Letters To The Editor
Consumer issues
Slick sellers prey on the elderly
Slick, corrupt door-to-door salesmen still exist. While home with a broken leg and on pain medication, my mother recently was conned by two vacuum cleaner salesmen. One of them knocked on her door, saying he had lost his way (she lives outside Moscow).
Although she said she wasn’t in the market for a new vacuum, he convinced her to let him vacuum her carpets and then insisted on leaving the vacuum overnight for her to consider. He returned with his partner the next day.
After several hours of hard sell she gave in, spending a whopping $1,250.
They lied repeatedly, saying that they worked independently out of Lewiston-Clarkston, bought straight from the factory with no middle man, sold the old trade-ins to Gypsies for $5, the older of the two was a pastor, etc.
After hearing what happened, I spent hours tracking them down. They actually work as salesmen out of a Coeur d’Alene store but the store denies responsibility. Although they agreed to meet with my mother and another family member, they never called back. Instead, they showed up without warning to tell her “the sale is final.”
The company headquarters takes complaints but files them away after notifying the “responsible” store, which then has 48 hours to respond. There is no guarantee the wrong will be undone, simply that it is addressed.
We must now pursue legal action (the American way). Elderly widows on limited incomes should not be victimized by such predators. Virginia Harris Spokane
Brewery demise part of sad trend
My husband and I have been loyal patrons of a historical landmark downtown, Fort Spokane Brewery. It’s not a fancy establishment. It’s not a chain restaurant that serves mediocre food and all-you-can-drink soda. Instead, it’s a historical icon, truly, because it represents in many ways what Spokane has meant to us. Sadly, the “FSB,” as it is lovingly called by locals, will be shutting down in December. Why and how?
After much reflection, I wonder how do we as a community support the eating establishments, such as FSB, that are unrelated to chain restaurants? How do we ensure that older businesses won’t be bumped by the emergence of strip mall mentality? Clearly, our priorities as a community are either founded on the fast-food options or have taken a back seat to the conglomerate mentality that pervades, and in some ways erodes, the vitality of Spokane.
To the staff of the Fort Spokane Brewery, our heartfelt thanks goes beyond the hearty pat on the back for exceptional service. Many close friends have gathered on Fridays to chat about life and love. Our toddler son, Cameron, loves the Ping-Pong paddles, endless pinball and clam chowder provided by servers Tom and Amy. We appreciate the music talk with Geoff. We thank Ryan for sponsoring Damian’s bowling team and for helping us celebrate our anniversary.
Most of all, we will miss welcoming the first snowfall out the windows of the brewery each November and reading the Inlander, the Local Planet and The Spokesman-Review in a relaxing and timeless setting.
Farewell, Fort Spokane Brewery. We will not forget you. Julie Perron Spokane
Spokane matters
Tell council to drop costly ideas
What is going on with our City Council? After reading about the Nov. 27 meeting, I am disgusted.
In one action they had been discussing how to raise money for street repairs with a proposed street utility tax. Since when is a street considered a utility? I can’t believe they want to charge us for driving on our roads. I’m sure their next proposal will be to raise our property taxes yet again.
Then they have the nerve to discuss pay raises for the council members from $18,000 to $30,000 a year. I am sure most of us would love a pay raise like that. The supposed logic behind these raises is the hope that the salary will attract a “better” type of individual to run for the council. Doesn’t say much for the folks in there now, does it?
If these people could learn how to manage the money in their budget effectively maybe we would not need to look for imaginative ways to raise money. Just how much of our money has been spent on the countless lawsuits against the River Park Square garage and the ill-fated Lincoln Street bridge project?
Come on, people of Spokane, don’t you care where your money is going? Both the street utility tax and pay raises were deferred, so why don’t we let the council know how we feel about these issues? Christy L. Heitstuman Spokane
More money for squandering?
Councilman Steve Eugster proposes a special street tax to be levied against homeowners and businesses within the city limits. If such a tax were to be supported, what assurances would residents have that money collected would be administered by staff other than the persons who designed and executed the Indian Trail Road project which was completed months behind schedule, $450,000.00 over budget and is still essentially a two-lane road?
It seems a few years ago a street bond was floated and the money was used to pave gravel streets instead of improving heavily traveled streets. Jo Shaw Spokane
Government and politics
Affliction is bipartisan, appalling
As a registered independent, I am appalled by the behavior of both of the major party candidates during this election. Is it not apparent to anyone but me that either candidate and/or party will do anything to stay in power, in order to assuage their enormous egos? They are products of parties whose primary purpose is to stay in power at all costs, regardless of how this reflects on the world stage.
Both candidates reflect exactly what America is today - a nation of people who believe losing is not their fault but the error of someone or something else. They therefore employ a swarm of lawyers to find a sympathetic ear for their cause. This was reflected locally not long ago in a soccer player’s not being allowed to be on two teams at the same time - in violation of clear rules.
This is what our country is turning into - a bunch of spoiled, whining egomaniacs. Steve Hintyesz Spokane
For veterans’ sake, give it time
If our young people in the military could die for this country, the people of the United States should not mind showing a little patience to make sure that our democracy is preserved. Let all the ballots be counted. Let the world know that we live up to what we say we are.
If it takes a little bit of time and patience, make it a gift to those who left and never returned. They richly deserve it.
I lived in Paris when the Allies crossed the channel on their way to Normandy and crossed Paris en route to Germany. I knew many of them for a short time. They were so happy to be in Paris and so unbelievably young!
It is not a question of who wins or loses; I personally do not care. It is a question of conscience, remembering their sacrifice.
Let the process go on without interference. Let democracy work! Simone Cummings Spokane
Let Floridians do it over, quickly
The presidential election - what a joke. Throw out all the Florida votes and make them all vote over. Any hole that isn’t punched clear out does not count. Let’s get it over with.
I would like to watch a program on TV that isn’t interrupted by a “special news report” that tells us absolutely nothing. Viola F. Golden Colville
It’s all going to pot
The popular election of U.S. senators destroyed our federal system of government. The popular election of the U.S. president will be the next to last step in the destruction of our republic. Jon J. Tuning Spokane
GOP one up - c’est la vie
With respect to the Florida election issues, perhaps one of life’s greatest lessons is that life is not fair. That those who should succeed, under the most objective of examinations, do not always prevail. That there are those who can and do succeed through the flagrant manipulation of position, office and law - all legal and above board, of course. And that those who succeed are not necessarily winners. (The appearance, if not the reality, is often good enough and that may be sufficient in Florida. The stakes being what they are, the appearance of winning is everything.)
Unfairness like this will be a constant throughout our lives. It is how we survive and go on from not necessarily our failure but from the failures inherent in others or from the passive or active obstructionism of those who directly or indirectly impact our lives.
The striving for fairness is, and should remain, one of the hallmarks of this republic. But as with all things dependent upon humans and human nature, our nation is not always successful. Failures like this have happened many times in the past.
The gritty bottom line here is that it seems the Republicans have managed to out-thieve the Democrats. In addition to all else, that is probably something of an embarrassment to the Democrats, who appear to have lost their touch in this regard, at least in Florida. Donald O. Capstick Spokane
Let’s get busy with reforms
Before election night, the pundits told us this campaign season was marked by “apathy.” But certainly, the post-election day period has been marked by the most attention to the electoral process any of us can remember. The pundits are now telling us that we are a “nation divided“ - an assessment that is as close to reality as the charge of apathy. True enough, there are vocal, divisive forces at play and lying in wait, ready to spew dissension and enmity - but there always are. The rest of us share values, hopes and goals even if we may have slightly divergent strategies and points of view. There is much that unites us.
Two things that unite the vast majority of Americans: we want an unimpaired opportunity to vote and we want that vote accurately counted.
Now is the time for us to start getting 21st century systems and equipment in place for our next election.
These are issues upon which all political parties can agree. Renovating the process and upgrading the machines could be the basis of national and state unity in legislatures closely balanced along party lines.
We need to know that the candidate elected reflects the choice of those voting, especially if it isn’t the candidate we personally chose. W. Ross Coble Spokane
Gore trying to change the rules
Vice President Al Gore needs to concede immediately, not only for the good of the country but also for his own personal best interest. He is becoming a liability for the Democratic Party. The world wonders what low he might stoop to next in his endless quest to change “undecided votes” to Gore votes.
Prior to the new millennium, the American way was to change minds of undecided voters before the election. In his zeal for Florida’s electoral votes, know-it-all Gore is telling Floridians how their state’s votes should be counted. In other words, change the rules after the election. Every child knows that you can’t change the rules in the middle of the game.
Gore’s tactics are fast-changing and increasingly desperate. He realizes that he can’t win if dimpled chads aren’t counted as actual votes. So he gives a nice speech saying every American’s vote must count. Then he contradicts himself by insisting that overseas ballots should not count unless they precisely adhere to every instruction.
I hope fine, upstanding Americans make it clear that Gore’s tactics are reprehensible. He should concede. A.L. Johnson Deer Park
Be fair, take time, count all
Opinion editor John Webster’s editorial (Nov. 28) missed the mark in a number of ways. Although Gov. George W. Bush may very well be a good man, Vice President Al Gore not only was the choice of Washington’s voters, he was the choice of voters nationwide - as reflected in his popular-vote victory. To deny his possible right to the presidency because of uncounted or miscounted votes in Florida would be a travesty of justice.
How can the public respect its government and unite behind a victor if votes legally cast are ignored? And why, in the interests of expediency, would Webster want them to be ignored? If we ignore the votes of thousands in Florida in this election, how can you have confidence that your vote will not be ignored in a future election?
As your state goes through its own mandated recount in the senate race, would you want your vote to be ignored?
What’s the hurry? What are these crucial post-election chores that can’t wait for an accurate, fair tally of votes to be completed? (We have a president with a 60 percent approval rating running our country until Jan. 20.)
If, as the evidence seems to indicate, the Florida secretary of state rejected 180 votes that Gore would have picked up in the hand recount ordered by its state Supreme Court and if there are still thousands of uncounted votes in Miami-Dade County, why not take the time to count the votes? James W. Ramsey Ponderay, Idaho
Idaho viewpoints > Even with problems, Idaho is great
Idaho, Where the feds can waste money on wolves and grizzly bears but won’t fix one of the most dangerous highways in America.
Idaho, Where the feds force us to kill one kind of fish in order to save another.
Idaho, where the feds force us to take other states’ nuclear waste.
Idaho, where it’s all right for the state to run a lottery, but if you’re a Native American you have to fight like hell for basically the same privilege.
Idaho, where most school districts are so poor from a lack of good-paying jobs that they can’t afford to fix all of their broken-down and overcrowded school buildings.
Idaho, where the state coffers are overflowing but the Legislature can’t seem to cough up any money to bring all of our schools up to standard.
Idaho, where children get sick and people die breathing bluegrass smoke, just so some people can have lawns and golf courses.
Idaho, where in spite of all the greed and incompetence, it’s still a wonderful and beautiful place to live. Ron L. Richardson Rathdrum
People’s generosity gratifying
All of us have undoubtedly experienced, at some level, the grind of everyday life. Whether it’s shortages of time or money, the need to deal with unpleasant or unreasonable people, or something else which beats us down, we’ve all been there.
In the midst of such experiences it’s truly gratifying to be part of an unfolding drama in which people become their best selves, where a need is articulated and people respond.
As program manager at the Community Action Agency Food Bank in Coeur d’Alene I was part of such an unfolding this past week. Community contributions of turkeys, other food items and money for our Thanksgiving basket program had come in steadily since early November. However, the number of persons in need exceeded the donated resources.
On Nov. 21, KHQ-TV ran a story highlighting this shortfall. Throughout the next day, Wednesday, we experienced a nearly continuous stream of people arriving at our food bank with donated items. As a result, we were able to provide makings for a complete Thanksgiving dinner for nearly 600 families - an increase of nearly 150 beyond what we could’ve provided otherwise.
I thank each person who made a donation. The gratitude expressed by those who received the baskets was evident. It was wonderful to experience an outpouring of support for those whose Thanksgiving tables would’ve been bare or only sparsely appointed. Mark A. Haberman Coeur d’Alene