Letters To The Editor

Spokane matters

Personal pique behind ouster

Before the public makes a final decision about ex- elections supervisor Tom Wilbur and the election department, why not give him a call and get the facts straight?

Wilbur has been a competent and dedicated election supervisor for the county for 18 years. He was dismissed not because elections did anything wrong but because of a personality problem with the auditor. Now, the fall elections are in jeopardy because a certain official just did not like him and that was the bottom line of the whole problem.

There was no fraud, as the investigation will prove. The public was confused by the ballots and voted improperly, which invalidated their vote.

Wilbur left elections because the auditor demoted him to a temporary job and wished to use his expertise until after the elections. Wilbur has a home and family to care for, and could not take such a reduction in job status - nor should he.

Stay alert. You have not heard the last of Wilbur. He is held in high esteem by most election officials at all levels, statewide. Talk to the former auditor, Bill Donahue, about Wilbur’s qualifications and dedication.

If there are problems with the fall elections, place the blame where it should be: the auditor’s office. Jim Wilbur Spokane

Eugster ought to resign

Re: “Eugster quits committee, may sue city” (Region, Aug. 12). This article seems to hit Eugster right where he lives. He quits the committee and sues the city. That seems to me to be a classic case of conflict of interest.

I think the time has come for Eugster to resign his seat on the City Council. Maury Hickey Spokane

Health and safety Cool it, then take care

The comment, “If it comes down to me going head-on with oncoming vehicles or taking out the bicyclist - oh, well, sorry about that - the bicyclist is going to lose” in an Aug. 11 letter was very disturbing to me.

I propose a third option: Take a deep breath, think of something relaxing and wait 10 to 30 seconds until you can safely pass.

Because of their relatively slow speed and small size, waiting for a safe opportunity to pass a bicycle will always take less time than waiting to pass motorized vehicles.

The letter alludes to an inattentive bicyclist. Inattentive bicyclists and inattentive automobile drivers are a threat to the safety of not only themselves but each other. Bicyclists are required to follow the same rules of the road as motorized vehicles. Both have the responsibility to be attentive, predictable, safe vehicle operators.

Because of the differences in mass, speed and protective packaging, the bicyclist is generally the one who pays the higher price when either vehicle operator is inattentive.

The comment that bicyclists should be restricted to bike lanes only neglects the law that not only requires the bicyclist to follow the same rules but gives them the same right to access the public thoroughfare. Unless bicycle use is heavy enough to warrant the construction of bicycle lanes, the safest and legal position for a cyclist is in the traffic lane.

The writer laments that our roads are far too crowded as it is. Bicycles are part of the solution, not the problem. W. Ross Coble Spokane

Fluoridation is a good idea

As a child of six raised in Spokane, I was so very proud that I only had six fillings in my mouth. This was the fewest of anyone in our family. My mother was adamant about us brushing our teeth after every meal. I tried to do a good job and I thought it was paying off. Now I know better!

I still brush my teeth two to three times per day but now I do it with a fluoridated toothpaste which has significantly reduced the decay in my mouth.

Yet, those old fillings have to be replaced, generally because of broken margins on the filling and subsequent decay around the margins. As an adult, fluoridated water can still help me and everyone in my family because every time I drink water or eat food cooked in fluoridated water, I can bathe that eroding filling with fluoride and can help to prevent decay recurring around the margins. This can’t make the filling smooth but it can make it last longer and I’m all for that.

The people who are against regulating the level of fluoride in the water say that it is damaging to teeth. Anything taken in excess can damage our bodies. Even excess chlorine can hurt me but I’d hate to live in a civilization which didn’t use something to disinfect its water.

It’s about time we did something which can help everyone and which costs so little but saves us so very much. Peggy Ellingson Colbert

Crack down on overbearing drivers

It’s only a matter of time before I personally see blood scattered all over some street in Spokane. Ticketing these drivers who ignore pedestrians is a waste of time and effort in this “me, myself and I” 2K society. Want results? When these operators of motor vehicles fail to stop for pedestrians, take their driver’s license away for 30 days, impound their car and let them pay the storage fees. The key to getting the message across is to put these egomaniacs on foot where they have to walk or take the bus. Situational awakening.

Then, these Jeckyll and Hydes (I fully agree with the theory of personality transformation when people get behind the wheel of a car) can experience the horrors and indignities of being treated like the pedestrian nuisance or offender; perceived by the driver as someone who has no right to be on foot and taking up perhaps 15 seconds of the maniacal driver’s time to allow the pedestrian to cross a street.

Let the driver experience, without a license to injure or kill, how they would feel in a role reversal situation as the lowly pedestrian, vulnerable and exposed to the navigator of 3,000 pounds of metal mass cruising at 30 mph, nonchalantly challenging them to put foot in the raceway.

When they get their car and license back, they just might look on pedestrians with more empathy. If they don’t develop that “have a nice day” personality behind the wheel after hoofing it for a month, then up the ante and hand them a stiffer penalty. Jack R. Bosch Spokane

Health care

Children need not go without care

Re: “Parents not aware of health safety net” (Aug. 10).

Get the word out! In Eastern Washington, the word “children” and phrase “no health care coverage” should rarely be used together but we see it all too often. Why? Lack of communication.

State-sponsored programs that provide quality medical, dental and vision coverage for those under 19 have been available for some time. Transportation to and from medical appointments is covered as well. Programs include choice of contract plans and doctors within those plans.

Eligibility is based solely on age, household size and income. In Washington, children in a family of four whose monthly gross income is $3,553 or less after deductions such as for child care, adult dependent care and paid-out child support may be eligible. Application is easy. There is even a call-in process for children who have an urgent need. Applications are available at many locations around the counties and on the Internet. In Lincoln and Spokane counties, applications are available at community centers, city halls, schools and clinics.

Community projects throughout Eastern Washington work hard to inform parents about these alternatives. In Spokane and Lincoln counties, call us at 444-3066. In Stevens, Pend Oreille or Ferry County, call the New Hope Project, 1-888-311-7394.

In Whitman County, call the health district, 327-6280. The number in the article, 1-877-543-7669 (1-877-KIDSNOW) is state-specific and can be used anywhere.

Also there are programs such as Basic Health for many adults in Washington. Ralph DeCristoforo, coordinator Health For All, Health Improvement Partnership, Spokane

Church and state

It’s also about freedom from religion

Re: “Religion should be integral” (Letters, Aug 10).

“Freedom” means just that.

Patrick D. Woods assumes that every American should be a Christian and that if they are not they should be forced to listen to the Christian point of view. Our founding fathers knew the lessons of history concerning church and state and they were not all conventional Christians. They had the insight to not impose religion upon all.

America is not made up of only Christians. Would Woods like to have other religions imposed upon himself and his family?

Families are what give our children their morals and values. Unless these values and morals cause harm to others, families are free to do as they see fit.

I am very pleased with separation of church and state. Please, Wood, do not believe that you have all the answers. Diversity is what makes our nation. Margaret M. Hardin Airway Heights

Treaty there to be looked up

In a letter to John Taylor, John Adams asked when or where has existed a Protestant or dissenting sect that would tolerate a free inquiry? Touch a solemn truth in collision with a dogma of a sect, Adams wrote, though capable of the clearest proof, and you will soon find you have disturbed a nest, and the hornets will swarm about your eyes and hand, and fly into your face and eyes.

Wayne J. Lawson insists (Letters, Aug. 6) that Article II of the Treaty of Tripoli, which contains the statement the government of the United States is not in any sense founded upon the Christian religion, doesn’t exist. However, it can be found in Treaties and Other International Acts of the United States, vol. 2, 1776-1818, U.S. Government Printing Office, 1931, page 365.

In his autobiography, Thomas Jefferson made it clear that America’s founding fathers intended freedom of religion for non-Christians as well as Christians. While debating the 1779 Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom, inserting the name of Jesus Christ was rejected “by a great majority,” wrote Jefferson, in order to protect “the Jew and the Gentile, the Christian and the Mohammedan, the Hindoo and the Infidel of every denomination.” Chris Farnam Spokane

Other topics

Clinton talk quite revealing

There was much television coverage of President Clinton’s speech at a meeting of church leaders on Aug. 10. He spoke at great length about how he had suffered because of his behavior the last few years. He emphasized how his behavior had made him feel inadequate, had harmed his family life, etc.

The emphasis was all on him. He is apparently so egocentric that he doesn’t realize that what is important about his behavior is how it affected the country, the perception of the presidency and how it disrupted the country’s agenda. No, to him the important effect is what it did to him. For all his assertions otherwise, his first concern is himself. Way down his list is concern for the country. Susan Lunden Topliff Spokane

Foundation shouldn’t knuckle under

How unfortunate that the Make-a-Wish Foundation feels compelled to grant only “politically correct” wishes. The foundation’s excuse that “we are not the appropriate organization to put a firearm in the hands of a child who might be weakened by medication” lacks plausibility. Surely, each wish is granted on individual merit taking into account the health and maturity of the child.

I sympathize with the Make-a-Wish Foundation’s safely issues. Apparently, the organization had been physically threatened by animal rights activists. What an opportunity for foundation leaders to stand up and refuse to be bullied. I urge the Make-a-Wish Foundation to consider granting any wish, within the law, requested by a dying youngster without regard to its public acceptance. Is this not the tenet of the foundation? Tina Piaskowski Post Falls

Animal Control in name only

Animal control or animal proliferation?

Caging and killing pets by Colville’s Animal Control and Stevens County Sheriff Craig Thayer may seem proper and necessary, but if killing is wrong they should not do it. If it is right they should be proud to do it. If they call themselves Animal Control, their records should not reflect that nearly 50 percent of the pets they release have no validation of ever being spayed and neutered, and therefore have the capability of overpopulating Stevens County with tens of thousands of more pets for them to kill.

One can’t condemn pet overpopulation and affirm the intrinsic value of pets while handing out unsterilized pets and feeling like a victim of an irresponsible society. Handing out unsterilized pets to breed devaluates pets and increases suffering. The pets they release precipitate more offspring and then more deaths in the pound and elsewhere. This practice diminishes the city and sheriff’s credibility It is not kind or responsible. Stevens County Animal Control ought to get busy searching for promising alternatives that result in 100 percent sterilization of animals being adopted and looking for ways to increase guardian responsibility. Dog Patch did it and so can they! Joyce Tasker, director Dog Patch Humane, Colville, Wash.

What’s next, skeptered isle?

Re: “Britians protest pedophiles,” (News, Aug. 11).

The mythical Britians are well known to reside in the isle of Britty and nowhere else. Even the Britains do not exist as a people in any real sense but only as a nation augmented by the appropriate use of an apostrophe.

I believe the designation the Associated Press writer was searching for was Britons.

I’m not calling this to your attention simply for my own priggish self-satisfaction, although that’s certainly a nice side benefit. Nearly every day I see a misspelled billboard, garbled banner or teaser under the local newscasters, or glaring errors in your publication. The fact that it’s wire copy is no excuse. Somebody gets paid, or should get paid, to not let things like this happen.

It’s important because you have an opportunity to set a standard as the only daily newspaper in this marketplace, and standards are important. Please do not contribute, by commission or omission, to the vast sea of ignorance that threatens to overwhelm us.

Next time you’re considering publishing another article on the lack of reading skills in our schools, consider titling it, “Why Spokesmun can’t spel.” Michael Daviduke Spokane