Letters To The Editor

LAW AND JUSTICE

Why was suspect Quaale on the loose?

Re: “Police blame accident on anger, booze” (June 30).

I read with much disgust and indignation about the 2-year-old who is hospitalized in critical condition due to the irresponsible actions of a career criminal. The suspect, Ryan Quaale, at the ripe age of 23, has six felony convictions to his credit, one being a weapons violation. His last arrest was on June 4, for driving with a suspended license.

If reports prove to be true, Quaale was intoxicated and driving on a suspended license at the time of the crime. The car being driven by Quaale rear-ended a vehicle occupied by one adult and four children. All involved, including Quaale, required hospitalization. According to police, Quaale was intoxicated and his car was full of beer cans at the time of the accident.

There is something terribly wrong with a system that allows this type of an antisocial predator to remain free in a civilized society. Why is he not incarcerated, with his type of history? He is unemployed, so the taxpayers will assume responsibility for his medical bills and defense. If he was uninsured, which seems likely, the victims will go uncompensated. Where is the justice?

It appears the police and prosecutors have done their job. What about the courts and penal system? There are some issues that need to be addressed. William M. Litsinger Sandpoint

Death penalty for trooper’s killer

Re: “Slaying leaves agonizing puzzle,” (June 19). Absolutely, without a doubt, the gunman responsible should be sentenced to death as soon as possible. This type of behavior and action is totally beyond belief and societal acceptance. Random shooting is going unpunished and therefore, makes laws against such action worthless. Pam J. Guptill Colfax, Wash.

PEOPLE IN SOCIETY

Credit know-it-alls really don’t

I appreciate having staff writer Jamie Neely’s June 7 article, in which she reviews the book, “The Overspent American,” by Juliet Schor; also, the June 16 review by Ellen Goodman of the Boston Globe, in which Goodman states that Colorado Republican Scott McInnis admonishes us not to buy what we can’t afford. He is grossly misinformed if he thinks luxuries are the only things for which people use credit.

Apparently, McInnis and Schor have never experienced emergency home-safety expenses, been forced to comply with newly mandated sewer codes, lost money on a real estate sale, had to remove large trees due to severe weather storms, had high dental fees not covered by insurance, placed an older person in a nursing home unexpectedly, had a premature baby whose added care the insurance didn’t cover, or been the only one available to pay for a funeral.

I hope the economists won’t be too surprised when even more credit is used due to the past several winters of terrible weather. Also, I suggest that they remember the many jobs within the credit industry. There always will be people who misuse credit, as some do firearms, automobiles and alcoholic beverages.

In defense of all who make their payments according to their agreements with creditors, I say to McInnis and Schor, just buzz off! Lillian O. Forster Spokane

Generation of innocent bystanders?

In a recent Your Turn column, Donna Burnette expresses surprise and anger at what she sees as the lack of respect today’s teenagers show toward the elderly and disabled. When she was a teenager growing up in the early 1960s, kids were taught respect and how to say please and thank you.

Isn’t it Burnette’s generation that is rearing today’s teenagers? Just asking. Sam J. Thomas Spokane

OTHER TOPICS

Let’s motivate grass farmers

In just a few weeks, the local grass farmers will again fill our skies with their smoke from burning their fields after harvest. But before they get started, why not drive by one of these grass fields, and watch as they cut down the grass and then lay it out in a neat aisle of grass, waiting for the combines to come in and harvest the crop?

You will then see that after the combine comes in, they don’t put the grass back into a neat row, so it could be baled; they scatter it out so they can burn it off. These farmers say they will lose money if they have to bale the hay. I wonder how they know? It looks to me as if no one has ever tried it.

And if no one has tried it, how do these farmers know for sure that they will lose money if they can’t burn off their fields.?

It would be nice if someone went to federal court and got a temporary in junction to stop the field burning. Then wait until about November and lift the injunction. I’ll bet that these farmers would bale that hay in a New York minute, and not worry about burning anything. Tom Akren Post Falls

Keep abreast of Y2K situation

Why is the public getting so little information on the problem that will be caused by the year 2000? This problem may be minimized by informing the public how to prepare.

I’ve been a computer programmer for more than 30 years. Recently, I’ve been working in preparation for the year 2000, affectionately referred to as Y2K. It’s my opinion that the greatest problem won’t be computers but the public’s attitude about the problems each of us will encounter.

There’s a good possibility we will experience supply infrastructure problems, at least equivalent in annoyance to the gasoline shortage in the early 1970s. The U.S. government will probably complete the conversion of approximately two-thirds of its mission-critical systems but what problems will be experienced because one-third of mission-critical systems are not ready?

Large U.S. companies are doing well, with approximately 75 percent of their sytems scheduled to be compliant by the big date.

I don’t believe this problem is insurmountable. We do need to face the truth: we’re not going to be quite so privileged for a couple of years. The rest of the world faces the same problem. Europe is way behind the United States in resolving this.Europeans have a double whammy with their new currency and Y2K. Asia is busy with its financial crisis. Africa and South America are in slumber about Y2K.

Let’s inform the public now. People have the right and the need to know. Russell D. Brown Mead