Letters To The Editor

FUNDING SCHOOLS

Legislators cultivate their kind of folks

The fact that Gov. Dirk Kempthorne wants the Legislature to lower the voter requirement from a two-thirds yes vote to a 60 percent yes vote to pass a local school bond, and the fact that the Legislature is ignoring that idea just shows us what a high priority the Idaho Legislature places on education.

To wit, zero.

The result is a state with ignorant and poorly educated children. In the eyes of the politicians, though, this is not a bad idea. These poorly educated children grow up into poorly educated adults who, it seems, can be easily bamboozled into voting for these same politicians. Neatly circular and self-perpetuating. Am I surprised?

Jon Gustafson Moscow

Governor’s request should be ignored

Hurrah for the Legislature for ignoring the governor’s request to lower the supermajority requirement for passing a school bond. As we have seen, with other bond votes, they often are sneaked through with little advertising and no public comment. If it was not for some great citizens who keep a watchful eye out, more special interest bonds would be passed. Let’s keep it a supermajority, and we taxpayers might stand a chance.

The state budget earmarks over 50 percent of funds for education. Where is that going? Our school buildings are in great shape, no matter what the educators try to shove down our throats. What is in bad shape is the dumbed-down teachers who can no longer teach a basic education. Throwing more and more money at them will never help. Hurrah for home schooling! David Stelly Careywood

Overhaul funding scheme completely

Re: The school bond supermajority requirement in Idaho. Educational funding should not be provided from property taxes. People can’t eat property. Property has no value until it’s sold or traded. It makes no sense to tax property until the time that it’s converted into income.

The source of school funding should be determined by placing various school funding proposals on a ballot and having a simple majority vote of the people determine which school funding proposal should be the source of funding public schools.

Regarding the death penalty for 12-year-olds, executions should be abolished for people of any age. Because we humans are primarily spiritual, and you can’t kill a spirit, it’s futile to execute or murder other human beings. Let murderers live out their natural lives and mull over the lessons they were placed on Earth to learn. Only God should decide when a person’s physical life is over. Gary A. Edwards Coeur d’Alene

More money won’t make schools better

There is no need to reduce Idaho’s supermajority for school bond issues.

When I sent my son to private school, the annual cost was around $2,100. The current annual cost for Idaho public school students is around $4,100. Private schools provide a better education for about half the cost. Throwing more money at the public schools merely means they will spend more rather than undertake much needed reforms. What public schools need is a good dose of competition via charter school, vouchers or tax credits - not more money. Jack Wenders Moscow

Do away with supermajority rule

As long as Idaho has the supermajority law and no provision for state participation in the building of school facilities, our children will be at a disadvantage in competing with the rest of the country.

The situation in Boundary County is an excellent example. Only 25 percent of the entire county is privately owned and pays into the county coffers for school construction. Their ability to pass a levy or bond for schools has historically been severally limited because a supermajority of the taxpaying population does not have children in school.

Only when either the state assumes some portion of responsibility for school construction or the supermajority is done away with (preferably both) can Idaho’s children hope for a more level playing field for their education. Gil Beyer Sandpoint

Make change to 60 percent

The current situation on the school bond issue is ridiculous. It should be 60 percent and the state should also give the communities some relief. Susan M. Amaral Coeur d’Alene

To improve schools, elect Democrats

It seems that many folks in Idaho either don’t know that the Republicans are strongly against spending any money on schools or they just don’t seem to care.

Well, if I had school children at home, I would be very worried about their chances of getting a decent education. For without a good education, they will be sent on a lifelong trail of heartache and disappointments.

About 15 years ago, we had a Republican candidate to the state Legislature who was strongly against spending any money for education. He strongly stated that if he had his way, they would put the boys in a manual training class until the eighth grade and then kick them out the door. And you know what? He was elected. I guess a lot of folks at the time agreed with his anti-education philosophies.

So don’t be surprised at what keeps coming out of our present state Legislature. It is now 85 percent Republicans, and they will keep their anti-education platform well set in place, and will keep doing all they can to keep from supporting quality education.

Just remember all of this at the next election. If this is still going on, and I imagine it will be, get out and campaign for a Democrat, to get our kids a decent education. Tom Akren Post Falls

Schools should be given a break

The Legislature ought to either fund the schools or change the supermajority rule.

There is a basic difference between North Idaho and southern Idaho. They have a larger population base and don’t see the same problems as we do up here.

I can attest to the fact that most legislators will take the hard line of no new taxes, anywhere. Because levies are loosely defined as taxes, the Legislature will be reluctant to pass any law that will make it easier to institute a new tax. Hence, no levies for schools.

Re: Boat licensing proposal. I hate to see legislation passed that enforces common sense. This piece is going to get some people very vocal. As a professional charter boat captain and fishing guide, I can see the need for boater education. As a volunteer emergency medical technician, I see the need for education.

Boats and personal watercraft are “vessels” and should be treated with respect and common sense. I have seen too many adult operators who don’t know the basic rules of the road. I have had boats pass within just a few feet of mine with swimmers in the water and while I’m guiding a fishing trip. I have almost hit skiers because the boat operators are not using spotters or warning flags. It is a shame to have to legislate common sense but I’m afraid this one is overdue. Gary Brookshire Priest Lake

Multistory designs would save money

It sticks in my craw that I have to pay such an amount to support this college and very little if any goes to our local schools. I am a property owner and my taxes are very high, with a great portion going to the local college and also to the small airport in Hayden Lake.

My kids grew up here and some went to the same grade school that my grandfather and my father went to. (Bryan School). Very little improvements being made in the recent years. I think it is a crying shame that no one wants to support the school system here.

I also went to a three-story school here, Coeur d’Alene High School in the 1950’s, so why can’t the new schools be built on more than one level? It sure would save money on the property we have to buy to build new ones. It seems like we no more than get one new school built and it is already over-crowded by the time it is finished. We need better support for our kids if they are to get an education in our state. J. Johnston Coeur d’Alene

LAW AND JUSTICE

12 old enough to know what killing is

Is the death penalty a good idea for 12-year-olds? Yes, particularly if their crime is premeditated murder or multiple murders for which an adult would get death. Twelve is old enough to know the gravity of the crime.

Should boat licenses be required in Idaho? Yes. The same laws that apply to the operation of a car should also apply to boats. Keith Cotter Harrison, Idaho

Executing 12-year-olds is barbaric

The proposal to reduce the age for the death penalty from age 14 to age 12 is madness. Age 14 is already too low.

I am not opposed to the death penalty per se. Applied in the proper circumstances and to a qualified adult (one not found insane), execution serves a purpose which is justified by society’s need to accommodate its own continuance.

However, to impose this drastic penalty on children is barbaric in the extreme. Has such a penalty ever in fact been carried out in Idaho on 14-year-olds? If so, it is an abomination. If not, it is meaningless anyhow. Paul Wilson Hayden Lake

More prevention effort needed

I do believe in strict punishment for juvenile offenders, especially for the more serious crimes. However, these kinds of “treatments” seem extreme and cruel.

Any child capable of capital crimes is certainly dealing with severe mental issues and probably should be diagnosed and treated for their mental instability, if possible.

Far more effort and resources should be put into prevention. With all of the violent games, TV, movies and music, it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to see an obvious trend with our children since the 1950s. Thomas D. Keenan Coeur d’Alene

Death penalty `has no place’ at all

Capital punishment has no place in a civilized society. It has no deterrent effect whatsoever. The states with the highest number of executions, like Texas, Florida, and Georgia, also have the highest murder rates.

Apart from the United States, the only countries that deliberately kill their citizens are fascist dictatorships and communist countries like China and Cuba. Some company!

Anyone who would even think of putting 12-year-olds to death (as is being considered in the Idaho Legislature) is a complete savage. Ralph Nielsen Moscow

School turns presumption upside down

Re: “Long nose of the law” (Handle, Feb 6).

I was pleased to note that fewer students are bringing drugs to Sandpoint High School. I think we can all agree that drugs have no place in our public education system. However, I was troubled after school security officer Bob. Posey’s dog, Jager, got a hit on a girl’s locker. After a thorough search of the girl’s personal possessions, no drugs were found. Instead of a presumption of innocence, Posey concluded that the dog probably picked up on a “hint of residue that may have been in the locker or clothes.”

Could it be that the dog was wrong? Often, drug dogs and drug tests give false positive results.

When people’s lives and reputations are at stake, it seems that an apology would be prudent rather than a presumption of guilt. Bob Dardine Sandpoint

GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS

Senate due for a housecleaning

The entire impeachment process that has transpired in the U.S. Senate reeks of corruption.

Senators blocked evidence, blocked witnesses, then went before the cameras to crow that the House managers did not prove their case. In general, the media supported this subversion.

Many Americans don’t seem to understand what has happened by their failure to demand that the Senate conduct a real trial.

When the whole truth finally does come out, what then? What can we do, call for an investigation of the Senate by the Senate? They can forget any action from Attorney General Janet Reno and the Justice Department.

All we can do now is wait until election time rolls around. By that time, the Senate will have enacted another trainload of pork barrels to buy votes, the senators hoping everyone will have forgotten how they did their job. James D. and Danise L. Tarbert Fruitland, Wash.

Now, about Starr’s grandiose budget

Independent Counsel Kenneth Starr abused and expanded his authority as he saw fit. The Senate has voted that his charges were not impeachable offenses.

We feel that Congress or the attorney general should conduct an investigation of his conduct. He spent over $40 million of the American people’s money.

Aren’t the people entitled to have a complete accounting of these expenditures? Maurice B. Cauchon Spokane

Democrats seem to be coming along

As a Libertarian, I’m glad to see so-called liberal Democrats criticizing overzealous prosecutors who use coercive methods and spend millions of tax dollars to dig into someone’s private life. It’s also encouraging to see them studiously referring to the Constitution and the original intentions of the founding fathers.

Now, about the war On drugs. Greg D. Holmes Spangle

Republicans will be strong in 2000

It’s interesting to note that the nine Catholic U.S. senators who sadly support partial-birth abortion also voted not to abort President Clinton.

While the GOP may have lost on this vote, I’m convinced this defeat will galvanize the Republican voters in 2000 as our beloved nation deserves an honest leader for a change. Pat D. Kilpatrick Post Falls

IN THE PUBLIC EYE

On the right, strong pillars of propriety

The past year has brought moral dilemmas to many Americans. Those who have benefited from the guidance and example of the moral conservatives who have helped us through these times may wish to take a few minutes to give thanks: To Rep. Helen Chenoweth, for revealing that the sins of the conservative are more easily forgiven;

To Rep. Henry Hyde, for teaching us that youth lasts far longer than we ever suspected; to ex-representative Bob Livingston, for revealing that variety is the spice of life if you don’t get found out; to the Salt Lake Olympic Committee, for reminding us that the expectations of the many justify the means; and to Ken Starr, for his example that a blank check should be taken full advantage of. Ben F. Pierce Kennewick