Letters To The Editor

BUSINESS AND LABOR

Gorton right to support mine project

I applaud Sen. Slade Gorton’s effort in support of the Battle Mountain Gold Company’s proposed Crown Jewel mining project. This project is vital to the economic vitality and future of Okanogan County.

In 1994, both houses of the Democrat-controlled Legislature approved legislation overhauling the states mining laws. Environmentalists worked alongside industry representatives and regulators to craft these new high environmental safeguards. In fact, Department of Ecology Director Tom Fitzsimmons has accurately described the Crown Jewels permitting process as the most exhaustive in Washington history.

Battle Mountain Gold has cooperated at every turn to meet these high standards. Under current law, Battle Mountain Gold must obtain 70 permits from nine local, state and federal agencies. Our state and federal mining laws have been enacted to prevent tragedies; they have not been enacted to prevent mining. Gorton worked for us. Gorton worked to protect jobs rather than allow the bureaucratic tape to strangle another company out of business. Cathy McMorris Colville

Fitting end to scabs’ tenure

Kaiser told the scabs they would have jobs for life and the fools believed them. These are the same ones who said the Steelworkers should wake up and face reality. Steelworkers did a long time ago and that’s part of the reason the strike started.

I wonder how a little slap of reality in the face felt to the scabs? At least the Steelworkers knew they could count on all but a very small minority of their brothers and sisters to stand with them. All a scab will get from another scab is a stab in the back for the next stolen job. Well, at least the scabs will slink away with their pride, even if it is false pride. Michael J. Hart Post Falls

`Striking’ tells the story

Marie Cantwell was perfectly correct to call two of her events Meeting Striking Steelworkers. As any Steelworker or spouse of steel can tell you, they wouldn’t have been locked out if they hadn’t gone on strike in the first place. Oh well, live and learn, But that’s an experience lesson - would they do it again? K.F. Pittman Spokane

SPOKANE MATTERS

Wilbur a man of integrity, honesty

I have worked on elections for over 30 years and have known Tom Wilbur for many years. He is a man of high integrity and would never knowingly do anything wrong. He has served Spokane and vicinity and the Election Board long and well. He will be sorely missed. Elsie J. Patterson Spokane

Senior games were terrific

Jack and Marion Harvey and Diana Jenno are to be commended for an outstanding job of organizing the recent Washington State Senior Games. Many people over the age of 50 took part in a variety of sport activities. It took much planning to put together the four-day program held mostly at Spokane Community College. All participants enjoyed competing in their individual sport, winning gold, silver and bronze medals, meeting new friends, and the health benefits of physical activity.

Thanks also to the many volunteers who helped make these state games a great success. Many of these seniors will now represent Washington state in the National Senior Olympic Games in Baton Rouge, La. Joanne and Robert Miller Spokane

GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS

Economy good reason to vote Democrat

As an independent voter in the primary election, I voted for Sen. John McCain as I thought he was the right man for the job. I’ve watched both Gove. George W. Bush and Vice President Al Gore, and this is my conclusion:

I find George W. Bush more appealing as a candidate but his politics scare me. I look at his rallies on TV and watch people flock to him, and I’m puzzled. Do these people actually think he cares about them, other than their votes?

I don’t feel Bush represents me or anyone I know, just big big business. There isn’t anything he can say or do to change my mind. This leopard cant change his spots.

Who is Gore? I dont watch him enough to really know. He makes me sleepy because I find him boring.

So its down to logic, which draws me to the fact that my family and I believe the majority in the country have prospered under the Democrats for these past eight years. Gore will get my vote, not the man but the plan.

Ive always believed if its not broke, dont fix it. Americans, lets not make this a popularity contest. Ignore party lines and look at the facts. Our country the general population not the mega-rich will be better off if we stay on our current course. If you dont like the man vote for the plan; its working. William A. Gumm Spokane

Prescription plan rightly opposed

It’s time for truth in advertising. Rep. George Nethercutt voted no on Clinton-Gore prescription drug legislation. This legislation regulating prescription drug prices is the worst idea presented since we axed Hillary health care in 1993. The Clinton-Gore administration claims it will make prescription drugs more affordable for seniors, especially women. But will it?

It won’t! It creates a new bureaucracy. The Congressional Budget Office estimates it will cost $11 billion. Even worse, this plan will squeeze most of the research money drug companies have used to give us all the new drug benefits we’ve received like the beta blockers for heart attack and the new pain killers for arthritis.

We would have to pay $288 the first year for the insurance, which would pay half the cost of prescriptions up to a cap of $2000. The cap would increase to $5,000 but so would the cost, to $528 a year by 2008.

Presently, 62 percent of Medicare recipients already have drug coverage through supplemental insurance, Medicare-plus-Choice, employer paid insurance or Medicaid. A 1998 labor statistic shows our average yearly drug expenditure of $670. Half of us paid less than $500, less than the insurance would cost in 2008.

A Clinton pollster has suggested that Democrats lost the senior vote in 1998 and this fiasco is an attempt to win senior women back. I am one senior woman who isn’t buying. Nethercutt voted no on this legislation. Nethercutt represents me. Jean Bell Springdale

Nethercutt ripped me off

Six years ago, I donated my money and my time to elect George Nethercutt. Rep. Nethercutt then stood for change.

I continued to champion him through his next elections. I again gave money and time. I made phone calls, doorbelled and marched in parades for him.

I believed in Nethercutt. But he is not what he promised, not as advertised.

Satisfaction guaranteed or your money back is the law in advertising. I want my money back. I thought that I was writing a check to return honor and integrity to government. My time cannot be refunded, but my previous donations can be.

If all politicians who broke their word and called it “changing their mind” were required to refund money, perhaps what is said to win elections would be more carefully considered.

Nethercutt, I am not satisfied. I want my money back. Susan Johns Cheney

OTHER TOPICS

Sovereignty also a concept

Recent articles and letters regarding tribal sovereignty have been interesting. Perhaps the discussion could benefit by taking a good look at sovereignty itself.

For the past few years I’ve observed when tribal sovereignty affects resource policy, the white guys complain. Later, I’ll receive a mailing from Washington state Sen. Bob Morton assuring his constituents that he’s trying to protect “our” sovereign rights. So I’ve been wondering, what is sovereignty, who has it, how do you get it and how many different ways can it be presented or perceived?

A respectful sovereignty might take thousands of years to mature and is a byproduct of people interacting with their part of the world. There’s an American Indian dialect that was used in World War II. It was the only code our enemies couldn’t decipher, probably because the language was born of the land and people not of this land had no basis to understand it.

Another good example of Indian sovereignty is their excellent characterization of nature and the environment they lived in. A favorite is the white wolf, a symbol of wisdom and insight. Imagine yourself as the white wolf, standing apart from yourself, and view from a good vantage point the words and actions you made this day.

There are two kinds of sovereignty - one established before the industrial revolution and global markets, and a second that is trying to take root in a world of changing values. Bill Dean Ione, Wash.

Third option the safe, sane one

I can’t believe the Aug. 11 letter from Rick Kelbaugh, in which he intimates he might run down a bicyclist to get past him if he had to, to avoid hitting an oncoming vehicle. I suggest he has another choice: slow down and avoid killing anybody.

His letter illustrates the thinking of some drivers -nothing must interfere with their rate of speed, even at the cost of human life. Dorothy E. Carter Spokane