Letters To The Editor

EDUCATION

Support kids, support education

I read the opinion pages regularly, because the opinions expressed occasionally turn into popular opinion and even votes. You might call it an indicator of the direction our little portion of the world is randomly bouncing.

On Jan. 19, I glanced at the “schools and education” letters and was a little shocked. Michael Cady says, in part: “We’ve thrown more dollars towards education, teachers’ pay, school buildings, more shrinks and administrators, more distorted history, more cultural crap, more sexual orientation and, of course, more self-esteem.” Can you image what an atrocity this man sees? How could we as a culture possibly have been duped into believing that our children really need something as frivolous as a quality education in a secure environment? His opinions reek of talk-radio rationalizations and deep personal prejudices.

From kindergarten to my current status as a highschool junior, I’ve spent a large portion of my life with people associated with our public schools. I’ve been inspired by great teachers and helped along by caring administrators who would be severely impaired by funding cuts that seem like such a great idea to Michael Cady, who urges you to just vote no on all school bonds and levies.

In a system where the shapers of young minds go severely underpaid and great ideas founder on the shelf due to lack of money, pinching pennies from your children’s education is the worst course of action to correct any problem. Support your kids by continuing to give their educational system the tools it needs to do its job right. Duke Davis Spokane

Students need a financial break

It is my opinion that no one in Olympia realizes how strapped students are for money. We cannot afford $120 each year just to use the computers on campus. I for one have enough trouble making it now as it is.

I go to school full time at Eastern Washington University and I know of more than a few students who read “College students may face technology fees” on Jan. 17 and were outraged.

I can understand that the higher education system is strapped right now due to the enrollment slump, but it is my opinion that the slump is due partly to the rising cost of college. We just can’t afford to go.

I am on full financial aid and have student loans so I can’t afford any more extra costs. I only pay $6 each quarter for computer access. If this were to go through I would end up paying $34 more per quarter and most of us cannot afford it, especially those who have families.

Olympia, give us a break. We, the students of Washington’s colleges and universities, are the future. If you force us out, what are you going to do? Debra Beckwith Cheney

Don’t knock Coulson; heed him

Anne Windishar’s Jan. 15 editorial concerning Dr. William Coulson shows a woeful lack of understanding and investigation of the topic, of Coulson himself and of his message.

Anyone with even the slightest objectivity knows Coulson was not specifically referring to DARE as the “end of civilization.” He was, in fact, decrying the destructive philosophy/psychology which is the basis for much of education today - including DARE.

He should know.

In the early 1960s, Coulson, along with associates Maslow and Rogers, a disciple of John Dewey, developed the philosophy/psychology currently used in the classroom. They promoted it by writing books still in use today, and by holding seminars and encounter workshops. This “non-directive” education spread rapidly throughout the education system, seminaries, convents, etc.

After approximately 10 years, Coulson realized the destructive nature of his work: the “dumbing-down” of education, loss of vocations, loss of convictions, breakup of families, etc. Since 1975 he has been trying to undo these horrible mistakes.

Because of people like Windishar, who base their conclusions on emotion rather than fact, he is finding his crusade difficult. Since he has been on the cutting edge of both sides of these subjects for the past 40 years, we should listen and maybe we could solve some of the problems we, as a society, encounter today. His story and involvement are worth investigating - as any professional would do. J.C. Schindler Spokane

Psychologist the one who’s right

Re: Anne Windishar’s Jan. 15 editorial, “Ignorance, not DARE, is real problem.”

What psychologist William Coulson objects to about DARE, QUEST, etc., is something known as third force psychology. Third force practices - including values clarification and sensitivity training - have been used in classrooms for some 30 years and result in children being alienated from the tribal truths of their elders.

Among the founders and proponents of third force psychology and practices were Abraham Maslow, Carl Rogers and William Glasser. Before he died, Dr. Maslow refuted third force psychology, stating that its basis in theory was flawed. Rogers, before he died, pointed to the psychological havoc that 12 years of experimentation with third force practices had played on his emotional stability.

If third force practices can play that much havoc with an emotionally stable man, as Rogers was known to be, what do you suppose those practices will do to an emotionally immature and impressionable child? How many of the problems we see in society today result from third force practices having been used in drug, alcohol and sex education programs, and in classrooms in general?

Instead of launching into a tirade of accusations and rhetoric, Windishar would do better to launch into a little research of her own. She would find Coulson is right. Lynn M. Stuter Nine Mile Falls

HYDROPLANE RACES

Hydro races will enrich only a few

Promoters of the hydroplane races have been dangling dollars in front of the residents of Coeur d’Alene in order to convince us the races must be held here. I have read of “all kinds of tourist dollars, economic dividends for years to come and a multimillion dollar boost to the economy.”

I remember reading how the same argument was used to convince the people of Atlantic City that gambling was the answer to their city’s economic woes. I understand the casino owners became wealthy but the city is still poor. Is it possible the members of the Diamond Cup Association are the only ones who will benefit in any material manner from these races?

What if the promoters posted damage bonds for the use of Tubbs Hill, the city parks and the city beach? Say, $1 million or more for each area. What if they paid a fair rent that would cover the cost of trash cleanup, extra police, etc., for the use of each of these areas? What if they financially compensated all residents who are inconvenienced in any way by the races?

At least with this arrangement the city might also profit and the taxpayers wouldn’t be left paying the damage and cleanup costs. Janet Callen Coeur d’Alene

Find another pond, Mr. Hagadone

The quotations attributed to Duane Hagadone (Jan. 11) reveal again his contempt for both the beauty of North Idaho and for those who advocate a balanced effort to conserve the natural environment while creating a healthy economic environment. He condemns those who object to his brand of exploitive development and suggests that those who don’t want any part of his hyrdo races “go to the other end of the lake - the thing’s 25 miles long.”

Well, Duane, if you knew or cared anything about the lake, or about the environmental and economic health of North Idaho, you would be aware that “the thing” is beginning to suffer from your shabby commercialism,. This may be quite profitable for you, but it is degrading that quality of life you sneer at. Perhaps you would be happier with a bigger pond to muck around in. Why don’t you try Great Bear Lake in the Northwest Territories? That thing is a lot longer than 25 miles. You and ESPN could exploit the place for years. While you are there, all of us, and Lake Coeur d’Alene, would enjoy the benefits of doing without the destructive effects of your rapacious lust for profit and power. Robin Magnuson Moscow, Idaho

The best seats? Hole No. 14

I wish someone would explain why The Coeur d’Alene Resort golf course would not make a great spectator area for hydroplane racing. Its rolling, elevated fairways would give patrons a wonderful view of the course. Better yet, the floating green could be used for VIPs and the cruise ships could be parked nearby as beer gardens.

It’s a perfect solution. The money interests would get their races and the taxpaying people would keep their recreational areas. With any luck, the national coverage could create more minimum-wage jobs in the area! Dave Ballard Post Falls

TAXES

Taxes are leading us to communism

With all this rhetoric about income tax, flat tax, national sales tax, and value added tax, we are missing the more important point. Why do we have any kind of national tax at all? What is our history concerning federal taxes? Is the acceptance of a national income tax a conditioned response? Have we erroneously been taught that an income tax is essential to the federal government?

In the 1890s, why did the editorials of leading American newspapers complain and moan about the excessive amount of money that the federal government had in its coffers? Remember, please, that prior to 1913 national income taxes did not exist. At that time, our government obtained all the money it needed from tariffs and other sources.

Are national income taxes a necessary evolution of a republic such as ours, or did the idea for income taxes spring from the minds of men? If so, what is their ultimate objective?

Why is Karl Marx attributed with the idea of a progressive income tax?

If the American people do not determine the correct answers to these questions, we will continue our incessant drift to socialism/communism and the eventual one-world dictatorship in which we will all be slaves. Earl G. Fox Spokane

The tax possibilities are endless

Those who see Roger Crum as a voracious raptor just don’t get it. Although some may allege that he’s gratuitously casting about for yet another excuse to impose yet another tax, I believe he’s not been nearly creative enough.

An “information tax” on Internet providers should be only the beginning. Remember, without electricity there wouldn’t even be computers. So Washington Water Power is another obvious target for the information tax.

Let’s not leave out U S West. After all, it’s through the phone lines that people access their Internet providers, so the city should levy the information tax on the telephone company, too. Furthermore, given that most people use their phone lines for talking to other people, we should assess a conversation tax. And let’s not forget that many people use fax machines, so there should also be a fax tax!

Perhaps, to determine which taxes should be levied on each phone line, the city could get a court order to tap everyone’s phone. The possibilities fairly boggle the mind.

A misguided friend of mine had the sheer temerity to suggest that it’s actually I and other users of the Internet who’d end up paying the information tax. The fool believes that businesses pass on taxes in the form of higher prices to their customers.

By the strangest coincidence, the projected windfall tax revenues would just about cover the projected windfall salary increases for the so-called city extortionist and his cohorts. Despite this, I would never be so rash as to suggest that the whole den of thieves be summarily dismissed.

Would you? George D. “Martin” Maloney Spokane

OTHER TOPICS

Maybe judge should step down

Too bad Judge Richard Schroeder is reluctant to send a career felon to prison for life where he will no longer be able to steal honest citizens’ belongings and threaten their lives with lethal weapons, over and over again.

The people enacted just such a law as Initiative 593 because judges like Richard Schroeder kept passing out token sentences to repeat armed robbers, rapists, child molesters and drug dealers.

We the people are the law. If Judge Schroeder is reluctant to obey the law, perhaps he should seek employment elsewhere. Patrick Haight Spokane

Get rid of unneeded workers

I see the federal workers are going back to work with full back pay. Isn’t that nice? - paid vacations.

We, the taxpayers, all saw what they did on their paid vacations. The liberal media showed them crying about how hard it was on them. Especially the ones who used Christmas as an excuse to really whine, even when it was over. Poor Johnny didn’t have enough presents under the tree. They all got paid on Dec. 15 - so how was Christmas ruined?

I’ll feel sorry for somebody who really lost a job, like those tens of thousands at AT&T and IBM Corp.

I know several people who work for the federal government. They all tell me how little they have to do and how much they get paid. While the rest of us pay for our medical insurance, retirement, vacations and when we’re laid off - nobody pays us for that time off.

Why, I wonder, are we so generous to these overstaffed, unproductive, non-essential workers? Write your local representatives, let’s cut all these make-work government jobs and get these people into the private sector to see what a real job is like. Henry Warlow Hope, Idaho

Wildlife restoration illogical

Restoring grizzly bears, wolves, and caribou to Idaho is an environmental issue? Wrong! The dictionary defines an environmentalist as “one concerned about the quality of human environment,” the operative word being “human.” Restoring these species is not an environmental or ecological issue, but an illogical, emotional issue.

Consider the woodland caribou, trapped from their natural range in British Columbia and moved to the Selkirk Mountains in North Idaho. About 12 years ago, two dozen caribou were transplanted at an estimated cost of $10,000 to $12,000 each. Several were killed or maimed during the process. The remainder were released into a “protected” area away from hunters and loggers. No one convinced the cougar that the imported caribou were not their winter fare. Now, the Selkirk herd is reduced to six or eight survivors.

A number of wildlife managers want to trap a few more caribou from British Columbia and move them and the diminished Selkirk herd west into Washington. Do they believe the cougar will not follow the herd west?

Wake up to reality; woodland caribou are not an endangered species. If you want to photograph them, travel 160 miles into British Columbia, put on your backpack, hike to their high, forest-mantled range and view them in their natural habitat. Leonard C. Brant Coeur d’Alene

Changes unsatisfactory

Although I have been a subscriber to your newspaper for only the five months that I have lived in the Inland Empire, as you are wont to call this area, I have learned to almost overlook the daily typos and your liberal-biased reporting-editorializing. I must, however, take exception to the latest changes you have announced.

Cancellation of the only half-challenging crossword puzzle, originated by Douglas Cooper, along with deletion of one of our very few adult comic strips, “The Wizard of Id,” leads me to believe you are further lessening the value of your publication. Please cancel my subscription. Don McCormick Post Falls