Letters To The Editor
MINING
Problems there before law developed
In reference to W.W. Gollin’s Nov. 7 letter, “Companies should post bond,” an obvious public misconception exists regarding state and federal laws in existence to regulate and monitor mining practices in Western states.
Mining companies are required by state law to post a reclamation bond that equates to the total reclamation of a project. This bond must be posted before mining may begin.
The Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management agencies work closely with states to require and determine such reclamation bonds.
The purpose of the bond is to ensure adequate cleanup and reclamation of the site after mining has been completed. At present-day mining projects, environmental standards are continually monitored during the life of a given project and by law, operating permits are revoked if environmental and water quality standards are jeopardized. Stoppages to multi-million dollar projects are extremely detrimental to the goals of mining companies, thus companies institute costly preventative measures.
Citing the problems of the Silver Valley area and Coeur d’Alene watershed are misleading. Environmental problems incurred within the Coeur d’Alenes were the result of mining practices prior to the 1950s, before the time when strict environmental laws were developed to prevent further watershed deterioration. Thus it is inaccurate to state that the cleanup costs for befouled areas in the Silver Valley are the result of “expert” procedures gone bad, at least not by today’s standards.
I do appreciate the suggestion that the mining industry contributes to an area’s overall tax base and should be allowed if responsible environmental stewardship is followed. Andrew M. Buddington Newman Lake
WORK RELEASE
Not every inmate is violent
I am an inmate at the Pine Lodge Pre-Release in Medical Lake. I am quickly approaching my day to go on to work release.
People are very carefully screened by the Department of Corrections to be eligible for work release and the criteria is strict. Work release was established to reintegrate people back into society while still being very closely monitored and supervised by DOC. The alternative would be to release inmates from these institutions cold turkey - some homeless, jobless and with no community assistance.
Cari Hicks (Letters, Oct. 25) stated, “We’re not talking about drug addicts and alcoholics.” Yes, we are. The drug addicts and alcoholics being sent to work release have gone through very intensive treatment programs and are trying to live sober lifestyles.
Not everyone in the prison system is a convicted, violent criminal. Some of us are your family, friends, co-workers, neighbors and community professionals - people who have made mistakes by our own poor choices, through addictive behavior or by the chance encounters of our lives. We all have our own set of circumstances that got us to where we are today.
I pity the person who has a car accident where someone is killed and ends up in prison and is then viewed as an undesirable after serving their time. I pity the addict who has been through treatment and wants to live a sober and productive lifestyle, but is shunned by society for past mistakes. I am outraged by a society who judges people unworthy of a chance to try again. Renee March Medical Lake
HEMP
Truth about hemp coming forward
America’s great strength grew out of a reverence for truth. Americans have always liked to tell it like they see it. But something went terribly wrong.
William Randolph Hearst knew the power of inculcation. No matter how twisted or incredible, the same thing repeated enough times becomes truth to the masses. With enough money you can create your own truth.
Perhaps the best example of this is the legacy of Hearst’s war against hemp. Hemp was about to become our most valuable natural resource; then, to protect his paper-making business, Hearst conjured hemp into marijuana, the most evil drug in the history of mankind.
Today we need hemp more than ever. But the roar of anti-marijuana propaganda is still drowning out the voices of truth and reason. Archaic, polluting industries whose wares will be replaced by natural hemp products are pouring in millions to feed the roar. However, there is new hope.
Low-cost, widespread distribution of truth has arrived via the Internet. A renaissance of truth in America. Improvement is already showing up in Arizona and California. Voters there have overridden money and power, restoring to doctors the freedom of prescribing marijuana for its many therapeutic properties.
Environmental and economic prosperity offered by hemp is coming. Truth will give us the strength to take it back. Rand Clifford Spokane
Legalizing hemp would benefit all
I recently read that our ozone layer has a hole in it the size of the United States and Canada combined. This problem affects every living species on this earth today.
The growth and use of a substance that would provide us with enough fiber and pulp for paper, bio-mass fuel and food protein to sustain the world population has been forbidden. It would also generate the right kind of biproducts to repair the ozone layer. One acre of this fast-growing substance would replace four acres of trees.
This substance has been used for fabric since before 8000 B.C.
The body of literature (archaeologists, anthropologists, philologists, economists, historians, etc.) is in general agreement that, at the very least, from more than 1,000 years before the time of Christ until 1883 A.D. this substance was our planet’s largest agricultural crop and most important industry for thousands of products and enterprises.
For years marijuana has been prohibited in our country.
For years our planet has been polluted by paper and textile factories.
For years America has had an unbalanced budget.
For centuries civilizations depended on hemp for clothing, fuel, food products, rope, paper, canvas, sails, medicines, textiles, paints and varnishes, bio-mass energy, building materials and recreation. All this without any toxic waste or harmful effects to the environment or human beings.
Oil companies, pharmaceutical companies and textile manufacturers all profit from the hemp prohibition.
Everyone would benefit from its legalization.
Talk about life or death - we are there. We had better get it right. Renee L. Salib Spokane
PRESIDENT CLINTON
Choice, as it is, has been made
As the election ended I was not really surprised. I’m only 16, and although I cannot vote I still have opinions on things.
Personally, I think that we should all realize who our parents have elected to run our country. (President Bill) Clinton has lied, smoked pot, is a criminal and has committed adultery. How can he be faithful to our country if he can’t be faithful to his wife? He also dodged the draft. Now correct me if I’m wrong, but doesn’t the last line of the Star Spangled Banner say, “the land of the free and the home of the brave”?
This might seem a little cynical and biased, but it’s the reality that has been chosen. Angelique Utley Mead
Clinton’s speech a fantasy
President Clinton’s speech Tuesday night had all the reality of a bedtime story for children. Sylvia James Spokane
SPOKANE
Hillyard-Logan area owed apology
I am responding to the Oct. 31 letter from Brian Smith of Colbert, who requested an apology for what occurred in a parking lot during the Mead-Gonzaga Prep High School football game. In his letter, Smith stated, “Consider the consequences of parking their cars in an unattended lot in a questionable area of town.”
Mr. Smith, what do you mean by a questionable part of town? Do you mean the Hillyard-Logan area? For someone so concerned abut the wrong people getting blamed, you sure don’t hesitate to blame the Hillyard-Logan neighborhood.
Perhaps you should stop your whining and worry about little old Colbert instead of Hillyard. Perhaps you owe an apology to the people of the Hillyard-Logan area. Michael Schock Hillyard
DRUNK DRIVER
Drunk driver deserved punishment
I am outraged by the letter from the woman who believes James Barstad is a “victim of political hype and is receiving too harsh a sentence.” He deserved exactly what he got. He was driving drunk, speeding through an intersection, driving recklessly, and he killed people.
How can you say he “did not intend or set out to kill anyone”? That is ridiculous.
Driving drunk is a crime and he made a choice to get in his vehicle while intoxicated and drive like a maniac. Justice was served here and maybe it wasn’t harsh enough.
If it had been your child or loved one who was killed, I am sure you would feel differently. Shawna Berens Mead
OTHER TOPICS
Time is now to unite for future
Four years ago a letter of mine was printed in the newspaper under the heading, “Moral issues divide nation.” The moral issues continue to divide the nation and the spiritual renewal we need to survive as a nation is found wanting.
The AIDS epidemic, drug crisis, abortion, divorce, racial discrimination, sexual harassment and violence continue to eat away at the nation’s ability to survive. We are on the road to disaster because of this division, and time is running out to reverse our slide into oblivion. A nation divided against itself has never survived as a world power.
The perpetual conflict between liberals and conservatives continues to divide our nation. Placing blame on the other party for everything that goes wrong has become a national epidemic. We are facing the death of freedom in America, and I hope and pray we will work together to solve our problems before it’s too late.
Our biggest concern and outrage should be that 50 percent of voters who talk negatively but don’t vote on election day. That kind of apathy can only further divide our nation and help the enemies against democracy.
The demons of division that have destroyed every great world power are selfish greed, pleasure seeking, cynical materialism, reversing standards of morality, self-sufficiency, alcohol/drug indulgence and corruption.
America, the choice is ours and the time clock is not on our side. Do we want solutions with unity, or more division? David S. Peterson Liberty Lake