Letters To The Editor
Over the line
Avista turbines not that clean
A recent editorial rightfully points out that, under existing Inland Empire growth trends, we need more electrical power. However, Opinion editor John Webster tends to chastise Rathdrum Prairie residents who balk at increasing turbine power generators in their area. It’s so easy to support such systems when they are not in your own back yard.
Webster tells us these benign turbine systems generate two byproducts - “noise and exhaust consisting mostly of water vapor and carbon dioxide. What The Spokesman-Review fails to tell the public is that the Avista turbine generator near Rathdrum exhausts about 240 tons annually of carbon monoxide (not dioxide) and about 230 tons annually of nitrous oxide, which is a principal component of acid rain.
This generating system will ultimately consume over 2 million gallons of aquifer water each day. Most of this water is lost to the atmosphere and therefore not returned to the aquifer. We can absorb only a limited amount of these emissions before our air quality fails to meet federal health standards. Furthermore, the aquifer is approximately 50 percent appropriated now. How much more can be extracted before we are out of that source of water?
The Spokesman-Review should stop glossing over what growth is costing us, suggesting we can have our cake and eat it. People must make up their minds what they want; quality of life or growth. Neither is free and I doubt we can have both for very long. John E. Bentley Post Falls
Better generators than degenerates
Rathdrum residents have a problem with Avista’s plans to expand its natural gas-powered electricity generators in the Rathdrum area.
Airway Heights has a problem with the Department of Health and Social Services wanting to build a halfway house for sex offenders in Airway Heights. I’m sure the people of Airway Heights would agree to trade the proposed halfway house with Rathdrum for the natural gas generators. Ed B. Booher Airway Heights
Spokane matters
We’re heading the wrong way
The December issue of Inc. Magazine includes an article, “The best cities to start a business.” In a chart captioned “Since 1993, these small metro areas have shown the biggest decline in their business climate,” Spokane is shown to have fallen from position 23 to 95 - a plunge of 72 points nationally.
As an independent voter, I hold absolutely no political affiliation, including any prejudice toward any City Council member, the mayor, business organization, publication or persons. I grow weary of reports that the city is running out of funds; the ongoing, frivolous, nonproductive arguments and bickering among council members; the increasing fees; wasteful expenditures of the taxpayers’ money; and costly lawsuits that will lead into a blind alley.
If City Council members could ever learn to bury their individual egos and take a very long economic look at the possibilities of turning this city around to an attractive business climate, perhaps the citizens could enjoy the economic benefits. The citizens need a progressive group of dedicated city leaders who truly desire the very best for the voters who put them in office. Perhaps it’s time to return Spokane to national prominence? Tom Hudson Spokane
Good to see poor being helped
Kudos to Catholic Charities and the people of Spokane for the new House of Charity. It is heartwarming to know that the people of our streets have this kind of support in our city. I am so grateful that it was decided to keep this important service in our town because it is essential to many. I was a former co-director in the mid-1970s and know that at that time it was so in need of replacement.
Blessings to R.G. Nelson for his beautiful plans and his effort to make it such a special haven! It is so important for us to convey to all city members that they are very important. Martha (Norris) Nerpel Spokane
Law enforcement
Bragdon deserving of support
Thank you, Jack Brucick (Letters, Nov. 29), for your excellent letter of support for Police Chief Roger Bragdon regarding the Mukogawa Fort Wright episode. There were many of us also extremely angry and disgusted at Terry Brown’s calling for the chief’s resignation. I’d be very interested to know if Brown has an ax to grind against the police department.
I note our local newspaper loves the headline “police criticized” - anything to discredit the department. Doug Floyd recently had all the solutions in an editorial in which he discussed the closing of drug houses; it should never take that long! He, like Brown, should get a clue, go easy on freedom of speech and be knowledgeable on any subject about which he would sound off like an expert. Marie E. Yates Spokane
Government and politics
It’s Gore who runs the whinery
Re: Rick Riddle’s letter of Dec. 5.
“You Republicans” this and “you Republicans” that. Wow. Ever heard of the color gray? It’s in between black and white, and yes, it does exist.
Agreeably, neither candidate has done anything inherently “wrong.” However, the attack that “you Republicans” have a penchant for being the victim can be easily deflected simply by observing both Al Gore and George Bush’s behavior. Gore’s is marked by never-ending legal whining, finger-pointing and “It’s not fair!”
Bush merely responds in a likewise manner. There are two lessons Gore has yet to learn. No. 1, life isn’t fair. No. 2, he who has the most votes wins. If this is difficult for Gore to understand, give my 4-year-old daughter a call and she would be happy to explain it to him.
If there is an umbrella of paranoid behavior over anyone, it would decidedly be the Democratic camp, as this party, under the “leadership” of Bill Clinton, has done more to instill suspicion, secrecy and guilt. The fact that Gore in no way tried to distance himself from Clinton’s mortifying brain-in-his-pants antics shows he is more interested in his own political gain than doing the right thing, which I believe probably would have won him the White House a month ago. The way Gore is running around with his preschool notions that the rules can be changed when you don’t like the outcome is hardly showing him to be any different than the preceding president. Michae’l Alegria Spokane
Will shoe end up on other foot?
Let me see if I understand this. Republicans acknowledge that when they were granted access to the absentee ballot requests, adding the voter identification numbers to make the request “valid,” that it wasn’t proper or usual. But those same folks argue those ballots shouldn’t be thrown out since they were honestly cast, just not honestly obtained.
Now, if these illegally obtained absentee ballots in Florida are thrown out, do you suppose George Bush will request a hand recount? Hey, it could happen! Randy D. Thies Colbert
Democracy a work in progress
All the votes weren’t counted in Florida. So what? The right to vote hasn’t always been universal in the United States.
The 39 delegates who drafted the U.S Constitution abhorred a democracy in the matter of voting rights. In Article IV, Section 4, they wrote, “The United States shall guarantee to every state in the union a republican form of government …”
Their concern about universal voting rights resulted in restrictions and limitations which were made part of the Constitution.
Representatives were apportioned among the states according to their numbers, which were determined by adding the number of free persons, three-fifths of all other persons and excluding Indians.
Senators were chosen by each state legislature, not by popular vote. President and vice president were chosen by electors appointed by the states. John Marshall wrote, we have “a constitution, intended to endure for ages to come, and consequently, to be adapted to the various crises of human affairs.”
In response to a crisis, the 14th Amendment was ratified in 1868 and, among other things, counted all citizens except Indians for the purpose of apportioning for the number of U.S. representatives.
The 17th Amendment, ratified in 1913, required U.S. senators be elected by the voters of each state.
The 19th Amendment, ratified in 1920, gave women the right to vote.
Federal legislation enacted in 1925 granted citizenship to Indians.
A crisis has surfaced and a remedy will be ready for future elections. The peaceful transition to a representative democracy continues to evolve. Earl J. Barlow Spokane
It’s so simple - Bush won
It’s remarkable that any person with the intelligence necessary to write and send a letter to the editor could also fault George W. Bush for the mess we have in Florida. Yet, the letters appear.
An election was held and Bush got the most votes. The votes were recounted and again, Bush got the most votes. Bush’s crime? Assuming that he won the election. I wonder how he got that idea?
Democrats are in courts all over Florida attempting to accomplish with attorneys what they couldn’t do on election day with voters. Since when do elections work that way? You vote, your vote is counted, the guy with the most votes’ wins.
This isn’t an election, it’s a circus - and Al Gore is standing at the gate taking tickets. Larry A. Medin Spokane
Machinations would ruin victory
If Al Gore gains the presidency through another vote count extension, no honest person will believe it was not the result of an elaborate fabrication, contrived by a bigoted, partisan court decision, totally devoid of impartiality and objectivity.
Anybody who says the Florida Legislature does not have the right to select its own electors and delegates is anti-American and betraying the U.S. Constitution. What allows Gore to believe he can represent the heartfelt interests of a majority of Americans, most of whom cannot afford good legal counsel? Wesley A. Storer Spokane
Finally, media expose draft dodger’s pal
It’s about time! For the last month I have been listening and watching as Vice President Al Gore’s people tried so hard to throw out military absentee ballots for lack of a postmark and not once did I hear the media report a reasonable explanation until this morning (Dec. 5).
I spent 18 months in Korea as enlisted Army and I knew my mail wasn’t postmarked because I didn’t have to use a darn stamp to send it! All month I’ve wondered how the media could miss reporting such a fact in their zeal to expose all sides of the voting debacle. Rena Pederson finally explained it correctly (Opinion, Dec. 5).
Duh! How can a candidate for commander in chief base his challenge of the results of the election on such a lame premise? It clearly shows the level of knowledge he gained in eight years hanging around with Mr. Draft Dodger. Frank J. Percy II Spokane
Silver lining four years up ahead
To those who say this most recent presidential election is unique and nothing like it has ever happened before, wait one moment. In 1824, John Quincy Adams won the electoral vote but lost the popular vote to Andrew Jackson. As a result, Adams had a miserable presidency and lost the next election to Andrew Jackson, that time in both the popular and electoral votes.
In 1876, Rutherford B. Hayes ended up winning the Electoral College (through some behind-the-scenes dealings) but lost the popular vote. As a result, he, too, had a very ineffective presidency and was voted out four years later.
In 1888, Benjamin Harrison also won the electoral vote but lost in the popular vote to Grover Cleveland. Harrison had a very unsuccessful presidency. In 1892, Cleveland defeated Harrison in both the popular and electoral votes.
Now it appears Al Gore will defeat George W. Bush in the popular vote but will lose the Electoral College. If Vice President Gore believes in history, he will probably be wise to step back and let Bush have his ineffective presidency. Gore can probably defeat Bush in 2004. Matthew R. Schroeder Pullman
Think of it as theater of the absurd
The best thing I learned about the year 2000 presidential election dispute was the fact that maybe a couple hundred thousand people could argue, while a couple hundred million people could laugh! Politicians and lawyers are a lot like comedians and talk show hosts. Harry W. Miethe Spokane
Idaho viewpoints
Need is parenting, not censorship
As a parent and a Post Falls Library patron, I absolutely disagree with “Porno Palace” protesters Pat Kilpatrick and Ted Corder, who insist that the library’s policy of allowing children to check out R-rated movies is “morally corrupt.”
As parents, we are responsible for what our children view or don’t view on television. Period. It’s not the responsibility of the library board, the library director or the library staff. It’s certainly not the responsibility of Kilpatrick.
It’s dangerous business when a group of individuals attempts to dictate its belief system under the false guise of protecting children from pornography. I believe it’s called censorship.
What’s next, books? Holly A. Hulse Coeur d’Alene
Home schooling items faulty
The headline to Susan Drumheller’s article, “Home schools balk at accreditation proposal,” is needlessly inflammatory and it is old news!
Our concerns over the school district’s transfer credit proposal were first expressed at the school board’s Oct. 25 meeting. We are now well on our way to finalizing an unprecedented bipartisan joint resolution.
I take exception to Drumheller’s inaccurate reporting where she mischaracterizes me saying that I “demanded evidence” from the board of trustees, when in fact I respectfully requested information that would clearly demonstrate whether or not a problem even exists. Had Drumheller been there she would have seen more than 60 home-schooling parents and Christian school administrators conducting themselves in the same respectful manner.
D.F. Oliveria’s Dec. 4 “Parting shot” completely missed the mark. Mike Gearlds did attend the Oct. 25 meeting, reporting for the Bonner Daily Bee. His subsequent articles have been consistently accurate and unbiased, and his service on the citizens committee has been greatly appreciated by all concerned. As a certified public school teacher, he brings a great deal of expertise to the table. Your opinion that he has violated some unwritten journalistic code of ethics is just that - your opinion.
In America we are considered innocent until proven guilty. Gearlds is only guilty of being a good citizen and an excellent reporter. Oliveria would be well advised to withhold judgment until he proves either bias or inaccuracy in his reporting. So far, the only inaccuracy and “confusion” on this issue has appeared in your paper. Rev. Larry Nelson Hope, Idaho
Health and safety
You, too, could get stuck in storm
My family and I were in one car among thousands gridlocked on Snoqualmie Pass on a recent Sunday as travelers crossed from one side of the state to the other in a sudden snowstorm. The spectacle of SUVs spinning helplessly as their drivers stared out at the falling snow with bewildered looks on their faces gave us things to talk about - some funny, some worrisome.
The serious thing is that bad weather doesn’t care that you are a nice person, make lots of money, are pregnant, in a hurry or whatever else one thinks of when traction begins slipping.
There were hundreds of all kinds of cars unable to move due to careless, thoughtless or irresponsible thinking. No matter what the reason, the real problem was it appeared most people had made little or no provisions for dealing with being stuck on a cold mountain pass for an extended time.
There isn’t room here for the necessary list of reminders for winter travelers. Suffice it to say, yes, you can die out there. And if you don’t die, you will certainly decide, after a close call in a winter storm, to get provisions for the next trip.
Why not save yourself and your fellow travelers the inconvenience and discomfort, avoid the bad experience and plan your emergency stuff now?
A good lurid story of awful winter driving experiences may trigger some quick list making. Terry Lawhead Spokane