Letters To The Editor

SPOKANE MATTERS

Nurse assistants undervalued

This is in response to the article “Holy Family nurses want raise” (July 17).

I am a nursing assistant, certified, making barely over minimum wage, working with nurses all the time. Thanks to the article, I just found out they make four times as much as I do, and they do a fourth of the work. Certified nursing assistants are nurses’ eyes and ears. When it comes to patient care, we get overlooked for everything.

I know several people who prefer Sacred Heart, including myself, over Holy Family because the nurses at Holy Family have no bedside manner. When I’m sick or hurt, I don’t want nurses coming into my room who reek of popcorn and have a rude attitude. Wherever they went to school, it needs to include a bedside manner class in their nursing course.

Even if I don’t have insurance, I expect quality care. I don’t need to be looked down on, down someone’s nose, because I can’t afford some high-priced insurance.

Steven Stoddard Spokane

Water alleviates summer heat

To stay cooler in the heat, get your clothing wet. The evaporation lowers the body’s temperature quite a bit, and it’s remarkable how much cooler it will feel.

For dogs who are suffering from the heat, soak them with the hose. They probably won’t like being sprayed, but they’ll like how much better they feel in a few minutes. Try to get them wet to the skin, especially around the throat.

Of course, provide them with plenty of shade and cool water to drink, too. Sarah Schoenfeld Spokane

GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS

Mining agency worth keeping

I can identify very well with Dr. Peter H. Raven’s article in the July 16 paper. It’s about the National Biological Service. If you replace the NBS with the U.S. Bureau of Mines, change the budget from $166 million to $ 132 million, the staff from 1,950 to 1,700 and “Living resources” to mineral resources, you would have a description of the USBM.

Both agencies regulate nothing. Their mission is to assemble, analyze and make available to interested parties the best, most current scientific information regarding America’s resources.

What information does USBM gather and analyze? Using its own researchers, it systematically studies the availability of mineral resources on federal land in Alaska and the 11 Western States. It found that over half of the 800 million-plus acres of federal land studied is, for practical purposes, severely restricted or unavailable for mineral development.

Also, it studied the mineral resources of all foreign countries and provides valuable assistance to determine the effects of political actions of foreign countries on international mining trade. The research arm of the USBM studies and solves complex mining, metallurgical and safety problems. Much of this research is adopted by many non-mining industries.

The USBM provides factual technical assistance to the public and state agencies. With USBM involvement, mineral resources are considered in management plans of our national forests and other federal land. Mining environmental impact statements are reviewed to determine their technical and economic feasibility for the Bureau of Land Management and the Forest Service.

If the USBM is eliminated, there will be no agency to ensure we know the consequences of the mineral-related choices we make. Paul Hyndman Spokane

Speak up for natural treasure

The people of mid-Columbia Basin have one of the nation’s most valued resources in their backyard, the Hanford Reach of the Columbia River. We also have the opportunity to secure this resource for present and future generations by insisting our elected officials, Rep. George Nethercutt and Sens. Slade Gorton and Patty Murray support the National Park Service’s 1994 proposal to designate the Hanford Reach a Recreational River under the Wild & Scenic Rivers Act, along with the public lands of the Wahluke Slope as a National Wildlife Refuge.

Eighty percent of our remaining Columbia River Chinook salmon spawn in the Reach, but preserving this immeasurably important fishery is only one of many reasons to designate the Reach a recreational river. A Wild & Scenic River in our backyards can only help attract new industry while preserving both the recreational values of the river and our clean water supplies for generations to come.

To protect the Reach we must protect the lands around it. The Park Service proposal does just that, by designating the Wahluke Slope a National Wildlife Refuge.

Tell your elected representatives you support the Park Service proposal to protect our river and public lands. Stan Leja Walla Walla

Make U.S.-Japan trade fair, or else

Perot said it best: “A giant sucking sound as our jobs rush overseas.”

For 25 years we’ve traded with Asia with one hand tied behind our backs. We’ve been importing Japanese cars while exporting McDonald’s hamburgers. There were no Japanese cars in Europe a few years ago. If they’re there now, you can bet Japan has to import one Mercedes every time Japan exports one Lexus.

It’s time we untied our right hand and do what Japan and Europe have been doing since World War II. We should protect our farmers and our industry by slapping a 100 percent tariff on everything coming in from Japan, until Japan truly opens its markets. We can get along just fine without Japan’s sushi, which is about the only thing Japan makes that we can’t.

Boeing and U.S. Treasury Bonds are small potatoes compared with rampant underemployment and rampant unemployment in the United States. Pablo DeRuiz Spokane

We must reform property tax

Looking back on 18 months of commitment by myself and others to generating interest for state and local property tax reform, I’m shocked and disgusted at the continued lack of concern by the governor’s office.

Our county officials have informed us of a stifling property tax emergency throughout the state of Washington. Our assessor’s office admitted our present property tax system is tragically obsolete and financially oppressive for too many taxpayers.

How can elected state representatives come together in a unified call of their constituents for property tax reform and spend thousands of taxpayers dollars bringing forth a bill they know will never reach the governor’s desk? If it were to, it would face a promised veto.

Losing the family home, farm, having money for medication or putting money aside for property taxes should not things people have to consider. What’s happened to government for the people? What are these elected officials for, if not to serve the people’s will?

It’s clear the people of Washington state have no choice but to follow the example of California’s Proposition 13 and use an initiative to secure property tax reform. I pray property tax reform Initiative 650 be on the ballot for a vote by the people. If it’s not, I’ll not give up!

What better way for government to implement an income tax on it’s citizenry than to refuse property tax reform? What better way than to increase property taxes to a point where you’ll choose between losing your home or paying an income tax. Frank Lowhatchie South Cle Elum, Wash.

IN THE PAPER

Vanderbilt story most welcome

Your (July 13) article on the Vanderbilts of Hayden Lake and their care of orphaned wildlife was welcome in a time when tragedy so often fills the news .

The Vanderbilts are truly modern day heroes, working with wildlife and using their own funds to eventually send motherless animals back into the wild.

I hope their project receives more funding as a result of the newspaper article, and will inspire others to find a humanitarian project that could use their help. Chris Wellman Rose Lake, Idaho

Writer treated poets badly

In response to the article on the National Society of Poets contest, I’m really surprised you allowed your journalist to print the article the way it was written. Your journalist obviously didn’t do the research that a professional would have done, but only took whatever information which was within his comfortable office or cubicle.

I was one of the poets mentioned by the journalist who he said writes cliche-ridden doggerels, yet he never bothered to leave his air-conditioned building even when invited to see, read or listen to my work displayed at two locations in this town.

Your journalist may suspect the credibility of the National Library of Poetry and their counterpart, but had no right to insult the poetry of those individuals not personally known to him. I still extend my invitation to you and your journalist to review my work at the El Toreador Restaurant on Riverside and at the Catapult Juice Works at 703-1/2 Monroe. Michael D. Wilson Spokane

OTHER TOPICS

Why pope loves even feminists

Regarding “Pope surprises feminist, urges women’s rights” (July 11). The pope isn’t primarily a political figure - he is a man of God.

He knows we’re all created by God, that God gives all of us, including him, whatever authority one has. Most of all, Pope John Paul II knows God loves every person, as individuals, and beyond our feeble understanding. Since the pope is a man who loves God, he also loves and respects every person - every man, woman, and child on earth.

Pope John Paul II appreciates and defends both the preborn child and the feminist? I’m not surprised! Jackie Volz Spokane

Disrespect shows lack of class

When my red-haired grandson was just a toddler and got angry at someone, he would call them a foo-foo head. He is 10 years old now and his parents have taught him it’s not nice to call people names.

Some people never learn. Patrick Brayden of Post Falls is a case in point. I’m sure it makes him feel important and superior to call our president a “joker” and “slick Willie”(July 14). He possibly doesn’t realize he demeans himself and the office of the President when he does this. His mama should have taught him better.

I have disliked several presidents, President Nixon especially. But I didn’t appreciate it when people referred to him as tricky Dick. My mama taught me better. Ed Meadows Spokane