Letters To The Editor

THE ENVIRONMENT

Must EPA run amok here again?

Re: “EPA to investigate entire Cd’A basin,” (Feb. 26). If the Environmental Protection Agency chooses to do this to us again, there are several serious concerns.

Will there be the kind of lying that was involved in the first and second blood-lead studies? Will public input again be ratcheted in. That is, will only the things that seem to justify more EPA excesses be considered and not the quiet, scientific objections?

Will arrogant EPA executives continue to come to work each day wearing their ‘jammies? Will there be more of the destruction to scenic and historic areas for which the EPA is known?

Will the EPA again give out nearly half of its tax base in the form of grants to irresponsible activist organizations?

Will the EPA and its spin-off agencies continue to misinform the public about the non-connection between sulfur dioxide and lead sulfate, and the changes each has made to the hillsides? Will this newest EPA activity lead to another death of a frail old man?

Sorry if I sound irked. But this has gone on too long. At first it was just government nonsense. Then it was waste of tax money. Then it was lying about two children who were leaded. Then a man died (nobody knows how many children have died because of the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s misinformation about the nature of leading in children).

If I had my way, every EPA employee would be required to go back to school and study chemistry! John H. Wiegman Osburn, Idaho

National forest roads belong to people

Re: “County turns to old law to preserve forest roads,” (Feb. 24). The federal government should not be allowed to close roads in our national forests. The national forests belong to the people, not the government. We, as citizens, should not be prohibited from using our land. We should not be paying “user fees” to access it, either. That’s what our taxes are supposed to be used for! Dan Adams Electric City, Wash.

Undo that awful chamber fiasco

Re: “Asarco brings mine debate to Sandpoint,” (Feb. 12). Asarco seems to poison everything it touches.

The company’s newest Superfund site, No. 22, appears to be the Coeur d’Alene Chamber of Commerce. Thanks to paid Asarco consultant Lori Barnes reading a deceptive statement in Sandpoint, it appears the entire Coeur d’Alene chamber supports the Rock Creek mine. The chamber now appears to be the Chamber of Horrors.

Unfortunately, as the evidence shows, only Barnes and two other people in the chamber even knew about this. This is not the consensus of the many others in the chamber. They were never consulted. Let’s hope the real chamber, not Asarco, becomes ethical and retracts this statement. They were duped and Sandpoint was insulted.

There is no economic adavantage for Coeur d’Alene in this terrible mine and Asarco has a 100-year history of trashing America. Who beside Barnes is getting paid to make this statement? Nancy Lynne Coeur d’Alene

Better to be a critter at risk

I wish I was an endangered species. I wouldn’t have to worry about a dump on Graham Road. It’s on top of our water. Vina M. Mikkelsen Medical Lake

GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS

Litigants shouldn’t be advisers, too

Several letters to the editor deserve an explanation concerning legislation I’ve proposed, House Bill 614.

The bill was drafted to answer this question: Is it proper that a group - whether it represents the environment, education, labor or something else - that files a lawsuit against the state of Idaho be placed on an advisory group that is in place to remediate the lawsuit, when the directed terms of action would be in that group’s regulatory and monetary favor?

This situation gives the group the power of prosecutor, jury and awardee because the group was the plaintiff.

An example is the statewide basin advisory groups (BAG) created to remediate a lawsuit dealing with water quality in 962 Idaho streams and rivers. Added to their work was development of management plans for bull trout that have been moved forward for listing under the Endangered Species Act by lawsuits and threats of lawsuits.

In fact, when a group sues the state or federal government, the group is bringing action against every resident.

Who pays and how much? We’ve heard testimony that work on the 962 streams - many frivolously added to the list - will cost at least $1 billion.

The resulting costs will be borne by Idahoans, who will pay through their taxes, fees or power rates. Where do we look to tax or cut? Education? Health care? Roads? Rep. John L. Campbell Sandpoint

Clinton ought to target alcohol

President Clinton is again saving our children from tobacco while trying to add dollars to the taxpayers’ balance sheet.

I don’t know about you, but I have never heard of a teenager dying from smoking.

I have seen plenty die from drinking beer. Why doesn’t the president say anything about those cute Budweiser commercials with the frogs and lizards? Do you really think they’re any different from Joe Camel?

I have never seen anyone I know die from smoking cigarettes, and I’m a 47-year-old reformed smoker. I have seen at least 10 people I know personally die from drinking-related accidents.

So let’s get our priorities straight. Drinking and advertising alcohol kills our teenagers and friends every day. Stop the beer and liquor advertising, and let’s do the same thing to the beer companies that we’re doing to the tobacco industry.

If you don’t think alcohol is a more dangerous drug than nicotine, then you’ve never lived with an alcoholic. Henry Warlow Hope, Idaho

INTOLERANCE

We mustn’t sell out key freedom

A great number of recent letter writers are outraged by the fact that the Aryan Nations applied for a parade permit. I am astonished that so many people appear to have such a poor appreciation of one of our most fundamental freedoms.

No other freedom granted us by the Constitution distinguishes us so clearly from other nations as that bestowed by the First Amendment. There can never be any exceptions to it. If an exception is made, where will making exceptions end? The answer: it won’t. Next week, someone will find remarks by the Baptists or the vegetarians offensive and worthy of censorship, and by then, freedom of speech will have become a myth. If the Aryans’ parade is offensive (and admittedly, it will probably appeal to only a select few), don’t go to it. Then, by nightfall your sensibilities and their rights will still be intact.

Who was it who said, “I disagree with what you say but I will defend to the death your right to say it”? Loue A. Stockwell Spokane

SCHOOLS AND EDUCATION

I won’t hire dumbed-down graduates

Re: “Don’t water down Lake City learning (Feb. 18, Opinion). Amen!

As an employer, I certainly would not be interested in hiring those who lack such a fundamental component of their education. Get back to the three R’s. Can all the politically correct social mumbo-jumbo that competes for the limited education time. Don Carlson Coeur d’Alene

History and geography essential

Re: “History may be history,” (Feb. 13). If we don’t study geography, we are more likely to repeat our mistakes. How can anyone comprehend the world enough to function in it if they have no idea where Russia, France or even the state next door is?

I grew up in Idaho and your online newspaper is a welcome touch of home. Gail D. Wilde Atlanta

Bonner County isn’t monocultural

Re: “South African ensemble appearing at Panida Theatre,” Feb. 19.

I am 17 and a junior at Sandpoint High School and I attended the Sibikwa concert. Everyone who attended the show enjoyed it very much.

I’m writing in hopes that I will clear up a few things. What you said about Bonner County and its schools greatly offended and angered me. People here had seen African-Americans before the Sibikwa performers’ appearance here. Black students attend my school. The article made the students seem uneducated and oblivious to other races and cultures, and worst of all, racist.

Your article was not even about Sibikwa coming to the Northwest. It was about the fact that four black men and their black band came to a place with a racist reputation. Sibikwa was just brushed under the rug. I admit Bonner County does not have enough cultural diversity, but my school works hard to teach and encourage diversity.

This year, Sandpoint has become more diverse than ever. People of more cultures are starting to come into the area and many foreign exchange students attend the high school. It is something I am very pleased to see.

Anyone, including Sibikwa, is more than welcome in Bonner County. Bonner County has been trying to clean up its image for many years. Your article did not help very much. Megan M. Redfield Sandpoint