Letters To The Editor

Tue., Jan. 9, 1996

(From Letters to the editor of Thursday, January 11, 1996): Ronald Emil Nordstrom’s letter of Jan. 9 mistakenly made reference to the Washington State Patrol. The officer involved in the accident was actually a member of the Spokane Police Department.

BUSINESS AND LABOR

Barbieris enterprising and caring

After reading the whining letter regarding Broadview Dairy and the Barbieri family, I can only wonder where some of these letter writers were when helping Spokane counted.

The personal efforts of Mr. and Mrs. Lou Barbieri and the hard work and honesty of the Barbieri family over the years have helped hold downtown Spokane together and keep it viable, as well as make our city a nicer place to live.

Broadview Dairy was a defunct business when the Barbieris purchased it. They are now being wrongfully criticized for their efforts to keep it alive. The employees have been offered a good plan and the opportunity to share in future profits, versus the possibility of losing all jobs should the business have to be closed. Methinks envy for a family with a long history of strong work ethic and compassion for employees, most recently demonstrated by its company-sponsored day care facility, belittles those who criticize without knowing all the facts.

David L. Petty Spokane

Insurer watching out for No. 1

Thank you for staff writer Jim Lynch’s “Rising health insurance cost looming” (Dec. 27). Now I know there are other individual medical policyholders out there getting screwed by insurance companies.

Years ago, after watching my insurance rates increase by leaps and bounds, I was forced to drop my children from my policy and raise the deductible on myself. Being diabetic, I was forced to keep myself covered, knowing the day would come when I would need insurance. I was able to get my family covered through my union group insurance. For many years I paid Blue Cross premiums without having any claims.

Now I am disabled and in need of insurance, but if the rates keep going up and up it may be tough to keep it. My rates increased $27 per month on Dec. 1 and Blue Cross has promised to raise them again on March 1.

I have been under a Blue Cross plan since birth and now that I need them, I feel I am being priced right out of the program.

In the article it is stated that “insurance companies say they are losing big money on individual policyholders.” I wonder how much they pay in salaries to their top executives, attorneys, lobbyists, etc., who must spend a lot of time trying to weed out people like me.

I know there must be many more out there in the same predicament. I urge others in this situation to write to their insurance companies and Congress members. Mike Gagner Otis Orchards

Sound and fury, signifying what?

Prosecutor Jim Sweetser has stated at least three times to the media that it is against state law to agree to a “just cause” provision in the union contract. Now we hear that another state law allows such provisions. Sweetser, in grand political style, failed to share this information with his public. Isn’t he the prosecutor? Wouldn’t the ethics he professes to have require him to state the whole truth?

I’m sure Sweetser will claim in true demagogic style that he just wants to retain the ability to eliminate employees not up to the standards he is setting. Standards that would protect the taxpayers from government waste. Standards that would make sure their tax dollars are being spent properly.

What did it cost taxpayers for this interview and all the lovely charts? It’s not election time. Why was this news conference called? Guilt? The union is not disputing caseload issues. Is Sweetser just defending himself? That’s all the employees are asking for - an opportunity to defend themselves.

The just cause provision is simply a check-and-balance system that protects not only the employee but also the taxpayer by reducing the chances of costly, unjust termination suits.

History has proven that businesses that encourage their employees to speak their minds and don’t govern by fear and intimidation better serve their clients - in this case, the taxpayers.

Support your prosecuting attorneys. Contact Sweetser and tell him to support his employees. Dave Silva Spokane

IN THE PAPER

Columnist reassignment sounds fishy

I read with great sorrow Frank Bartel’s last column as The Spokesman-Review’s free-roving business page columnist.

Unfortunately, I suspect his candor toward the local business community had something to do with his reassignment. After all, isn’t a business writer supposed to be unfailingly positive? Revealing the underside of anything, be it a rock or a community’s infrastructure, is not always pretty.

Although Bartel himself characterized his columns as conservative, a more appropriate term would be populist. He never forgot that it is people who are affected by business decisions. That’s why I made it a point to read his columns. That’s why I will miss them.

It’s true advertisers (read businesses) pay the salaries of Bartel and his fellow staffers, but without readers there is no paper. No, I’m not going to cancel my subscription because of Bartel’s fishy-sounding reassignment. I do, however, feel the “Good Paper” has become less so with his change of direction. S.A. Yates Spokane

‘Propaganda’ not appreciated

Your article headlined “Plowed under/The end of farm subsidies may be near” (Dec. 31), which was authored by the public relations personnel of Cargill, Inc., a privately held agribusiness, presents propaganda under the pretense of news.

The thrust of this article and headlines is that proposed farm program legislation will eliminate farm program controls and subsidies. And that Cargill and the farming industry support the elimination of controls and subsidies.

Most organized farm groups, including Cargill, have lobbied for the elimination of controls but have vigorously supported the continuation of farm subsidies. They want the government out of attempts to protect marginal land from overutilization and they want the continuation of agricultural welfare.

Where is objectivity and honesty of the press in your presentation of this article? Philip Waring Coeur d’Alene

Editor’s note: “Plowed under” appeared on a Sunday Perspective page - venue for a broad variety of viewpoints-in-depth from week to week. The commentary’s source was identified clearly.

LAW AND JUSTICE

Shot legality was matter for court

In response to William Lind’s Dec. 29 letter decrying the laxity of Congress during its recent hearings into the events at Ruby Ridge, i.e. Congress’ failing to question the legality of the shot that killed Deputy U.S. Marshal William Degan: That shot has been judged legal and justified.

At a jury trial in federal court in Boise, after an extremely inept presentation by deputy prosecutors, Randy Weaver and Kevin Harris were acquitted of the charge of murder.

Evidence of wrongful intent or criminal actions on the part of Kevin Harris and Randy Weaver was so glaringly absent from the prosecution’s case that defense counsel Gerry Spence rested his case without any rebuttal but his closing arguments.

Congress has neither the moral right nor the legal authority to challenge the outcome of a trial in which the defendant is found not guilty. Thomas Albin Brewster, Wash.

Is it what you are, not what you do?

This is in regard to Washington State Patrol officer Kevin Sher’s accident Wednesday on Northwest Boulevard in Spokane.

It was stated on a television news report that the officer fell asleep while on duty during his regular 9 p.m. to 7 a.m. shift and hadn’t worked any overtime in the last month. The report also stated that the accident was under investigation.

If anyone other than a cop had wrecked, they would have cited him on the spot. They knew he’d fallen asleep on the job. Why wasn’t he given a reckless or inattentive driving ticket at the time?

Why should anyone get special treatment? Justice is supposed to be blind, not deaf and dumb. Ronald Emil Nordstrom Cataldo, Idaho

PUBLIC SAFETY

Idea is prevention, not coercion

Bob Cubr (Jan. 4) states that a 4-H club is pressured to put helmets on kids learning to ride horses, and that the individual should decide whether to wear a helmet or not. If they should fall, blame themselves.

Yes, as an adult you can make that decision about your safety, but what about the children?

Nobody is forcing anything on anyone. It’s simple: let helmet protection awareness be known. Once the facts are given, let the parents decide for their children. It’s not pressure; it’s education.

Cubr, I don’t blame others for our tragedies. I know God needed a special angel. But to not tell our story, so that other parents can beware and protect their children, would cause more guilt than I could handle. Debbie Lenius Spokane

First, try being a pedestrian

I have a proposition for C.H. Swinburne, Jr. Park your vehicle so you can do all your business on foot. Perhaps then you will be able to look at pedestrian safety a bit more objectively. Until then, obey the existing laws even if you don’t agree with them.

I am a driver and a pedestrian. While driving I’m always on the alert for those on foot. I don’t care if it’s in a private parking lot, an otherwise empty street, at a red light or wherever, I’m still the one tapping the most heat. Meaning, those on foot have absolutely no defense against my vehicle.

I’m tired of hearing excuses like “It was dark,” “I couldn’t see him” and “She crossed in the middle of the street.” Drivers, are any of those excuses valid? Not to me. Slow down, look around and watch busy parking lots.

Shannon Wilhelm was somebody’s mommy, somebody’s baby, and she wasn’t at fault.

Finally, those of you who aren’t really familiar with the Factory Outlet mall, please consider the dangerous situation that exists there. You must slow down to a crawl. Kids are always running across the street. Scores of young teenagers work there. Grandmas shop, families push strollers and a great many license plates are from far away places. Those drivers aren’t aware of the danger, either.

Please don’t judge the pedestrian, at least until you hang up your car keys and walk a mile in his shoes. Stephanie Richmond. Post Falls, Idaho

PEOPLE IN SOCIETY

Lights enough to brighten the heart

This is a deeply heartfelt thank you to all of you who put up lights this holiday season. From the simple wreath on the door to the displays that I know took days to put up, each and every one brought a smile to my face and a glow to my heart.

As the holiday season becomes more commercial, we forget how to properly receive, as well as give. To all of you who gave of your time and spirit to put up lights, I gratefully received your gifts of lights and acknowledge it with a warm and loving thank you. Sylvia Kafton Spokane

Better compassion than judgment

After reading David Barlow’s letter on AIDS I was challenged to state my opinion, too. You’d think that after all the articles on Kara Claypool, Spokane doesn’t discriminate.

We should stop pointing fingers and start focusing on what we are going to do now. Placing blame or judgment on anyone who has this disease doesn’t accomplish anything. Saying “You deserved it,” doesn’t show compassion. I don’t believe this is a God-like attitude.

Barlow said we live in a Godless world with no morals. My question would have to be, does God call us to place blame or judgment on anyone? I believe God calls us to love everyone, so instead of focusing on how a person got the virus, we should start showing love and compassion to those who have it, no matter their race, age, color, creed or sexual orientation.

People with AIDS get sick. People with AIDS are dying. People with AIDS are important and valuable. I believe we’re called to love all people with AIDS.

What can we do? We can volunteer for the Spokane AIDS Network, donate money to help bring the name project AIDS quilt this Spring. Most importantly, we can take the time to get to know someone who has AIDS. When you watch someone die from AIDS, I guarantee your life and you will change. Katie Turpen Spokane

‘Now we are the barbarians’

The heart of man has not changed in all of history. We have been taught to deplore various barbarians in history who have committed unspeakable acts against the innocent or weak.

In Rome, Nero burned Christians as street lamps. In Europe, Hitler gassed Jews and even used their remains to make household soaps, etc. Many other crimes against humanity have been recorded for us, but now we are the barbarians.

Our president, Bill Clinton, is about to veto the bill concerning the banning of partial-birth abortions. These abortions allow full-term children to be born except for the tips of their heads. Then they are jabbed in the neck and their brains are sucked out.

How can we, as a people, agree with this practice? What, then, would set us apart from the worst of torturers from humanity’s past?

If we continue to destroy our children, then there is no future for us. God have mercy on us. Linda J. Reed Spokane