Letters To The Editor

WASHINGTON STATE

Arrive at care solutions cooperatively

Lance Morehouse (Letters, March 17) wrote that profoundly handicapped should live in a community setting. We agree with Morehouse on two things:

Representative parents, legislators and Department of Social and Health Services directors should be chosen as a small committee to discuss where handicapped people should live.

Also, we agree all handicapped people, to their ability to decide, should have a choice of residence. Lakeland Village is appropriate for some; apartments, jobs and fewer restrictions for others.

Let us meet to find the true cost of residential care against costs outside that unit. Community living expenses are covered from many pockets. It can be more costly living away from Lakeland Village.

Washington’s residential care center is a community in itself. It is clean, safe, and staffed with medical and dental personnel, psychologists and social workers. Some of these trained workers could assist counties that lack such services.

My son, John, 45, is nearly blind, mentally aged 5 and now suffers from post-polio syndrome. He can safely travel over Lakeland’s campus without being hit by a car or snatched away by a predator. He comes home often and says, “Happy, Mom.”

Why destroy what is working for many? We can promote money to appropriately fund community living and unite the two perspectives of thought.

This is a very serious subject. The entire Washington state population needs to unite to place our priorities where they belong - on the care of those who cannot speak or, often, even think for themselves. These citizens deserve good care in the appropriate place. Charlotte Carey Spokane

Trojan horse for tobacco interests

Recent passage of HB 1746 by the House of Representatives will serve to increase, not decrease, tobacco use in Washington’s children.

Supporters of this legislation will tell you it’s a bill about making possession and use of tobacco illegal. They aren’t telling you that HB1746 will destroy this state’s highly effective compliance check program and allow tobacco retailers to “self-police.” Also, HB 1746 will prohibit local health departments from sponsoring community prevention programs to reduce teen tobacco use.

It’s critical that the Legislature opposes HB 1746, especially in light of the fact that Liggett Group Inc. just admitted the tobacco industry targets our kids with advertising. HB 1746 will virtually eliminate the few tools we have to fight this industry.

Since passage of the Minor’s Access to Tobacco Act in 1993, Washington has been a leader nationally in reducing tobacco use in children. Since 1993 the percentage of stores that sell illegally has dropped from 60 to 20. Health departments and the Liquor Control Board working together have made this happen.

The Spokane Regional Health District has created a wide variety of prevention activities that have empowered youths in this community to speak out about tobacco addiction.

It’s already illegal for children to purchase tobacco products. This bill isn’t about making children accountable. It’s an attempt by the tobacco industry to destroy programs that are very effective in preventing kids from obtaining tobacco. It will also allow the tobacco industry and retailers to shift the focus from adults to kids.

I am appalled that our Legislature is supporting this blatant attack on our children. Sharlynn Rima Spokane

GOVERNMENT REGULATION

Let individual decide to use or abstain

When will it stop? Now, the government is back with its nose where it doesn’t belong: the tobacco issue.

I started smoking as a young man. No one forced me to smoke. I quit 18 years ago. No one told me to stop.

It is not my business nor our government’s to interfere in everyone’s habits.

Alcohol is as dangerous as tobacco. Too much kills you also, whether by drinking or driving. Yet it is legal and for some, addictive. The government does not, as of yet, stick its nose into matters involving the distillers of that deadly merchandise.

Automobile manufacturers put 120 mph on the speedometer. Some people get carried away and see if their automobile will do 120. Cars also kill more people than does tobacco.

So why the big issue on tobacco? People are not forced in any way to smoke.

Quit spending my dollars and millions of other people’s money trying to tell people what is or is not good for them.

I wish someone would explain to me how you can sue someone because you don’t feel well or got cancer from cigarettes, when auto manufacturers and liquor makers are just as responsible for as many or more deaths. The only ones who are going to profit from this stupid interference are lawyers. Pete Therens Spokane

SPOKANE MATTERS

Group of nine knows best

I take extreme exception to Rick Bailey’s March 21 letter in response to Dick Adams’ March 6 letter.

First, Bailey states that the group of nine stands against the City Council on everything and doesn’t offer anything of substance. Hogwash! The group of nine probably represent the feelings of tens of thousands of people in the city of Spokane, including myself, who don’t have the time, won’t take the time, are camera shy or are fed up with doubletalking, lying politicians in this town. I think the group of nine wants common sense, responsible spending on viable projects that benefit all the people of Spokane.

Secondly, the Pacific Science Center idea was a white elephant. Every school in town has a mini science center with paid teachers and you can travel 15 minutes in any direction from Spokane to find abundant free science in our hills, forests and lakes.

Third, the bridges and streets in town have not deteriorated overnight. The group of nine, it seems, just wants city employees at all levels to do their jobs and do preventive maintenance and inspections with existing funds, without having all these bond issues.

The City Council spends money on unneeded projects and then expects taxpayers to support additional spending on needed projects that should have been funded first.

This is just a common sense issue - something Bailey and the City Council don’t understand.

The group of nine speak for thousands. Bailey speaks for a few who spew propaganda at the expense of taxpayers and Spokane’s future. Dick Brauner Spokane

OTHER TOPICS

Skip labels and work together

I recently made a divisive comment at a party, and I immediately regretted it. There is already too much divisiveness in Spokane.

People who live in one part of town disparage those who live in another part. Members of one race downgrade those of another. Kids at certain schools are labeled “snobs,” while those who attend other schools are immediately presumed to be “problem kids.” The list goes on.

I live in an economically depressed neighborhood but 99.9 percent of my neighbors are good, friendly people. My daughter goes to a school that is often labeled as a “snob school,” but I participate in a parent-teacher group whose members don’t care where you’re from as long as you pitch in and help.

I have met and worked with people from all parts of the city and county; with people from every race, nationality and creed; with gays and straights, Democrats and Republicans, rich and poor. I have liked almost every one, even those I disagreed with.

Let’s stop labeling each other! Let’s just get on with making sure - together - that Spokane is a great place to live. Carol Shaw Spokane

Hate reflects haters’ deficits

It is pitiful that there are people who exalt themselves into such a high position that they can infringe upon other people’s privacy, dictate where they should live, how they should act, even say where they can “go back” to. Since they are not God, and since this country is not a monarchy, it is baffling. Upon whose appointed authority do they speak?

This type of individual hates and fears people of other races and backgrounds because of their own inadequacies and insecurities. This is the only way they can justify to their peers and themselves why they have failed. Their only contribution to society is to blame others for their shortcomings.

Hate is triggered by ignorance, envy, jealousy, greed and guilt. People who avail themselves to be educated, to hard work and have the ability to respect other people’s feelings, families and property, regardless of their race or lifestyle, are people who do not have the time nor the inclination to go around looking for someone to hate or someone to write hate mail to. Insecure people always think someone took something from them that they could not provide for themselves.

Karen Boone, please ignore these individuals. You look too intelligent to fuel their fire. Pray for them instead.

The cry seems to be “go back to Africa,” “go back to England,” “return the land to the Indians.” Truth is, the skins are different but the suffering is the same. Prayer instead of hate reaps more productive results. Doris M. Aaron Spokane

Steakhouse review was a bum steer

I don’t know what criteria the critic used regarding judging steakhouses in Spokane. Certainly, I think he goofed regarding one that we are very familiar with - the Calgary Steak House.

We have been selecting this restaurant as our favorite in Spokane almost since it opened. We have yet to be disappointed in the food preparation or the completely professional manner in which customers are treated.

If you’ve never had their french fried onions as an appetizer, you haven’t truly lived. Their salads are crisp, fresh, and attractively served. The braid of bread is outstanding in flavor, texture and appearance. We have had seafood as well as steak entrees and have never been disappointed - in fact, quite the opposite.

I hope that readers will take with a grain of salt the unfavorable comments made about this wonderful restaurant. The owner deserves the support of our community. Lee and Gloria Nelson Spokane

Editor’s note: Cartoonist Garry Trudeau, on vacation this week, has sent along a batch of “Doonesbury Flashbacks.”