Letters To The Editor

Thu., July 8, 1999

5TH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT

Democrats have no use for Nethercutt

We challenge Robert Dellwo’s presumption that party-line Democrats support Rep. George Nethercutt (Letters, June 20). We have not talked to one mainstream Democrat who supports Nethercutt.

The Spokane Labor Council gave Nethercutt a failing report card on issues crucial to the 5th District. He received incomplete grades on affordable health care, protection of Medicare, maintaining a strong Social Security system rather than large tax cuts for upper income levels and on patient protection rights. Regarding minimum wages, Nethercutt received a big red F. He voted against all minimum wage bills when his constituents - our state - passed minimum wage laws. That was a bigger mistake than breaking his word on term limits.

When 45 percent of the employed people in Spokane make less than poverty wages, when more than 60,000 people in the 5th Congressional District have been dropped from health care coverage by HMOs, when Nethercutt supports tax breaks and not Social Security, he does not represent the people of this congressional district.

It was Sen. Patty Murray, not Nethercutt, who was responsible for rescuing the crop set-aside program for Washington’s farmers.

With our world erupting in ethnic genocide and threats of war, Nethercutt voted with Rep. Helen Chenoweth to have our country leave the United Nations.

His nice guy image runs contrary to his votes. Mainstream Democrats do not support Nethercutt. We will run an impressive candidate against him and will work hard until November 2000 to ensure a Democratic congressman who truly represents the people of the 5th District. Ken Pelo and Val Smith Spokane County Democratic Central Committee

Broken promise not a small thing

How can so many people so easily dismiss a broken promise as simply a change of mind? Since when can a change of mind wipe out a promise? Dick McInerney Spokane

Let’s see who can be big about it

Jesse Groff (Letters, June 28) takes us and staff writer Jim Kershner to task for objecting to Rep. George Nethercutt seeking another term, sanctimoniously intoning that only those who have never changed their mind can cast first stones. I will believe the sincerity of Groff’s teachings if he can apply the same biblical magnanimity to a gay person coming out of the closet, an unwed mother opting for an abortion or any Democrat pulling such a Netherworld-cut. Bill Leong Spokane

GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS

Seniors should use their clout

I couldn’t believe it when I heard it. It’s a disgrace! Fifty percent of our senior citizens in this country cannot afford to pay for their prescriptions. In one of the richest countries in the world? In this land of plenty? Why?

These medications keep people alive in some cases, and certainly help obtain an acceptable quality of life for many more of them. I know our senior population is growing, we are living longer. But what good is that if we can’t get the medications to stay healthy?

Who is responsible? The pharmaceutical companies and their horrendous prices? The doctors prescribing unnecessary medications? The state and federal legislators who have failed to provide proper health insurance, especially for prescriptions? Or the agencies that should be doing something and have not? Or is it a combination of all of these?

Our senior citizens are the largest body of voters in this country, the largest group of volunteers and an impressive number of our legislators come from their ranks. It’s time to address this problem. We have the power, let’s do something! Margaret W. Dare Spokane

Candidate Bush - what a relief

Why is George W. Bush having such success, pundits are asking. Think about it. We all know and respect his father and wonderful mother. Their integrity is in such contrast to what we have now as head of our government.

We are learning that, here again, is a man of integrity and honesty, one we can trust and look up to. Twice, the folks in Texas voted him to be their governor by a great majority.

He speaks like a simple, good man - different from the others seeking office. He welcomes all to his party and it is clear he is not the bigot Pat Buchanan is nor the narrow-minded extremist Gary Bauer is.

What a relief we all feel to welcome a fair-minded Republican to the race for highest office. We like his forthrightness, his directness, and we can just feel he can be trusted to represent us.

You can fool some of the people some of the time, but we aren’t about to be fooled again by a slick-talking con artist. Audrey F. Sydell Otis Orchards

Let’s ensure pride in our flag

We hear of a few individuals who dishonor our flag. Let us assist them to mend their ways. Within the boundaries of the United States, let us establish facilities with a purpose. First, they will hire only citizens of the United States. Their only product will be the red, white and blue of various sizes. They will manufacture the U.S. flag from fireproof material. Everyone can buy a flag “made in the U.S.A.” Pride in our flag can be re-invented. Kathleen N. Evans Nine Mile Falls

BUSINESS AND LABOR

Bargain has downhill consequence

The $199 season lift ticket offered is not a thank you, skiers. Schweitzer went broke. Thanks for that?

I hope area skiers see what the new owners, Harbor Resort Properties, are really attempting to accomplish. They can afford to and will suffer this loss-leader season ticket long enough to break all the four local ski hills - Silver Mountain, Lookout, 49 North and Mount Spokane. With them out of the way, we’ll be left without choice and only the well off can ski or snowboard every week. Ask the people in Vale, Colo.

The new Schweitzer management has brashly displayed utter disregard for the welfare of distressed logging and mining areas such as the Silver Valley in Idaho, Stevens and Ferry counties in Washington. Not only are the local ski resorts a huge part of the tax base, they employ hundreds of the local population in their specific locals. Mount Spokane has invested big time and have it looking very promising. 49 North, Lookout and Silver also have worked hard to improve - without deliberate harm to one another.

It’s up to local skiers to keep Harbor Resorts from succeeding in their Wal-Mart-type venture. Harbor Resorts is not local; monies spent with them leaves our area and never returns. With the local ski hills it stays and turns over time and again for the local prosperity.

Don’t help Harbor properties cut their throats. I challenge Harbor Resorts to show they are not intending to break the local resorts. Bert A. Overland Spokane

HEALTH AND SAFETY

Help stop partner abuse

The June 28 guest column exemplifies what is necessary to end domestic/intimate partner violence in our community: working together. A victim counselor, a prosecuting attorney, a nurse in an emergency room, a law enforcement officer, a friend or family member can help, but only by working together can we make a significant difference in our community.

Intimate partner violence is not an intimate act, it is violence. It is one partner physically, sexually and/or emotionally hurting another. A child who watches someone they love being physically or verbally abused is also being abused. It’s not a lesson we want our children to learn.

Domestic/intimate partner violence touches each of us. The act may occur in the privacy of a home but the effects filter into our community through absenteeism at work, inability to interact with others in a self-assured manner and children who witness it, as well as the costs to taxpayers for law enforcement, courts, medical care and counseling. A child who witnesses abuse at home may abuse playmates in the schoolyard. It can cause behavioral problems, feelings of hopelessness, blame and low self-esteem. No child deserves that legacy.

The Regional Domestic Violence Team, the Spokane County Domestic Violence Consortium and its members, and the Domestic Violence Fatality Review Project are made up of individuals and agencies with a common goal: to stop domestic/intimate partner violence from happening in our community. Please join that effort. Do not ignore partner abuse - help stop it! Joan E. Griffith, president Spokane County Domestic Violence Consortium board of directors

Reckless driver, do you know me?

It was Tuesday, June 29, about 11 a.m. I was sitting at the intersection of Nevada and Rowan, waiting to turn. The light turned yellow and I saw you coming in your black van. I thought you were going to stop. I started to flip the steering wheel, to get out of the intersection and clear the way. But something screamed in my head, wait!

The light turned red. In that split second, my hand was stilled. You didn’t stop. You flew past me and kept on going.

Do you know who I am? I am a mom. I am needed by my husband and little girl. I am needed to cook dinner, do the laundry and the dishes. To kiss the tear-stained cheeks of my little one, when she skins her knees. To greet my husband and friend at the end of the day. To feed the dogs at 4:30 every afternoon. To mow the lawn and plant the flowers. To scrub the kitchen floor and rake the leaves. To fill the toilet paper holders and buy the groceries. To sew the buttons that are loose and buy the Christmas presents. To carve the pumpkins and bake the cookies. To turn off the lights and lock the doors at night. To laugh at silly jokes. I make just a plain old house a home.

In that split second, you could have taken me away. Gone. In a blink of an eye, no more mom. Do you know how many lives you would have taken when you killed me?

You were going so fast, I didn’t have time to see your face. Were you another woman? Are you a mom? Jeannie U. Greene Spokane

LAW AND JUSTICE

Call for killer to stay in prison

Doug Clark recently wrote a column about Melvin Briggs’ parole hearing after 33 years in prison for the horrible death of then 12-year-old Johnny Siverts. I was a 6-year-old next-door neighbor of the Siverts family, and the death of Johnny is a very vivid memory. I remember driving around with my parents that night, looking in all the movie theaters and riding my bike with my brothers to all of Johnny’s hangouts. But mostly, I remember my mother’s cries when she found out the news of his death.

I am now the mother of four boys and I can’t begin to imagine the pain poor Johnny endured or the endless pain of his mother, father and two brothers. They say Briggs is a “model prisoner.” Well, there are no little boys in prison.

Johnny was not the first child Briggs had hurt and he himself said Johnny would probably not be the last. The judge, prosecutor and jury all thought Briggs deserved life and that is what he should serve.

We the parents of young children should all write the Indeterminate Sentencing Review Board, P.O. Box 40907, Olympia, WA 98504-0907, and let them know that we don’t want Melvin Briggs ever released.

Anyone who hurts a child - especially anyone who murders a child - should never be allowed in free society again. Janie Parker Slater Spokane

Penalize sloppy smokers

There has been a lot of dissent lately from smokers who feel their rights are being further eroded, especially with talk of a possible ban on smoking in certain outdoor venues (parks, etc.).

I propose a simple compromise for smokers and nonsmokers. Smokers would be allowed to light up in any common outdoor area. However, I further propose a city, county or state law calling for a $500 fine to be imposed upon anyone caught littering his or her cigarette butt onto any public road, street, parking lot or park. Second and third offenses would be fined at $1,000 and $5,000, respectively. Burning butts thrown out the windows of moving vehicles would have starting fines of $1,000. Finally, anyone caught throwing a glowing butt that causes a wildfire would be fined $10,000 and be forced to pay any costs incurred fighting the fire and replacing lost structures.

Have all the disgusting habits you want. Just don’t share the flotsam with the rest of us. Sam J. Thomas Spokane

Freedoms belong even to the evil

As despicable, vile, horrid, mindless, evil and demonic as the Aryan Nations’ views are, under the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, they still have the right to peacefully assemble and speak their hate. When, and if, that basic right is denied to Richard Butler and his demented followers, that will be the day this nation is dishonored to the core. And no anti-flag-burning amendment will whitewash our shame. Angel Manuel Fitzpatrick Jr. Fairfield

`Adult’ a highly elastic legal term

Re: Kegger bust story, July 2 front page.

Recently, I have been wondering when exactly was it when I fell through Lewis Caroll’s rabbit hole. I might have been aware of it before, but it really struck home to me when I was in Vietnam, and I received a letter from a friend who had just completed two years in combat. He told me that he was refused service in a bar because he was underage. He went on to tell me that he was in his class-A uniform, with its staff sergeant’s stripes, all his ribbons and combat infantryman’s badge, hoping that would cause the bartender not to ask for his ID. It didn’t work.

What brought this story to my mind was the front page story about the 29 18-or-older persons facing charges as adults for a crime that, if they were adults, would not be a crime.

Could someone please explain this to me? I realize that I am not the smartest man in the world but it seems to me that if the court recognizes them as adults, then how can the court then charge them with a crime that only minors can be guilty of?

Strange world, ain’t it? Calvin C. Renfro Priest River, Idaho

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