Letters To The Editor

WASHINGTON STATE

Reap tax wind, sow rebel whirlwind

Isn’t it wonderful that we have so low a crime rate that our police force could carry out a “sting” operation involving customers of Idaho’s cigarette stores?

Here we are, the second-highest-taxed state in the union, and this town has problems with too many low-paying jobs, and you do not think people will go to a place where cigarettes cost them less?

And where does all that tax money go? Not to schools or the environment, not to anything noticeable. We know this because the schools and environmentalists are always complaining about their need of funds.

It happened before, in the 1700s, and the people rebelled because their rights were being infringed upon. Take heed. It can happen again - and certainly will - when the people have had enough of this bureaucracy.

And it will be high time, too. Elizabeth A. Dornoff Spokane

At Mt. Spokane, you’re treated well

What a contrast! From top to bottom, downhill skiing at Mt. Spokane is a superlative experience.

My daughters and I spent three days recently learning how to ski (in my case, all over again). From the folks who fitted the skis, to the guy who cleaned the tables, the instructors, cafeteria help, to general manager, “We don’t know the word `no” Kirk - everyone and everything (except for the icy snow and icy temperatures) was exceptionally warm, friendly, helpful - outstanding!

Contrast that with the Sno-Park, where it has been reported that people are arrested for skiing after dusk. On Tuesday, I tried my hand at cross-country skiing. Having forgotten my checkbook and knowing that it’s a 50-50 proposition that you can find a park employee from whom to purchase a Sno-Park permit, I left a note indicating my dilemma and assuring any reader that I would buy a ticket the coming weekend while leaving my name and phone number as a guarantee.

I returned an hour later to find placed directly upon my note a ticket for $66. Shortly thereafter, I had the misfortune of running into the guilty park employee. A rude encounter later, I found myself angry enough to write the good citizens of Spokane to share my tale with them.

I have a suggestion: Let’s turn the Sno-Park over to the folks who run the ski slope and return Mt. Spokane to the people who own it - us! Stephen Reichard Spokane

Casino decision damaging, unjust

I am a member of the Spokane Tribe and a Two Rivers Casino security supervisor. It is impossible for me to understand why Judge Fred Van Sickle and the state want to take away the livelihood of so many people by taking away our slot machines. To do this is to close us down.

We want to support ourselves, own homes, educate our children and live decent and productive lives the same as anyone else. Why do Van Sickle and the government want us on our backs with their foot on our neck, as stated by Gloria Finn Porter (Letters, Dec. 18), Doug Clark (Dec. 22 column) and Robert Oster (Letters, Dec. 28)?

The so-called white man has taken nearly all we have with his broken promises, broken treaties and failure to recognize our sovereignty. (Baffled Loue Stockwell, please read Oster’s letter.)

Casinos are all we have. If we can’t work, we can’t pay taxes. We have helped the economy immensely. Our casinos haven’t caused any problems and have raised the standard of living for all our tribe members who work there, just as it has for other members of the community. Several employees, including my two sons, have quit drinking completely to keep their jobs. This makes me very proud.

Gamblers will gamble - in Nevada or wherever. Winners pay taxes. The state, local economy and federal government benefit from our small operations, so just leave us alone and worry about taxes lost on cigarettes bought out of state.

Why can people from some states buy whatever they want here, tax-exempt, and ones from other states pay taxes on everything they buy? Double standard? Denny Denison Fruitland, Wash.

SPOKANE MATTERS

New bridge just a waste of money

I can’t believe the people of Spokane want to spend $36 million to build the Lincoln Street bridge, in addition to the $7 million they gave away already.

Two blocks away is the idle Howard Street Bridge. The city manager closed this bridge in 1974 for the Riverfront Park project. The Howard Street Bridge is now basically abandoned, used occasionally for foot traffic, but it could handle at least one-fifth of all the north-south traffic through town. I drove on that bridge for years and it used to actually be the best corridor going into downtown.

Wake up, Spokane, and tell our City Council to stop throwing away tax money. That’s all the City Council seems to know how to do. Joe G. Nesbitt Spokane

IN THE PUBLIC EYE

OK, I am a religious right zealot

The Senate trial of President Bill Clinton is about to begin and according to political cartoonist Milt Priggee, it is the fault of “religious right zealots.” He somehow dismisses the fact that the president allegedly lied under oath, cheated on his wife and denied it all for seven months.

According to Priggee and others who agree with him, all should be forgiven because the economy is good and 70 percent of the American public think he is doing a good job.

One cannot help but wonder if there is any correlation to the public opinion numbers and the high percentage of American males who admit to infidelity.

We, the “religious right,” are branded moralists and the cause of the president’s problems. The Ten Commandments at best are to be considered the Ten Suggestions that no one can live up to and should be totally ignored if the economy is doing well.

Republicans and a few Democrats who are willing to ignore public opinion polls when those conflict with morality and ethics are vilified as being the lackeys of a reverse wag-the-dog conspiracy.

If I understand it right, if I believe it is wrong to lie under oath or cheat on my wife, if I believe there are still some absolutes as to right and wrong, then I am a religious right zealot. If those are the criteria for membership, I proudly accept the label. Vern D. Buller Spokane

We’re not talking sex or religion here

In his column on leaving religion out of the Clinton debate, editor Chris Peck has confused ethics and morality with religion.

Religion is a man’s attempt to reach out to God, to understand God and what God requires of us. Religion has been a basis for ethics and morality in this country since it was declared a nation 200 years ago. But ethics and morality are not religion. They are the foundation on which men choose to deal with each other.

President Clinton must have religion. He is photographed holding his daughter’s hand, with his Bible clutched in his other hand, coming out of a church. I guess that means he’s trying to seek God. He has, however, shown very little evidence of ethics or morals. As this whole Lewinsky matter has played out over the past months, his morals and ethics have become as plainly evident as the photograph of him and his daughter. The whole impeachment process is over whether he lied or not. This isn’t about religion. This is about morals and ethics.

The media twisted the case for impeachment to be about whether Clinton slept with Lewinsky, when the real issue is whether he lied under oath and then abused his power to keep people from finding out the truth about whether he lied. It isn’t about sex.

Now, Peck wants to change morals and ethics into religion. Doesn’t it frustrate you to know the media think so little of your analytical power that they can tell you anything and expect you to accept it? Jan A. Slama Spokane

Are your stone-casting hands clean?

All the Clinton bashers, all those who have suddenly defined the rule of law and everyone else who has not sinned, listen up! Who can pass the test of having to testify under oath of your honesty?

Test No. 1: Each of us, if we are honest, files an income tax return. Have we ever taken a few extra deductions to reduce our tax liability? It doesn’t really hurt that much, does it? A few cash dollars earned but not reported? Does no harm, does it? Each of us sign our returns where it says, “Under penalties of perjury, I declare this is true, correct and complete.”

Test No. 1 should have eliminated a bunch of rock throwers.

Get my point, fellow Americans? There’s something in the Bible about judging others - and I’m not a Bible scholar. Bob Walker Veradale

The good news must be true, huh?

Thank you so much, President Clinton, for your assurance on Dec. 28 that the Social Security system will not be affected by any Y2K problem. Now I needn’t worry that Social Security payments to my mother and mother-in-law will be delayed or disrupted by computer glitches.

You see, I worked for many years as a computer programmer and systems analyst, and I am keenly aware of how fragile and error-prone a computer system can be. That is why I may appreciate the significance of this announcement even more than the average citizen.

And we all know that when you stand in front of the cameras and the microphones, and look us straight in the eye, we can be sure you’re telling us the truth.

Can’t we? Stanley W. Roth Spokane

At the top, a lower standard indeed

During my first year as a cop, I was taught that we were to be held to a “higher standard.” This is while being called names as filthy as those aimed at any Jerry Springer guest or being punched, kicked, bitten or spit on.

If this higher standard pertains to policemen, what standard should apply to the president; a man not treated as a cop but as a god?

Unfortunately, it seems America wants the president held to the lowest standard of anyone on the planet. But how else could a man of his qualities remain in office?

What qualities, you ask? Cowardice, deceit and the desire to serve only himself. For more than 20 years, Clinton has demonstrated these qualities by dodging the draft up to and including his sexual involvement with Lewinsky.

Who could possibly want this man to continue as president? His strongest supporters seem to be Democrats who only see their party, feminists who only see their sex, blacks who only see their race, homosexuals who only see their sexual orientation, pregnant women who want to kill their babies, anyone contributing enough money to the party in power to expect special favors or treatment, those snowed by smooth con men, and the Hollywood crowd.

This presidency has shown how far down this country can be dragged by superficial, politically correct, special interest groups and those who bow down to them. The trouble is, as an American, I’m being dragged down, too. Robert W. Webb Chattaroy

HEALTH AND SAFETY

Take care with winter driving

Here are some tips for success at driving this winter.

Slow down.

Buckle up - especially children. They can get tossed around so easily when you have to stop suddenly or have an accident.

Spread out; leave plenty of room between cars.

Turn on headlights. I live in an apartment overlooking Monroe, Northwest Boulevard and Indiana. On a recent snowy morning, I was amazed at how many cars didn’t have their lights on. All lights should be on in gray, rainy or snowy weather. Also, if your car is white and roadways are covered with snow and/or it is snowing, you can’t be seen.

Use signal lights at all times. If you use them all the time, even when there are no other cars around, it will become a habit. Signal early so the other driver has time to react. If you haven’t done that, go a block farther and go around the block.

Go slowly when turning corners.

Leave earlier wherever you are going.

Remember to check for snow or dirt covering your headlights and taillights. Many cars collect snow there. I keep an old towel in my car for that purpose. I also use it for wiping fog off my windows, so I always have a clear view.

Have a wonderful, safe winter. Marian G. Anderson Spokane

GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS

Government needs reforming

At this traditional time of New Year’s resolutions, what’s important is that our top-heavy federal government make real resolutions about serving the general welfare and well-being of the people in a limited way.

First, two-year terms for members of the U.S. House of Representatives should be eliminated. Five-year terms should be granted to all major political positions, president on down and including state legislators. Two-year terms are disruptive, and costly, making money the primary concern. Elections could be held just every five years. Without this preliminary reform, most other political reforms are impossible.

Second, our foreign policy must turn 180 degrees. It should cease being tendentious, hypocritical, jingoistic and militarily arrogant. On one hand, we preach the Christian sermon of peace. On the other, we’re the greatest source weapons of war being sold for profit. Our foreign policy should cease being paranoid and obsessed with keeping foreign markets open for our products. Granted, this is necessary for the prosperity of our country. However, would not good salesmanship and diplomacy be more effective? J.J. Orlando Spokane

Better that the rascals be preoccupied

As the Senate starts impeachment proceedings, let’s all hope for a long, drawn-out trial. As long as Congress and the president are tied up with each other, they have less time to disrupt our lives.

We don’t need more laws and regulations restricting honest, voluntary activities, or new record-breaking tax increases to lower our standard of living.

Remember when Clinton refused to sign the budget and shut down the government? Life proceeded wonderfully without government oversight. Consumers bought, merchants sold and manufactures produced. If anyone even noticed a difference, it was often for the better.

Contrast that with times government has taken a more active role in our lives. Remember the lack of many products after Nixon imposed wage and price controls?

The longer Congress and the president are busy playing with each other, the better. David H. Wordinger Medical Lake

WILDLIFE

Meddlers’ ideas not helpful or wanted

As a former resident of Boundary County and past chairman of Idaho’s House Resources and Conservation Committee, I must respond to Guy Bailey’s attack on Sen. Larry Craig’s request for a GAO audit of the caribou “recovery” program.

What does Bailey and his Selkirk-Priest Basin Association fear? The truth, perhaps?

This program has been an expensive failure and has resulted in many caribou deaths in the process of relocating unwilling caribou from Canada to Idaho, where Bailey and his ilk arrogantly believe they should reside.

As a young person, I enjoyed articles and excellent photos by former Fish and Game agent Paul Flynn, who studied the caribou and is still likely the best local expert on mountain caribou. I recall photos of caribou eating moss from newly felled trees, with loggers nearby. It’s curious that younger generations of those caribou can’t tolerate man within miles of them, according to the recently arrived, self-appointed game biologists.

There is no fence at the Canadian line. If the caribou want to walk down to Boundary County, they will. If not, leave them alone. Don’t kill them to satisfy the arrogance of the Selkirk-Priest Basin Association. Rather, use our precious resources where some good might be done.

This debate exposes the real agenda of Bailey’s association. If caribou welfare was their concern, they wouldn’t care where the animals live. If closure of federal lands is there aim, they would.

God bless Craig for requesting an audit that will hopefully pull the wraps off this shameful, counterproductive boondoggle. Dean Haagenson Coeur d’Alene