Letters To The Editor

U.S. AND THE WORLD

Our foreign policy is ludicrous

War in Kosovo has erupted, thanks to our wonderful president and accommodating representatives. Small whimpers of dissent, nothing else. No outcry for clarity on the issues or how long our sons and daughters will be subjected to this unconstitutional atrocity.

The invasion of a sovereign nation by another sovereign nation is nothing less than war; this is the definition of war.

I remember when protesters of like mind with this president were burning college campuses, screaming at the top of their lungs that we had no business in Vietnam because we were pushing our imperialistic values onto a sovereign nation. The irony makes one nauseous.

Here’s the real kicker: Not too many months ago, this president and the American taxpaying suckers sent to the Russians tens of billions of our dollars to help bail out the so-called troubled ruble. That money (according to the evening news) was spent on arms, which were then bought by the Serbs.

When our sons and daughters come home in body bags, you can thank Bill Clinton and our mute Senate and House for this wonderful foriegn policy. How many American body bags are too many body bags? And where will you draw the line?

It’s absolutely repulsive that our tax dollars are being used to purchase weapons used against our own children. Had enough yet? Scott A. Smith Kettle Falls, Wash.

War is supposed to be up to Congress

I am concerned about President Clinton’s approach to military action in Kosovo. I do not believe it is our business to exercise military force unless we have been specifically asked for assistance, the cause has been carefully examined, an objective clearly set forth and the risks weighed with respect to benefit.

Before any military action is undertaken, it should be voted on and approved by Congress,s as set forth in the Constitution.

Military action is an act of war and must be treated as such. The president of the United States, no matter what he thinks, is not the world police commissioner and NATO commitments in no way take precedent over the Constitution. The president answers to the people and his military power can only be exercised with congressional approval. Even in an emergency, which this is not, he must answer to Congress.

We cannot allow our president to operate outside the checks and balances set forth in our Constitution. To allow this will lead to a president who becomes a law unto himself, taking power that is not granted by virtue of his elected position.

We must demand that the president gain the approval of our Congress prior to taking any military action whatsoever except in extreme emergency where American lives are in immediate danger. Brent Bischoff Greenacres

ABORTION/REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS

Strange, how harassment is protected

Recently I had an appointment with my doctor, whose office is in the same building as Planned Parenthood. As I drove into the parking lot, my vehicle was photographed. When I started into the building, my wife and I were photographed. Teresa Van Camp and her companion are harassing people who going to that facility for reasons other than to visit Planned Parenthood.

I do not totally agree with abortion practices. I also do not agree that those such as Van Camp should be allowed to harass people by taking photographs of them and their vehicles. Many of us will probably find our photos on the Internet hit list. Why the hell are innocent citizens allowed to be harassed like this?

Yes, I know. Van Camp has a right to harass people. Organizations such as the ACLU stand ready to support what she does. When it interferes with normal activities of innocent citizens, such harassment must be stopped.

I’m nearly 65 years of age and my wife is not far behind me. We hardly have any reason to visit Planned Parenthood or seek information about an abortion. My doctor just happens to be located in the same building and he as well as his patients are being harassed.

Will my doctor, his employees or patients be killed or maimed one day by wackos just because they happen to be in the same building as Planned Parenthood? George Britton Spokane

This big world is not overpopulated

Re: Clliff Mann’s March 19 letter condoning abortion as a way to cut down on the world’s population. , Mann stated that the loss of 38 million babies to abortion was a good thing - it means fewer homeless people, less poverty and less unemployment. In other words, the loss of 38 million people, who could have added to the greatness of this world, was the loss of a burden. Interesting.

I would like to pose this question to all those who stand on the same ground as Mann: Is the world really overpopulated? The world’s population is projected to hit 6 billion sometime this year. True, that is a lot of people. It is also true that the city of Jacksonville, Fla., has an area of 25 billion square feet. This means that the entire population of the world could stand in that city with plenty of room to move around.

I don’t believe the world is overpopulated. If you think it’s crowded where you live, move. There is plenty of room for you elsewhere. If you’ve ever driven through Montana or the Midwest, you know what I mean.

Mann also says Mary Ellen Moe should follow the “live and let live” policy. He’s right - live and let the children live. If you don’t want kids, why fool around? Kristina C. Leitholt, age 15 Spokane

IN THE PUBLIC EYE

Squeaky wheel does get the grease

If you have no talents whatsoever and if you are too lazy to do something positive, you still can make the front page of The Spokesman-Review, make some money and hope to make even more. All it takes is to provoke the police, interfere with their duties and when they finally crack down on you, sue the county, sue the city, sue the world.

Some of the five protesters suing Coeur d’Alene over a completely insignificant incident during the so-called Aryans parade are too young to fully comprehend what they are doing.

The welfare reform that pushed able-bodied welfare recipients to take care of themselves was so popular that not even President Clinton dared veto it. Why can Lori Graves milk the same taxpayers that welfare reform tries to protect? What is the difference between welfare entitlements and financial “settlements?”

The police, city and county did nothing wrong. We need some legislation that would push people like Graves to work. Not only would we save resources wasted in frivolous lawsuits, we would do something long overdue: Show respect and support for our outstanding police. Peter C. Dolina Veradale

BUSINESS

Telemarketing is targeted marketing

Your recent story, “U.S. West puts up a barrier against unwanted telemarketing calls,” omitted some important information concerning telephone marketing.

Effective telephone marketing relies upon targeting consumers likely to have an interest in the particular product being offered.

In 1998 alone, U.S. consumers purchased a record $209.5 billion in goods and services as a result of telemarketing calls that originated with a marketer. Washington-based businesses generated $27.6 billion in sales via all types of direct marketing, including the phone, last year.

In many cases, telephone solicitations are the result of an existing relationship the consumer has established with an organization. Or, the calls may be from organizations similar to those the consumer has purchased from or contributed to in the past.

Consumers can choose to limit the marketing phone calls they receive in their homes from national telemarketers. The consumer can request to be placed on a do-not-call list and the telemarketer is obliged by law to not call the consumer again for up to 10 years. Nonprofit groups and political organizations are exempt from this federal law.

Consumers who do not wish to receive telephone sales calls at home may contact the Direct Marketing Association Telephone Preference Service (TPS), P.O. Box 9014, Farmingdale, NY 11735-9014. This free service deletes consumer names from most national telephone sales lists. Consumers should be sure to state their complete name, address and telephone number, including area code.

TPS will not affect sequentially dialed computerized calls of calls from local organizations. Chet Dalzell Direct Marketing Association Inc., New York