Letters To The Editor

From Letters to the Editor, July 22, 1996 Correction: Ed Meadow’s letter of July 17 contained an erroneous statement. He said, “Nethercutt welcomes donations from the tobacco industry and would have you believe that teenage smoking is cool.” Nethercutt said he has a policy of not accepting campaign contributions from the tobacco industry or their political lobby. When two political action committees for tobacco companies contributed $500 each in 1995, the campaign returned them, Federal Election Commission records show. UNPUBLISHED CORRECTION: The name of Dean Mellberg was misspelled in this story.

WASHINGTON STATE

Prison doesn’t belong in hospital

Re: “State eyes hospital to hold young inmates” (July 12): If Washington had state-run hospitals for cancer patients, would anyone consider turning one of their wards into a prison? Are officials from the Department of Social and Health Services, the Juvenile Rehabilitation Administration and Eastern State Hospital forgetting that Eastern State Hospital is a hospital?

Hospitals are intended to be a safe hospice for treatment and healing of ill or injured people. Prisons are for lawbreakers found deserving of punishment, rehabilitation and separation from law-abiding citizens. Don’t mentally ill patients deserve separation from these criminals?

Would officials of Deaconess or Holy Family consider turning one of their wards into a prison? No, because patients and families of ill patients would chose another facility.

The sad reality is that many patients or their family members have no other choices because in most cases health insurance companies have long been allowed to deny or significantly cap coverage of mental illness.

Our society has historically treated mentally ill people much like criminals. Mentally ill people have been feared, judged, punished and separated. Now that Congress is considering outlawing insurance companies discriminatory practices of excluding or severely limiting mental health coverage, will outdated attitudes about mental illness die? It’s an important first step.

Turning our psychiatric hospitals back into the prisons of a less enlightened age is a huge leap backward. Connye M. Draper Spokane

Prevent potentially lethal surveys

After reading the article by staff writer Rich Roesler (“Survey: Drivers don’t like being stopped for surveys,” Region, July 7) about the Spokane Regional Transportation Council’s survey, I felt compelled to respond.

The council’s idea of putting up a traffic survey and stopping traffic to ask drivers a few questions is one of the most ridiculous things I have heard in a long time. Interstate 90 is a freeway, not the front of a grocery store, where other - voluntary - surveys take place.

The accident potential they created was nothing short of life-threatening. We have all been in a situation on the freeway when suddenly brake lights are coming on in front of you as you’re rolling down the road at 70 mph. Your heart skips a few beats until you finally realize you will be able to avoid rear-ending the car in front of you and the semi-truck behind you isn’t going to play your car like an accordion.

The council should think seriously about a new approach. The state law that gives this group authority to stop traffic should be abolished immediately, before someone they intend to asks a few questions gets injured or killed. Perhaps the survey could be better accomplished through the mail or at the driver licensing department, when drivers are out of their vehicles, not driving down the freeway at high speed. Robert W. Allen Greenacres

Survey needn’t be an imposition

The Spokane Regional Transportation Council is either extremely naive or incredibly stupid if its members believed stopping rush hour traffic for a survey would not back traffic up.

This tactic is not only inconvenient but extremely dangerous. There is nothing like going from 70 mph to a complete stop in 200 feet on the freeway.

Why not photograph commuters’ license plates and mail the surveys? I’m sure that would be less dangerous and a lot more convenient for the commuters. Or, do the surveys at the driver licensing facility. They could ask people if they commute on Interstate 90, if that is the area of interest, and survey those who do. There is certainly lots of time available while waiting to get your license.

Another way would be to print the survey in The Spokesman-Review and ask I-90 commuters to fill it out and send it in. If it was explained why the council wants the survey, I think it would get a reasonable response.

There are several ways to get this information without disrupting traffic, causing accidents and making people mad. Most of us are not very pleased with our government, anyway. Things like this just make you shake your head. Wayne Lythgoe Colbert

IN THE PAPER

Identifying witness big mistake

I am appalled that the editor of The Spokesman-Review could not have used better judgment when selecting the article, “Witness had seen it all before,” to go to print. The article included the witness’s full name (which easily gives away his address if you look in the phone book) and his picture on the front page.

These bombers have not been caught; he is a prime witness. What about this man’s personal safety?

Granted, the man probably had to give his OK to have his name and picture released to the public. But in the excitement of it all, maybe he wasn’t thinking of the possible ramifications. The journalist could have written an intriguing story without releasing the man’s identity. Susan Elms Spokane

SCHOOLS AND EDUCATION

Sop to parents cynical, a sham

So the editorial board thinks Madison Elementary parents, after four years of meetings with Spokane School District 81, should take their request for a new principal to mediation one more time.

Here is an excerpt from Superintendent Gary Livingston’s July 9 letter to us offering mediation: “I certainly understand that you would like a new principal at Madison Elementary School. Since the school district does not intend to move Shari Kirihara from Madison, other options need to be explored for resolving everyone’s concerns.” Livingston continues, “If you have other options (besides obtaining a new principal), I would be more than willing to consider them.”

How’s that for an open-minded, good-faith offer?

Did the parents have a choice of mediator? No. We were told Fred Schrumpf, who has an established relationship with our school, was hired at $75 an hour.

We can’t even mediate collectively, only individually; one parent vs. the district. Maybe teachers could mediate grievances this way, too?

Livingston has even limited the discussion before it has begun by ruling out options that might meet the needs of the children but not those of the bureaucrats. Parents have not asked that Kirihara be fired, just moved to an administrative position. Livingston isn’t even willing to discuss moving her.

And the newspaper calls the parents stubborn! May the people of Spokane see through this mockery and hold our elected school board accountable. These are good and courageous people who deserve the vocal support of this community. Jeanette Faulkner Spokane

Parents are putting children first

The Spokesman-Review advised Madison Elementary parents to remember the children in our disputed request for a new principal (“Only clear minds can solve problem,” Our View, July 8).

Remember, it is the mother who, at the end of the school day, can tell from across the street if her child has had a good or bad day. Do you know their favorite story or ice cream? Dad does.

This may seem foolishness to wise editorialists, administrators and school board members. After all, we’re just parents. But, we know right from wrong and we love our children enough to face the wrath of a powerful institution for them. When we see our children, we don’t see a career, a levy election or material for another social experiment. We see love.

Remembering the children, parents documented the unacceptable performance of the principal and four years of appeals to an indifferent administration. We appealed to the proper state agencies. They tossed the issue back to the district to investigate itself.

We appealed to our elected school board, which refused to hold the administration accountable. The board instead called parents a hate group. Finally, a KREM-TV reporter took the time to read our document and deemed it worthy of the public’s right to know. Subsequently, newspapers from Seattle to Portland, radio and television have addressed our concerns.

Why?

School Board President Terrie Beaudreau’s likening parents to the KKK certainly made headlines. But more important, most people understand that one cannot do and say the things recorded by 40 people and keep her job as an elementary principal - at least not if the employer is remembering the children. Patti Schibel Spokane

Classroom PCs ‘not a luxury’

Your recent article highlighting the achievements of Bennett Williamson (“Teaching new tricks,” Region, July 11), a remarkable young man, was very much appreciated. Benn was fortunate to be enrolled in one of several pilot classes utilizing computers in instruction.

Due to the failure of the 1994 technology levy, the Spokane School District was not able to expand this program so it would have been available to all its students.

It is very unfortunate that, due to the lack of computers, my Rogers students graduate without having had the opportunity to obtain the computer skills that Benn has. Spokane businesses would benefit greatly if all young people were trained to perform in a technological world. Computers are not a luxury in the classroom. They are a necessity. Elsie Cadena Spokane

PEOPLE IN SOCIETY

I salute fair-minded, loyal youths

I just read your July 13 story on the car wash incident in the Montgomery Ward parking lot in Coeur d’Alene. Apparently, a number of young people decided a teacher, whom they know well, has been unfairly accused of child sex abuse and decided to raise money for his defense. The nerve of them!

Apparently those young people have not yet learned (or perhaps they refuse to believe) that in this unhappy world, which includes individuals who have not yet come to terms with their own sexuality, to be accused of a sexual crime is to be judged guilty and unworthy of defense. The mere suggestion of such a crime to those people is apparently so heinous that vengeance (preferably violent) must be visited upon the accused regardless of guilt or innocence. (If you look closely, you will see that these are the people who object with such outraged virtue to violence on television.)

Innocent or guilty, Paul Mather will carry the accusation as a stain on his reputation for the rest of his life. It seems a high price to pay for boorishness.

As a 73-year-old grouch who hasn’t approved of anything that’s happened since 1945, I want to go on record as one who is inspired by the courage, good sense and, most of all, the decency of the young people who saw something wrong, stuck their necks out and tried to make it right. For what it’s worth, those kids have my respect. Robert G. Russell Coeur d’Alene Look beyond differentness

As a recent laryngectomee, I was enchanted by staff writer Julie Titone’s article, “Disabled plugging into wide world” (June 30). I have no vocal cords and must rely upon an electro-larynx for oral communication.

The loss of my voice in April 1995 stemmed from a combination of a viral infection which went undiagnosed for months, and my primary care physician’s eagerness to “spare me the expense of costly, high-tech testing.” In other words, I didn’t have the right kind of insurance.

What are some of the hardships I have faced since surgery? Because I cannot speak normally, some think I am also hearing-impaired, so I get a lot of yelling. On the telephone, some callers, upon hearing me answer in my metallic, expressionless voice, immediately hang up. Others, who haven’t spoken to me recently, expect to hear the voice they remember and do likewise.

Even those with whom I work have been surprised to learn that I’m the published author of seven books, a former federal protective officer, a minister and a missionary with 30 years’ experience in that field, and a former editor.

First impressions aren’t always valid. Folks, I beg you not to judge the disabled merely on appearance. The object of your curiosity or pity may be a well-respected member of society.

History shows that a large number of scientific, military, musical and scholastic pioneers were in some way “abnormal.” The physically challenged still have the same goals, dreams, emotions and possibly even the same skills they once had. Victor E. Buksbazen Spokane

OVER THE LINE

Two-state residents pay in both

Maybe Bill Cleveland (“Here’s fine way to raise revenue,” Letters, July 12) is not aware that those Washington people dumping garbage at the Twin Lakes Dumpster station also pay solid waste taxes in Idaho.

We have property in Idaho but live in Washington state. We use our cabin at Twin Lakes 12 weekends each year and when we go home on Sunday night, we are one of the Washington licensed cars you are referring to.

Did you realize that we pay 100 percent tax on the assessed value of our property in Idaho because we live out of state, whereas you pay 50 percent assessed tax because you live in your state? We pay for your road repairs, pay 100 percent for schools our children do not attend and we pay for solid waste.

We resent your comment regarding the use of the waste Dumpsters. Don’t we have a right as Idaho taxpayers to also use this facility as you do? Mark K. Collins Spokane

Cabin owners pay Idaho taxes, too

In response to Bill Cleveland (“Here’s fine way to raise revenue,” Letters, July 12), before wasting Kootenai County deputies’ time fining people with Washington license plates at the Twin Lakes Dumpster station, he should take his own survey to find out if they own property in Kootenai County.

I’m sure that he would find that the majority do indeed own property on Twin Lakes and have a right to use the Dumpster. As property owners, they pay the same amount as you per year on their property tax bill for the solid waste program.

Many cabin owners only spend 10 to 12 weekends per year at the lake and they pay the same amount per year as you do for your year-round use. Shirley Brandvold Coeur d’Alene

GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS

Nethercutt record works for me

If Rep. George Nethercutt (R-Wash.) got zero ratings, as claimed by Terrance Sawyer’s July 16 letter (“Nethercutt record asset for Kaun,”) from the National Education Association, AFL-CIO, Teamsters, Peace PAC, Americans for Democratic Action, Physicians for Social Responsibility and similar groups, he gets a 100 in my book. Keep up the good work, Nethercutt, on behalf of our families and our community. J. Kent Adams Spokane

Kaun - all Nethercutt is not

Charles Dickens’ “Bleak House” is a novel of tragedy. America’s tragedy is the “bleak” House of Representatives since Newt Gingrich and his acolytes declared war on the poor and the middle class with their contract on America. George Nethercutt (R-Wash.) is the worst of the lot.

Nethercutt welcomes donations from the tobacco industry and would have you believe that teenage smoking is cool. He welcomes donations from the National Rifle Association and would have you believe that just as many would have died had Dean Melberg used a baseball bat instead of an assault rifle.

He accepts his own education as his due, yet would deny today’s youths the assistance to earn theirs. He’s able to secure a comfortable future for his parents, yet would deny such comfort to the parents of those less fortunate.

He won in 1994 through the help of the farmers of the 5th District, yet he has turned his back on them.

He earns a lucrative income, yet would deny a living wage for the unskilled worker.

Nethercutt’s term has been a dark tunnel for those who expected more and deserved better.

Susan Kaun opposes every selfish principle Nethercutt embraces. She’s outraged by his treatment of dairy farmers who face bankruptcy because he refuses to correct a mistake that cheated them out of a large part of their income. She recognizes that our children need a better education and a higher minimum wage. She sees that catastrophe will follow cuts in Medicare and Medicaid. Kaun is the light at the end of the tunnel. Ed Meadows Spokane