Letters To The Editor

WASHINGTON STATE

Dirty politics not good enough

I was extremely disappointed to receive the attack piece on Keith Johnson, candidate for the Washington state Senate in District 6. I was shocked that some would use an individual’s lifetime of service to his country to discredit him. While I know that some in politics subscribe to the win-at-any-cost mentality, Spokane deserves better.

I thought long and hard about that kind of mud-slinging before I declared my candidacy for the Washington State House of Representatives. After talking with my opponent, Duane Sommers, I am excited about the campaign ahead of us. While we obviously disagree about various issues, I came away from our conversation with the impression we are both committed to running a clean, issues-oriented campaign - the kind the people of the 6th District want and deserve. Craig A. Peterson Spokane

I-694 targets all abortions

Don’t be fooled by Initiative 694. The ballot question doesn’t use the word “abortion,” but legal analysis of the complete text reveals it applies throughout pregnancy.

Intentionally or not, the new legal definitions of terms like abortion and pregnancy could easily result in felony prosecution of doctors for performing abortions in the first few weeks of pregnancy. Even some birth control methods would be affected.

Abortion is a private decision. Picketers and politicians should stay out. Besides, under current state law, abortions after fetal viability, which certainly includes at birth, are already illegal. I-694 is unnecessary. Worse, it threatens women’s right to choose and their health. Instead, our communities should turn attention to what we can do to make sure women and men have full access to birth control, sex education, and prenatal care. Joan Schrammeck Omak

Tax income, not property value

The value of my property has jumped more than $20,000 in the last two years with no relief in sight.

The Legislature, the good governor and county commissioners do not represent the majority of state residents. These elected officials are not deaf, dumb or blind to the needs of low-income families, single parents or family members who are forced into early retirement. They simply bury their heads in the sand and tax these groups into oblivion, to be entirely forgotten.

These residents must send a message to elected officials that make them accountable for unworkable legislation: remove them from office and replace them with representatives who will remove or change RWC 84.40.030. Bring real estate back to low-income and middle-income families. Tax residents according to their income.

Will incumbents make the change? Albert Kanenwisher Spokane

SPOKANE MATTERS

My outrage is focused close to home

A long succession of writers to the Spokesman-Review has asked: “Where is the outrage?” They simply can’t understand why we’re not more outraged over President Clinton’s conduct. Here’s one kind of answer.

I am outraged over folks who want to tear down the LC Annex or who want to build the Lincoln Street bridge. I am outraged by the vacation of Post Street for the new downtown mall, by the isolation of City Hall and by the conversion of Spokane Falls Boulevard to a sort of service drive for Nordstrom and a few dozen motion picture theaters.

I am outraged at businesses which build restaurants over city sidewalks, then turn those restaurants into casino billboards. I don’t like hideous new buildings and facades which block off whole street corners and sidewalks. I am very annoyed by the STA Plaza and the new library, which seem to have no street-level floors.

See, I’m so outraged by what Spokane citizens do to their own downtown that I don’t have much outrage left for the minor personal transgressions of President Clinton. And I haven’t even begun to rage about the regional and national issues that concern me.

That having been said, if we focus only on the stupid and all-too-human failings of our fellows, well, that shows what kind of wits we have, doesn’t it? Wayne B. Kraft Spokane

STA favors profit, not people

Due to a car accident, I started riding the bus last spring. I was amazed, even with transferring, at how smoothly it went. I decided after getting another car to continue riding the bus to help cut down on pollution.

The new system is terrible. I have to leave home earlier, get to work later and spend 12 minutes hanging out at the Spokane Transit Authority Plaza. I’m back to driving the seven minutes it takes by auto to get to work.

Why are people on less-traveled routes so severely punished? They need bus service just as much as people on heavily traveled routes. STA saying it’s providing better service to more people with 16 fewer buses just doesn’t fly. The bottom line is that STA is running buses on routes that bring in the most revenue. S.L. Overhalser Spokane

BUSINESS AND LABOR

Skewed system hurts small business

As a small-business owner, I understand the financial challenges of running a small business written about by Gary Challender (Letters, Sept. 16), “Wage gains just hurt small business.”

I agree that the tax burden on small business makes earning a profit difficult, in most cases, and the majority of small businesses fail. However, the wages of the lowest-paid workers are not the straw that will break the camel’s back. That straw is our tax structure, set up to benefit only the largest businesses and corporations, and the wealthiest among us.

Most of us small- to medium-sized businesses and moderate- to low-income people bear by far the largest tax burden, while large corporations have tax loopholes, tax credits, government subsidies and tax incentives to amass colossal corporate and CEO fortunes. They emerge unscathed and ludicrously wealthy by our tax structure, which they have bought and paid for through their enormous campaign contributions and their aggressive, self-wealth-promoting lobbying efforts.

The minimum wage issue draws our attention away from the truly critical issues of unfair taxation and campaign finance reform. If we want to make our tax climate friendly to small businesses and the work-a-day majority, we must address the largely tax-free status enjoyed by megabusinesses. I support the minimum wage increase because without the hard work of those employees, no business can be profitable. They deserve to be paid fairly. Cheryl J. Roberts Cheney

Kaiser should rethink approach

If Kaiser is truly working hard to negotiate a new labor contract with everyone’s best interest in mind, why is the company still running ads for temporary workers? Kaiser is willing to pay these scabs $1,400 - $2,000 a week. I assure you, the company is not offering its skilled employees this kind of money.

Kaiser has already moved temporary housing units in at the Mead plant. Is this planning ahead or a scare tactic? Does Kaiser really think temporary workers can replace its experienced employees? I’m sure Kaiser’s customers wouldn’t agree. Quality product is what they’re paying for.

As negotiations continue, Kaiser, remember your employees are your No. 1 asset. Karen A. Presley Spokane

MEDICAL CARE

Protest loss at veteran’s hospital

I read with interest the article documenting the morale problems among the professional staff at Spokane’s VA Medical Center (“Medical staff critical of VA administration,”News, Sept. 13).

Having known Dr. Howard Platter for over 20 years, I can attest that he’s one of the most caring, dedicated and compassionate physicians I’ve ever known. He’s an acknowledged national authority on POWs and Gulf War syndrome, and truly loved caring for these individuals.

Platter did not want to retire and had planned to work at least four more years. The stress, turmoil, apathy and deceit brought on by the current administrative team (remember, they supplied your reporter with three different sets of numbers) made continued working at the VA an intolerable situation.

With no hope of any improvement in the deteriorating professional environment and with staff morale plummeting, Platter somewhat reluctantly accepted retirement when offered, as he feared for his future under the current VA administration and ever-changing government retirement policies.

Shame on the VA administration for wasting the talents and compassion of this fine physician. They should seek some means of utilizing his unique knowledge and experience he possesses in caring for our veterans, especially the POWs and those afflicted with Gulf War syndrome.

I encourage Platter’s many patients to voice their displeasure to VA administration, their legislators and this paper. Michael L. Eaton, M.D. Spokane

IN THE PUBLIC EYE

Clinton has proved he can’t be trusted

None of us should make the mistake of thinking we elect perfect people to public office. We do have the right to expect that those elected will discharge their responsibilities with honor and good sense.

Earning and maintaining others’ trust requires that one regularly demonstrate good competence, character and judgment, whether one be a physician, lawyer, teacher, parent or politician. President Clinton would have us believe he meets these criteria but his actions suggest otherwise. He may be a capable politician but his reckless behavior and propensity for lying undercut any claim on trustworthiness.

Equally significant is his tendency to inflict sorrow on both followers and foes. A case in point is his corruption of Betty Currie, whom he enlisted in covering up his Oval Office shenanigans. Imagine how Currie feels, now that her honorable reputation and financial security are markers on the trail of human debris that litters Clinton’s path from Little Rock to the White House.

Clinton has inflicted significant damage on his presidency, family, associates, party and country. America needs and deserves a leader more worthy of our trust. John C. Goldthorpe Veradale

What’s at stake is sanctity of law

If I were a defense attorney, I’d be salivating at the prospect of Bill Clinton getting off (no pun intended). If the president can lie under oath and commit perjury with no legal ramifications, it would truly make my job easier.

As most people are aware, the judicial system is based not only on the words of law but also on legal interpretation of the words. When a ruling is set forth it creates a precedent other cases can draw upon in similar circumstances. The precedent would be set that it’s permissible to tell less than the truth under oath, thereby allowing me to get anyone off the street to afford my client an alibi. At the least, it could create reasonable doubt about my client’s culpability. My newfound witness, according to the precedent set, should have no legal ramifications to worry about.

The stage has now been set to see if the laws apply to everyone or exempt just a select few. Robert D. Johnson Post Falls

Starr just carrying out assignment

It’s been interesting to hear President Clinton, his aides and supporters cry out against the “out-of-control” Ken Starr these past eight months. Need everyone be reminded that Starr has been working under the direction of the U.S. Justice Department? He was appointed by the administration’s attorney general, Janet Reno, and approved by a three-judge panel. He was carrying out the work of the U.S. government - as he is supposed to.

If he was really out of control, he could and should be fired at any time. G.P. James Sagle, Idaho

Don’t drag religion into this mess

It’s not my place to judge persons involved in the current affairs that have impacted the presidency and our country. The circumstances and money spent relative to this saga are overwhelmingly difficult to comprehend.

Finger-pointing and allegations have become normative but honesty and truth have taken the back seat to denial and justification. What used to be moral values have become trivialized for the sake of economic stability. And now that religious counsel has been dragged into the White House by the person who is president, denial, lying and failure to be responsible are becoming the new values of the government with religious leaders’ help.

As columnist Cal Thomas says well, “A good psychiatrist is more appropriate than counsel from men of the cloth.” (Opinion, Sept. 17)

The presidency has been wounded, a marriage has been undermined and the legal process has been used to trash a host of men and women. The last thing this messy presidential cake needs is religious frosting. Rev. Michael D. Venneri Spokane

Clinton deserves no slack

It really amazes me how the people of the United States are so hopped up to forgive the president when they would not step in and forgive the female military officer or admirals for their sex misconduct.

You forget one thing. Clinton ranted and raved against this country, was a draft dodger, and now he’s a liar, womanizer and, if you keep him in office, he will sell this country out to China.

You say he does a good job. Hogwash. Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan put the economy where it is and Congress ran the country while Slick Willie was off using our tax dollars to beg for money for the Democratic Party.

Go ahead, pat him on the back and tell him he is the greatest president this country has ever had. Harry M. Davidson Spokane

End this hypocritical nonsense quickly

The Starr report is out. It can be bought and read or you can hear about all its sleaze on the television news or on the sleaze talk shows.

The majority of the nation’s citizens have said enough. They all know the president has not handled his personal life to the moral level that all would expect. At the same time, the majority of citizens realize there are important issues facing our nation and the world that the president must address. The citizens have said, “Get on with the business of the nation.”

Starr believes otherwise. With his Cheshire cat smile, he goes all the way to the bank with his pockets stuffed with citizens’ tax dollars. He will continue to do so as long as he can continue the sex issue. Absolutely, the president must be blamed for some of the obnoxious expenditure of tax dollars, but it has gone far enough and must be stopped.

Now, we hear it might be November before this issue is settled. Maybe not until after the first of the year. Why? Are the people elected to office so inept that they can’t come to a decision within a week? It isn’t like they don’t know all the facts. You don’t suppose politics is involved in this?

Those of the holier-than-thou attitude, let’s fling open their closet doors and reveal at what moral level they have lived their lives. George Britton Spokane

Fearful Republicans add zany touch

We now read that congressional Republicans are screaming that there had better not be any sexual misconduct witch hunts gotten up.

Ah, ha ha ha ha ha! Eric Walker Ritzville

OTHER TOPICS

First, see to your own fire safety needs

Re: “State, federal firefighters shun home duty,” (Sept. 8). If we build homes in the wild land-urban interface, we have to be responsible. We, not the Forest Service or state, have to make the homes fire resistant. Cut brush 50 to 100 feet from the house, install sprinklers, use fireretardant materials and metal roofs. Hugo W. Wolter Chattaroy

Send a message - pass up the circus

The circus is coming to town again, reminding us that God’s creatures are still being held in bondage.

Even under the best conditions, these magnificent creatures are still being kept from their natural environment. Like humans, they feel fear, isolation and loneliness. Try putting yourself in their situation. Pretty uncomfortable isn’t it?

I remember reading an article about the human-like intelligence of elephants and how they even conduct funerals for the deceased. I am reminded of the old adage, “What if they gave a war and nobody came?” Well, what if they gave a circus and nobody came?

As Ringling Brothers, Barnum & Bailey Circus lighting designer Abigail Rosen-Holmes so aptly put it, “I hope it’s a means to an end.” Pamela J. Pierce Spokane