Letters To The Editor

BONNER COUNTY ISSUES

Neat stuff we cannot afford

Nice article on the proposed library; vote Feb. 6 for $3.87 million. There will be a nice article on the fabulous jail; vote again May 7 for $5 million. There will be an even better article on school needs; vote maybe in September for more millions.

The Jan. 9 Handle tells us Bonner County real wages are down 20 percent, poverty level incomes prevail and 20 percent of children live in poverty. This cannot be, as all property owners are wealthy. Just ask our taxing authorities.

The reported torrential population increase of 6,000 over the last five years must have brought hordes of money our officials think will pay for perceived projects. However, with the growth the fact remains that we have only some 33,000 population countywide. Libraries, jails and schools are not usually tourist attractions.

Our officials have done a fabulous job for a 1996 mail order catalog of “growth” projects we can buy using our homes as easy down payments. Hopefully, future catalogues could offer investments for 33,000 realistic wages to pay for these projects.

While state officials seem to understand fiscal restraint this year, Bonner officials project untold wealth of 33,000. Each project will be justified with additional flow dollars per $100,000 evaluation. But that is 50 percent or more additional to pay with 20 percent less real money.

Recent low voter turnout is unacceptable. The multimillion-dollar choices this year need real representation of countywide ability to spend. Study the projects, your finances and vote. Your failing wages depend on it. Paul Votava Sandpoint

Bonner library deserves backing

There’s an important election Feb. 6 on the levy for a new central library facility for East Bonner County Library District.

Anyone who has visited the current library can see the overcrowding and inefficiency. The staff has continued a high level of service despite space constraints.

The contemporary, open design of the new facility would be unique in Bonner County. Adequate parking, public meeting rooms, public computers, Internet access, a children’s room, study rooms, quiet reading areas and easy access for the handicapped would make the new library a facility for everyone.

The Division at Cedar location is within walking distance to schools, amidst ever-increasing residential activity and still is close to downtown.

The board of trustees has incorporated local concerns, ideas and needs from staff, architects and other professionals, and patrons. The board has investigated various options, both for the building and financing, and have chosen both a functional and attractive building, and a financial package that will address those needs.

There will be six polling places in the district. Absentee ballots and more information are available at the main Sandpoint library. Please, vote yes for our new facility on Feb. 6. Jim and Judith Clarke Sandpoint

SPOKANE MATTERS

Look right under your nose

Last spring I moved from New York to Spokane. People here have everything, and still there’s so much whining about local arts and entertainment. Well, go downtown and feel the spirit of renaissance.

Last week I stopped at Murray’s Book Store for an Internet tour. There I found a novel called “Castling.” Set in Spokane, local author, even published in Spokane. I have never enjoyed a book more.

Guess I had to come to Spokane to find such art. Sara Foster Spokane

Veterans hospital here is tops

Re: “Veterans hospitals rake it in,” News, Jan. 15:

I’m a WWII combat veteran and recipient of the services of the Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Spokane.

Twice in 1995, doctors in the outpatient clinic at there, by early diagnosis of heart disease and cancer, led me to two lifesaving surgeries. My care, from beginning to end, couldn’t have been better.

Spokane’s VA Medical Center has an active outpatient surgery section, with four surgeons. You’d be hard pressed to find a time in years when any one of them had a week without performing surgery.

Our hospital and its doctors cure veterans from Wenatchee and Omak to Libby, Mont., down to Lewiston. I’m not disappointed that you printed this article. However, I am disappointed that you did it without printing our own hospital’s story. Jerome Gleesing Spokane

We need to know about Luebeck

I am thankful that an article concerning the arson of an asylum shelter in Luebeck, Germany, has found a place in our Spokesman-Review. I believe it is extremely important for the people of Spokane to know the happenings of Luebeck because it is one of our sister cities. I expect to see updates. Jennifer Hayward Veradale

GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS

NRA getting return on investment

I wrote to Rep. George Nethercutt, inquiring about his position on repeal of the assault weapons ban proposed by House Speaker Newt Gingrich. A month has gone by without a response.

Nethercutt received $75,000 from the National Rifle Association during his campaign. That was the single largest contribution made to any candidate by the NRA. Are we surprised he’s unwilling to support a law that would keep a significant number of these heinous weapons out of our midst?

He states he’s for family values. More children die of gunshot wounds in this country than die of cancer.

Clearly he cares nothing for our children’s health if he supports this threat to public health and family values. He care more for the lobbyists who paid to get him elected than for the health of his electorate. Marilyn D. Ream, M.D., board member Physicians for Social Responsibility, Spokane

Don’t split up the United States

As U.S. citizens, do we want our federally owned natural resources carved up in ways that only benefit people who live in states that are well endowed with natural resources?

Equitably sharing the benefits of our unequally distributed national wealth (minerals, timber, forage, etc.)- has always been a fair policy that has distinguished America from the rest of the world.

Idaho Reps. Dan Mader and Chuck Cuddy, and Sens. Judi Danielson and Bruce Sweeney will sponsor a bill to allow the Idaho State Land Board to make agreements to manage and harvest timber on some federal forest lands. This is the first calculated step in a process that will ultimately lead to full transfer of federal land ownership (including minerals) to the states.

Sen. Larry Craig, R-Idaho, is a proponent of pushing through national legislation to turn many federal lands over to the states.

What’s wrong with transferring federal land and natural resources to the states? Simply stated, it’s partition, an extremely dangerous policy. If U.S. citizens don’t have anything they jointly own, then why do we need the “united” in United States?

Furthermore, if you lived in Vermont and learned Sen. Craig in Idaho wanted to steal your property, wouldn’t you be justifiably irate? If Craig and other Idaho politicians don’t think this is a big deal, they should take an unescorted bus trip across Bosnia and see what those people have to say about wars of territorial resources. Kelly D. Courtright Spokane

Income tax a Marxist scheme

The debate rages: flat tax, sales tax or import tax. I prefer the Libertarian ideal of no tax.

Now, as the rhetoric flows, remember these facts: The graduated income tax was proposed by Marx and Engels in the Communist Manifesto of 1848, to support the warfare-welfare state and was introduced into our country by the 16th Amendment in 1913. That’s all you need to know to demand the revocation of the graduated income tax. Jon J. Tuning Spokane

I dunnit, she wrote

Supporters of Hillary Clinton claim that GOPers are sorting garbage for evidence of impropriety. Do her detractors just want to pillory Hillary?

Our first lady seems prone to stumble into problems. Her attempts to bury the past under a layer of artful dodging serve only to amplify the cloud of suspicion. The latest fumble of note is to produce and tout a book as being of her lone authorship. If it was ghostwritten or in collaboration, then that fact and the co-author’s name should be emblazoned on the cover.

Please, Hillary, go back to baking cookies - and don’t lie about the recipe! Howard Cameron Spokane

SCHOOLS AND EDUCATION

Board changes all for the worse

Vern Newby’s recent school board coup has become a major distraction to the real problems facing our community: educators’ lack of leadership and accountability. These problems won’t be solved by unproductive, parent-pacifying workshops.

“It is accepted wisdom in Israel that if one wishes to bury a subject, one creates a committee to study it,” (Baigent). Besides, the current majority (Newby, Wanda Quinn, Tim Olson) and education cartel does not care to hear what parents have to say.

To solve these problems we must begin at the top, with a superintendent who can lead educators and produce results. This will lessen the need for a strong, pro-active school board, which we do not have and may never see again.

Hopefully, the next superintendent’s contract will contain specific performance expectations that the individual will fulfill without prodding by concerned parents. Such a move would restore harmony to the community and above all would improve the quality of education for our children.

The current board majority, with its ear keenly attuned to the whimpers of the Idaho Education Association and Coeur d’Alene Education Association, will undoubtedly fill the superintendent’s position with someone who’s now part of the problem. Wouldn’t it be nice if we could choose our own boss? Think about that the next time you vote for a board member. Hopefully, the next two board elections will produce trustees who courageously represent their constituents.

Ken Burchell and Jane Curtis, we appreciate your leadership and open communication. Alan D. Mason Hayden

Parents, help unburden teachers

It has been said that public schools are a reflection of our society. Well, if this is true, why is it that our teachers in the public school system are the ones responsible for fixing our society’s problems?

This is not a teacher’s or a school’s job. Our teachers are here to teach and that’s it. But today so much pressure is put upon our public school teachers, they are taking on the role of parents, disciplinarians, and baby sitters.

Most of society’s problems start in the home and can be fixed in the home. If all parents would take on the responsibility of raising their children in a loving and caring environment, our schools would have 99 percent fewer problems. Then teachers could go back to doing what they were trained and hired to do: teach. Kevin Davis St. Maries

Show caring beyond Christmas

Spokane raised more than $420,000 over the holidays to make one day special for Spokane’s children. None of the children really needed those gifts, and would have survived without them. The outpouring showed a caring community that was reaching out to bless them.

Instead of one special day, 32,000 Spokane children spend 180 days a year in Spokane public schools. If the public school levy is passed, our taxes won’t increase at all, as it is a replacement of an existing levy. If it isn’t passed, it will create a crisis for our district, which will mostly affect Spokane children.

I believe the same community that showed it values children and believes in the magic of Christmas also believes in the power of education and what a good education can do for children.

We told the children at Christmas that they are important and that we care about the quality of their lives. We can do that in a greater way by voting yes on Feb. 6. Tammy Ensign Spokane

Science program coverage welcome

The Spokesman-Review is to be commended for coverage of the Spokane School Districts Hands on Science Program. It’s one of many exciting right to business learning programs that keep our children enthused about being involved in education. Caroline McDowell Spokane