Letters To The Editor
GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS
POW report only the latest example
Thousands of soldiers were exposed to poison gas during Operation Desert Storm. Thousands were poisoned by Agent Orange in Vietnam. The CIA created the crack epidemic in the inner cities. And now the latest surprise: An estimated 900 prisoners of war were left behind after the Korean conflict.
For those whose only source of information is Danny Blather or Tommy Brokenjaw, this must come as a great shock. For others, this is old news. If you’re interested, here’s a small reading list about POWs: “Kiss the Boys Goodbye” (Monika and William Stevenson, 1990); “Called to Serve” (James “Bo” Gritz,” 1991); “Soldiers of Misfortune” (Sanders, Sauter and Kirkwood, 1992); and “The Men We Left Behind” (Sanders and Sauter, 1993).
Ponder these facts about those who were abandoned during some of our more glorious moments:
After World War I, due to inept record-keeping, an accurate number wasn’t possible, but the official history for just one of the expeditions states there were “hundreds missing from our ranks.” After World War II, estimates of American POWs remaining under Russian control were 20,000 to 25,000. After Korea, U.S. documents stated the U.S. government knew that nearly 1,000 POWs and approximately 8,000 MIAs still were being held captive and never were repatriated. After Vietnam, the total number of POWs and MIAs was estimated at 5,000, but only 591 were returned. (“An Examination of U.S. Policy Toward POWs/MIAs by the U.S. Senate Committee on Foreign Relations Republican staff,” May 23, 1991).
Is it any wonder our government leaders are held in such contempt? Douglas P. Gallaher Sandpoint
American politics a monopoly
I have traveled across America this last year, participating in petition drives to gain ballot access for the Reform Party, and often have wondered who the Republican or Democratic candidate would be if he had to gather signatures to participate in the process. I have heard words like “We owe Bob Dole the presidency for his past service in Congress” and “coronation and crowning” during the Democratic National Convention.
Listen to these words! You will lose your right to choose when commissions and committees decide whom you should hear during presidential elections. Their words, “The purpose of the Commission on Presidential Debates is to bring before the American people those candidates from whom the American people will actually choose …,” are false. The commission is bipartisan - not non-partisan. The two parties consistently have controlled who is eligible to participate in the debates. That is why the League of Women Voters withdrew its support in 1988.
American politics and governance are a monopoly tightly controlled by two parties and special interests. It also demonstrates the fundamental conflicts that exist. Frank Fahrenkopf is the lead Washington lobbyist of the gambling industry and a former lobbyist for the Japanese; Paul Kirk is head of a lobbying firm that represents the pharmaceutical industry. Ross Perot opposes gambling and proposed major changes in the health care industry. Both men are former leaders of their parties.
Why hold an election when the commission and committees decide whom you can vote for? Connie M. Smith Spokane
Craswell best choice for governor
In the primary election for governor, Spokane County voters showed that they understood the issues and they chose who they thought could best deal with those issues. Spokane County chose Republican Dale Foreman over all other candidates, both Republicans and Democrats. Other parts of the state did not show the same level of astuteness and discernment.
For those of us who supported candidates other than Republican Ellen Craswell for governor, it is time for us to join her crusade because we cannot afford four years of tax-and-spend (Democrat) Gary Locke. We cannot afford a Bill Clinton clone. We cannot afford the further degradation of traditional family values.
This time, in our choice of governor, we still can choose a person of integrity and high moral character to serve us in Olympia. Of the current choices for Washington governor, Ellen Craswell is that person. Bob Blum Spokane
HEALTH CARE
Health care not Dole’s concern
Bill Clinton pledged health care reform in the election campaign of 1992. Let’s examine what happened.
In his first 100 days in office, Clinton assigned first lady Hillary Rodham Clinton the job of organizing and chairing the Health Care Reform Task Force. They did their work and turned their recommendations over to the House and Senate who, after all, do write the laws.
The House and Senate worked away through the rest of 1993 and into 1994. Finally, by summer 1994, the House passed its version. The Senate had its version ready for passage with enough votes to pass it, but something stopped the Senate version from coming to a vote.
Bob Dole, Republican minority leader (running for reelection to the Senate) ordered a filibuster and would not allow a vote to be taken.
Even after the election of 1994, Dole would not return for the purpose of ratifying GATT (General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade) unless it was stipulated that health care reform would not be brought up. What a man. Not! Roy M. Wakefield St. John, Wash.
Nurses vital to American health
I am very frustrated with all the talk about health care reform since not much progress has been made in this arena. I was ecstatic to see the article on new legislation that guarantees mothers and newborns a 48-hour hospital stay.
Although a physician may not be vital after the first 24 hours, the next 24 hours allow the nursing staff adequate time to do something that the public is not aware that nurses do - that is, to teach.
Besides monitoring the mother’s and newborn’s physical status, the nurses give the new mother instruction on feeding, bathing, changing and stimulating the newborn. This important aspect of nursing care often is rushed, without enough time to answer all of the parents’ questions.
As a registered nurse who is in graduate school to become a family nurse practitioner, I would like to see more legislation for third-party reimbursement for nursing functions. After all, how do you think new diabetics learn to check their glucose levels and give themselves insulin?
These points just touch on some of the things that nurses and nurse practitioners do that are not recognized as important or granted compensation, but these functions are vital to the health of all Americans. Kimberly Woodring Spokane
PRESIDENT CLINTON
Right for the wrong reason?
What a wonderful juxtaposition of letters in the Sept. 20 Roundtable!
Dorothy Anderson offered a rational plea that we respect the office of the president and refrain from personal attacks on the man elected to that office. Our recourse, she says, is the ballot box, not slander.
Immediately following, A.B. Kellogg gives us a horrible example of what she was talking about. He tells us President Clinton is “at it again,” meaning enforcement of the no-fly zone in Iraq. When did the president do this before? Kellogg states further that the action is justified but wrong only because Clinton was the one who did it. What kind of reasoning is this? Edward B. Keeley Spokane
Decision causes party change
President Clinton put a cap on the development of coal being mined in Utah by declaring thousands of acres a U.S. national monument. I wouldn’t care to bet this action caused great concern among folks who feed their families through mining employment in Utah.
What a dirty trick to pull on the state of Utah and all of the general public.
Once I would have remained a Democrat, but not any more.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has messed up many lives, especially in the great Northwest. Whole towns have been shut down because of illogical reasoning of the grand EPA government rulings. These puppet employees must find ways of attacking progress to keep their jobs.
It reminds me of a National Geographic program I saw of one insect attacking another to survive.
I think this was Clinton’s last move to show his power in office.
We need a watchdog Republican in Congress to keep a check on such abuse of power in the Oval office. Bob Dole has my vote. Elizabeth M. Berg Spokane
Clinton a whiz at land deals
Why are so many people upset at President Clinton’s use of the Antiquities Act to create a 1.7-million-acre national monument in Utah? You know the guy’s a whiz at land deals. Carl V. Moroney Hope, Idaho
What’s Clinton’s foreign policy?
One of the surprising things in the presidential campaign is how little discussion there has been of President Clinton’s foreign policy.
What justifies Clinton’s attempt to purchase the good behavior of North Korea by making advanced nuclear techniques available to it?
What justifies the use of troops in Bosnia in a futile attempt to end a millennium of ethnic and religious hatreds?
What justifies his alienation of an ally such as Great Britain by reception of Gerry Adams, who represents one of the most vicious terrorist organizations in the Western world?
What body of evidence suggests that Haiti was ever a democracy, justifying our intervention to “restore” democracy to that still troubled island or the buyout of its tyrannical ruler?
Finally, what reasoning justifies the attack on Iraq when all allies most closely concerned with the area do not support it? In this instance, not even all Kurds opposed Saddam Hussein’s action; some even may have invited his intervention.
This disgraceful record surely should justify making Clinton’s foreign policy a major issue. Donald M. Barnes Spokane
IN THE PAPER
Editoral message outstanding
Kudos to (Opinion Editor) John Webster and the editorial board. Webster’s Sept. 23 editorial is outstanding. His message on how to compete in a global economy and provide job opportunities for all is obvious to anyone in business - less government, fewer regulations and a lower, more equitable tax system along with the opportunity for a quality and practical education. Government is overhead to business and individuals.
To attract subscribers to The Spokesman-Review, I would suggest you send them an invitation to reconsider, along with a copy of this editorial. I’ll bet you’d get some renewals. Dave Hamer Spokane
SPOKANE BUSES
Transit system a success
If Jonathan Lundquist (letters, Sept. 20) rode on public transit on a regular basis, he soon would find a lot more than two or three riders per bus, especially leaving or arriving downtown during peak periods. In the absence of public transit, they would bring many more cars downtown than there are buses now.
In addition, he would find many decent working-class people for whom public transit is the only affordable option. Their lives and contributions to society would be diminished by its disappearance.
If he delved into history, he would find that this nation had superb transit systems until the 1920s when General Motors Chairman Alfred P. Sloan and others formed a corporation that bought out and reduced or dismantled many such systems while promoting the sale of private cars. These cars now require a much larger and increasingly untenable infrastructure to support them and are costing us all in ways far beyond what efficient use of public transit ever would.
As for changing the law regarding public transit funding, that would have to occur at the federal level as well as locally because federal law prohibits public transit companies from funding public works not facilitating public transit.
Lundquist may be right if he believes that the problems implicit in funding street repairs may be due to resentment over an inequitable tax burden, but I don’t believe public transit is the appropriate target of that wrath. Philip J. Mulligan Spokane
STA highly efficient organization
Jonathan Lundquist (letters, Sept. 20) is either extraordinarily unobservant or he has no idea what he is talking about.
The Spokane Transit Authority is a highly efficient organization which covers this city quite well. There are those of us who depend upon STA for our transportation anywhere in the city, including being able to make it to and from work. There are very seldom only two or three people on each bus. Sometimes, the buses are so full they have standing-room only. There have been times when I have been on the bus as late as 1 a.m. and there are 15 to 20 people on them.
Perhaps Lundquist should park his personal vehicle, in which he apparently travels alone, and ride an STA bus. He would see how efficient this system is and realize how silly his suggestion to de-fund STA really is. Edward Mumpower Spokane
IN THE REGION
Sandpoint, you’re a friend indeed
“Stranded” - to be left in a state of emotional embarrassment or difficulty.
Our car’s alternator ceased functioning late on a Sunday evening after the Neil Sedaka concert - no headlights and, soon to be, no ignition.
Stellar performers:
Quality Comfort Inn. “I’m sorry, we have no rooms available. How about a bed set upstairs in our meeting room?” This gentleman was concerned and helpful.
The only taxi service in town. What type of person to expect? What outrageous fee will be charged? No problem! This gentleman was prompt, friendly and helpful. He even waited at Motel 6 until he was sure we were secured for the night. The taxi fare was $2.45.
The receptionist at Motel 6. This person was cheerful and answered many questions stranded people would ask. Getting tired of hearing “helpful, cheerful and friendly”? We weren’t.
Yoke’s Pac ‘n Save. “We’re out of contact lens cases, but let’s see what we can find. Aha! How about a seven-day pill container?” The cashier and grocery clerk were attentive and creative to a late-night customer.
Alpine Motors. Options for our car were discussed patiently with us at 8 a.m. Monday morning; an estimate was given. Service for the car was done quickly at a cost much lower than the estimate.
Clyde’s Towing. This gentleman was there to pick up the car in a timely manner. He visited pleasantly and shared a joke or two.
“Stellar” - Leading, outstanding.
Thanks, Sandpoint. Your stellar performers are the people of Sandpoint. Bob and Judi Hill Liberty Lake