Letters To The Editor

Tue., Nov. 10, 1998

Y2K

Y2K needs realistic look

I am amazed and appalled that the editor, no less, of The Spokesman-Review would write such a shallow column (Oct. 25) on the Y2K issue. I am not an expert on the subject, but I have read and heard enough to make me believe it is possible that indeed many computers will shut down at the beginning of the year 2000.

What I look for in the media is solid investigative reporting, not casual brush-offs based on wishful thinking. To call an expert a doomsayer because he predicts trouble does not prove him wrong. For people to get “all worked up about the urgency of Y2K” does not prove their foolishness.

A conference this summer on the subject, in which top industry technicians and government leaders participated, was broadcast on C-Span. They indicated the problem is much more than a matter of “figuring out which computers need to be fixed and which tossed.” A big business or government computer containing many years of data cannot simply be tossed. The time remaining may not be enough to make and test the changes needed.

We need to concentrate on the basics, namely public utilities - the electric power grid, natural gas and water. With Y2K coming just at the beginning of winter, these could literally be matters of life and death. The public shelters mentioned cannot provide much if they do not have heat, light and water.

Let The Spokesman-Review take a solid, realistic look at this issue. Robert E. Forman Colville, Wash.

Y2K article abuse of privilege

Re: Chris Peck’s column on Y2K.

I think you do your newspaper, your mayor and the people of Spokane a disservice by implying that Y2K awareness is tantamount to paranoia.

I attended the Mayor’s Leadership Breakfast and listened to Jim Lord. I did not feel the need to go out and purchase a bomb shelter nor stock up on a year’s supply of food and water. I am currently working on a Y2K project team in Spokane for a health-related organization. Part of my responsibility is to bring awareness to our employees, staff and customers regarding Y2K issues. It is not just for systems analysts to worry about. When your watch stops on Jan. 1, 2000, and a new battery won’t fix it, try calling a systems analyst to fix it.

Besides large computers and utility companies, almost every appliance, car, clock, TV, watch, etc., contains an embedded processor - that little “chip” you can’t get to. You need to check with the manufacturer to see if you need to purchase anything to fix it. A little investigation by individuals is not paranoia or hysterical. It is prudent, smart and will help to avoid the disaster the doomsday people are predicting.

I think you owe Mayor Talbott an apology. When you use your position as editor to render your opinion as if you have some inside track on the situation, you are abusing that privilege. People do believe what they read. Margie Lockyear Spokane

PEOPLE IN SOCIETY

Come on, behave like adults

I am really sick and tired of both Kaiser’s and the United Steelworkers’ little childish antics. I have been reading updates from both sides on the Internet daily and also through the newspapers. All we hear is that each side is stating they are willing to talk, but the other side hasn’t responded. They have met and communicated on the phone a couple of times to decide when they will meet formally. If all this talking is going on, why aren’t they meeting yet? They both keep having exploratory talks to see when they will talk.

Come on you people, quit acting like squabbling children. According to both sides, each is open to additional meetings. Kaiser says that it’s representatives continue to be available for such meetings seven days a week, 24 hours a day if necessary. Last week the union had apparently set meetings for Nov. 9. Then, apparently the union forgot to invite Kaiser, because Kaiser was not aware of any invitation from the union to meet on Nov. 9. Kaiser was planning to talk to the union later that day about scheduling meetings. If they had talked, don’t you think Kaiser would have known about the meetings?

Why don’t these two entities act like adults? Enough is enough. The union is supposed to be helping its members; however, all they are doing is hurting them by acting so childish. Tami D. Hansen Otis Orchards

Hate crimes not a solution

I strongly object to the implication in Mr. Roetter’s Oct. 28 letter that homosexuals should not “… be able to safely walk the streets, parks, alleys, markets, public schools and malls …” of Idaho. It would appear that Mr. Roetter feels it should be his right to use violence, be it in an alley or the local high school, against people who are different than he. How appalling.

I suggest Mr. Roetter learn how to engage in educated debate rather than violence. Hate crimes are not solutions to what he sees as problems.

At a time when so many Americans are struggling to bring safety to our communities a letter supporting violence in the streets is ridiculous. More importantly, such a letter is dangerous for everyone, regardless of political beliefs or sexual orientation. Jennifer R. Durbin Bonners Ferry, Idaho

GOVERNMENT/POLITICS

It’s about people, not politicians

The election is over and the spinmeisters are hard at work.

The Republicans said they “didn’t work hard enough.” Sen. McCain said, “We Republicans have got to start saying what we are for, not what we are against.”

The Democrats are crowing about vindication for the president, and licking their chops over more power.

It’s not the Republicans, nor is it about the Democrats. It is about us, the American people.

We are fed up with my-party-this, my-party-that. We don’t care about the stupidity of politicians and their parties; we want someone to care about our needs, our troubles, our worries, our here and now, and our future. We want our elected representatives to worry about servicing us, first and foremost.

God help the Republican Party, for they are being devoured within by hate and bigotry.

Protect us also from Democratic ultra-liberals who believe that there is a free lunch and to hell with worrying about who really pays the bills.

Minnesota has a new governor - a former professional wrestler who said, in effect, “I’ll make no promises I can’t keep. I will work for you and you only.” The people voted him their governor, thumbing their noses at both national parties.

Wake up, Washington, D.C. Wake up all you slick, double-talking party-loving politicians. Wake up soon, because America is already awakening and the people are sending you a message: It’s not about you, it’s about us. John P. Campo Colbert

Government too intrusive

On Nov. 6, The Spokesman-Review carried a Washington Post story that “experts” are urging Congress to recommend that the Labor Department be given authority of restrict the number of hours of work for young adults less than 18 years old. Further, the Labor Department is to have authority to tighten its regulation of all young adults in all farm jobs and jobs the department considers hazardous.

During a recent visit to Denver, I found that the Department of Health will no longer allow the drinking of fresh-squeezed apple juice at the Oktoberfest because of the slight chance of disease. Now the only people in America who will be able to taste fresh, unpasteurized apple juice will be those able to afford an expensive press.

The government becomes ever more intrusive, all under the guise of “protecting the population,” producing vast costly, non-competitive, ever-growing regulatory and policing bureaucracies.

In a careful look at the laws that have been passed in “the land of the free,” not one piece of federal legislation in the past 50 years has increased people’s freedom. Legislation, like that proposed above, always removes freedoms as it “protects” the population from itself.

A government that attempts to protect the population absolutely will eventually subjugate it completely. Foster W. Cline, M.D. Sandpoint

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