Letters To The Editor

BUSINESS AND LABOR

Unions are democratic

Recently, a representative of the Spokane Home Builders Association wrote a very interesting letter concerning organized labor contributing to political campaigns throughout Washington. It was his opinion that “big labor” was unfairly trying to influence the elections and unfairly taking union dues from its members for contributions those members did not support.

For his information, unions do contribute to candidates who support workers’ rights and working families. They raise the bulk of this money through voluntary donations.

Unlike the Spokane Home Builders Association and most businesses, we have a democratic association. If our leaders give to the wrong candidates or support the wrong causes, we can vote those leaders out of office.

I have yet to hear of a business or business association taking part of the profits made from the backs of its workers and asking them how they want their campaign contributions distributed. Never happened, never will.

Why should businesses and business associations have the right to contribute to candidates for their special interests but working people who make the money for them should not have that right?

Labor unions have always helped all workers, not just their members. And some people would like you to forget where the 40-hour work week, child labor laws, pensions, medical insurance, safe workplaces, etc., came from.

We will continue to support any candidate who keeps working men and women in mind when they are considering new legislation. Pete D. Crow Eastern Wash. & Northern Idaho Building Trades Council, Spokane

Getty knew secretaries’ value

Re: “Secretaries salaries not par with work” (May 6):

Thanks to J. Paul Getty, the oil billionaire, for putting an honest spin on the value of secretaries. In one of his books, he stated that when one of his executives didn’t come to the office for a day, he was hardly missed. But when Getty’s secretary didn’t come in for a day or two, everything stopped - nothing got done. Righto, Getty. Josephine J. Lannen Spokane

CONSUMER ISSUES

Investigate local fuel pricing

During the past six months, family business has caused me to drive to Eastern Oregon on five occasions. On each trip I’ve stopped in Kennewick, to top off my gas tank before entering the Blue Mountain region.

At each of at least three gasoline stations along Highway 395 north of Kennewick, I have filled up at a cost of less than 99 cents a gallon. Last week, I noted prices at 97.9, 95.9 and 96.9 cents per gallon (bank credit cards were honored, as well). I stopped at the station advertising 96.9 cents and was surprised to find that an attendant filled the tank at no extra charge.

The annual difference in fuel costs between Spokane and Kennewick for the average motorist would be about $200 per year. Multiply that sum by the number of Spokane drivers and you have millions going to some unknown destination annually.

We have heard all the excuses for our $1.27 per gallon prices, but it smells funny for the difference to be so great so close to home. Also, it’s rare indeed to find more than a few cents difference between “competing” Spokane area retailers.

I would like The Spokesman-Review to dig out and report the facts in detail. John T. Trimble Spokane

Looks like price fixing to me

Last weekend, I took a trip to Coulee Dam. I thought it was amazing to find gasoline prices in the little community of Wilbur at $1.29 - the same price it is in the Valley. The gas has to be trucked to this town at an added expense.

I ended up buying gas on the way back, in Airway Heights, for $1.19. Maybe the Valley should start getting its supplies from the same place the Airway Heights stations do.

The simple fact is, Valley stations are taking advantage of the public and making more profits. The only way to really fight this situation is to boycott stations with the higher prices. Price fixing is illegal, yet it seems to happen quite often in Spokane, or at least it appears that way.

Maybe this letter will wake up some of the station owners to the fact that you can’t fool all the people all the time. Jim L. Easling Greenacres

IN THE PAPER

Picture comes in handy

I simply want to thank The Spokesman-Review for the excellent photos in the May 6 Bloomsday edition, particularly the “Funk and junk” Broadway picture, which should win an award. I sent several copies to family in Oregon, to let them know how wonderful Spokane looks. Cinda L. Smaagaard Spokane

GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS

Average player can’t win

The multinational corporation has no loyalty to any nation, only to its board and to stockholders. It sees its duty as paying the highest dividend possible. This is accomplished through the slave-labor wages of the poorer nations.

Now, while Wall Street stockholders wallow in their paper wealth and brokers are given multimillion-dollar bonuses, we must balance the budget by cutting medical care for the dependent and reducing funding for education.

All this through the courtesy of our elected political leaders who take their campaign funding from these same corporations and their officers.

This is just like the board game of Monopoly - when someone holds all the assets, the game is over. Donald M. Reid Spokane

Consensus reached - and it’s a lie

The Republican and New Democrat lies continue. There are now four lies laid end to end.

In the early 1980s, the lie was, “If we can just get rid of government waste, we can easily balance the budget.” In the late 1980s, the lie turned into, “Well, yes, I guess we’ll have to cut some programs, but well never touch entitlements like Social Security or Medicare.”

In the early 1990s, the lie (now joined in by bought-and-paid-for Democrats who, as everyone has noticed, have co-opted the Republican program) became, “All right, to tell the truth, we’ll have to cut some entitlements so we can give tax cuts to the wealthy, but we’ll never hurt the truly needy.”

This year, in the state of Washington, in order to give Paul Allen a huge tax break and me about $8, programs were cut for persons who are unable to work because of mental or physical handicaps - the truly needy. George Thomas Spokane

Cynicism shouldn’t snuff progress

I was impressed with editor Chris Peck’s account of his recent visit to the White House with his son. Peck’s well-articulated question to President Clinton showed sensitivity to his son’s formative need for civic idealism, not political cynicism.

Amidst tiresome headlines of scandal, corruption and greed, and pervasive public cynicism, one sometimes wonders if civic idealism stands a chance. Beating up our leaders has become an American pastime. Our leaders should be accountable but cynicism has reached lethal levels.

The recent President’s Summit on America’s Future is a case in point. Even before this national gathering of hundreds of leaders from every corner of our society took place, pundits were denouncing it as merely one more “photo op.” That may be part of it, but it’s not the main story! Something creative and compassionate is struggling to be born. But it comes into a cynical culture that believes in evil far more than in good.

The summit is not a panacea for society’s ills, but mobilizing our leaders and social institutions to work together represents movement in the right direction. Shouldn’t we be encouraged, seeing leaders in business, government, media, education and religion working together to find solutions to problems that affect our common destiny?

The summit’s goals for America’s children are worthy and urgent: to provide adult mentors, safe paces for learning and growth, better nutrition and health, marketable skills and community service opportunities. Rev. Richard C. Lang, executive director Leadership Northwest, Spokane

Why deal with tobacco companies?

I read “Tobacco industry reportedly yields on demand for blanket immunity” (May 4) and would like to know why drug dealers should be given any protection whatsoever.

I would like to know why the politicians are even dealing with tobacco companies and why their product isn’t recalled from the market.

I would like to know why the liability and amount of monetary awards should be limited. They should also be made to pay for rehabilitation.

I would like to see this newspaper poll all the major politicians and find out why they are even considering dealing with the tobacco companies. Is it because of the monetary donations that the companies kick into their campaign funds?

I appreciate your coverage on the tobacco industry and keeping the public informed. Lloyd L. Zimmerman Spokane

PEOPLE IN SOCIETY

Felon’s blame shifting transparent

Concerning the article, “Honor student’s prom date flunks school policy,” I support all school levels that take a stand against crime and criminals to protect our children.

David Sosville would like us to believe this is a race issue but his record speaks for itself. Law-abiding half-African Americans know it wasn’t race that made him commit assault and theft last year.

His mother says we should give him a chance, that he served his time. But according to the article, he is in a halfway house, still serving his time. He does not belong in a school situation with minors.

A tearful Jodi Clausson says everybody deserves chances and second chances. As a parent, I hope her daughter gets a chance to meet someone worthy of her love. Her boyfriend’s four-year history may be just the beginning of the tears for her family.

There are no excuses, Sosville. Only you can change your behavior. I pray you do that today. Don’t blame race, blame yourself. Kathryn A. Chaffee Spokane

Conservative view wrong yet useful

I’m glad editorial writer D.F. Oliveria vented about the Ellen DeGeneres coming-out episode. We need conservatives to help us measure our moral growth. For example, our ancestors grew in their moral understanding during the slavery era.

Conservatives back then wrote that slavery had always existed, so therefore, it was a morally sound practice. Abolitionists said we had to reinterpret moral laws in keeping with a new evaluation that gave worth to every human being, not just members of the dominant culture. When our ancestors accepted that reinterpretation, they grew morally, through their reasoning ability.

Likewise, Oliveria believes it’s proper for homosexuals to feel shame about their sexual orientation and to hide it from the world. Because that’s the way it’s always been, it’s therefore the only morally sound practice.

Plenty of research supports the opinion that sexual orientation is genetically determined, the way having blue eyes is. Would Oliveria insist that blue-eyed people wear sunglasses if the prevailing opinion held that having blue eyes was shameful? He probably would, since he seems not to consult reason when making moral decisions.

The rest of us need not follow him down that path. We should use our intelligence in making moral decisions and not be swayed by such deliberately incendiary notions as linking pedophilia with homosexuality.

We need to thank Oliveria for giving us a measure against which we can grow and, in the process, leave him behind in the void of his own moral universe. Gregory M. Presley Spokane

Statements grounded in ignorance

In response to Don Otis’ letter (“Homosexuality a threat to all”), it’s fairly obvious that he carefully worded his letter to portray homosexuals in the worst light.

He claims homosexuality is a choice because there is no conclusive evidence that it’s genetic. A logical person would realize that lack of proof doesn’t mean that it’s a choice. Plenty of scientific evidence suggests homosexuality isn’t a choice.

He claims that children who come from “divorced, single-parent or homosexual households” are more at risk. Who could argue with that? The fact is, children of divorced or single-parent households are more at risk. But the few studies done on same-gender households show no marked increase in risk. Such a blanket statement holds no water because any kind of family situation could be placed with “divorced and single-parent,” and the statement would be just as true.

His worst claim is that homosexuals are anti-family. Are we to believe that homosexuals have no parents, grandparents, siblings, cousins, nieces and nephews? Gay people value their families as much as heterosexuals do.

No one would accuse a couple that decided not to have children as being anti-family. But somehow, the idea that gay people won’t have a traditional family makes them anti-family? Most often, relatives reject homosexual family members, not the other way around.

I’m astounded at the leaps of logic and rhetoric that anti-gay people will put forth in order to hold onto a petty prejudice based more on ignorance than reality. Michael J. Gay Spokane

PEOPLE AND ANIMALS

Inept handling must stop

I’m appalled at the incredibly inept handling of the mountain lion incident at Manito Park. Spokane officials evidently suffer from short-term memory loss, as well as a few other defects such as hysteria, arrogance and sheer ignorance.

Capturing and moving a wild animal isn’t exactly rocket science but Spokane hasn’t been able to get it right yet. It takes some preparation and common sense.

How difficult would it have been to find out the dose and type of anesthetic to use? Local experts have this information. Why couldn’t air bags, mattresses or netting have been placed to break the cat’s fall? Did they honestly think he would land on his feet?

There was ample time to do this correctly. The cat wasn’t a threat to anyone.

I know I speak for many when I say we’re tired of this bungling and the death of every animal that wanders into the area. This will happen over and over again due to the topography here.

Get your act together. Have a trained team and real equipment available. Make a plan and follow it.

We’re tired of the bungling. Get it right. We are paying you for this. Carol M. Sorkness Spokane

Humane Society shows it cares

I had a wonderful experience last week at the Humane Society. I thought I would just pick up a little stray kitten and instead I filled out lots of paperwork, signed my name and felt like I was being screened for child adoption.

My fees, close to $80, were for two kittens. But I felt very good. I got licenses, signed notes for free neutering, first immunizations and a free veterinarian appointment. These people really cared about what happened to these precious little at risk kittens.

I urge anyone who longs to nurture or feel really needed to visit the Humane Society. Marlene D. Walters Spokane

Donaldson speech insulting

Editor Chris Peck’s critique of the Sam Donaldson speech at Washington State University was very perceptive. However, I wish to add two critical points.

First, it appeared that Donaldson spent all of two minutes preparing for a major, invited university address. Second, if you like being talked down to, this was your speech.

Donaldson insulted anyone with a sixth grade education or above. Donald C. Orlich Pullman