Letters To The Editor

SPOKANE MATTERS

Why the rip-off gas prices?

I am a sales representative who travels in Eastern Washington on a monthly basis. I begin each month leaving Spokane, stopping in Moses Lake, Ellensburg, Yakima, the Tri-Cities, Walla Walla and Pullman and finally coming back home to Spokane.

I have always noticed gasoline prices to be a little higher here in Spokane, with the lowest prices being in the Tri-Cities. But since last year’s big price hike, the people of Spokane are being royally ripped off by local oil vendors.

On this month’s trip, I filled up in Spokane, paying $1.27 a gallon for regular unleaded. To my surprise, as soon as I hit Moses Lake, I was disappointed to see unleaded everywhere for $1.09. I wished I had waited to fill up. Gas prices fluctuated very little the rest of my trip until I hit Pasco, where gas was 99 cents to $1.05.

I was glad to purchase it so cheaply, but the more I thought about it, the madder I became. We in Spokane are victims of a little price-fixing scam. Gas is wholesaled as inexpensively in Spokane as it is in the Tri-Cities.

After a small amount of investigating, I’ve found out there are pipelines that deliver gas to Spokane, just as they do to the Tri-Cities. Because I work in my car, this little scam is costing me thousands per year, and I would love to see more people demand fair prices for gasoline. Jim Haney Spokane

Bolster and extend skywalks

I was impressed with a recent article about Minnesota’s Twin Cities, Minneapolis and St. Paul. Most notable and relevant to us is the obvious civic pride those cities’ residents have in their skywalk system. It seems they attribute Twin Cities vibrance during winter more to their skywalks than to any other feature of their fair metropolis.

Therein, I believe, lies an important lesson that we seem either to have forgotten or overlooked with regard to our own skywalk system. For some years now, I’ve seen considerable debate as to whether our skywalk system is more beneficial or harmful to our downtown core. Chief among the arguments has been the claim that our skywalks blight our ground-level businesses by removing potential customers from the streets.

Speaking just as a customer, I really doubt that. While it’s true that more shoppers probably remain at the skywalk level, I feel sure there are more total customers downtown, especially during winter, because of the skywalks.

After all, the same logic applies here as in the Twin Cities. Skywalks permit shoppers to cross daunting traffic and avoid bad weather to patronize businesses, not only on the skywalk level but on the ground level as well.

It’s ironic that the Wall Street repaving project was supposed to do what the skywalk system already does - give pedestrians back their streets. Wall Street is no more of a pedestrian draw now.

Expanding our skywalk system and making it more accessible for longer hours probably is one of the most cost-effective revitalization initiatives we could take. Philip J. Mulligan Spokane

GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS

Rich folks’ friends at it again

Republicans are again seeking to decrease the capital gains tax to 14 percent.

This tax break will decrease federal revenues by $15.5 billion. But middle-class families making less than $40,000 already pay only 15 percent on capital gains. So who is really benefiting from this decrease?

Let’s look at the breakdown of who gets the money.

Families with incomes of less than $50,000 will get a total tax break of $500 million (that means 60 percent of the population will get 3 percent of the tax break). The richest 142,000 people will get a total tax break of $7.7 billion.

That’s right, the richest 1/20th of 1 percent (those making over $500,000 ) get half of the total tax break (USA Today, Aug. 20).

What does this mean to you? Well, if you’re an average income earner, you’ll save maybe $5 while an average member of the above group will see an extra $55,000. The government will have to make up for the shortfall by decreasing services and/or by increasing other taxes or fees. In either case, it’s obvious that it will cost the average wage earner more than he will save.

Why don’t Republicans give everyone an incentive to invest by just eliminating the tax on the first $5,000 of capital gains? Why can’t our representatives understand that the best way to stimulate the economy is to get us all involved, rather than just handing out more money to the already rich?

I can guess a reason, but you’ll have to answer that question for yourself. Vern Stevens Moscow, Idaho

Congress busy with the whitewash

It made my heart throb with pride to see our 435 congresspersons raise their hands and before God and everyone swear to uphold the Constitution. What a proud moment for all of them and the citizens of our great nation.

Sadly, it was less than 24 hours before some of them were wanting to violate their oath. The Constitution calls for the accused to be able to face his or her accusers. The GOP stalwarts want to give House Speaker Newt Gingrich his penalty even before they hear the accusations and findings of the committee the House appointed to investigate. Shame on them!

I don’t think many voters are the least bit convinced what was attempted was for their benefit. It is an obvious attempt to cover some of the evidence.

It now appears that the committee will have a very short time, and just prior to the inauguration of the president, to hear the committee report, consider it and decide what punishment is called for.

One wonders what type of legislation can come from those who so promptly disregard the wishes and interests of their constituents. It seems their guidance comes from someone other than their God. May God help us poor voters! Richard B. “Dick” Hopp Spokane

Social Security reform: Tell us more

Most of those writing to “Roundtable” about Social Security are frustrated, as I am, about the present system and have brought forth ideas about fixing it.

No mention has been made about Cal Thomas’ informative and thought-provoking article which appeared on your “Opinion” page Dec. 12, in which he outlined vividly how Chile, in 1980, scrapped its government-run plan and began a national system of pension savings accounts. Sixteen years later, savings in the new system are 50 percent to 100 percent higher than in the previous pay-as-you-go system (about what we have in this country today).

Because money from workers is invested privately, Chile’s economy has grown from the historical 3 percent to 6.5 percent on average. Furthermore, the savings rate has increased to 27 percent of gross national product and unemployment decreased to 5 percent since this change was made.

I suggest The Spokesman-Review assign a writer to this subject. Thomas refers to an essay by Jose Pinera, “Empowering Workers: The Privatization of Social Security in Chile.” You have just completed a thorough report on terrorism in this country. Please continue your trend to explore facts behind ideas and bring us more information on this important matter of Social Security. Keith R. Green Liberty Lake

OTHER TOPICS

Ignorance is HIV enabler

Why is it that bigoted people are the first to make ignorant claims? Ignorant claims that are biased and hateful, not informed and true.

According to Science (270:1372), the white gay male population is one of the only groups that has altered its behavior and reduced the rate of infection of HIV. Among white females, black females, Hispanic females and black males, the incidence of HIV is increasing. Socio-economic status is attributed to these incidence rates, not sexuality.

It is ignorant and scared persons like Jack Morton (letters, Jan. 10) who have helped along the transmission of this disease. HIV is not going to go away by laying blame on others, but by opening our eyes as a society and realizing that it is a virus without preference for race, sexuality or moral standing.

Heterosexuality isn’t going to save you or your children, but abstinence or safer sex might. K. Alyn Alf Cataldo, Idaho

Next time, pay attention

When reading Doug Clark’s Jan. 12 column about the movie adaptation of “Evita,” I wondered if Clark wandered accidentally into the wrong theater or perhaps was too busy at the snack bar to notice what was happening on the screen.

The “Evita” score was written by the dominant composer of musical theater in the late 20th century. Andrew Lloyd Webber also composed the scores for “Jesus Christ Superstar,” “Cats,” “Phantom of the Opera” and “Sunset Boulevard,” to name just a few. “Evita” is certainly his most critically acclaimed show, with some critics hailing its score as his best.

As for the subject matter of the piece, Lloyd Webber does not ignore the reality of politics in Argentina during that time period. The character of Che, the narrator of the story, repeatedly refers to the violence, poverty and repression inherent in the Peron regime and functions as somewhat of a conscience for the character of Eva.

This piece is the story of a very complex, enigmatic and powerful woman who took center stage at a time and place where women were hardly more than property. Might I suggest that if this drama were centered around a powerful man with flaws, such as Edward VIII of Britain or John F. Kennedy, perhaps Clark and several other critics of the film would change their tune? Angela Mitchell McMullin Spokane