Letters To The Editor

Spokane matters

Watch for and read voter pamphlets

The League of Women Voters, Spokane area, would like to inform Spokane voters that the city voters pamphlet will be mailed this week. The state voters pamphlet will be arriving in their mailboxes around the middle of October.

Please read these pamphlets before casting your vote. A full understanding of the issues and their impact should be the goal of every voter. The pamphlets are especially valuable for those who vote by absentee ballot because these voters may not have an opportunity to attend a forum or debate where the issues are discussed.

Be sure to vote Nov. 2. Informed, knowledgeable voters are the strength of our democracy. Joyce Jones, president League of Women Voters, Spokane

Greene has vision, integrity

It has been my pleasure to get to know Roberta Greene during her campaign. She is a woman of utmost integrity; someone who people of this community can trust. As a council member, she exemplifies responsible leadership - someone who has the good judgment to listen carefully, analyze facts and an issue’s impact on the entire community, and take decisive action. She is not swayed by special interests.

The city of Spokane belongs to all of us, whether we live within the city limits or not. It is the heart of our community. Its health and success impacts all of us. Reactionary thinking will cripple this community.

As we move into the new millennium, we need to have leaders who will take this city forward, not backward. Greene is that type of leader. She has a clear vision for the future of Spokane and the courage to make that vision a reality for all of us. Lynn M. Jones Spokane

Firefighters faster than story said

I am a firefighter with the city of Spokane. I responded on Sept. 19 to the 7-year-old girl who was severely burned. I personally feel that the civilian rescuers in your Sept. 23 article, “Neighbors didn’t hesitate, rushed to save girl on fire,” reacted with great bravery and compassion, and should be credited with saving the life of this child.

However, I and fellow firefighters took great offense at the grossly misstated response time that your staff writers, using information from the rescuers, reported: 10 minutes.

In fact it took 58 seconds from the time the call was received at our dispatch center to the time Ladder-2 was dispatched. Our response time from the time of dispatch to reach the scene was two minutes and 45 seconds.

We as firefighters understand that time passes very slowly for people on the scene. But it seems that your reporters failed to get all the facts before writing this article.

We as professional firefighters take great pride in a rapid response to all emergencies. This article left the public and this child’s family members with the false impression that we did not have the rapid response that we in fact did have.

I feel so strongly about this because this particular run was so personally traumatic for myself and other responders. Scott J. McCann Nine Mile Falls

How to detect politicianhood

You may already have in mind who your favorites are for the upcoming City Council races. But just in case there might be a few armchair politicians out there who are more qualified:

If the words, “I am not a crook” or “I have nothing to hide” appeal to you as a potential campaign slogan, you might be a politician.

If you confuse revealing your long list of personal financial indiscretions and dirty legal laundry as a positive political move, you might be a politician.

If rolling street-corner panhandlers for their coin cups is an enjoyable means of soliciting campaign contributions, you might be a politician.

If renting the video “Gulliver’s Travels” is your idea of visiting with the “little people,” you might be a politician.

If you consider stock options in Spokane’s parking meter and parking garage industry as a wise investment decision, you might be a politician.

If challenging a group of sparrows known as the Notorious French Fry Gang to a midnight rumble in Dick’s parking lot fits your idea of political conquest, you might be a politician.

If you are overcome by unexplainable phobias every time the Taco Bell dog says, “Here, lizard, lizard,” you might be a politician.

If playing “chicken” with public disclosure laws is more fun than a Tremors rollercoaster ride, you might be a politician.

Finally, if you use your City Council vote to award contracts to campaign contributors when you should abstain, you might not only be a politician, you might be in big trouble. John Gutierrez Spokane

No special rights for lifestyle choice

Father Jim Dallen (“Pastors preach tolerance,” Sept. 30) says Catholics believe sexual orientation is unchangeable. Well, I am Catholic and I do not agree. It is a choice they make to act in that fashion. If they do not act that way then they may as well be straight. Since this is a choice, why should they get special rights? It is different than if they were of a skin color that was being discriminated against, which is a condition not chosen. Their way of life is chosen and they should realize they need to live with the consequences.

They do deserve the common rights of us all but not special rights just because they choose to live that lifestyle. Steve Haxton Spokane

Washington state

Show press, pols you’re not a robot

Re: Opinion editor John Webster’s Sept. 26 editorial.

It’s time for the liberals and the press to use some argument other than the line, “Mindless government-bashers of the far right wing.”

That I disagree with you on some subject doesn’t mean I’m mindless, right wing, radical or anything other than that I disagree with you. Liberals should start making some logical arguments rather than use the scare tactics that seem to be used in every situation where someone doesn’t bow down and agree with them.

The amount of the budget affected by the license tab reduction is approximately 2 percent, a small amount. Any American household can adjust spending to accommodate this small difference. The real issue is that taxes can’t be raised without the people’s consent.

This frightens liberals because they’d have to come up with some logical arguments to justify any tax increase. No longer can they just say, “We’re doing this because it’s good for you.”

Colorado has been operating very well under such a system for some years. The people have actually agreed to raise their taxes when it was for a worthy cause and presented with facts by the Legislature.

The time has come for government at all levels and the press to start being honest with the public.

Pass Initiative 695 and show our representatives and the press that we aren’t mindless robots or radical right-wing extremists just because we don’t agree with everything they say. Floyd H. Stewart Loon Lake

Greene is wrong about I-695

Roberta Greene, councilwoman and Empire Ford auto dealership co-owner, was quoted in this newspaper as saying “I can see nothing good about Initiative 695.”

Not only was that comment irresponsible, it was insensitive to the financial and deserved needs of her constituents.

The $30 license fee and the privilege to vote on future tax measures would provide more funds for our working families and return decisions back to we who pay the bills.

Our founding fathers stated that ours is a government of, for and by the people and I-695 is what it takes to accomplish their and our wishes to take control from the special interest monies.

The lobbyists and greedy politicians are trying to scare us into believing the world will end if we vote yea. It amounts to less than a 2 percent budget cut and that will be even lower when those who license cars in Idaho and Oregon and now live here rush to plunk their money down in Washington for their plates after Jan. 1.

Greene’s record of raising our taxes on property four to five times the rate of inflation since she’s been on the council shows us where her heart is. It’s taking more from our bank accounts and spending it on bridges, parking garages, unneeded land and huge severance pay packages for ex-employees of the city.

Let’s stop this spending of money like a sailor full of whiskey in port. Vote yes on I-695! Give yourself a raise, a fresh start and say about your money, and make the politicians learn how to run a responsible budget. Jonathan Swanstrom Sr. Spokane

U.S. and the world

Put end to assassin training

The School of the Americas at Fort Benning, Ga., trains Latin American military personnel at U.S. taxpayers’ expense. Because of the many and continuing human rights abuses and atrocities committed by the graduates of this institution, it is called by many The School of the Assassins.

More than 130 U.S. bishops and 30-plus Latin American bishops have signed a resolution calling for the school to be closed. The executive council of the 13 million-member AFL-CIO recently passed a resolution calling for the closing of the SOA.

In November, over 10,000 individuals from across the United States and from Spokane will converge at Fort Benning to honor the memory of the thousands who have died and suffered at the hands of SOA graduates.

In spite of this, our Rep. George Nethercutt and Sen. Slade Gorton continue to support continued funding of foreign military training. If we truly want to promote democracy in Latin America, we should fund the training of educators, judges, farmers and small business leaders. Now is the time to stop the abuses, save taxpayer funds and close the School of the Americas. Gary P. Proctor Spokane

Wildlife

No good reason to reverse hounds ban

Re: “Renegade predators must be controlled” (Opinion, Sept. 24).

The Spokesman-Review’s editorial cry for a return to the practice of hound hunting for cougars is unfounded. The facts do not warrant that conclusions.

Ironically, the two most recent cougar attacks (August 1998 and August 1999) occurred in the area of the state with the highest rate of cougar kills - the Northeastern Cougar Management Unit, or CMU. During last year’s cougar hunting season, 83 cougars were killed in the Northeastern CMU. Sixty-four were killed by trophy hunters - without the use of hounds - and 19 were killed as nuisance animals (for which hounds may have been used).

In comparison, the CMU with the next-highest cougar kill had 34 cougars killed.

The 1996 ban on the use of hounds for the sport hunting of cougars has not dramatically decreased the number of cougars killed by hunters - the statistics have remained virtually unchanged.

Initiative 655 specifically maintained the authority of the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife to use hounds to hunt cougars perceived to be dangerous or problem animals.

Cougar scientists have declared that hound hunting of cougars will not diminish the remote possibility that a cougar will attack a person. Cougar incidents - rare as they are - occur in states with or without hound hunting.

A whopping 63 percent of Washington’s voters decided to ban the unsporting practice of hound hunting for cougars. A recent poll indicated that a similar majority of the state’s citizens would not choose to overturn the ban and are not in favor of the state Legislature doing so either. Lisa Wathne, Washington state field representative The Humane Society of the United States, Seattle

Paying off Indians is the way to go

In a recent letter to the editor, Adam R. Yonck said that it would be cheaper to just pay the Indians who are netting salmon in the Columbia River instead of breaching the dams. I agree with that idea 100 percent.

Why not buy all the fishing nets from the Indians in that region and burn them? Then, find out how much money each Indian has been making from his fishing season and pay him directly for the amount he would usually make if still netting the salmon. That should end the ongoing controversy of breaching the dams to save the salmon. And it should restock the salmon for future generations to enjoy. Tom Akren Post Falls

Idaho viewpoints

Let’s not go off half-cocked

It’s encouraging to see real movement toward a community center in Coeur d’Alene. After many years we finally may be able to offer a multipurpose recreational facility.

Congratulations to the hard-working people who brought this dream into the realm of possibilities.

However, more homework has to be done before the bricks are laid.

First, we need some understanding with our private athletic clubs. The public bickering has to stop. These clubs stepped up years ago to invest in and offer expensive recreational services when the city was unwilling to spend the money. We must encourage their contributions to our town. Their support for this center is very important.

Also, there has to be a frank discussion of the financial responsibilities Coeur d’Alene people will be undertaking now and in the future. Faced with big increases in nearly every category of property taxes, we cannot have any more sticker shock.

All the paths must be explored to involve other entities that may have the need for a community center format: North Idaho College, Kootenai Medical Center, school districts and county government. Surely, such a facility can be valuable to many organizations.

I ask the community center committee to delay its proposal a bit longer and spend more time bringing all the parts together we need the center badly and can’t afford a defeat when, given more time and thought, the project could be a resounding success for everyone. Steve N. Badraun Coeur d’Alene

Will homophobes never be enlightened?

Re: “Ripples still felt from show on gay issues in schools,” (Sept. 26).

It’s unfortunate some people think that in this day and age they can dictate to others what they should believe, how they should live and what kind of programming should or should not be shown on public television stations.

It’s too bad there are still homophobes who are frightened of something they have no concrete knowledge about. I have many gay and lesbian friends, (even though I am a heterosexual female) and find that they are no different than anyone else. It is only ignorance and fear that prompt people to condemn others.

It is unfortunate that all of God’s children cannot be treated equally, regardless of their sexual orientation. Lauree E. Eastman Rathdrum

Environmentalists make things worse

I would like to thank you for printing the Sept. 15 editorial by Opinion editor John Webster. It’s about time the press realizes that it, along with all of civilization, is dependent on mining for its existence.

I found only one thing wrong with Webster’s editorial. He stated that, “Without mining we’d have to live in mud huts.” That is not true. Digging up mud is mining. Without mining we wouldn’t even have mud huts.

The so-called environmentalists who oppose mining don’t have a clue what they are doing. Their efforts will succeed in shutting down mining in this country and probably Canada. But then where will society get the necessary mineral products for survival? From other countries that don’t have the environmental controls that we have, that’s where.

Take a look around. You can already see the results of the environmentalists’ efforts to stop logging. They have succeeded in eliminating most logging from federal land. That is why we are starting to see the ugly logging scars left on private property. The logs are going to come from somewhere. Now they are coming from private lands where there is little control on road building, slash cleanup, reforestation, etc. The same thing can happen to mining, only on a worldwide basis.

Keep up the good work. James R. Thomas Pinehurst