Letters To The Editor
POLITICS AND GOVERNMENT
Politicians should set example
It’s possible that the conflict in our nation could be between the haves and the have-nots. As the rich get richer and the poor get poorer, the battle lines are drawn. Deep cuts in welfare will only inflame the despair.
Our people in Washington, D.C., need to act as role models. Most of us are willing to bite the bullet and do with less. We only ask that our elected officials start acting like statesmen instead of letting the special interests influence what is best for the nation. Bud Hammer Spokane
Go to the mirror, Mr. Loewen
When Ernest Loewen of Bonners Ferry (Letters, Jan. 14) moans and groans about people who spread lies and half-truths, maybe he’d better stare in the mirror for a while.
First of all, when does disagreeing mean hate?
Second, the remark, “no National Guard or draft dodgers in our family” was a dumb thing to say. I know some National Guardsmen who sweated their butts off in Saudi Arabia.
He said he proudly went off to war to protect the Constitution. Well excuse me, the Constitution gives freedom of speech to everyone, not just Democrats, so you can cut the “flush Rush” drivel.
My God, it’s no wonder it’s so easy to be called a bigot in this country. All you have to do is disagree with a liberal. Dave Detrolio Moses Lake
Democrats got what they deserved
We keep hearing how the voters were so “mean spirited” in ejecting a bunch of Democratic congressman last fall. In saying this, the liberal pundits seem to be back-pedaling as fast as possible in an attempt to gain firm ideological ground to defend. In the meantime, the name-calling seems to be their best rear-guard action.
Let us not feel too guilty about being “mean spirited.” The House of Representatives has been mired in scandal for years, culminating in the House Post Office scandal. A move to investigate the latter was defeated 238 to 186 on the floor. The speaker sued his own constituents over term limits.
Sixty years of nearly uninterrupted Democratic control of the House of Representatives has resulted in the tax burden of the average family of four rising from less than 5 percent to fully 25 percent of its income today. The cost of government has escalated faster than housing, food or transportation.
Democratic Sen. Tom Daschle says his party wants to help us. What the voters seem to be saying is, “We’ve had all the help we can afford!” G.L.Nelson Colbert
Gingrich’s book deal is fair
Everyone knows that life isn’t fair. David Bonior, a Democratic member of the House of Representatives, recently stated to a group of journalists during a press conference that “it isn’t fair for Mr. Gingrich to make more on one book deal than most Americans make in their lifetime.” And?
While this is obviously more of a political jab at the speaker than a revelation of social “injustices,” I think that it clearly defines the liberal politicians’ notions that all citizens should be born with unalienable rights to equal outcomes.
Our government was created to circumvent injustices and provide the people with an even playing field. It is up to us as individuals to play as hard as we can.
If you play as hard as you can, Mr. Bonior, then perhaps you, too, can claim the championship book deal. Shawn M. Dawley Spokane
This is a shakeup?
Reading Bruce Krasnow’s article about the county administrators (Jan. 11) made me warm and fuzzy inside.
Isn’t it wonderful the county has three employees being paid a total of $230,000 per year with obvious overlapping duties? They may not be doing much productively, but I’m sure they’re doing some heavy-duty decision-making eight hours a day, 40 hours a week, that justifies their salaries.
I particularly like how Marshall Farnell was retained at $80,759 per year in his newly created position. He’s been there many years; the county owes him. Wow. What a shakeup!
Maybe the county commissioners, at $55,746 per year, can qualify for public assistance. Robert DelRiccio Spokane
Pity those who hold high office
As Harry Truman remarked, “The only thing new is the history you have forgotten.”
Much is made of the seeming decline of President Clinton’s popularity, with little thought given to his image being bandied about by a very partisan media. He’s been subject to more political bashing - without due cause - than any president in the past 100 years.
Too little is made of the vicariousness of politics that causes an individual to be at the top or bottom one day only to fall from grace or to rebound miraculously the next day.
Remember George Bush’s 80 percent approval rating following “Operation Desert Storm” only to lose the election in the same year?
I’d like to quote an article that was written in Washington,
“As to the politics of Washington, the most striking thing is the absence of personal loyalty to the president; it does not exist. He has no admirers, no enthusiastic supporters, none to bet on his head. If the convention were to be held tomorrow, he would not get the vote of any state. He does not act or talk or feel like the ruler of a great empire in crisis. This is felt by all, and has got down through all layers of society.”
No, this wasn’t written about President Clinton but of President Lincoln in 1863.
Abe Lincoln also was a comeback kid, so let’s not be too hasty in writing off the man who revitalized our economy in his first two years in office. Andy Kelly Spokane
MICRON
Micron could destroy lifestyle
I feel the future of the Rathdrum Prairie is at stake. Rural areas and the “living in the country” feeling are threatened. The wide-open expanse of green bluegrass fields and all agricultural activities could become a thing of the past. Traffic will become much worse. Schools will become overcrowded; already the 4th grade at the new Betty Kiefer school is at maximum. This will all happen if Micron Technologies relocates up here.
The Post Falls and Rathdrum city fathers, real estates companies and big business promoters are falling all over themselves trying to lure Micron up here. I’m afraid all they can see are the dollar signs. If Micron is so great, why has the president of the Twin Falls Chamber of Commerce said no way?
The prairie is still mostly farmland with some rural home sites. Farming on the prairie is still profitable, no matter what some will tell you. It is a lot of hard work and expensive to farm, but you can still make a living. I know because I farm 800 acres of leased farm ground. If Micron locates here, my future is over, as is the quality of life for the whole prairie. This does not have to happen.
Micron has stated that they don’t want to come to an area where they are not wanted. Now is the time to write to Micron in Boise, telling them respectfully that they are not welcome. Terry Nichols Post Falls
Post Falls chamber wants Mircon
Based on unanimous approval of the Post Falls Area Chamber Economic Development Committee and the Chamber Executive Committee, the board of directors of the Post Falls Chamber of Commerce has unanimously endorsed the relocation of Micron to Post Falls.
Based on the financial success record of Micron, the prospects of better-paying jobs and more of them, the Chamber board heartily welcomes Micron to Post Falls. Quality of life does mean a good job, and we appreciate the varied economic development efforts of Jobs Plus Inc. and the regional cooperation we have received from our neighboring communities. The panhandle area of North Idaho has an unemployment rate varying from 7.1 to 7.6 percent.
One manufacturing job impacts from five to seven support jobs. Because of our proximity to the Spokane-I90 corridor, housing and other impacts are already being absorbed by some of the existing infrastructures. Business growth and an expanded tax base would greatly help Post Falls, particularly our schools.
Post Falls has some very strong attributes that we know Micron is considering, including access to good transportation, proximity to air service and higher education, work force training options, economic development incentives at no cost to the existing taxpayers, and pro-business governmental climate.
We encourage our community and the entire region to get the facts and work toward the long-term economic health of the area. The Post Falls Chamber office joins the Post Falls Library and the Post Falls City Hall in providing tax-increment financing information to interested persons. Nora Sharp, president Post Falls Area Chamber of Commerce
WILDLIFE
Wolf transplant program absurd
The national media event of the past few days has been the wolves being transplanted to Yellowstone, culminating with a media circus starring Bruce Babbitt.
My first experience with U.S. Fish and Wildlife personnel happened a number of years ago. I was working in the bush of southern British Columbia when along came a U.S. Fish and Wildlife truck.
“Are you guys lost?” I asked.
“Oh no, we’re just following the signals from the collared caribou we transplanted to Idaho.”
I thought to myself, what’s the sense in this? They capture and move the animals, then they have to recapture them? Maybe the animals should be just left alone to wander where they want to.
Now we are witness to the great wolf caper. It is well known that wolves are migrating on their own from Canada into the northwestern United States. Why not just let them wander at their own pace where they will? Does it make any sense to snare, entrap and dart Alberta wolves, take them away from their family groups, put them in an environment where they probably don’t want to be, then collar them and give them a life of perpetual harassment from wildlife biologists?
In this time of close government budget scrutiny, would it not make good sense to stop these absurd transplant programs by taking their funds away? M.A. Kaufman Spokane
Find a salmon plan that works
A BPA administrator testified before Congress that the $350 million being spent on salmon recovery will soon grow to $500 million (Spokesman-Review, Jan. 15). BPA claims this “cost” will jeopardize its very existence and the region’s economy.
The real issue is how so much money could be squandered with no resulting benefit to the plummeting stocks of Columbia and Snake River fish. Clearly, BPA’s fish-saving strategy doesn’t work. It’s time to change to one that does.
We tax- and ratepayers demand full explanation of these costs.
85 percent of BPA’s fish recovery “cost” is for vaguely defined overhead and “foregone revenue.” Where does the money go?
95 percent of the water consumed in the Northwest is for irrigation. Why isn’t this considered “wasted hydropower” as the water spilled for fish usually is?
Isn’t the water dumped with each lockage release for navigational purposes “wasted hydropower” too?
All we hear is the clamor for “more science.” Perhaps it’s the sciences of economics and politics that need more study. We can’t let salmon fall victim to inflated numbers and misinformation, waste and needless subsidies.
BPA fails to calculate the cost of reparations if we simply allow the fish to go extinct. Given that we have promised, in treaties with Indian tribes, that salmon will be in the river forever, recovery is actually the most affordable solution.
Pay now, spend wisely by modifying the system, and let the salmon recover on their own. Or don’t modify the system and continue paying in perpetuity for salmon that no longer exist.
Decide quickly, please. G. Harvey Morrison Spokane
HEALTH AND MEDICINE
Get the facts about radon
Readers, don’t be mislead by the Tony Snow editorial about radon. Read the National Cancer Institute study, which he misquoted, for yourself. I got a copy from the Deaconess Medical Center library.
The NCI study was a case/control study of 1,721 women, with and without cancer; potentially a very thorough study.
Weaknesses of the study:
1. Home exposures were checked for previous 5-30 years. Those with less than 20 years of data should have been omitted.
2. Workplace exposures were ignored.
3. Radon levels were unusually low. Only 6.8 percent of homes tested about 4 picocuries per liter; the highest at 15.3. The study should have been conducted in Spokane where 50-60 percent of homes and commercial buildings test about 4 picocuries and 1-15 percent test about 20 picocuries.
In spite of these low radon exposures the NCI authors had enough data to conclude that “A positive doseresponse trend was suggested for the adenocarcinoma cell type.”
Spokane will get its own study of the effect of radon on children as soon as Washington State University’s Health Research Department gets funding. Jill Monitz Mead
Don’t punish overweight people
I would like to address the many people who feel that being overweight is caused solely by overeating. Many times the overweight condition is a symptom of an underlying medical or psychological disorder resulting in the individual’s tendency to compensate through food. It is similar to the alcoholic’s inability to find solace in anything besides a bottle of vodka after a particularly taxing or strenuous day.
Folks, instead of glaring, staring, sneering and teasing, reflect first to see if the shoe were on the other foot, how you would feel if the ridicule were aimed at you. Perhaps look at your own behind - it may not be as small as you think.
All we need and want is your advocacy in our ambition to try to lose our weight. The obvious gazes you think we don’t see, but do; the crude statements you think we don’t hear, but do - these do nothing more than add to the symptoms, resulting in the cause of more dominant obesity in America. Be not our enemies but our advocates. Theresa Osterhaus Spokane
Hospital incidentals overpriced
Do other people check their itemized lists from hospitals? I checked mine and for a .85-ounce tube of toothpaste, I was charged $3. The soap, lotion and shampoo cost $2 each.
I can’t understand how a patient can be charged outlandish prices for these items. My children could have bought larger items for me outside the hospital at lower prices.
Someone is making a profit off sick people and it’s not right.
I called the toothpaste company and was told they didn’t know we were being charged for their toothpaste. I wrote the other company but haven’t heard from it yet.
I believe we should be given a choice on these items and also about how much is charged for them. We have the right to know.
If I could understand all the items on the itemized list, I’d probably be shocked at what I’m overpaying. Companies should check them out, also.
The government doesn’t seem to read these lists. If it did, it would catch these prices and ask questions. Mina Knox Lind, Wash.