Letters To The Editor

Washington state

DOT needs waste control

Government of the people, for the people? Not from my perspective.

As I recall, we the people spoke and opposed the new stadium in Seattle, but still had it shoved down our throats. We the people have now spoke in major support of Initiative 695 in our recent election. Now we’re told it stands to be tied up in court while politicians argue the legitimacy of its legal merit.

It’s been preached to us by I-695 opposition that passing this law would eliminate funds from the state Department of Transportation. Many expenditures made on behalf of the department are wasteful and unnecessary in the first place.

Would it be detrimental if we opted not to replace perfectly good road signs with new neon colors, or not to replace street name signs with larger-printed signs on streets already marked? Are the concrete dividers constructed recently on Nevada, Holland and Magnesium (not to mention numerous others) that prevent drivers from getting to their destinations with convenient and logical routes equally beneficial? Are luxuriously appointed and constructed county garages, such as the one recently constructed on North Foothills Drive, going to deliver any more productivity and services to its investors (taxpayers) than a conservatively constructed facility?

Yes, we acknowledge I-695 may eliminate public services. But, wouldn’t you agree, many we wouldn’t even miss? Lisa K. Bonnett Colbert

I want control over taxation

It would seem from media hype that all activities in the state are facing disaster due to the passing of Initiative 695. Opponents of I-695 acknowledged that auto license fees accounted for only 2 percent of state income. If the 2 percent was supporting all of these activities, what happens to the remaining 98 percent? If the license fees had only been used for transportation needs, as common sense would dictate, all of these other programs would not have become accustomed to riding this horse.

My purpose for voting for I-695 was not the $30 fee, but for the rider permitting citizens to have a say when tax money and fees are to be increased to support fat-cat projects that benefit a small portion of the taxpayers. The need for public control is emphasized by the fact that a few leaders, wishing to subvert the wishes/will of the people, are trying to nullify I-695. Bill Burnette Otis Orchards

Parties have traded roles

The people have spoken. Initiative 695 passed by an overwhelming majority and now we have shown the governor and the Legislature how the average taxpayer feels overtaxed at all levels. Now we have to listen to them and the media tell us what essential services are going to be cut to punish us for our vote.

I hope they start cutting the bloated bureaucracy first. A recent survey conducted by a national organization found that approximately 20 percent of the state budget is subject to waste, duplication, fraud and mindless grants.

I am especially proud of the state Republican Party for supporting I-695. They took a hit in contributions from some of the biggest corporations in the state - Boeing, Microsoft, etc. It seems that the Republican Party now supports the little guy while the Democrats support big business, big labor, big government and big taxes. What a switch from the former party of the working man. William J. Bennett Spokane

Locke should’ve been given a chance

Everyone who voted for Initiative 695 should look at the damage to the community that they’ve set in motion and be thoroughly ashamed of themselves for failing to allow Gov. Gary Locke to reduce car tab fees in a fair and responsible manner. Sharon K. Leon Spokane

Spokane matters

Colliton served Spokane well

Three cheers for Jeff Colliton. He was such an asset to the City Council as well as to our city. His presence at City Hall will be missed.

Throughout his term he stood by tough issues he believed would be in Spokane’s best interest. He’s a man with great integrity and a strong backbone. His opponent resulted to an underhanded campaign, while - Colliton stuck with the issues at hand.

Colliton may have lost the election, but one thing he will always be able to say is that he earned his position on the City Council. Steve Eugster, on the other hand, will have to learn the difference between earning the people’s vote and buying the people’s vote. Thank you, Colliton, for all your dedication and hard work. Karen M. Budig Spokane

Violence

Help prevent domestic violence

Re: The governor’s task force on domestic violence releasing “Everybody’s Business.”

Let’s face it, domestic violence continues because we allow it. This is a sentiment consistent with the findings of the governor’s task force on the issue. Since the inception of the movement, activists have been advocating greater awareness of domestic violence.

Spokane is fortunate to have the Spokane County Domestic Violence Consortium as well as other dedicated service agencies, many of which are members of the consortium, working toward community safety. “Everybody’s Business” offers specific recommendations for preventing domestic violence. Spokane is already following many of them, and has been coordinating its efforts and working to educate this community since 1992.

Unfortunately, as reported in the Oct. 23 Spokesman-Review, SCDVC lost its major funding source. Although the consortium will remain in operation, cutbacks will be made.

Community support, activism and individual commitment are crucial in working toward a safer community. Every day we face small opportunities to create change. Volunteer at agencies serving survivors and their children. Stand up to a sexist joke (U.S. Bureau of Justice 1998 statistics indicate that 85 percent of all victims are women). Don’t tolerate jokes about violence. Educate yourself. Make it your responsibility to call 911 when you hear your neighbor assault his or her partner. Don’t turn away when you see someone speak disrespectfully to their partner.

Be a friend. Don’t judge victims when they come to you for help. Model healthy relationships in the community and most importantly to your own children. SCDVC can help you help your neighbors. Erin Williams, education specialist Spokane County Domestic Violence Consortium

Numbers tell who’s to be feared

After reading John H. Tofflemire’s letter (Nov. 7) I tracked down the news articles on the Dirkhising murder. None of the articles say that the murderers were “homosexual” or “lovers.”

The best available information on same-sex male rape indicates that between one in seven and one in 11 males will have been sexually assaulted by age 18. Less than 2 percent of these assaults are by homosexuals.

Who is the predator here? Chris H. Miller Spokane

Let me dissect a mutant notion

Re: “Cutting class: save” by Lisa Hough (Our Generation, Nov. 1).

I have heard people blame television violence, dirty song lyrics and even guns for school violence but this one takes the cake. Hough attributes the desensitization of students to the dissection of frogs, citing Jeffery Damher’s interest in animal dissection as “powerful testimony” to the harm school dissection does by “desensitizing our youths to the harm we cause to animals.”

Have we really gotten to the point in our society where no personal responsibility is expected of criminals? Did anyone think to blame the actual criminal? I could sit in a room with the goriest movie on television, loud trashing music in the background, a fetal pig in my lap and a gun pointed at my head, and it still takes me to pull the trigger. The television, the music, biology class - none of these pull the trigger and the gun doesn’t shoot itself. I am the responsible party.

Have you ever watched violence on television? Heard a metal or rap song? Dissected an animal in biology class? Shot a gun? Most people in this country have done one or more of these. Did any of these things leave you with a realistic urge to violently murder another person? If so, please check yourself into the nearest therapist. If not, congratulations! You are a normal person.

Citing one example among millions of biology graduates is hardly substantial, in my opinion. James R. Loucks Harrison, Idaho

Law and justice

Microsoft has earned its power

Attorney General Janet Reno may think Judge Jackson’s findings are going to be beneficial to the public. I do not.

However, Microsoft has consistently made product improvements and innovations that have made possible today’s state-of-the-art PCs, while maintaining backward compatibility with older DOS programs. If Reno had her way, we would still be in a DOS world paying $500 to WordPerfect for simple word processing, plus an additional $100 to get the add-on spellchecker. Then we would have to give Lotus $300 to get a spreadsheet, and Ashton-Tate $500 for a database. Would these programs work together and share data? Probably not.

Today, WordPerfect Office can be purchased for much less than the price of Microsoft Office. Is this because Microsoft is using monopoly power to coerce the public into paying hundreds of dollars more for Microsoft Office? No, Microsoft Office is simply a better product.

IBM spent a fortune promoting its operating system for the PC and failed because IBM simply did not have the best product.

Since 1995, I have used Netscape for my Internet browser and Eudora for my e-mail. Today, I have switched to Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.0 for my browser and Microsoft Outlook Express 5.0 for my e-mail. I was reluctant to make the switch because it is comfortable to continue using programs one has become familiar with. But, I have to admit that the current versions of the Microsoft products are simply better. Wilford D. Murray Spokane

Licenseless drivers face stiffer penalty

A strict new traffic law went into effect on Oct. 1. It states that the vehicle of a driver whose license is suspended can be impounded. With the rising incidence of suspended driver’s licenses, this is exactly what this state needs.

The Revised Code of Washington title 46.20.342 is the tool by which licenses are suspended due to driving infractions. If the license is suspended, then according to RCW 46.55.120, any vehicle that is being operated by an unlawful driver can be impounded for up to 90 days, depending on the driver’s record. To have the vehicle released, the owner must pay all impoundment charges, such as towing and storage fees. Those fees can range from $25 to $40 a day, which can add up over a period of three months.

This law is designed to keep criminal drivers as well as dangerous drivers off the road - something a majority of the population likes. Many people have expressed their approval of this new law and applaud the persons involved in getting this bill passed.

Hopefully, with this new law in effect, it will make some people think about who they let drive their car. Patricia J. Carpenter Ephrata, Wash.

Schools and education

Give block scheduling a try

The weekend of Oct. 16, there was a meeting held where the community could discuss school-related topics along with teachers and other school officials. One of the topics brought up was block scheduling.

What this is is three classes a day, one and one-half hours each. There would still be six classes, but first, second and third would be on Monday and Wednesday, and four, five and six on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Then on Fridays, there would be all six periods. This would work better. First, there would be more time in class, with teacher help, to do homework. Many schools already have this or something similar and the numbers are growing rapidly. It has shown to be very effective and the students seem to perform better. We should give it a shot. Marie Gamache Spokane

Other topics

I hope debt move will pay dividends

Carlos Acevedo’s Nov. 7 story on Third World debt cancellation and the Jubilee 2000 campaign was pretty good coverage. However, I was quoted out of context and I feel compelled to clarify. My saying, “What I want to know is how it (debt cancellation) will affect me” was not about my fears but rather about my hopes.

My hope is that cancellation of Third World debt would personally affect well-off Americans (myself included) to be less consumptive, less greedy, less materialistic. My hope is that for the sake of justice and sanity, the year 2000 will mark the beginnings of a new way of living - one marked by cooperation, sharing, balance and living happily with less.

Ultimately, it’s not about “the system,” but rather about the personal lifestyle choices that drive the system. The current economic system operates not on behalf of real human needs and an ethic for the common good, but rather on behalf of maximum profits, scarcity and accumulation. This current system crushes 80 percent of the world population.

The advent of the year 2000 provides us with a critical opportunity to change this. Jubilee 2000 is a positive step toward a new and healthier way. Gary Jewell Spokane

Socialist cabal ensnares Microsoft

Re: “Microsoft hit could hurt state” (Nov. 11).

The Associated Press reported that there is cause for worry about the ramifications to the state’s economy with the declaration that Microsoft is a monopoly. Well, duh! Just what the heck do you expect when a bunch of socialists like Bill Clinton, his sycophant Democrat cohorts in Congress and his politicized Justice Department concentrate their efforts and go after successful companies, such as Microsoft, for demonstrating the capitalistic traits that this administration detests and abhors? Couple that with the possibility that Microsoft didn’t contribute as much to the Democrat campaign coffers as the Chinese communists did and you have a double whammy.

So, all of you Democrat supporters and especially those of you on the West Side, who are now worried about the consequences of this finding, just remember that you made all of this possible when you voted for and helped elect Bill Clinton.

Want more of the same? Then, by all means, vote for and elect liberals like Al Gore or Bill Bradley to the presidency and continue to send people like Patty Murray to Congress. You get what you ask for and deserve! Bill R. Klein Nine Mile Falls

Custodial parents’ lot oversimplified

Re: Joan E. Harman’s Nov. 2 letter, “Custody matter not that one-sided.” I couldn’t agree more.

Columnist Kathleen Parker should realize the cold, hard facts. While many mothers win custody, many fathers are primary custodians and doing a wonderful job.

Many absent parents are low income, but by choice. Some even work under the table to avoid garnishments. They are supposed to help provide for their children but choose to shirk that responsibility, so the custodial parent gets no money. Some absent parents are incapable of being healthy role models and may at times be detrimental to the children’s well-being (i.e. substance abuse, violence, undermining the other parent, interrogating the children.)

It may be necessary for the absent parent to lose parental rights until they can become healthy, responsible, parents. Some absent parents are angry with the custodial parent and blame them for their own failures, instead of accepting responsibility for their actions.

Financial responsibility is only a small part of a parent’s responsibility. A parent must also provide counseling and emotional support, friendship, discipline, cleaning, cooking, laundry, encouragement, transportation, love and guidance. For a single parent, this full-time child raising is very time-consuming and wearing but the rewards are well worth the effort. That’s the responsibility we take on when we decide to have children. Debra S. Veter Spokane