Letters To The Editor

WASHINGTON STATE

Lawmakers’ behavior unacceptable

Our governing state officials have been a disgrace to our state and city this past year.

Last year during the legislative session we had the reports of sexual harassment about our governor. This year, we had a front page article at the end of the legislative session about lawmakers drowning their sorrows. This is a perfect disgrace as far are our Legislature is concerned.

After the first 30 days no lobbyists should be allowed. The Legislature should then spend its time on the business at hand. The budget should be passed early enough to end the session on time.

Names of the drunk ones weren’t given so we don’t know who not to vote for. They don’t have clear minds and should be replaced. No alcohol should be allowed in any lawmaker’s office. The drunks caused blame to be put on those not guilty and gave the legislative session a bad reputation.

The House speaker should not have allowed drunks to vote and their names should have been published.

It’s an expensive session for taxpayers. This kind of behavior should not be allowed at any time. It takes a clear mind and good thinking ability to vote.

No examples for our young people sat in this session. Ruth Herman Spokane

Senn driving up insurance costs

Hillary Clinton failed to give us socialized medicine at the federal level, and the people of Washington were smart enough to install a new Legislature with the sense to roll back socialized medicine at the state level. However, Insurance Commissioner Deborah Senn just can’t seem to drop that torch.

If she has her way insurance will be forced to cover every conceivable quackery, from aroma therapy to Zen meditation. And we will all have to pay for this through higher and higher rates for legitimate medical coverage. Jonathan H. Lundquist Spokane

SPOKANE MATTERS

Head banging gets old, fast

In response to Doug Clark’s March 17 column, “Bonehead blunder gives student lesson in injustice”:

Webster’s defines apathy as a lack of feelings. Spokane has an abundance of feelings. What stops us from protesting is the realization that no matter what we say, elected officials are going to do as they wish, despite the wishes of those they represent.

The blunders of various elected officials have resigned the citizens of Spokane to the obvious. Irate letters, placards or protests will not change the attitudes or actions of the elected “boneheads” in Spokane County.

Unprofessional conduct and outrageous acts against common sense and decency run rampant in Spokane government. The police routinely verbally and physically assault citizens. The coroner is fixated on the past sexual behavior of the dead. The county prosecutor’s office screws up regularly. The City Council and County Commission are more interested in personal posturing and political infighting than in serving the public.

The people of Spokane are not apathetic, just tired of elected officials ignoring responsibility and accountability for their actions. We are weary of public servants whose behavior suggests a rampant disregard for community responsibility, for public service or for justice. We are aware that public outcry does not work and irritated that protest will not create change. We are not willing to become emotionally charged over a situation with so little resolution.

No, Clark, we are not apathetic. Just demoralized. Joe Adams Spokane

Consider what could be

What a script! The city of Spokane is in desperate need of revitalizing its downtown. It needs stores, theaters, restaurants - all kinds of shops and activities that will bring residents and tourists to spend money and increase Spokane’s tax revenues.

The Barbieri and Cowles families have taken the lead with the Crescent Court renovation and the announced plans for new buildings on Main and Post.

Suddenly, Washington Water Power Co. steps in and says it wants to help Spokane. It will clean up the oil spill so that the land on First and Post can be built upon, so that the Davenport Hotel can get its financing and complete its renovation.

With the combined efforts of all groups working together, Spokane is reborn: Wells and WWP renovate the steam plant. The Davenport and the Arts and Entertainment district come to life. Spokane-area residents return to downtown to shop and play. All area hotels and motels are full of tourists anxious to participate in the multitude of choices offered.

WWP has increased revenue from the new companies and businesses using power and, best of all, the company helped save downtown.

What a concept! Once again, Spokane, from SIRTI to Carnegie Square, is alive and well, full of energy, bustling with people and ready for the new century! Nancy Gale Compau Spokane

LAW ENFORCEMENT

Ego overtook rational approach

Terry Mangan did what every husband or father would do in this situation, states Editor Chris Peck (“A chorus of ‘Hail to the Chief,”’ Opibion, March 15). I hope not.

Chief Mangan did this because he likes to throw his weight around. He is the top law dog in the city and is a big draw everywhere he goes. He knows his buddies will back him at every turn.

One thing that nobody seems to realize is that this action is very stupid. Let’s suppose the three men in the Blazer were armed and up to no good. The chief might have gotten one, two if he was lucky, but the city would be looking for a new top guy.

Every police officer is trained to get backup before confronting suspects. If Mangan had called 911, sheriff’s deputies would have been at his house before he could hang up the phone.

Also, would it not have been wiser to keep a close watch on these men and see what they were up to before waving a shotgun and swearing?

I and many more people were trained by the military to handle weapons. If we were to try something like this we would probably be arrested.

This is twice that Mangan has let his ego dictate his actions. Let’s hope he uses his head in the future. Otherwise, maybe it is time to look for a new chief. Ken Crosswhite Spokane

Mangan acted on training, experience

I have been reading most of the comments in your paper about Police Chief Terry Mangan’s action at his home the other night. What many of them don’t seem to realize is that Mangan is not just an ordinary citizen. He is a trained, professional officer of the law and is on duty 24 hours a day.

I believe he had every right to approach the men in the pickup truck and question what they were up to. How many of us ordinary citizens would have had the bravery to do what he did? If those men were there with evil intent they could have shot him dead as he approached their vehicle.

That he didn’t use good sense or judgment may or may not be true, but as a policeman I’m sure he has faced many dangerous situations before and was just doing what police officers have to do every day in the course of their jobs.

I, for one, would feel a lot safer if the chief was my neighbor. Dennis R. Pedersen Spokane

Rash reaction not wise

There has been a lot said about Police Chief Terry Mangan’s actions concerning the bunny hunters, both for and against him. The one big point not mentioned is that they were not on his property.

If everyone went out in the street with a gun every time there was an idling car around, the newspaper carriers and other folks who use their automobiles for business, or who stop to read a map, might be in serious trouble.

I think a person should be smart enough to be watchful of what’s going on in their neighborhood, and if possible get the description and license plate number of any suspicious vehicles before calling 911. But don’t go onto public property threatening people with words or guns. Ron V. Blank Spokane

Some of us just heed the law

On March 16, a strange van and a strange car were parked on the curb between our house and our neighbor’s house. As our 11-year-old daughter was due home from a sleep over at any time, I asked my husband if he would grab the shotgun and check out this suspicious vehicle. Knowing he is not above the law, he declined. Vicki L. Plastino Spokane

LAW AND JUSTICE

Gun rights advocate fires blanks

It is unfortunate that Curtis E. Stone (“Gun ban never the way,” Letters, March 12) has allowed himself to be duped by the lies and phony “statistics” that come to us from the gun lobby. Facts should always be checked before they are alleged.

There was no such U.S. Supreme Court case as “Presser vs. Illinois,” and the ruling that states cannot forbid private gun ownership was not made. Check the Spokane Law Library. In 1965, Presser vs. Ohio was on a different subject.

There is no way anybody can prove that “armed Americans thwarted 2.5 million criminal acts last year.” The statements about firearm homicide rate and Florida gun abuse rate cannot be documented, either.

Stone claims Jeri McCroskey hates guns. Her letter (“Law-abiding gun owners, until…”, March 4) opposed gun owners who claim the right to do as they darn well please with their lethal weapons. He even reads her mind about the Bill of Rights, but doesn’t understand it himself.

If James Madison had intended “the people” to mean “the individual,” he would have said so. Was he saying in the First Amendment that a single individual could “assemble peaceably”? Can Stone name a single one of his “hundreds of constitutional scholars” who would support that position?

Every day we see evidence that some people in society should not be allowed access to loaded firearms. The universal access demanded by the gun lobby is as irrational as is their branding anyone who wants reasonable safety from firearms a “gun hater who wants to outlaw all firearms.” Edward B. Keeley Spokane

Constitution authors’ intent clear

Re: “Supposed right is just hype,” Letters, March 14:

Walter Becker suffers from some grievous misunderstandings of history and the foundations of constitutional law in this country. First, in every instance where the phrase “the people” occurs in the first 10 amendments to the Constitution, it is clear from context that the phrase refers to individual rights rather than corporate rights or rights vested in the states.

Second, there are so many writings by the authors of the Bill of Rights indicating that they intended the right to keep and bear arms to be an individual right, beyond government interference, that it would be tedious to quote them.

If Becker is interested, he should consult the Federalist Papers. He will that find Thomas Jefferson and James Madison were particularly hostile to the idea of government control of arms. We should recall that the founding fathers had recently accomplished an insurrection by force of arms.

Third, if Becker wishes to live his life unarmed, that is his privilege. That he wishes to disarm the rest of us is outrageous and, ultimately, craven.

Criminals have no respect for the law. If banning things by legislation was effective we would have no cocaine problem, no homicides, no fraud and no speeders or drunk drivers on the highway.

Finally, Becker’s statistics are extremely questionable and his comparisons are therefore meaningless. But that is another topic. Bruce D. Thomas Ephrata, Wash.

THE MEDIA

Story was a day brightener

I would like to thank you for the article “Life shells out our burdens, flaws,” by Bill Tammeus on March 19. It was greatly encouraging and positive. It definitely brightened my day. Bravo. Joy Reese Spokane

AP needs internal spin control

Cancer rates in our country are approaching epidemic proportions. There is mounting suspicions by many that chemicals in our food and environment have a major role in this tragic picture.

Now our so-called news reporters from the Associated Press tell us that “health food enthusiasts got it all wrong” because a new study suggests “artificial flavorings may help explain why fewer people are dying from heart attacks.” Does this new study really suggest that health authorities have it all wrong, or does it really say that maybe there is a new wrinkle in this puzzle which needs more investigating?

Why is everything painted so black or white, so right or so wrong? Why can’t the AP refrain from putting its biased spin on stories like this and simply report the news? Dick McInerney Spokane

OTHER TOPICS

Joys shared with young are special

“Sonics overcome the Clippers,” “Dole wins big in Midwest,” “Lisa has best rope jump” - all excellent achievements. Which ones have you heard about? The Sonics and Dole, perhaps. But who is Lisa?

Even if you know who she is, the fact that she skipped rope six times wouldn’t impress you very much, would it? But if she is 2 years old you’d perk up, wouldn’t you? Somehow the sensational catches our eye.

Lisa is 6 and she skipped rope six times for the first time in her life. Anybody want to make a headline out of that? But Lisa could not accomplish her feat alone. She needed someone. Good thing I was there at the Community Center as a volunteer.

For a half-hour I clapped for her and rooted for her to succeed. “You can do it,” I shouted. Each time she tried harder. It was two skips for the longest time, then the sky opened. Six skips.

If you haven’t seen the excitement and electrifying joy of a child who reaches up and makes it for the first time, you haven’t lived. She jumped for joy. Then we both jumped for joy - a celebration as intense as any national convention or the aftermath of a win in basketball, but experienced only in the world of a child.

Earth can be assured of a wonderful future if we enter the world of children and jump and clap and sing and lift them up with our own unbiased, approving strength. Phil Stack Medical Lake

Wolves headline misleading

Your March 13 story on wolves reintroduced into Yellowstone National Park was inappropriately headlined “Reintroduced wolves devastating ecosystem.” Nowhere in the story is there any evidence presented to support the title’s supposition.

Wolves do control other predators, including coyotes and cougars, but not to the extent that devastation to the ecosystem results.

This headline appears to be intended to label the wolf as devastating. If you want to examine something devastating to ecosystems, try humans.

Sen. Mark Hatfield likes sausage, but says he does not want to see the inside of a slaughterhouse. The senator from Oregon doesn’t like clearcuts, but pressures other senators - using his chairmanship of the Senate Appropriations Committee - to vote for continuation of the “clearcut timber rider” because he likes two-by-fours and the jobs clearcutting old growth forests provide people.

Ecosystems are made up of soil, water, air, wildlife, fish, forests, grasslands and people. Wolves don’t build roads, drive cars or create PCBs. Why suggest they devastate ecosystem? Simple: we don’t have to look at what we’ve done. It’s those damn wolves.

Wolves, my friends, don’t pollute the Spokane aquifer, the Couer d’Alene Basin or build roads that cause mud slides but humans do. Tim Coleman Republic, Wash.