Letters To The Editor
OVER THE LINE
Here’s fine way to raise revenue
Hey, Kootenai County, here’s a tip on how to get more tax revenue for our solid waste program.
Station a deputy at the Twin Lakes Dumpster station on Sunday evening and hand out $25 tickets to everyone with a Washington license plate who stops and dumps garbage that most likely came from Washington anyway.
As a solid waste taxpayer, I’m tired of being the only Idaho resident legally dumping my garbage on the weekend at the Dumpster. Bill Cleveland Rathdrum
IDAHO VIEWPOINTS
Girl awaits someone’s honesty
A 10-year-old Post Falls girl believes in others’ honesty and goodness. Some might call it naive, but when the youngster discovered her tackle box missing after a July 4 fishing venture, she told her family someone must have found it. Trouble is, she never really lost it.
The youngster has been fishing on a friend’s undeveloped private property in Riverside Harbor since Sunday. After losing a container of worms while riding an overloaded bike, she was advised to leave the tackle box and one pole at the fishing spot. Bike safety comes first.
She did as her parents said, returning daily to fish in solitude - without catching any fish all week. However, there’s more to fishing than catching fish.
This girl is honest and trusting. She knows someone walking along the river found her gear and took it home for safekeeping. The pole was a gift from her uncle, the box came from her dad.
Surely, when the person examines the box, he or she will discover a child’s treasure. Inside are the weights she received from grandma; an authentic Swiss filet knife and a stringer her dad bought, a tape measure, bobbers, a flashlight from her uncle and other supplies received as gifts.
The girl believes the finder will return her belongings. She hopes to thank the person for being honest and is offering a $10 reward. She wants to remain anonymous and encourages the finder to take her treasured things to the Post Falls Police Department. Cliff Hayes, police chief Post Falls
Complainers caused own problems
Regarding the Cooper Bay Homeowners Association seeking a no-parking designation for the stretch of roadway that circles the waterfront from Tobler Marina to Half Mile Lane on Hayden Lake:
Cooper Bay ought to reevaluate its arguments and some high-placed person should stomp on their attitude.
I can’t believe they have the guts to complain about congestion and the safety threat to motorists. As I recall, that entire road around Hayden Lake is about as narrow and congested as it could get, but someone allowed homeowners to squeeze in just about every square foot that there is on that small lake.
I’ve got to chuckle when I read about the damage fishermen’s poles are doing and those pesky little children who dig holes and play in the dirt - ha. What a comparison that is to the mass of building structures, boats, docks and vehicle pollution that the homeowners must cause.
This might be a good definition of the rich oppressing the poor. I think the situation should be evaluated and he who causes the greater problems should be forced to move out. Brent and Margaret Palmer Coeur d’Alene
SPOKANE MATTERS
Notions overtax credibility
I’m merely a visitor in Steve Wilson’s town, but I must respond to his complaint that taxing a homeowner to fix streets is wrong simply because he may not use the streets as much as visitors (who are not taxed) or someone with six vehicles.
With that specious reasoning we would never tax nonreading people for new libraries. We would never tax childless couples for schools and community colleges, never tax blind people for street lighting.
Get real, Wilson. That’s the way it works. Lloyd Peyton Los Angeles, Calif.
Thanks for a slam-dunk Hoopfest
Hoopfest ‘96 was a tremendous success. The weather was fabulous, good sportsmanship endured throughout and a spirit of cooperation within this community was clearly evident.
I am grateful to all who contributed to this unique event, including the City of Spokane and its many departments, the players and spectators, tournament sponsors and everyone else who affected Hoopfest weekend in a positive way.
I am especially appreciative for the volunteer effort; from office assistants to immeasurable energy generated from these wonderful people throughout Hoopfest weekend. Thank you for a memorable year. Rick Steltenpohl, Hoopfest executive director Spokane
IN THE REGION
Why is public being locked out?
The public has been denied access to Bead Lake boat launching for several years. The U.S. Forest Service has responded by proposing to create an access costing taxpayers over $235,000.
During the public discussion and planning of this project, Pend Oreille County commissioners have been silent about a county road leading to a boat launching area at the north end of Bead Lake. Cunningham Road was dedicated to Pend Oreille County on Aug. 30, 1957, by Richard and Bernice Cunningham for the purpose of public use and access to Bead Lake. This road remains gated and locked, preventing all but a few from using this road.
Allowing this road to remain locked and denying public access to a public road and lake demands an explanation from Pend Orielle County officials. Please encourage Pend Orielle County officials to honor the gift of public access to Bead Lake now and save the taxpayers money. Daniel R. Muhm, president Diamond Match Bead Lake Association, Spokane
MEDICAL CARE
HMOs too profit conscious
Louise Walls’ letter, “Group Health gives excellent care,” was published on Independence Day. I found that ironic because HMOs such as Group Health represent much less freedom of choice in the medical marketplace. In exchange for less freedom of choice, patients get lower costs.
As the letter points out, decades past were times of feefor-service medical providers. The incentive was to give patients what they wanted because cost was not of concern. But there are risks to limiting patient choice that must be taken into account in a system where dollars are the main emphasis.
Many patients don’t realize that the mutual decision making between patient and physician is being usurped by an organization that is long on executives. Walls doesn’t realize that HMOs also have an incentive to not pay on some surgeries or treatments because in the end the doctors and executives share the funds that are saved.
There is no difference in that or in medical providers who didn’t have to worry about cost or being paid in the old fee system.
Hip fractures are classified as priority need. The HMO system works best for emergency and preventive care. But if your need falls into the gray area of necessary treatment but not life-threatening need, just quality of life issues, watch out. Executives, policy planners, cost analyzers and utilization review will all have more to say than either you or your doctor.
It’s a disturbing trend when business stands between you and your doctor. Melissa A. Ward Spokane
PEOPLE IN SOCIETY
Good grandparents a blessing
I thoroughly enjoyed the July 10 Your Turn, “Deja Vu all over again.” What an inspiration to all grandparents. Those two little boys are lucky to have the grandparents they have. Grandparents provide kids with a very different and special relationship. Never underestimate the valuable lessons and care grandparents can give.
So many grandparents today take on the attitude that once their kids are grown they have fulfilled all their child duties. They are so caught up in their own lives that they rarely if ever see or make time for their own grandkids. How sad.
Grandparents can provide such a wonderful element to their grandkids’ lives. To those of you who take the time and energy to do this, three cheers! Rebecca Wagner Spokane
Baptists’ boycott largely ignored
The conservative media are at it again. Just the other day, you ignored a major story.
The unnamed leader of Faeries Against Non-Truths and Southern Yokels (FANTASY), the political wing of the militant Homosexual Agenda Army (HAA), announced that the counter-boycott of Southern Baptist churches has been “divinely successful.” He further asserted that even people who had never before set foot in a Southern Baptist church pledged never to do so again.
I made that up, of course.
Back to reality: Disney profits have not plummeted 50 percent, “The Hunchback of Notre Dame” is a commercial success, Disney stock has not crashed through the floor. In short, the Southern Baptist boycott of Disney is a resounding flop.
What we have here, folks, is a “good news, bad news” joke in reverse. The bad news is that the Hitlerian “big lie” tactic is still the favorite tool of demagogues. The good news is that most people nowadays have sense enough not to fall for it. George D. “Martin” Maloney Spokane
Indians treated badly all along
Re: Ella Begaye’s July 2 letter, “Indians tired of getting raw deal.”
For years I have been of the opinion that if any one race of people has been discriminated against it has been the American Indian. Begaye is absolutely correct in her statement that the American Indian is the only true American. The rest of us are just descendants of those who took this country, their country, away from them by force, trickery and deceit. They were driven out of all the prime land and forced onto reservations that in most cases were in locations no one else coveted.
Can anyone argue that the American Indian has not received the rawest deal of any of the residents of these United States? Slaughtered by superior numbers of whites, starved and driven from their lands, reduced to the satatus of second-class citizens in the eyes of most whites, they are the race that has suffered the greatest loss and truly have received a raw deal.
I am not an Indian, related to an Indian or a descendent of an Indian. On the contrary, I am a descendent of those who took this land away from its rightful owners. I am not proud of that, and in fact feel shame in what has been done, and what we still do to the American Indian - the only true American. Bennie Benson Elk
IN THE PAPER
Fine professor cast in bad light
As a student at Eastern Washington University, I have taken classes from Dr. James Wallace. I have found him to be an outstanding educator. He has demonstrated concern and interest in his students’ academic needs. He is one of the better professors at EWU.
That Wallace may have made some poor or possibly unpopular decisions affecting his personal life should not affect his academic standing. It is an injustice for The Spokesman-Review to place Wallace in a group of individuals that includes a child pornographer and sexual predators.
Wallace is a decent man, caring father and excellent professor. Greg Kepner Newport, Wash.
‘Tidings’ story just ‘disgusting’
The July 4 article, “It’s tidings of great joy, remember?” by Staff Writer Kelly McBride was disgusting. So-called theologian Mitch Finley is disgusting in propagating his phony little award. I would like to have a few words with him.
The attack against the traditional Catholic church by his article is indeed disgusting and the attack against Rev. Charles Coughlin, who was a very great traditional Catholic priest of the 1930’s and 40’s, is unwarranted. Phil McCabe Spokane
LAW AND JUSTICE
Bad law, uncaring business - I lose
Re: the Satellite Home Viewer Act: When I encountered this law I got an important civics lesson that made me understand anti-federal sentiment in the Northwest.
In April I received a letter from my satellite services carrier notifying me that CBS affiliate KREM-2 had challenged my right to receive CBS through my satellite carrier and so they would have to, and did, disconnect my CBS service.
I called KREM-2 to discuss this. I am convinced their challenge was based on Zip code or some other artificial designation and that KREM2 doesn’t know or care where I live specifically. So I called and called again. Each time I was directed to leave a message on the responsible person’s voice mail and my call would be returned. After more than a week I wrote a pointed letter that KREM-2 also ignored. This leaves me with no CBS service but KREM2 within the law.
I live down a gully in a heavily treed area and cannot receive television by antenna. That’s why I bought a $2,000 satellite system and pay $400 a year for programs.
This is another example of consumer rights being eroded. Laws like this pass and businesses can use them in this cavalier fashion with no responsibility.
In the four years I’ve had satellite television I have been required annually to sign a statement verifying that I can’t receive the affiliates as noted in the law. However, my word is not accepted while KREM-2 can challenge without even checking if my word is true. A.J. Frelin Coeur d’Alene
Blood thicker than treaty ink
Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., says that, should anything happen to a parent of an Indian child, the tribe will have the right to decide the child’s guardianship. Who could argue? I can.
Treaties don’t give ownership of our children to the tribe. Sen. McCain is ignoring the freedom of Indian families who don’t welcome tribal politics or spirituality.
We have the right to raise our children as Christians and to choose our guardians.
Some argue we can simply denounce tribal membership. But the Indian Child Welfare Act gives tribes the right to determine who’s an Indian and to pursue unenrolled children.
Additionally, allowing tribes this right is racism. Tribes are allowed to pursue children of minimal Native American heritage. If your child should wed a person of 25 percent blood quantum, the tribe would have right of guardianship over your grandchildren before you.
My husband’s tribal council has just been convicted of embezzlement and ballot box fraud. Is the tribal government’s passion for ICWA really about increasing head counts and obtaining more money for tribal coffers? Lisa Morris Moise, Mont.