Letters To The Editor

BUSINESS AND LABOR

Dealer boycott story off the point

Re: “FTC bars boycott by car dealers” (Aug. 6).

The real issues were not discussed. The main complaint with Chrysler’s current allocation system is that it does not provide all of its dealers with the opportunity to sell and service the customers in its market area. When a dealer cannot service what he sells, the customer will not receive the service he deserves.

It was never an issue of marketing on the Internet. There was never an actual boycott. That was only mentioned to get Chrysler’s attention. Now that Chrysler is producing and allocating more vehicles, the issue has almost died.

All dealers pay the same amount for new vehicles from Chrysler, so a local dealer can be just as competitive as a high-volume dealer. Mark D. Waltermire, general sales manager Dishman Dodge, Spokane

Trade policies punish U.S. workers

This decade’s international trade policies have had a detrimental impact on American workers, and Spokane knows this firsthand. America’s workers were told to bear the burden of NAFTA, and now, again in Washington state, we’re told that we can’t raise the minimum wage because we need to compete with foreign workers.

It is time the American labor force stops bearing the burden of international trade policies and refuses to compete with workers overseas whose earnings are nearly a dollar a day. We cannot and should not keep our wages down so that we can compete with the Third World.

Vote yes on Initiative-688. R.A. Tippit Spokane

Work demands hurting U.S. families

There has appropriately been a new level of debate over the decline of the American family and what some see as a decline in our citizens’ moral character. Dozens of possible causes have been cited, except for the cause which is the most obvious: economic.

Because of economic pressures, Americans work longer hours and receive less vacation time than any major nation except for Japan. This means less time for parents to spend with their children, monitoring their behavior, their television viewing, their learning. Many parents are stretched too thin to parent effectively.

Let’s be honest. The policies of the last several decades, which generally demand more time and productivity for less pay and fewer benefits, are a much more likely cause of the breakdown of the family and the cycles of dysfunction than the arguments presented by Congress or the media.

This is a case of cause and effect. The average European works 35-40 hours per week. The average American father works 55 hours a week, the average working mother about 50. The average European gets a month or more of vacation while the average American is lucky to get two.

Would 10-15 hours a week more with our families and two weeks more vacation together a year not make a difference in the spiritual and moral health of our families?

If we truly care about saving the American family, government and business must work together to strike a healthier balance. Let’s break the cycle of divorce and dysfunction that is rattling the foundations of our society. Burke Richardson Spokane

VIOLENCE

Here’s how to stop embassy attacks

Re: the African bombings.

How to prevent more deaths of American Embassy people? Easy. Stop sending money to Israel. John A. Clark Bonners Ferry, Idaho

That’s it, make lame excuses

Re: “Child murder suspects pose dilemma” (Spokesman-Review, Aug. 12), about the 11-year-old girl allegedly murdered by two boys, ages 7 and 8.

In the article, the defense attorneys of the boys claim that the rock throwing was a prank that went awry and a psychiatrist states that young children do not understand the seriousness of the act of throwing racks at someone.

It’s about time all of us - including attorneys and psychiatrists - stopped manufacturing excuses for unacceptable conduct regardless of age, etc. Even toddlers have the common sense not to throw things at anyone because it might hurt them. Josephine J. Lannen Spokane

PEOPLE AND ANIMALS

People are imposing on wildlife

Re: Aug. 11 letters about the cougar attacking a little girl. I confess, I voted to ban the dogs, but still feel no responsibility for the attack. And I highly doubt that “hunting” with dogs will cure the problem.

Blame it on nature, people! With a smaller deer herd, predators will look elsewhere for food.

Are they coming into our campgrounds and neighborhoods or are we moving deeper and deeper into their territories?

As most experts know, populations run in cycles. And the so-called glut of predators will eventually burn itself out. The simple reason for the rise in sighting is that, as more people experience the outdoors (camping, hiking, etc.), and as people move farther from the suburbs, sightings will go up.

Did you realize that even with this “extreme” population of cats, you still have a better chance of being hit by lighting than being attacked by a cougar? But you don’t stand under a tree in a lightning storm, do you? If you know what you’re doing when you’re out in their haunts, statistics say all should be well.

I feel a real privilege to be out amongst and live in wildlife habitat.

One thing’s for sure: with this new man-eating threat and the media sensationalism over this, “Jaws” is finally off the hook as being nature’s worst nightmare.

Keep the dogs on a leash! Myron D. Horn Stratford, Wash.

Policy emboldens cougars

Re: The Aug. 13 article, “Cougars spotted on South Hill and North Side.”

It is a dangerous statement to make that cougars are active only at night. We know for a fact that they are out and about at any time of the day or night. They are not only feeding on wild animals. Any animal, including the human, is on their food chain. They’re opportunists, and take what is easy or fair game to them.

Outside lights around houses or barns don’t make a difference. They become accustomed to them, much as they accustom themselves to our living habits. They know when you’re in for the night and when you’ll be out and about. We are creatures of habit and so are they. The cubs learn from their mothers what to hunt, eat and fear.

Until they allow hound hunting, even if it is only for pursuit, the cougar will have no reason to fear humans or dogs. We’ll just have to learn to live with them like like the coyotes, raccoons, etc., except you will have to be careful not to become the cougar’s breakfast, lunch, dinner or between meal snack. Jeannie Maki Colville, Wash.

Investigate bear killing thoroughly

“Bear killer unhappy with questions” (News, Aug. 13), concerning the killing of a grizzly bear near Usk, raises several questions. I certainly hope federal authorities fully investigate this matter. Unfortunately, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has a history of not aggressively prosecuting illegal killings of endangered species such as grizzlies and wolves.

Certainly this matter should not be tried in the media, but if I was a judge who had to decide this based on the comments of the bear killer, Lloyd Finley would be behind bars and heavily fined.

This individual evidently went after the bear, after it left his yard, and essentially hunted it down. He said he feels cheated that he can’t keep the meat, claws and skin. This hardly sounds like a case of protecting his family.

Perhaps a warning shot after this bear retreated would have sufficed.

Finley’s ignorance pertaining to the species of this bear is no excuse. His arrogance does say a lot. Irrelevant whining about not having a “right to go into the woods any more” is pathetic. Has he ever heard of walking? Roads have been closed in grizzly recovery areas, in part due to the selfish mentality of people like Finley.

Finley’s assertion that bear populations have “exploded” since voters banned “hunting” with hounds sounds like an attempt to justify his hunting exploits.

Hopefully, we can wake up and realize that the real problem is 5.9 billion people. Denial breeds creative excuses to avoid addressing the real issues. Lupito Flores Spokane

Protect for creatures what is theirs

There is a responsibility that goes along with being a human being. As the supposedly intelligent creatures on this planet, it’s up to us to take care of our world and the animals that share it with us.

What arrogance of mankind to assume we have some sort of God-given right to traverse into any area we choose at the expense of the wildlife that call it home. There have been numerous stories about people who venture into nature and stumble into the realm of a wild animal. It could be a swimmer in the ocean or a hiker in the woods. When the animal reacts with typical behavior by attacking the individual, local people grab their guns and charge out to kill the animal.

When an individual decides to venture into the great outdoors, they take responsibility for what might happen to them. Every day we eliminate more of the natural habitat of a great many wild animals. They don’t have a choice as to where they can live, nor do they have the ability to distinguish humans from any other form of food. This is their planet also. If you don’t want to be attacked by a wild animal, then stay out of their home. We don’t have the right to annihilate every creature that crosses our path.

We do have a God-given responsibility to provide for the animals that live here and to give them a safe place to live without the most dangerous animal of all, man, infringing on their space. Bill and Sherri Gage Spokane

GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS

Voters, pay attention to business

“Money buys votes” a true but sad commentary. In a democracy, should a financial donation from a special interest be more decisive than votes from citizens?

Some facts: Republicans get far more money than Democrats do from big businesses such as tobacco, timber, mining, grazing, health care, defense and manufacturing. In 1996, the Republican Party collected nearly $200 million more than the Democratic Party. It is very clear why the Republican leadership is adamantly opposed to campaign finance reform.

Closer to home, Washington Sen. Jim “death threat” West received more than $85,000 before knowing who his opponents would be! If you were the sixth-richest man in the United States and West had orchestrated millions of taxpayers’ funds for your pet stadium, would you appreciate him? With the Mariner stadium said to be over budget already, wouldn’t you buy West’s re-election and let taxpayers pay again? It’s cheaper than paying the overrun.

To prevent democracy from again being bypassed by special interest money (large amounts from outside our region), voters should evaluate the issues, question the candidate at the door and at forums, “follow the money,” then vote your enlightened self-interest. Don’t be shafted by special interests again buying our election. K. Julian Powers Spokane

Support Schindler for representative

Everyone wants stronger families, better-educated children, safer communities, lower taxes, fewer government regulations and more local control over how our tax dollars are spent. That is why I support Lynn Schindler for 4th Legislative District representative.

Schindler has proven she has the skills and the integrity by her many volunteer activities in the Republican Party and the community. She understands small business as a partner with her husband and she is an excellent manager, being the mother of 10 outstanding children. She is well informed on the issues and in touch with many groups in the district.

I share Schindler’s goals and urge all voters in the 4th District to do the same by voting for her on Sept. 15 and again in November. Shirley Kennedy Liberty Lake

Nethercutt knows who his friends are

I see by your paper that Rep. George Nethercutt voted with other conservative Republicans from the area against the campaign reform bill. Fortunately, a combination of Democrats and more moderate Republicans prevailed, and the bill passed the House.

It’s no wonder that Republicans oppose campaign finance reform, since their persistent efforts to gain tax breaks for the wealthy and to relax environmental regulations on large, polluting corporations have gained them a huge advantage in fund raising over the years. In 1996, the Republican Party collected nearly $200 million more than the Democrats.

Soon after taking control of Congress in 1995, the Republicans allowed lobbyists for rich, powerful interests to come into the halls of Congress and write their own legislation. Big tobacco and big insurance companies have been protected by the Republican majority in a manner commensurate with the size of their donations to the Republican Party.

Even though Nethercutt might protest that he does not take money from the tobacco companies, he benefits from the millions of dollars of tobacco money collected by his party and spent to help him and his fellow Republicans in political campaigns.

Nethercutt tries to maintain the aura of a reasonable moderate, yet has anyone else noticed that he votes almost all of the time with the extreme wing of his party, along with Rep. Helen Chenoweth? Neil S. Hutchens Colville, Wash.

Social Security policy ridiculous

Now, let me get this straight. Today, I was advised that our federal government would provide us a rental allowance if our rent exceeded 30 percent of our monthly income. Yet, because of President Clinton’s tax increase in 1993, we are now required to pay federal tax because our monthly income and one-half of our Social Security payment have put us in the “rich” category. However, we are poor enough to qualify for a federal rental allowance!

Is anyone questioning just how absurd our current Social Security policy is? No wonder we have such a mess in this country. Irv D. Kilpatrick Post Falls

THE ENVIRONMENT

Belatedly, Babbitt sees the light

The darling of the nature cults, the leave nature alone and it will reach a harmonious balance crowd, U.S. Secretary of Interior Bruce Babbitt, recently declared at a Wildland Weed Management Symposium in Denver:

“Each year, noxious weeds wreak a level of havoc on America’s environment and economy that is matched only by the damage caused by floods, earthquakes, mud slides, hurricanes and fire. Weeds infest 100 million acres in the United States, and are spreading at the rate of 14 percent per year… They ignore border and property lines. No place is immune.”

Hello there! In 1979, David Flittner, then president of the Wyoming Farm Bureau, testified in Congress that then-President Jimmy Carter’s proposed increase in wilderness - now totaling 100 million acres, over twice the area of Washington state - would remove Western farmer and cropland protection from the spread of noxious weeds, and that such weeds would ultimately devastate wilderness forest cover, as they are now doing.

Having finally recognized the problem, Babbitt aims to make war on weeds despite his claim that his reading of the Bible suggests to him that he is the anointed protector of all God’s creatures, presumably including weeds, which are any plants that are somewhere someone doesn’t want them to be.

In closing, he said: “We must act now and act as one. We can beat a threat that erodes our soil, spreads wildfire and damages property values.”

Well, better late than never. Welcome to stewardship, Mr. Secretary. We’re glad to have you aboard. Edwin G. Davis Spokane