with Muslim fundamentalists and it is an article I would have been pleased to write in its entirety.
As is written in our scripture, the Holy Qur’an, “Oh faithful, those nearest to you in belief are those who say, ‘Truly, we are Christians.”’ Bissett appears to be exactly that. Sheikh Dawud Ahmad Springdale, Wash.
GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS
Make old military bases new prisons
With the tragedy in Elk, where Steve Roscoe was allegedly shot dead by a 17- and/or a 21-year-old for coming home in the middle of a burglary, I’m terrified and just plain furious that more isn’t being done to curtail young persons’ rampant lack of respect, their disregard for law and order. Our police are overworked and distraught to see the offenders that they do apprehend released time after time. We must do two things:
To protect ourselves, we must be educated. Get a list on the front page of The Spokesman-Review outlining what a victim of any potential crime or crime in progress is to do. When you come home and see your front door ajar, your first reaction is to do exactly what Steve did. We’re too trusting; no one believes it can happen to them. Had Steve taken the license number and driven to a neighbor’s house to call police, he’d still be with us.
We don’t need a luxurious juvenile detention center. We need barracks. Reactivate closed military bases all over this country as barracks in which to jail these vermin. The cost would be minimal. The jailed would have the same living conditions as military personnel and it is far from luxurious. With slight modifications, these facilities would be perfect to feed, house and rehabilitate these people. We need to get this element out of our neighborhoods and keep them out.
Everyone, urge your legislators to get to work converting existing facilities immediately. Maggi Robertson Cheney
‘Govern’ mindset all wrong
Countless times during the midterm election campaigns I read and heard many Democratic incumbents and candidates use the word “govern” as it relates to their elected positions or would-be positions.
The word “govern” is defined as “to control and direct, to rule, to be dominant in.” In a Jan. 8 SpokesmanReview article, Sen. Marcus Gaspard, D-Puyallup, stated: “The art of governing is different from the art of campaigning. We are going to take a good sense, common sense approach to their agenda. We aren’t jumping on any bandwagon.”
I remind Sen. Gespard and other like-minded liberal Democrats that this nation’s founders fought the war of American independence from British rule. That conflict was caused by British attempts to tax the colonies for revenue without allowing them representation.
A government by the people, of the people and for the people cannot survive as long as there are elected officials who choose to govern and not serve. Ken Garceau Spokane
We need no House historian
The story of House Speaker Newt Gingrich’s firing of the House historian upset me. Not just because of Christina Jeffrey’s remark but for the fact there even is a historian.
Why did Gingrich fire the previous historian and four staff members and then hire another person? Why does the House have it’s own historian, at $85,000 a year, and a four-member staff? This must cost the taxpayers a quarter-million dollars, with all its amenities - another case of congressional waste.
Doesn’t Congress have enough staff now - over 7,800 people - and the whole Library of Congress to find out points of history?
Gingrich would show the country he intends to follow up on his contract with America by not filling the historian position. Don Lerch Spokane
Reform Social Security
I have retired after contributions toward an entitlement for security at age 67. My Social Security payments began in 1941 and were continuous until 1991, except during college and Army service of almost three years. Most years, I paid a maximum Social Security amount required by the plan.
During the last 25 years of employment, I paid a like amount of retirement withholding into a Washington state plan (PERS). We were allowed to pay about 14 percent of salary per year. My employers always matched my contribution on Social Security but paid only 80 percent of my contribution to the state plan.
The state plan pays about $1.90 for every $1 Social Security pays me. The state plan is managed and invested by a committee familiar and experienced in investing large sums of money. Social Security has been directed by politicians seeking to win popularity. They use the excess to provide more federal expenditures within their districts.
Retirees will be affected immediately if Congress tries to balance tax cuts with Social Security or Medicare. The effects on people from the cradle to retirement will be a serious injustice for generations, causing poverty rates for people whose Social Security earnings have been mismanaged for years.
The yearly earning going into Social Security should be placed in a fund to pay current beneficiaries, with the surplus being invested by a competent financial committee to earn additional income for the younger generations.
Social Security pays its own way and isn’t subsidized by taxes, nor does it cause federal deficits. M.G. McLanahan Moses Lake, Wash.