Letters To The Editor

POLITICS AND GOVERNMENT

Time to give Newt the boot

How many holidays and Christmases are we going to let Gingrich the grinch spoil for us, before our combined congressional leaders kick him out like they did former Speaker of the House Jim Wright? Judith Maibie Spokane

Contract out on America

We should have read the fine print. Let’s go over this contract. Less opportunity for education, less opportunity for job training, less for the poor and elderly.

That sounds like the Republican “Contract for America.” Michael T. McGuire Spokane

Don’t blame excesses on GOP

Frank Bartel, The Spokesman-Review’s business section editorialist, wrote one of the most misleading and inaccurate articles I’ve ever read (Nov. 19).

The Republicans in Congress have held the majority for exactly one year, yet Bartel blames them for 40 years of Democrat excesses and the potential genocide of all senior citizens. If Mr. Bartel wants to attach blame for his above-mentioned inequities, let him at least place it in the proper place.

Lyndon Johnson, Jim Wright, Dan Rostenkowski and even our own Tom Foley have a lot more to do with Bartel’s gripes than George Nethercutt, Linda Smith, Jennifer Dunn and other recently elected Republicans. Perhaps Mr. Bartel has forgotten that the Republicans have recently passed legislation requiring Congress to be governed by the laws it passes for the first time ever.

Perhaps Mr. Bartel isn’t aware that Linda Smith is attempting to introduce a bill that would eliminate the offices of ex-speakers, such as Mr. Foley, which are staffed and run at taxpayer’s expense to the tune of hundreds of thousands of dollars each year. Perhaps Mr. Bartel doesn’t know that the Republicans have just passed legislation in the House prohibiting all gifts.

The Republicans certainly aren’t perfect, as the Democrats and the liberal media are quick to point out. However, compared to the last 40 years, they’re a huge improvement. If Mr. Bartel is patient, I’m certain his concerns will be addressed to a much greater degree than if the Democrats still controlled Congress.

A little honesty in reporting wouldn’t hurt, either. Hal Dixon Spokane

Time for a reality check

It’s time that people like Peter A. Brittain take a look at reality (Nov. 21). Social programs have already been cut.

Last year, it was projected that in 20 years there would be mass starvation in this country. A newspaper article on Oct. 25, 1995, stated thousands had already died of starvation in this country. Sources that normally give food to churches and other organizations don’t have it to give this year. How many more will starve if the great Republicans get their cuts passed?

On top of all this, they sold their bodies and souls to big business and the health insurance industry. All labor disputes now have health care as part of the dispute. The health-care options are a bad joke and benefit only the insurance companies.

Many dollars are spent every year on the space program and billions more on airplanes which will sit in mothballs. These programs only benefit the wealthy. Then the great Republicans say the only things which can be cut are Medicare and education. Medicare and Social Security wouldn’t be broke if they’d pay back the money which has been from the stolen from them.

Our biggest problem is that Congress is elected by only 30 percent. We need a 90 percent vote. The more people who vote, the higher the quality. Sam Wetterhus Colbert

SMOKING BAN

Ban doesn’t go far enough

In reference to the ban on smoking in restaurants, why don’t we ban perfume and aftershave lotion.

I’ve sat many times in restaurants and the odor of some people’s perfume and aftershave made my eyes water.

If smoking is going to be banned, then perfume and aftershave should be, too. H.J. Champlin Spokane

The issue is health, not rights

The Washington Industrial Safety and Health Act, RCW 49.17, states in part, “Each employer: (1) Shall furnish to each of his employees a place of employment free from recognized hazards that are causing or likely to cause serious injury or death to his employees:, etc.” The act further states that, “A minimum penalty of five thousand dollars shall be assessed for a willful violation.”

The Environmental Protection Agency has determined that secondhand smoke from tobacco is a class A cancer-causing agent. This makes secondhand smoke a “recognized hazard” and shows that those restaurant owners who don’t supply their employees a workplace free of tobacco smoke are in violation of Washington State law.

Some have claimed that the issue in banning smoking in restaurants is one of a violation of various rights. The real issue is one of health. Since the Spokane County Board of Health is obligated to protect the health of citizens, it certainly must take the action of banning smoking in restaurants.

Recently, I asked a restaurant owner, who disagrees with board of health, if he objected to his having to remove asbestos from his place of business. He replied, “But that is a health issue.” In 1995, all should become aware of the dangers of secondhand tobacco smoke, and should do everything to protect non-smokers from its effect. Non-smoking restaurant workers must be given the ability to protest having to work in a cancer-causing environment without fear of retribution from their employers. Dennis W. Biggs Jr., M.D. American Cancer Society board member, Spokane

IN THE PAPER

Who’s on a witch hunt?

“Amend on a ‘witch hunt”’ is one title for your top, front page article on Nov 25.

Another possible title might be, “Spokesman-Review on a witch hunt.” Jerry Malone Spokane

He should be ashamed

Doug Clark’s column on Nov. 21 has prompted me to write my first letter. I hope mine is only one of many you receive critical of Mr. Clark’s irresponsible viewpoint.

Describing (Ridpath general manager Carl) Naccarato and co-workers as crafty, Clark recounts how they defrauded “gullible fans” by selling Naccarato’s forged Elvis autographs for five bucks apiece (in 1973). Clark then glorifies Naccarato’s 25-year career as “living proof the old American virtues of hard work and persistence can still take a person to the top.”

I wonder how many of those vigilant Elvis fans scraped together meager allowances or paper route earnings to squander on this bellhops’s criminal enterprise. I also wonder where Mr. Naccarato draws the line.

The larger issue is the fact that Mr. Clark is oblivious to the implications of his message. That Mr. Clark can unabashedly praise as “old American virtue” the kind of low-life hustle recounted in his column, speaks columns about what’s wrong with our society. Preying on the weak and gullible has become a way of life for many who scorn the real traditional American values of fair play, honesty and hard work. Theft is theft whether the punk snatches an old lady’s purse off her shoulder, or bilks starry-eyed kids out of their lunch money by selling bogus goods.

Doug Clark, Carl Naccarato and The Spokesman-Review should all be ashamed of themselves. The least the general manager of the Ridpath could do is to offer to make amends to the victims of his greed. What is the going price for a genuine Elvis autograph, anyway? Mel Hoit Spokane

AROUND SPOKANE

Crime being dealt with

Hey, Sharon Mumau, of the “Stay on task and grab a mop” letter on Nov. 20, where did you get your information? It’s inaccurate and insulting to prosecutors, judges and the people who elected them to serve this community.

Come on over to court and take a firsthand look at prosecutors trying back-to-back cases, targeting child molesters, murderers, rapists, gang members, drug dealers, burglars … the list goes on. I’ll save you the time. The prosecuting attorney’s office is breaking all-time case filings records, felony trials are up 30 percent, setting another all time record.

Juvenile detention is full. Know why? Because prosecutors and judges are locking up and holding kids accountable for their crimes.

The adult detention facility is full. Know why? Prosecutors are getting more convictions and high-end sentences that keep more criminals off the streets for longer periods of time.

Under Prosecuting Attorney Jim Sweetser’s strong, innovative leadership and his “get tough” stance on crime, our goal to protect, serve and keep the community safe is coming to fruition.

Sharon, we really don’t have time to clean the cafeteria floor, we’re cleaning up on crime. Kaye Felice Spokane

Trails need to be finished

In regards to Rich Landers Nov. 23 article on mountain bikers constructing trails over the edge of High Drive, I offer the following:

I, and most adults, never ride where it’s muddy so as to not damage the terrain. I stop from time to time to repair damage or replace rock trail edges. Most of the riders I see are practicing the same conservation.

Those of you who know me know that I have credentials in physical land development and impact assessment. I take exception with my valued friends of the park department and support Landers’ notion that the trail work has been carefully conceived and well-executed. The developed trails seldom if ever are fall line trails; they are beautiful traverses, including carefully crafted switchbacks. They also have drainage accommodations. The only erosion I have seen are the old fall line motorcycle runs, four-wheel-drive climb areas and power line access roads.

Finally, the whitetail deer are incredibly adaptable, as always. They use the trails at night and bed down in the non-trail areas during the day.

Mountain bikers don’t leave the trails to bother them, but you can be assured that unleashed dogs can do that.

I support Landers suggestion that city parks should organize a couple of well-advertised work parties and finish the job of trail construction for both hikers and bikers. Tom Mosher Spokane

OTHER TOPICS

Broaden our racial horizons

While watching the “25 years of Soul Train” special, I noticed something that truly upset me.

All the commercials had black actors. Who thinks that only the black community watches Soul Train? For myself, and our president, we’ve both loved “Soul Train” all these years.

All those commercials should be played as much as any other, not just during a special which people believe is for the black community.

In order to bridge the gap between blacks and whites, everyone (including the media, politicians and executives at the networks) should work together on what is brought into our home, and provide more of a variety for our children.

I applaud the sponsors on their inventive and updated commercials. I hope to see more commercials and specials involving people of color and not just the violence, the gangs and the drugs.

Keep up the good work, but take it just one step further.

Give the children of color more hope for the future and the Anglo-Saxon children less fear of people of color.

One more question for everyone in Spokane reading this: What color is love? Patti Kelly Spokane

Don’t make God the fall guy

I was deeply moved by Jack DeBaun’s letter on Nov. 20. All of creation, according to Romans 8:22, suffers atrocities, adversities and disasters. When suffering strikes close to home, we look for someone to blame. Too often, we make God the fall guy.

No assumption could be further from the truth. God is completely holy, and incapable of doing anything evil (Deuteronomy 32:4). The world he created was perfect until mankind sinned and opened the floodgates of pain and ruin. God has allowed the world to bear the brunt of our rebellion - for a while.

Yes, we suffer, but no living creature has ever suffered more than Jesus Christ, God in the flesh. Isaiah 53 tells us that Jesus was beaten beyond recognition and nailed upon the cross, a cruel and torturous death. There, he bore our sins and lived our agony. He personally felt the pain of every abused child, every broken heart and every crushed human being.

Jesus was innocent, yet he chose to suffer and die because he loved us and knew we needed a way out of the hell we’d created. One day, Jesus will return and make everything perfect. He’ll wipe away our tears and sin and pain will be no more.

I hope Mr. DeBaun can see his way past the hurt and to the savior. Annie Long Sandpoint

Fur is an investment in death

Each year, the fur trade spends millions to market and glamorize its products. This massive public relations effort is designed to mask the real price of fur: suffering and death for millions of fur-bearing animals. As people learn the truth about the real cost of fur, the public’s demand for fur has significantly decreased, causing more and more furriers to go bankrupt. The number of fur “ranches” has fallen by 35 percent, and fur sales have decreased nearly 40 percent since peaking in 1986.

Once a symbol of glamour and success, fur now represents insensitivity, vanity and greed. Celebrities from Christie Brinkley to Princess Di are publicly saying “no” to fur. Top designers like Bill Blass, Calvin Klein, and Georgio Armani now exclude fur from their collections. Leading retailers, including Speigel and Lord & Taylor have stopped selling fur altogether.

Here’s what you can do to help. Choose clothing that reflects your respect for life. Don’t buy or wear fur. Educate others about the brutality of the fur trade. Write to newspapers, magazines and catalogs that advertise fur, and express your disapproval of their promoting animal suffering. If you own a fur, you can donate it to In Defense of Animals and receive a tax deduction at the same time. Contact Animal Advocates at 459-8502 for more information.

Fur is a dying fashion and a dead investment. The choice is yours. Say no to fur. Karen Booth Animal Advocates of the Inland Northwest, Spokane

Education is our future

Patty Hime’s Nov. 16 letter deeply troubled me.

The first thing I noticed was her reference to the basics of education: “reading, writing, grammar - do they teach that anymore?” The so called three R’s are; reading, writing and arithmetic. This tells me that her education was inadequate. I don’t wish to attack her personally, but her stance is invalid.

The most important thing an education does is open our minds to civilization’s problems. This is where history becomes so important. The saying goes “those that fail to learn from history are doomed to repeat it.” If we study the events in our past which led to catastrophe, maybe we can avoid a similar fate.

Her real topic was the confrontation in Washington. History is trying to tell us that a concentration of wealth is destructive to a nation/state’s economy. In the ‘20s we had conservative economic politics which produced an industrial boom. This lasted a few years, with the support of tax breaks to large corporations. When the consumer base was eroded to the point where spending no longer occurred, it caused the Depression.

The answers to our problems are out there, if we look hard enough. Our nation’s very survival depends on our education and participation. We need to support higher education by reform, not cuts. Our children’s education is their salvation. A lack of citizen participation was partially responsible for the fall of both Greece and Rome. Avoid this fate by writing your elected representatives, and tell them how you feel. Remember, they work for us. Russ Carver Spokane