Letters To The Editor
BUSINESS AND LABOR
U.S. executives worth more
Re: “Tariff walls keep execs overpriced” (Opinion, May 24):
The problem, according to writer Jan Hack Katz, is that American executives earn too much while everybody else makes too little. So, the solution is to get rid of those wicked, high-salaried CEOs.
Instead of taxing them to death, Katz suggests replacing them with executives from “highly industrialized but relatively poor countries such as India.” But when you read carefully, you notice that Katz’s definition of an executive is anybody who makes over $50,000. So we are looking at department managers, technicians (if taking his approach further), doctors and lawyers.
Would professionals from India “jump at the chance to compete”? Of course they would. Especially if supported by an affirmative action Katz envisions.
For some reason, medical services at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology are provided by foreign doctors. They don’t come even close to our American family physician.
At a user conference last October, I talked to some colleagues from a big company that tried to do software re-engineering in “highly industrialized” India. Yes, it was cheap. Yet it had to be redone here from scratch. But that is only one side.
On the other hand, American professionals put a lot of effort and money into becoming what they are: CEOs, technicians, doctors, lawyers. They typically start their careers with a huge debt.
Why aren’t latter-day Bolsheviks like Katz jealous of this side? Could it be because hatred is blind? Peter C. Dolina Veradale
Big mistake, valuing executives only
US West customers should know why they’ve experienced trouble receiving timely, quality service.
CEO Richard McCormick and other top US West executives recently received salary increases of 20 percent to 48 percent. This is a shock to US West employees because they’ve been trying to provide quality service to their customers without the necessary tools and time. Training, proper staffing, equipment, etc., aren’t in the budget.
US West’s top executives say their raises aren’t out of line with what other corporations are awarding their top executives. True, perhaps, but most of those other companies have seen their stocks rise, not decline in value.
These executives also claim they’re responsible for service improvements. Do those improvements include quality and timeliness?
US West employees disagree. They are the ones who have consistently had to sacrifice to get the work done. Their families have suffered when they worked mandatory overtime instead of helping with family responsibilities. Their well-being is jeopardized because they are just too tired. Their productivity is at unprecedented levels, yet they are pushed to do more.
In spite of this adversity, US West employees are still customer-focused. They value their customers.
Now, it’s up to US West to value its employees as well as its customers. Devaluation of employees will eventually impact consumers. Those top executives may come to understand why there’s no business left to run, after customers have gone elsewhere. Madelynn C. Wilson, president Communications Workers of America, Local 7818, Spokane
Prevent ‘ram-and-jam’ forest work
Since Ice Storm ‘96, many owners of forest land who’ve had deals with loggers have been unhappy with the results.
Too many loggers, unfortunately, are not concerned about their impact upon the soil and the plant life they affect. Deep ruts are created and left uncovered to dry, stifling surrounding trees and bushes. In their hasty pursuit of dollars, skidder operators crash through groves of young trees, destroying 10 or 20 years of growth of a future crop of trees as they tow a couple of long logs to the loading area. Along the way, big chunks of bark are torn from half-grown trees, exposing the growth layer. The man on the machine is indifferent to the damage he causes.
Could it be that our national forests are in poor condition partly due to such a mode of operation?
Some operators take pride in conserving the existing timber stands, and this includes the men who use horse power.
To be sure their interests are protected, timber owners should write the operating agreement, stipulating and defining all the conditions they require: height of stumps, number of skid trails, trees to leave, dates to start and stop, etc. Get help on this if necessary. Then, to be sure your wishes are followed, require a sizable damage deposit.
Ram-and-jam operators may object to such requirements. When that happens, they’ve given a clue as to their standards. However, to have storm damage cleanup result in more destruction is more than a little aggravating. Paul J. Winkleman Spokane
Mining vital to our economy
The Crown Jewel Mine will live up to its name by becoming the crown jewel of the Okanogan highlands. It makes me sick to my stomach to read letters such as the one by Victor K. Banka (“Devastation of land sickening,” May 29) attacking the project with an hysterical and inaccurate diatribe that does nothing to illuminate the discussion.
These are the facts: Mining produces new wealth for the nation. The public shares in this new wealth to the tune of 40 percent to the public, 60 percent to the company. The mining is done under the most stringent regulations in history, and there will be no damage to the environment.
The company has invested millions of dollars in the project and will invest millions more. And this investment will result in a 60-40 split of the new wealth generated with the public.
So, his statement about a $4-per-acre fee for purchasing “our” public land is pathetic and inaccurate.
Mining is the most fundamental building block of our civilization and economy. We Americans should encourage as many of these 60-40 deals as we possibly can. Andrew W. Berg Spokane
CONSUMER ISSUES
Moviegoers should strike back
Here I was, eating a nice bowl of Cheerios while reading the paper, when the moment was spoiled.
A movie ticket for $6.25? The gods are most definitely angry. There is no good reason to raise already overinflated prices.
“Lost World” just made a record $90 million last week. When a movie makes that much in one weekend, there is no justification for higher prices. The stars are making millions and the theaters are very prosperous, with all the theatergoers forking out six bucks for one film.
Yet the rip-off does not end at the door. Drinks and food are outrageously priced. A small can of pop can cost upwards of $2.
Tim Wood, Act III vice president, says, “The reason we raised our prices was to cover our increasing expenses.” He added that the company tries to keep prices as low as possible.
Woods seems to have a backwards definition of the word “low.” Last time I checked, it meant affordable - something these prices aren’t.
The common people are the only ones in need in all this. So, let us unite and all go to the Garland! Bottomless tubs of popcorn, $1 ticket prices - that is how it should be.
Come, people of the world, unite. We have nothing to lose but our chains. I hope others are as mad as I am. Adam P. Sweet Spokane
HIGHER EDUCATION
Put-down unwarranted
Staff writer Jim Kershner’s statement concerning Father Glynn and Gonzaga University (Bottom Lines, May 25), “Keep millionaires happy,” casts an unsavory spin to this story.
Father Glynn is popular with many in the faculty and considered by everyone who knows him as a person of great faith and humanity. But these attributes don’t preclude the possibility of honest disagreements with others. The May 23 Spokesman-Review article stated Glynn and the board of trustees “struggled from the first meeting” in working together.
Trustees must ensure the university’s vitality and growth with the precepts of the Jesuit philosophy of education.
Because of the board’s stewardship, along with the regents, faculty, administration and presidents Father Twohy and Father Coughlin, Gonzaga has grown in size and recognition as an outstanding small university.
Kershner chose the wrong word in identifying some trustees as millionaires, rather than as very successful entrepreneurs. These people give unselfishly of their time, talent and money to maintain quality, nonsecular private education. Their participation has made the difference between survival and excellence.
One of GU’s past presidents credits a trustee with personally saving the school from bankruptcy several years ago.
GU is not only a great asset to Spokane and the higher education community, it also saves Washington taxpayers millions of dollars annually.
None of us on the outside have all the information concerning Glynn’s departure. You can be certain there are serious people of good will working for the university’s best interests. Dave T. Hamer Spokane
University has sold out
Wanted: Lovable, friendly companion. Obedience a must. Must come when called, sit when commanded to do so. Has to be easily trainable.
This is not the advertisement of someone looking for a new pet but how I envision the job description for the next president of Gonzaga University will appear.
The lesson the class of 1997 can take from Gonzaga University is that if you stand up for what you believe in, do what you know is right and act in accordance with your values, you’ll still get screwed by people with money and power. This is probably a good life lesson, but I didn’t expect to learn it from an institution that claims to serve ends higher than money.
I am ashamed to call myself an alumnus of a university that allows itself to be run by the likes of Jim Jundt. Spencer L. Kimmel, class of 1997 Olympia
University not like a business
The recent removal of the Rev. Edward Glynn, S.J., from the presidency of Gonzaga University by GU’s illustrious board of trustees came as quite a surprise.
As a Gonzaga graduate in good standing (not one check bounced during my college career), I am entitled to comment on this situation.
Where are the Jesuits of old? Gonzaga’s oldest traditions come from this religious order, dedicated to education for centuries. During my time at the university, a similar impasse between the president and trustees would have resulted in a totally different outcome. Edward Jundt and his cabal on the board of trustees would have been given effusive thanks for their financial support, a nice tax write-off and then told to holster their checkbooks and kindly keep their noses out of GU’s business.
Jundt, this is not corporate America, where you and your cohorts can sack employees over disagreements in policy. Perhaps you and your minions would be more at home as trustees at the University of the Americas.
How can a man be an educator since 1955 and a college president for 11 years, and be incapable of leading Gonzaga University?
I hope this coup d’etat does not indicate the governance of Gonzaga University is for sale to the biggest contributors. Gregory N. Likarish Spokane
OTHER TOPICS
Officers doing as well as they can
Re: Doug Clark’s column of May 15, I find it very frustrating that a person can critique an incident such as the Sacajawea Middle School response by the police and have no background or training in this field.
I am a firefighter. I know from experience that sometimes the decision you make may not be exactly right. But you have to do what you feel is correct when you arrive and provide for the safety of yourself and your coworkers first.
It’s unfortunate so much damage was done in the school. Yes, it apparently was just a couple of punks creating destruction. But what if one of the perpetrators had been armed and an officer had charged right into the building on his arrival, then was wounded or killed? Would the question have then been asked why the officer did not wait for backup?
Most of the time, men and women who dedicate their lives to being public servants do the best they can with the training and department guidelines they are provided. Mistakes will be made.
These people are only human. The bottom line is, they work hard to do the best job they can do. Chad S. Michael Spokane
Celebrating perfect hindsight
It never ceases to amaze me how some people feel they have all the answers when telling others how they should have responded in certain situations. Columnist Doug Clark and Mildred Kintner (Letters, May 27) are two fine examples.
Both would have had the police rush into Sacajawea Middle School and confront the school trashers without following proper procedures. Hindsight is 20-20. Granted, property was destroyed, but no lives were lost.
Since Kintner seems to know how the situation should’ve been handled, next time, she and Clark should be the lead officers entering a dark building with many exits. With their ESP, they could tell if juveniles were in the building, as opposed to adults with sawed-off shotguns.
People like Kintner and Clark would do well to walk a mile in the officers’ shoes. Nancy L. Kittilstved Spokane
Shooting not merely a scare tactic
It is no accident when you point a firearm at a human being and pull the trigger. It is murder, self-defense or it is in the line of duty. Period.
If you want to scare someone, you say, Boo! John B. Williamson Spokane