Letters To The Editor

SCHOOLS AND EDUCATION

Good way to discourage public service

It was a privilege to serve on the Spokane School Board for 10 years. I was deeply upset and angered over the Jan. 7 article in regard to the perceived violations of the open meetings law. The open meetings law was strictly adhered to during my service on the Spokane School Board. Integrity and ethics have always been of paramount importance to me in whatever I undertake.

Each board member has his or her unique talents, expertise and opinions, and all of them have a deep commitment to public education and what is best for our children. I greatly valued the respect we had for each other. We worked well together in an open, ethical, dedicated manner. But maybe that doesn’t sell newspapers.

Some school boards have individual offices, but we choose to share our office for space efficiency and economic considerations. Our mailboxes, coat hangers, curriculum materials, phone and video machines are housed in one small office.

The requirements of the Public Disclosure Commission, the impact of public service on one’s profession, the multitude of volunteer hours and the cost of running for office coupled with unfair and unjust criticism from the newspaper will certainly cause people to think twice before considering public office.

Spokane is a tremendous community filled with dedicated, caring, concerned and committed volunteers and I wonder why the newspaper feels it is necessary to continually focus on the negative and/or false perceptions. Carol A. Wendle Spokane

Exposing school board that works

It must have been a slow news day for staff writer Carla Johnson to write the article regarding School District 81’s “regularly break(ing) meeting laws” (Jan. 7).

Does the School Board not have the right to meet on a social basis? With the constant changes taking place in our district and many issues to discuss, before-meeting preparation seems necessary. They should be commended for the “board meetings always running smoothly.” If there is a lack of debate, perhaps it is because they are able to make intelligent and informed decisions without a lot of argument.

The board members give numerous hours to the school district and the community, all voluntary. I applaud their efforts and thank them for their service. Betsy Ressa Spokane

Fight poverty with good education

Every day millions of uneducated people work long hours for starvation wages all over the world. They see nothing heroic in their labor or in their destitution.

Unfortunately, an increasing number of people in this country are bragging about their lack of education and their substandard wages. Believe me, there’s no bliss in ignorance and no nobility in poverty.

I urge all of you who haven’t finished school to go back and get your diploma or GED, and then go on to college or trade school. No nation can become great or remain so without an educated work force.

For your country’s sake and your own, stay in school or go back if you’re out. There’s no legitimate excuse for being uneducated, except stupidity. Don’t waste your mind or your life. You can’t contribute to this country unless you have the knowledge and the skill it needs. Judith Jones Spokane

SPOKANE MATTERS

Transfer does not a demotion make

As team leader of the civil division of the Spokane County prosecuting attorney’s office, I feel I must correct certain terminology used by staff writer Todd Foster in his Jan. 5 article. This was in regard to Prosecutor Jim Sweetser’s offering of a new contract to represented deputy prosecutors.

Foster indicates that Patricia Thompson, a senior deputy prosecuting attorney, had been recently “demoted” and was being transferred to the civil division.

I do not believe transfer to the civil division is viewed by any of the county’s elected officials, to which the civil division provides legal advise and representation, as a demotion. To the contrary, the civil division provides a vital governmental service to over 50 county elected officials, departments and governmental agencies.

Moreover, the transfer of Thompson, with her 17-plus years of experience as a deputy prosecutor, not only recognizes the importance of the civil division, but also allows the prosecuting attorney’s office to meet one of Sweetser’s campaign pledges - to monitor the legal representation and expenses by outside legal counsel representing Spokane County.

Thompson’s trial experience will be invaluable in meeting this pledge. Additionally, the transfer will enable her to broaden her prosecutorial experience in the event she opts to seek a judicial position in the community.

Welcome Thompson to the civil team. James P. Emacio Deputy prosecuting attorney, Spokane County

Make it Dutch Masters and DeWar’s

I was disturbed to read that eight city employees were fired for testing positive for illegal drug use in 1995, although none were intoxicated when tested.

I’m sure City Manager Roger Crum believes it when he says he’s cleaning up “those who might be a hazard to the public.” But if that were true, wouldn’t poor or hazardous performance on the job be quite evident without a drug test? Apparently not.

What we have here is the extension of the state to enforce morality through intrusive random drug tests.

Crum should celebrate his achievement by smoking a cigar and drinking a double scotch. He’s earned it! Terry M. Cox Spokane

GRASS FIELD BURNING

Anti-burning letter mangles facts

I want to set the record straight regarding the half-truths in Patricia Hoffman’s Jan. 5 letter (“Growers’ noloss record must end”).

Hoffman says Spokane County grass growers issued a press release “threatening lawsuits if such a regulation (by SCAPCA to phase out field burning) is attempted.” The release really stated, “grass growers question the fairness and legality of the SCAPCA decision.” Lawsuits and threats were never mentioned.

Hoffman states that grass growers went to Olympia and brought back a law that makes it illegal for SCAPCA to establish a burn season. If so, why would the growers now be in a crucial fight to continue farming in Spokane County?

The law she mentions states SCAPCA can’t limit the amount of days permitted in a burn season. SCAPCA still has the power to issue burn permits, choose which days growers are allowed to burn and monitor the burns. In 1995, SCAPCA approved 18 days for grass burning. Growers burned on only 11 days - four in August and seven in September. Did that really “rob” everyone of their summer?

Hoffman contends grass growers have successfully resisted any restrictions on their industry. She fails to state how growers lost all their rights to farm Kentucky bluegrass in the Spokane Valley due to SCAPCA restrictions. Or that burning no longer occurs on weekends or holidays, or that farmers are actively seeking alternatives, donating hundreds of acres and hours for long-term research.

Finally, she never mentions that the growers cause less than 1 percent of all the air pollution in Spokane County. Mark Lonam Rockford

GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS

Democrats won’t capitulate

Let’s face it, folks, a balanced budget to a Democrat is like a stake to the heart of a vampire.

This bunch of donkeys was in control for the better part of the last 40 years and provided zilch, nada, zero, nil in leadership. For proof positive just look at the exmaple set by the present occupant of the White House and his cabinet of buffoons.

Now that they’re no longer in control, these Democrats have turned into a bunch of whining, sniveling foot draggers who refuse to follow.

The only thing left for this party of stubborn jackasses to do is get the hell out of the way. Bill Klein Nine Mile Falls

Only Republicans deserve thanks

Fascists have long been great propagandists. Their philosophy promotes telling lies consistently until large segments of the masses accept lies as being the truth.

It is amazing how many liberal members of the media are utilizing that technique today.

A good example is their detailing the accomplishments of the 1995 Congress. Here is the record:

It produced a detailed, 3,000-page bill that will balance the budget in seven years. The Democrats, with both legislative branches, never brought forth the thought of a balanced budget. Democrats have never been willing to try to rein in entitlements that are leading our nation down the road of bankruptcy.

When Republicans won control of Congress, even Democrats went along with the Republican theory that no one should be above the law - not even Congress, now that they no longer control it.

The same thing happened with lobby reform. Democrats had not entered into lobby reform until they no longer controlled powerful committee chairmanships. Now they have joined Republicans for reform.

The bloodless Republican revolution has added up to the most significant reforms in a decade. Not bad for one year. Don Reed Spokane

Democrats still don’t get it

A.K. Stirling asserts, “This nation has always done better under a Democratic government.” (Letters, Jan. 5) As compared to what?

For more than 30 years, Democrats controlled Congress. The American people came to the conclusion in 1994 that many years of Democrat-directed social engineering had taken our country too far in the wrong direction. As wealthy as the United States may be, we must acknowledge that our resources are limited. The only responsible way to do so is to balance the budget.

Many Republican candidates were smart enough to realize this was among today’s most pressing issues and, even though their own party had supported deficit spending in the past, they learned from their mistakes and attuned their politics to the will of the electorate. They have held to that.

Take a good look at today’s Democrats and their rhetoric. They clearly haven’t learned anything. It would be a terrible mistake to return them to power now. Anyone who believes that Democrats are less influenced than Republicans by business and power groups is hopelessly naive.

The real barrier to progress is President Clinton. His understanding of the will of the people extends no further than the polls. He is committed to nothing except his own re-election. He has proven himself a dangerously incompetent chief executive.

Change is seldom easy or quick. We need to stay on course. The best way to do so is to give the Republican programs a chance and elect a capable president in 1996. Mark K. Ashar Spokane

Jefferson had situation pegged

For those of you who wonder why Congress is deadlocked with the executive branch of government over the budget mess, wonder no longer. Consider the following statement made by Thomas Jefferson in 1782:

“If the present Congress errs in too much talking, how can it be otherwise in a body to which people send 150 lawyers, whose trade it is to question everything, yield nothing, and talk by the hour? That 150 lawyers should do business together ought not to be expected.” William E. Dudley Kettle Falls, Wash.

Frugality not in the game plan

When balancing a household budget, one must do away with luxuries.

One must prioritize one’s own home over the homes of others. One must protect and care for one’s own children before one cares for the children of others. One must remember charity is voluntary and always optional.

One must reward those who contribute, and withhold the allowance of those who do not contribute to the household.

One must place vacation spots on the back burner. One must abide by the cost of living, not the cost of living it up.

And most of all, one must remember that forgoing the unnecessary is not akin to making sacrifices.

No longer is America living the good life. America is in debt, its financial obligations disregarded in order to secure feelings of superiority and goodness.

But these are lies - lies we encourage by supporting a luxurious lifestyle we can ill afford.

Congress is willing to cut back on the luxuries, yet with veto after veto Clinton still holds onto an idealistic fantasy that forgoes balance and encourages spending money that is neither in the federal coffers nor in the wallets of the overtaxed worker.

Clinton promised us change. Little did I know it was pocket change. Gavin B. Michels Spokane

Stupid Democrats hasten the end

On Jan. 5 the Japanese announced that their prime minister had resigned because of a continuing recession. I assume liberal Democrats will blame the young Republicans in Congress for that one, too.

Things are obviously getting serious in this very shaky world. The Japanese have been among the biggest investors in our extremely precarious government. If they decide to quit buying our treasury bonds things could go sour in a hurry.

It’s high time President Clinton and the liars of the Democratic Party face up to the truth that it is they, not conservative Republicans, who have brought this once great nation to the brink of a possible national catastrophe. The Democrats want to keep spending borrowed money on their dream world programs. There’s a real possibility that borrowed money will suddenly dry up.

Liberals should wake up to the real world and admit how ignorant they are. But don’t hold your breath, folks. They’re still too stupid to realize it. They think they can continue to spend as usual, without suffering the consequences. Bob Palmer Opportunity

COLA increase amounts to nothing

I wonder how many people are deceived by the reports of a cost of living raise for persons on a federal income?

When a person gets that raise, either their food stamps or their medical is deducted, so the government breaks even. Why don’t we hear that side of the coin?

Don’t tell me to get a job. Most of the deprived are elderly and they deserve their Social Security. The same goes for the disabled of any age. Cindy Mitchell Spokane

SUSTENANCE

A new and wrong spin on ‘pet food’

Picture your pet served up on a silver platter at Stravo Lukos’ dinner table. His suggestion (Letters, Dec. 11) that we take on other cultures’ cuisine sticks in my craw. His ghoulish solution to pet overpopulation has finally given me heartburn.

The reason he has taken issue with Dog Patch is that he imagines it to be a virtual cornucopia of crispy critters, doggie dumplings, puppy porridge and kitty cookies just out of his reach.

Lukos suggests that Dog Patch move into town. Could it be he savors the succulent idea of a more conveniently located canine cafeteria?

As far as I am concerned, his remarks put him in the dog house, and his morbid menu might make others think he possibly is out to lunch. But, wait - sounds like out to lunch in the dog house is just where he yearns to be.

If there’s any literal truth in the saying “you are what you eat” then conceivably Stravo could wind up in someone’s crock pot. I wonder what helpful hints he’d offer then? Sheryl Davis Colville, Wash.