Letters To The Editor

SPOKANE MATTERS

STA schedule change a disservice

I’ve been riding the bus for a few years and have purposely moved to locations near the bus line. I use the bus almost daily and find it very convenient for my uses. The STA system has provided me with the freedom to work, shop and worship at the church of my choice. The new system, effective in September, will take away those freedoms.

I live east of Sullivan off of Sprague Avenue. The bus that used to run seven days a week in this area is being practically eliminated. It will only run from 6:30 a.m. to 6:30 pm and won’t be available at all on weekends.

I don’t see the logic in this decision. Sprague Avenue east of Sullivan is being repaired and we will enjoy a new, wider road come October. This area is also one of the fastest-growing areas around Spokane.

I’m insulted that STA feels we don’t exist east of Sullivan Road. They say the new plan is cost-effective and will serve the area better. How can this be so if they are cutting off a large part of their ridership?

I may have to find alternative transportation, which means I will have to find the money to buy a car.

I hope that other riders will voice their discontent with the route change. Of course, this will do no good, since we voiced our opinion when first learning of the new plan and STA didn’t even consider them. M.J. Zimmerman Greenacres

Dog owners have cleaning up to do

Included among my daily pleasures is strolling along the path on Riverton by the Spokane River. Although I would like to commend those responsible for enforcing the leash law, I would appreciate it if people walking their pets along the trail would carry with them a pooper scooper and clean up the messes their animals leave on the path. I am getting weary of cleaning my shoes after each walk. Also, I enjoy the smell of the river on an early morning walk and find it altered somewhat by the smell of dog droppings. Missy Reinbold Spokane

BUSINESS AND LABOR

Unionism is democracy

Molly Ivins’ Proposition 226 editorial was thought provoking. Emile Paull’s reactions (“Defense of unions just ‘misinformation,”’ June 6) could be those of an apathetic voter.

Unionism is democracy. Those who don’t take part in it generally have themselves to blame.

A voter who doesn’t communicate with our legally elected and legally responsible lawmakers is shrugging off a great duty. Am I right? Whether or not you’ve cast your own vote for that representative is irrelevant.

A union member, regardless of political beliefs, likewise can and must express her or his views at meetings and to union representatives. To not do so is irresponsible.

Furthermore, federal law requires unions to represent all workers in their shops. (Thus even nonmembers help pay the small costs involved.) Nonmembers in union shops also easily can, and should, convey their needs and wishes to the union.

Unions, guided by their constituents, conduct political activities in order to fulfill their legal and moral duty: to protect members’ rights and extend these rights to all American workers.

Unionism is democracy. Proposition 226 is anti-union, anti-people, cynical trash. Let’s work instead to protect more people’s lives by unionizing. David D. Robertson Spokane

Mount Spokane’s gone downhill

With Mount Spokane under the new management of Mount Spokane 2000, a new era has arrived for local skiers, snowboarders and their seasons of enjoyment. The new path Mount Spokane is taking is a wrong one. It is straying from what has made it a popular place to ski.

I have been a skier and snowboarder for a number of years and have purchased four season passes. I was reluctant to buy a pass for the 1997-98 season and was extremely happy that I did not. This season was a great disappointment to me because of the new policies at Mount Spokane.

A no-jumping policy in high-traffic areas was enforced in a pick-and-choose manner. A reckless jumper could jump next to a Ski Patrol member without a hitch but a jumper 10 seconds later would be disciplined, even when a spotter was used. A solution is a snowboard park, where snowboarders are allowed to jump as they wish. Mount Spokane advertised having a snowboard park all season long but one was never constructed. Isn’t this false advertising?

Mount Spokane has many other problems which will hinder its success. High ticket prices and an attempt at a new, larger resort image will cost it many loyal skiers. I will continue to ski elsewhere until some of these problems are fixed. I encourage others to do the same. Kenneth Lee Dillon Spokane

THE MEDIA

‘Doctor’ is not in - bad move

We strongly object to CBS’ decision to cancel “Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman,” one of the few high-quality programs remaining on network television.

The rationale advertisers and CBS management used is very upsetting. A key issue is that the age bracket of viewers is beyond 18-49 years, the group they think has the greatest buying power. A large portion of that segment is but one paycheck from bankruptcy! Their charge card accounts are maxed out, their home mortgage is higher than they can handle and they have skimpy liquid assets to back up their debt. They’re driven to have everything immediately (which took their parents 30 years to accumulate) whether they can afford it or not.

The greatest portion of the population is now over 50 and that segment is increasing. Therefore, its buying power is greater than that the under-50 segment.

Another constituent of their rationale is that the life experience and humor of people over 50 is lacking in value. We’re more than a little weary of the typical offerings during prime time that are comprised mostly of sexual innuendo, put-downs and devaluing both genders. Few people under 40 have enough life experience to offer adequate wisdom to make a choice of “value.” They don’t even respect the experience of their elders.

Lastly, CBS management and its advertisers are probably misassessing the age of the viewing audience. Many younger people are too tired even to watch TV in the evening because they spend long hours every day chasing the dollar. J. Duncan and Judith M. Brown Spokane

Clark owes Lind people an apology

Shame on you, Doug Clark, for your June 14 column, “Lind harvests bumper crop of looniness.” It’s obvious you could not see past the small beer gardens at the Lind Combine Demolition Derby. What a shame you did not talk with the people in the grandstands who traveled from Washington, Idaho, Oregon, Montana, Alaska and Canada to be a part of Lind Days. If you had taken the time you would have met small children, teenagers, adults and a very lovely 80-year-old woman.

I would like to correct you on your comment that good farm equipment is being destroyed. Combines used for the demolition derby were taken from the farmers’ scrap pile. I believe your knowledge of new and used combines is little to none.

Regarding Bill Looms, I would say he is a survivor, considering the fact he survived a brain hemorrhage, an airplane crash and a car accident, and was shot in a hunting accident in which he lost his left arm and eye. Looks to me like you can’t keep a good man down. Lind Days are filled with hospitality to all people and I commend Lind for working together to keep one more rural community alive.

Clark, I do believe you need to apologize to the Lind community. Marge Freligh Post Falls

Is Brill a Democrat in media drag?

In the June 17 USA Today, it was disclosed that Stephen Brill, the fellow who wrote the hit piece on Kenneth Starr, is shown by Federal Election Commission records to have donated $1,000 to Bill Clinton’s 1996 campaign and $6,000 more to Democrat congressional candidates in 1993.

The records also show no donations to Republicans. Is his hit piece on Starr his latest donation to the Democrats? Vincent W. Reagor Spokane

LAW AND JUSTICE

Marijuana decision ‘a joke’

The Washington Supreme Court decision that terminally ill patients don’t even have the right to use marijuana is a joke. Wake up, Washington. Don’t let medical patients suffer in the name of a drug war. Chris W. Frandsen Spokane

Don’t trivialize Starr investigation

The investigation of President Clinton is not about his sexual misdeeds. It is not even about his lying. It’s about his alleged lying under oath and alleged attempts to persuade and coerce others to lie under oath, interlaced with abuses of presidential power.

Put down the enforcement of laws requiring persons to tell the truth under oath and you shatter the bedrock of our judicial system - the only institution we have to protect and enforce our civil and property rights.

So it would be a mistake of monumental proportions to trivialize the charges against Clinton. If they prove true, you bet he should be impeached. We are blessed to be a people governed by the rule of law. No man, especially the president, is above that law. Bill Scott Liberty Lake

Deeds show Republicans’ real values

I was disgusted to read the article, “State GOP admits illegal campaigning.” Once again, a political party realized it had more to gain from breaking the law than following it. The measly $6,000 penalty still allowed the Republicans to pocket $194,000! This comes on the heels of Tom Stewart’s illegal contributions to the Republican Party.

Isn’t it ironic that a party which spends so much time talking about values has such a blatant disregard for the law? Craig A. Peterson Spokane

HEALTH CARE

There’s a better way to treat addicts

Your feature story about Tyrone Brown and his druginduced revolving door to prison points out the failure of our present method of treating drug addiction. We do not address the psychological need for personal control that can enable a person to take charge of his own life.

Why not be audacious and try the traditional treatment for nicotine addiction and alcoholism that has been successful? This system could only be administered in a secure environment. I suggest that any nonviolent addicted person sentenced to prison for drug dealing or use be given an indeterminate sentence and be housed only with similar addicts. The prisoner’s drug of choice should be provided to him whenever he asks for it.

We should consider this a necessary part of the treatment, as he reassures himself that he has full control of his drug environment. When the prisoner feels ready to be released, he need only remain drug-free for a specified amount of time (set at a hearing before incarceration) and having shown the will to resist, he is ready to function in society again.

A pilot program of this type could be put into effect by the Legislature. Please discuss this with your representative before the coming election. All released addicts have full control of their drug environment, this proposal only assures that they are tested and found strong before their release Edward F. Sawatzki Veradale

Mom’s medical bills are family’s to pay

Re: Kelly Rhoads’ “Medicare ‘reform’ really a benefit cut.”

Rhoads infers that reform should mean additional benefit, not less. From where I sit, reform means change or adjustment, not more, more, more. Why must the government grow continually larger, always offering more of its citizens broader and deeper entitlements? What happened to self-empowerment and taking responsibility for one’s own needs and actions?

Rhoads asks, “What are you going to tell your mother?” after exhausting $3,000 in rehabilitation benefits. I offer three possible answers:

Tell Mom to write a check.

Tell Mom that her children are going to write checks in her behalf.

Council Mom to spend-down her assets until she qualifies for the safety net called Medicaid.

Yes, it’s true, assets accumulated over a lifetime can be spent on one’s life needs. The children’s inheritance? Perhaps it gets a bit smaller. William N. Boaz Liberty Lake

OTHER TOPICS

Call for halt to Republican riders

Did you know Western Republicans are attacking our national parks and wilderness areas? By tacking on so-called riders to unrelated budget bills, the integrity of our existing special places is being undermined.

Why is public comment being ignored while roads are planned to bulldoze through our parks and wilderness areas? Some of these riders have already been signed into law by President Clinton!

For example, two roads are authorized for Alaskan national parks, including Denali and the Kobuk Valley. The Denali road is highly controversial since it ignores impacts to grizzlies, caribou and recreators. The Kobuk Valley road will be built to access a proposed mine.

In New Mexico, another rider adjusts the boundary of Petroglyph National Monument to allow construction of an expensive, multi-lane highway.

So much of our country is already paved or developed in some way. Not only do new roads violate the intent of our national parks and wilderness but they place an unnecessary burden on the American taxpayer. Our national parks and wilderness areas constitute the majority of our country’s remaining natural beauty and are a legacy to us and to coming generations.

Speak up for national parks and wilderness. By contacting Sens. Slade Gorton and Patty Murray, we can send a strong voice of opposition to anti-environmental riders.

Unfortunately, President Clinton is not standing strong for national parks and wilderness, either. He needs to hear from you. Demand a repeal of the antienvironmental riders which have passed, and that no new riders be signed into law. Elizabeth Allen Republic, Wash.

Was Vietnam commentary serious?

Either Chuck D. Armsbury was trying to be funny or he flunked his high school history class. If I remember the Vietnam War correctly, it was not the United States that was committing all of those horrible atrocities Armsbury described in his letter (June 16), it was the Communists. That’s why the United States was there in the first place.

Years before the United States even entered the war, the Communists were trying to unite Vietnam as a Communist country. They did this by killing anyone who disagreed with them, including their own people.

While it’s true that some individual American soldiers did commit atrocities against Vietnamese citizens, it was not done on a large scale like Armsbury would like the reader to believe.

As for his defining Jane Fonda as a patriotic American, Armsbury seemingly doesn’t know the definition of a patriot. A patriot does not give aid and comfort to the enemy the way she did.

“Hanoi Jane” as she was properly named, supported the communists during that time and her protests against American troops on enemy soil was a slap in the face to every veteran who served in Vietnam.

If Armsbury was trying to be funny, I missed the punch line. If he was serious, in the future, he should research the facts first. Justin B. Childers Spokane

Cat Tales - what a great place

I thank the staff of Cat Tales for their recent open house. It was a pleasure to see the healthy animals being protected and very well cared for. After talking to two crew members I could tell that they really cared for the cats and it was more than a job for them.

The highlight of my visit was feeding Lily, the tiger. She was so patient with me. I have never been that close to such a beautiful cat.

I’m so glad Cat Tales is there to help the cats. No one deserves to die just because they are not wanted anymore.

Cat Tales deserves our support in any way we can give it. I plan on taking my summer visitors to see what a great job is being done. Sarah L. Wasicek Spokane