Letters To The Editor

MARIJUANA

Truth available if you seek it

Hemp truth is reaching more and more people. The power of special interests controlling our government has never been on such naked display.

The federal government’s tyrannical response to voters in California and Arizona who passed medical marijuana initiatives is truly government at its worst. Government vs. the people.

Lots of conjured truth is around. The feds’ line: marijuana is a killer; the war on drugs can be won; and zero tolerance is achievable - on and on. Money talking through the mouths of our trusty elected officials.

Luckily for us, the facts are there. Letter writer Joe Corcoran (“Alcohol, not pot, is the menace,” Jan. 12) is right. “Hemp and the Marijuana Conspiracy: The Emperor Wears No Clothes” is the source for facts. This book is responsible for the exploding awareness of hemp moving so many rational people to activism these days.

But, if you would really like to experience hemp truth, I urge you to check out the novel, “Castling.” It’s fiction that is putting hemp, and Spokane, on literature’s global map. Kevin Fisher Spokane

Legalization arguments lacking

In the last part of his letter, Joe Corcoran (“Alcohol, not pot, is the real menace”) encourages everybody to join NORML, an organization that works “night and day.” How can somebody join that organization if he or she has also to make a living? And what do those diligent NORML people live out of? Hopefully not our tax money!

Now Corcoran’s argument, if I understood him well, is this: Because alcohol is a menace, marijuana should be legalized. It sounds to me like he believes that increased marijuana use would automatically decrease alcohol abuse. This I think is just the other way around.

Another argument that I was able to understand in his letter is that because Native Americans used it it is good. Especially taken into account that they started drinking alcohol much later. But our culture has developed from European origins. Alcohol has been used in Europe for a long time and it is certainly more a part of that culture than marijuana is.

The qualities of marijuana are presented in a rather strange way: “If you smoke too much you are not going to die.” My question is, if you are healthy and sane, why would you smoke it at all? This question should start the process of legalization. But there is no answer to it and there should be no legalization. Peter C. Dolina Veradale

LAW AND JUSTICE

Disability parking needed and fair

Re: Dorothy Peterson’s Jan. 9 letter, “Disabled parking system being abused.” You just insulted the intelligence and integrity of all the highly trained and educated doctors and people who issue permits to people they feel have a need, because of any number of physical problems, to be able to park close to a facility.

Long ago, I was issued a disability placard because I have degenerative arthritis in my knees. I can’t walk a long distance without my knees buckling. If I had to park far from where I was going I would not be able to get back to my car. Just walking a block, I do not look disabled. Some may be baffled by this. My advice is to mind your own business.

Doctors and professional authorities do more than sign a form. They investigate and diagnose before signing.

The only abuse of the system is by people who go around getting disgusted if someone using a parking place for the disabled doesn’t use a wheelchair or isn’t missing one or more limbs. These complainers just make it hard for doctors to do their jobs.

Be thankful you are alive. It is unfortunate that anyone has to use a wheelchair for any reason. Who knows, some day the people you now see running and dancing may be coping with a disability. Life is short. Enjoy it today and every day. Doris Aaron Spokane

Follow-up not in keeping with the law

Lois Bremner’s Jan. 14 letter, “Ticket recipient can thank himself,” indicated that Joe Fitzpatrick embarrassed himself by complaining about his citation for parking in a zone for the handicapped. The only person who should be embarrassed is Chief Jerry Gardner.

State Law RCW 46.16.381 states that when an individual is given a citation if in violation of parking in a handicap zone it is to be dismissed when the individual shows evidence of her/her permit. Fitzpatrick immediately took his permit to the mayor’s office, then twice to the police station, showing had a permit. Why are we wasting taxpayers’ dollars on a court appearance?

Gardner did the right thing writing the ticket, but he has truly embarrassed himself by allowing a court date to be scheduled and by violating state law in refusing to dismiss Fitzpatrick’s citation after he presented his permit.

It looks like Gardner needs to research state law. Quit harassing innocent disabled citizens and make the city of Cheney proud by doing honest police work. Crystal Fitzpatrick Cheney

GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS

Dirty campaigning: Just say no

The unpleasant smell from the 1996 election campaign still lingers. It was the most vicious in memory. But then, each campaign sets a new record in ugliness.

In 1998 and 2000 we can expect an escalation of this disgusting trend. Each candidate will claim that the tactics of the opponent forces him or her to respond in kind.

A voter has to wonder how any person or organization can donate money to a campaign, knowing it will be used to tear apart the character of an opponent. An attempt to change this cycle by not voting for such a candidate means casting a blank ballot. Politicians are all drawn into this madness. There are virtually no clean campaigns.

But it doesn’t have to be this way. Politicians will not change because these techniques are deemed effective. But voters can demand that their candidate stop this runaway mud-slinging or risk losing their vote.

The next election is nearly two years away, but it is not too early for voters to begin their own campaign. Politics are now buried in the mud, and nothing will change unless we demand cleaner, more responsible campaigns.

We need to send a message to politicians that we insist on a reversal of this escalating trend of nastiness. We have the power to force a change. Let’s do it. Charles F. Dayley Spokane

McDermott’s the real villain

First, the left orchestrated a media hate campaign against House Speaker Newt Gingrich, in revenge for his role in taking away their 40-year monopoly on Congress.

This set the stage for the “ethics” charges against him. These are centered around Gingrich’s college course, which spread conservative ideas supported by tax-exempt contributions.

Now, where have we seen the left spreading its ideas with tax money? National Public Radio, National Endowment for the Arts, most public colleges, numerous liberal foundations, etc. It’s a long list. And they have the gall to pick on one little college course with a conservative slant?

If Gingrich’s behavior was illegal it seems all the above mentioned are also illegal.

And now, Rep. Jim McDermott releases an illegal wiretap tape of Gingrich. I thought the liberals were strongly against that sort of invasion of privacy without a search warrant.

McDermott is guilty of a real crime while Gingrich has committed only a crime against political correctness. Bob Silver Nine Mile Falls

Ethics Committee in the wrong

My understanding is that House Speaker Newt Gingrich gave a series of educational television lectures on the subject of history, and that a tax-exempt organization paid the cost of the broadcasts. So what?

I see no legal, moral or ethical violation, whether by Gingrich or any other party in all this.

The ethics charge against Gingrich is itself the wrong. I sense no motive for it other than pettiness, needless ill will and meanspiritedness. Proceedings based on such bad motives should not be permitted.

The House Ethics Committee proceedings against Gingrich are a cheap vendetta with sinister ramifications. They are partisan, political and ultimately designed to discredit the speaker and impair the patriotic traditional Americanism he stands for.

They ill serve a constitutional republic that should be one nation under God, not one Soviet under Clinton. They arrogantly threaten, assault and frustrate the will of the hard-working, taxpaying and truth-knowing American people who prayerfully and freely elected conservative Republican congresses in 1994 and 1996 - and will do so again.

The Ethics Committee, not Gingrich, is off base and out of line. The proceedings must be dismissed immediately and forever, and Gingrich, statesman with a vision in keeping with the prayers and hopes of the Founding Fathers and twice thoughtfully elected speaker, should be completely exonerated. Paul H. Adriance Moses Lake

Remember, little things mean a lot

While reading a recent Spokesman-Review article about consumer credit card debt and a concomitant increase in the number of bankruptcies, I was reminded why any working stiff like myself ought to vote Democratic (if only the Democrats will return to their roots).

I recall when mortgage interest rates were about this low (8 percent) in the past and when the average card carried a maximum 10 percent annual percentage rate. Now, the average card carries 14 percent to 18 percent APR.

The capitalists have slipped in a 50 percent increase in the depth of the gouge they put in a working man’s back as they ride him to his death on the road to their Marley-hearts’ content.

In order to forestall bankruptcy increases, there are two ways to go:

The Republican way - make it harder to qualify for bankruptcy so they can hound you to death to make you pay.

The old-Democrat way - put caps on the amount of interest a credit card company can gouge you for.

It’s these little things a citizen must watch every day of the week, not all that hoopla around election time. Keep your eyes open, watch the federal and state banking committees, chaired by Republicans, not that Paula Jones smokescreen. Watch the legislation aimed at destroying unions.

It’s in the details of things like that where we’ll see which party is truly doing the job for the vast majority of us. George Thomas Spokane

Clintons in league with CEOs

The Clintons and their friends at the National Center on Education and the Economy (NCEE) have a plan for our economy. It would essentially turn the nation into a huge Pottersville, and it won’t be a wonderful life for most of us if they succeed.

Hillary Clinton, who had been a member of the NCEE board, received a much-quoted-from 18-page letter from NCEE Director Marc Tucker shortly after the President was elected in 1992. In it, Tucker highlighted key portions of the all-encompassing business-education plan (subject to Clinton approval) as well as a multifaceted strategy for implementation.

One of his suggestions was to call a second, expanded governors’ summit. (Then-governor of Arkansas Bill Clinton chaired the first one).

Tucker suggested the second summit not be called until Clinton could be sure the agenda would be his. That it was.

The education summit of governors, expanded to include CEOs of several huge businesses, was held last March and heavily promoted the School-to-Work (STW) concept of education reform.

Federal STW grants are not promoting the benign, optional addition to a traditional education that STW initially appears to be at the local level. Think about it. How many big business CEOs have their jobs because their top priorities are wonderful lives for their companies’ employees? How might their real bottom line impact education ? That is the question. Federal STW grants are not about a well-rounded, general education. Joan Spencer Cocolalla