Letters To The Editor

WASHINGTON STATE

Turn back commission’s bad call

The Washington Horse Racing Commission’s latest decision (Seebeck excepted) is the worst in a string of bad ones made in recent years.

Political delays in siting the new West Side track and the delay in full card simulcasting seriously jeopardized horse racing in Washington. But failure to approve the well-heeled Muckleshoot Tribe not only threatens Playfair’s future, it’s an economic blow to the entire area.

The worst part of the decision is the suspension of simulcasting at Playfair. First, the horse players will just move to Post Falls, where they will be welcomed by the state of Idaho. Secondly, the new Airway Heights casino may seize the opportunity to install a state-of-the-art sports book. Regardless, the betting, revenue and taxes will shift away from local governments and interests to others.

Finally, it’s about time for people in this area to quit treating the Indian tribe as social aliens when it comes to gaming. Social conservatives who would gladly start a world war trying to enforce the defunct Monroe Doctrine seem to forget that the sovereign nation status granted to many tribes was due to a Senate-ratified treaty.

Since the tribes have valuable economic rights, local governments should work closely with them not only to regulate gaming, but to enhance and develop the tax base for economic development. This has been successfully tried elsewhere and there’s no reason it wouldn’t work here.

As a start, local elected officials should urge the governor to reverse the decision and allow the Muckleshoots to operate Playfair. Steve Quaid Colbert

Help Reform Party make things right

The state business lobby proves again beyond reasonable doubt who our elected officials, especially the GOP, are really working for. You guessed it, and it isn’t the people who put them into office.

Thank you, associate editor Frank Bartel for the wonderful Jul 8 article, in which you pointed out the 24-page business lobbies’ annual report card of the GOP and Democrats statewide. Is it any wonder the GOP scored perfectly?

Although these major parties were once grand institutions, they have become extremely convoluted and appear to be chasing their tails in the pursuit of personal gains and the almighty campaign dollar. How often do we really hear from our elected officials? And where are all of these new “quality” jobs? Could they be referring to forced legislation due to federal mandates and programs like Work First, and then disguising the results so they can gain credit for the accomplishment of a low statewide unemployment rate? I think so.

It’s time for change, time for third-party intervention. We deserve representation grass-roots, honest representation that provides constituents with regular feedback on what’s really happening with our future.

There’s only one way to go. Vote Reform Party! Michael J. Fagan Spokane

On balance, West has done good job

Re: Sen. Jim West.

It seems that everyone will forever remember his famous “I’ll get you” statement but just how many of you sane and rational people have at one time or another said or thought the same thing? I know that I have and once it was about West himself.

West has erred at times, maybe been unscrupulous at times. But overall, his commitment and intent for his representation of Spokane is commendable. At least he isn’t a Democrat. David S. Darlow Spokane

Choice argument framed all wrong

Re: “Say no to Initiative 694” (Spokesman-Review, Aug. 5).

You say that our founding fathers insisted upon separation of church and state in the Constitution. For this reason you concluded, “This clearly denies to the government the right to use the directions of any religion in setting rules pertaining to regulations …” Do you realize what you’re saying? Apparently not, because if the government were to take your advice, we would have to legalize murder and stealing because are not these listed in the Ten Commandments? People like you misinterpret the real meaning behind separation of church and state because there are laws that pertain to things directly from the Bible.

It’s been said that this vital separation has kept the United States from the religious strife that has proved so costly in other parts of the world. I beg to differ! Our founding fathers had morals, and for that reason they established a great country. It is our freedom to exercise any religion we choose that has prevented us from costly confrontations.

It is people like you who are trying to justify horrific acts by people, arguing that it is their right as an American citizen. It’s not an issue of whether someone has the right to choose. The issue is whether someone has the right to be born and have an opportunity to prosper. David R. Dexter Spokane

SPOKANE MATTERS

Incompetence gets by - but why?

Re: “County stuck with $200,000 in car repairs” (Aug. 4).

Apparently, after maintaining roads for more than a century, the county engineer’s office does not know about hot asphalt. Now, it is beginning to appear why the county is short of money for road maintenance.

In the world of business or in the military, such incompetence would not be tolerable. Why is it tolerable here? Joel Carr Mica

L-C can be refurbished, yet preserved

About the many recent articles concerning my alma mater: It appears as though some of the reasons this levy passed in the first place are being diluted. Lewis and Clark High School will never be a “Mead by the freeway.” There are inherent inefficiencies in the original design that cannot be overcome. In spite of that, it’s possible to take a building of this era and make it efficient, safe and still retain the ambiance of the original structure - ask Joe Dinnison.

Refurbishment of this great school cannot take place if there is a polarization of views resulting in a them-and-us mentality. If the current architect is not experienced in this type of renovation, many others are. Let’s make sure Lewis and Clark keeps the soul it has earned while giving students the start of the art they deserve. Gary M. Anderson Spokane

Don’t add ‘functionality’ in haste

I attended the meeting at Lewis and Clark High School on proposed renovation plans and was proud of my friends and neighbors in the audience and on the school board. This is an extremely challenging task and is a pivotal moment in demonstrating how we act as a community and what we feel should be provided to our youth.

There is a truism in democratic countries that we get what we deserve because we do have a chance to determine our fate. I hope the school issues are anchored in preservation and flexibility - preservation of the almost extinct heritage represented in the building and flexibility in terms of developing new facilities. Rapidly changing technologies threaten any long-term efforts to make buildings useful and cost-effective. In that light, I urge people to read “How Buildings Learn” by Stewart Brand.

And let us never underestimate the incredible resources of young people to acclimate themselves to circumstances. If families and the greater community do their best, maybe we can even get creative in problem solving. I hope I don’t have cause to hate the word “functionality” because it gets jammed down my throat by well-intentioned designers.

Restoration is a buzz word right now and for good reason. So many good things are getting lost in the furious pace of modern life. Today’s adults look back fondly on some traditions and practices, and hope their own children will be able to experience them in some fashion. We are in debt to many hard decisions made correctly by our recent ancestors. I hope our own children’s children look favorably on us as ancestors who did the best we could for them in as many areas as possible. Terry Lawhead Spokane

Thanks for kindness and help

Re: “Cord suspected in house fire,” Aug. 12.

We are writing to give our deepest appreciation and thanks to all of the people who came to our aid on Aug. 10. We can’t begin to describe the kindnesses that were showed to us during such a devastating time. We realize that one simple thank you letter cannot compare to the generosity and well wishes that we have received, but please know that we truly appreciate it all.

My family and I thank you all. Tami Mollaei Spokane

GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS

Bayley free-trading away votes

It’s really neat the way Chris Bayley, a Republican running for the U.S. Senate, is campaigning for his opponent, Linda Smith.

Bayley’s TV commercials make a big point in saying Smith voted against free trade. Those of us who realize that free trade, as opposed to fair trade, is a big net loser of jobs for this country want a candidate who puts our country first. The fact that Smith stands against free trade boondoggles such as NAFTA and the World Trade Organization is a big plus in her favor.

Bayley’s advocacy of free trade and thus more ruination for U.S. jobs is a big minus for his campaign. Richard T. Brown Spokane

Senator right about state’s rights

Re: Paul Lindholdt’s Aug. 16 Street Level column implying that Sen. Dirk Kempthorne endorses or enables poaching.

Lindholdt’s presented no facts to back that up. It’s ludicrous to imply he in any way condones poaching.

What Lindholdt is doing with this distortion is expressing his displeasure in what all of Idaho’s congressional delegation advocates, which is returning much of the decision making on issues affecting Idahoans back to Idahoans.

It well may be that trafficking bear parts is as awful as Lindholdt would have us believe, but how this is regulated in Idaho should be decided in Idaho, as should many other issues.

I am not a constitutionalist or a rabid right-winger but I do agree with Kempthorne when he explains that the people best suited to deciding issues regarding their state reside in that state.

Environmentalists such as Lindholdt get frustrated when their minority opinion is disregarded at a local level and try to get support from out-of-staters to enforce their will. Legislators from back East making decisions for people in a place they know little about and have spent no time in is not what this country is all about.

Kempthorne was elected by Idahoans to represent us. The principle of local control he defends is far more important than your bear problem, which has yet to threaten the existence of bears in Idaho. Lindholdt’s smear commentary is simply sour grapes because he did not get all he wanted. Scott F. Burpee Spokane

Alaska reserve of no use to N. Korea

Eric C. Stelter’s letter (Aug. 14) states his conclusion that the reason the National Petroleum Reserve, Alaska, was reopened was to supply oil to North Korea. There is one problem with this idea. Unlike oil “reserves” in the lower 48, there are no producible oil fields in the NPRA.

Economically recoverable volumes of oil have never been discovered in NPRA. NPRA was opened to exploration. It will take years to explore, find and develop any oil reserves that may be present there - not nearly soon enough to supply North Korea. Kent R. Johnson Potlatch, Idaho

Overregulation must be addressed

John Roberts wrote to express his anger regarding the recent confrontation between local farmers and Department of Ecology employees.

The growing schism between regulators and the regulated, particularly in environmental and property rights matters, is making for more confrontations. This increase should be a signal to legislators and regulators that something is amiss.

No law can survive for long without the support of those affected. Laws and rules have traditionally taken away rights or freedoms but supplanted them with additional protection or security. When laws become only oppressive, acceptance and obedience will end, and the system properly breaks down.

We must address this unfairness quickly and equitably. Thomas Jefferson suggested that frequent revolutions would be necessary to keep our government in its proper place. I hope that, in these more sophisticated times, we can revolt around a table instead of violently. Paul E. Stearns Rockford, Wash.

OTHER TOPICS

Slow drivers - there ought to be a law

There ought to be a law against these idiots who drive the posted speed limit. There are only a few of them, but dang it, they hold things up. There really ought to be a law. They get out there and poke along at 30 lousy miles an hour.

Everybody knows that when you head east on 29th Avenue, cruise a right turn through the traffic light on Perry (not Pittsburg because there are two stop signs), whip down to the four-way stop at 37th, hang a left and you have a wide open shot all the way to Regal. You can get up to 45, even 50 miles an hour. I’m not kidding.

Unless, that is, you get behind some jerk doing 30. Now, that really ticks a person off.

The thing to do is, if there’s an opening, really jam it and get around them - fast.

Actually, there aren’t really that many drivers to worry about. Even the big ones like city buses and UPS trucks make fast tracks. They have schedules to meet, you know?

But the best thing would be to have a law keeping these slow drivers off the road because the rest of us are in a hurry, man. Allison H. Douthitt Spokane

‘Private Ryan’ pure exploitation

Hurray for Hollywood! Hurray for “Saving Private Ryan.” The picture will be a box office success. And that is the sole purpose of this exploitative film about World War II.

It’s not about art, not to demonstrate combat as it really is. It’s not to expose the hitherto unknown specifics of war’s cruelty, men’s fright, bloodletting, confusion and dismemberment of human bodies - because all of these have been known to anyone literate enough to have read Erich Maria Remarque or, before him, Ambrose Bierce and Stephan Crane.

I am a front-line combat veteran of both World War II and Korea. I have lived it. It is a hell. It is a lesson in man’s insanity. What it is not is entertainment.

Have I seen this movie? No. Will I see it? No. I have read enough of the reviews to recognize that it is 1, not a revelation and 2, not prompted by some sincere desire by Steven Spielberg, Tom Hanks and company, to educate anyone by showing things as they really were in combat. They know? They were not even born then. Yet, they and all the directors, producers and chief actors in this fake bloodbath will probably receive Academy Awards for this gruesome presentation of battle.

Congratulations to the motion picture industry for again proving the true motivational virus behind most of its productions. Not art. Not education. Profits, Baby! So, movie fans, when they step up to accept their Oscars, recognize what the applause is all about. Your bucks. Paul G. Wilson Hayden Lake, Idaho

Abortion law: It’s right to try

Re: Paul Sillinger’s letter of Aug. 7. Of course making abortion illegal won’t end it. We hear the arguments often enough that “you can’t legislate morality” and “we should keep religion out of politics.” How? Moral laws were laid down before there were lawyers or politicians. Every law is moral in some respect.

One way to eliminate all crime at the stroke of a pen is to legalize everything - including murder, thievery, etc. This was certainly true for abortion. Suddenly, the Supreme Court decided that something that was illegal in all 50 states was legal after all. We wonder if these other crimes would increase as much as abortion has if the Supreme Court decided they were “basic individual rights.”

Declaring it illegal again wouldn’t eliminate abortion, but of the 4,000 babies killed daily, perhaps 3,500 might be saved, or 2,000, or 1,000. Who knows? Perhaps only one. And that one might be Sillinger’s granddaughter. Walt and Velda Weid Spokane

Segregate smokers at fireworks show

I have a request about the Fourth of July fireworks show. I got really annoyed and a headache because of all the people smoking, so I think that there should be one area for smokers and one for nonsmokers. They have the same things in restaurants, and at some stores there’s even no smoking allowed. Nils C. Ringo, age 10 Spokane