Letters To The Editor

Tue., Dec. 12, 2000

Government and politics , Congress should pick someone else

Someone needs to explain to the Republicans in this town that Al Gore got the popular vote because over half the people in the country view George Bush as a dumbbell and an embarrassment to our country - not because they liked Gore.

Slightly less than half didn’t care if Bush thinks Nigeria is a continent or that Social Security isn’t a government program, that he slaughters the English language and is clueless in both foreign and domestic affairs. They just hate Gore.

Then we have all those embarrassing “irregularities” in the Florida vote from Republican precincts reporting more votes than they had ballots, the dead and the convicted felons being left on the voter registration (wonder who they voted for?), voting machines that blocked people from voting for president, but only in Democratic areas, ballot tampering and numerous other no-no’s.

If this garbage went on in a Third-World country, we wouldn’t recognize the government it produced. I don’t think Congress should recognize this one, either. For the sake of civil peace, Congress should pick the next president - excluding Gore and Bush, as it seems the only reason either got votes was because most of America hated one of them and chose the lesser of evils. Judith Jones Spokane

Persistence doesn’t pay, Gore

In considering Vice President Al Gore’s admonition to count every vote, including any pregnant chads or dimpled chads - and all of this after the election - I have another suggestion. Why not take a poll of all those who voted for Gore and ask them if they would now like to change their vote?

I have talked with at least five people who voted for Gore in the November election and all of them wish they could change their vote. They strongly believe Gore should concede at this point.

Gore, are you listening? Joan A. Colwell Spokane

Unplug deregulation to fix problem

It was interesting to read that the “electric energy crisis” is real and a committee is being formed to study the situation.

A “meddling Congress” threatened to pass a national electric deregulation bill some years back. That stampeded many state legislatures into passing illconceived electric deregulation laws. Deregulation was promoted by the big commercial-industrial electric users that wanted to be allowed to buy energy from outside their service area. That was supposed to increase competition and reduce electric rates. In fact, the lower rates would go to the big users only. Their lower rates would be ultimately subsidized by rate increases for individual residential consumers.

The Washington State Utilities and Transportation Commission has wisely dragged its feet in implementing deregulation. California, by contrast, opted for complete deregulation and is suffering the consequences.

State utility commissions regulate the rates private electric utilities may charge customers within their designated service areas. The regulation is in lieu of competition and the commissions have done an excellent job. For example, Avista customers enjoy some of the lowest rates in the nation.

With deregulation, a utility will no longer be guaranteed a service area and predictable load. Utilities, faced with those uncertainties, are unwilling to invest shareholders’ money in construction of new generating facilities to cover forecasted load growth. That’s a major factor contributing to the so-called crisis.

State legislatures should reject the deregulation laws immediately. That would allow electric utilities to construct adequate generating facilities to cover load growth. B.E. Smith retired WWP system operator, Loon Lake

Business and labor

Surely, we need those dams now

Isn’t it ironic that some of the same people who want to breach the four dams on the Snake River are crying out for more electricity in the face of brownouts and blackouts? Yes, the dams produce only 5 percent of the region’s power supply but they are clean and inexpensive sources of power.

Air quality regulators in California have allowed the restart of several power plants that had been shut down because of high pollution levels. Now, when there is a need for more electricity, it’s all right to exceed air quality standards. Isn’t that a double standard?

Do we want to replace a clean source with a pollution-generating one? It would take several combustion turbines burning natural gas to replace the electricity lost by the four dams. Each year, it is estimated, those gas turbines would produce 222 tons of particulates, 148 tons of sulfur dioxide, 518 tons of nitrous oxide, 148 tons of carbon monoxide and 2,588,000 tons of carbon dioxide.

And now, Avista is seeking a 29 percent increase in the rate it charges customers who use natural gas. What do you think that will do to your energy bill? Randy Suess Washington Association of Wheat Growers, Colfax

Steelworkers being tested again

After receiving a call from a friend’s wife regarding Kaiser’s determination to close its Mead operation, my wife and I sat down and put a copy of “It’s a Wonderful Life” in our VCR. It was uplifting to us. As bad as things seem, it could be worse.

I feel sorry for people who regard money as the No. 1 priority in life.

My fellow Steelworkers have endured two years of financial hardship, only to be knocked down again. God bless you, Grinch, you stole Christmas.

I feel that we, through the last two years, have learned some valuable lessons about our finances, about our family values and what is really important in our lives.

This strike-lockout has caused divorces and family problems (due to relatives entering the work force).

As far as I am concerned, Kaiser Mead has the finest work force in the world. It is a shame that someone doesn’t realize it.

Henry J. Kaiser made his money out of this company and others. But I believe he gave some back to his employees.

Steelworkers, be strong. God never gives you more than you can handle. This is a test. We are all survivors, aren’t we?

An old Irish proverb says, “May you be in heaven half an hour before the devil knows you are dead.’ Good luck, Charlie. You lose. Donald S. Pope Spokane

We know only too well

Kaiser’s new PR campaign is typical of a business in trouble that desperately needs to regain the community’s trust and respect. So Kaiser floods all forms of the media to tell the public, “We just wanted you to know.”

What Kaiser really means is, “We’re hoping you’ll forget what we’ve done the last two years.”

“Improved air quality” means Kaiser paid almost $1 million in fines for violations - almost anything would be an improvement.

“Improved safety” means Kaiser now has skilled workers who know how to keep hands out of machines and that ingots shouldn’t be dropped on trucks.

“Lean manufacturing” - what you call it when most of your customers left during the lockout.

“Good place to live by” - unless their dross waste piles have contaminated your ground water.

“Detail to quality `’ - when you’re running less than half of what you used to, you have a lot more time to spend on details.

“Great place to work” - unless they lay you off to sell the power they get at rates far below market value from Bonneville Power Administration. BPA gives Kaiser reduced rates so it can keep its plants running. Since BPA is subsidized by taxpayers, Kaiser has found a way to pocket money off the whole community by selling this power on the open market. While our rates go up, Kaiser made $47 million selling power.

So, when Kaiser managers flood us with their ads we can say, Thanks, Kaiser, we already know. Wendy S. Wise Hayden, Idaho

My, what a coincidence

Closure of a plant like Kaiser Mead doesn’t happen quickly. Many meetings and significant planning must have occurred prior to this announcement. It strikes me that Kaiser is acting in a mean-spirited fashion.

Yes, I know the reason of energy conservation is being used to put the right spin on a bad situation. Why couldn’t Kaiser have at least waited until the holiday season is over? Can you imagine what effect this will have on so many people?

Does anyone besides me think the two-year strike could have anything to do with this? I hope Kaiser would be above that. Vernon J. Nelson Spokane

Wise up, people - the fix is in

The wheels are greased well. They are busy manufacturing consent for additional power generation. The fully integrated corporate media again carry the ball to misinform the public.

For a predicted two-day cold spell, they would have us believe the generation system could collapse? Get real. We are being primed to subsidize new and expanded-capacity gas turbines, and to keep up support for dams on the Snake River. We pay twice because we taxpayers also foot the bill to revive wild salmon runs.

Issues in The Spokesman-Review are portrayed as independent and unrelated. Kaiser idles potlines and sells publicly subsidized power for millions in profit, while laying off its work force. We are told the proposed Avista expansion in Rathdrum will be able to “provide power for 4,000 homes.” How about “or 5 percent of one potline”?

Conservation is not discussed, while anyone can see that the aluminum industry is on the way out in our area.

If legitimate brownouts occur in the Northwest, it is because the Californians will pay more for the power. Deregulation has been great for the corporate bottom line. Think about what is going on in this country. We are being sold out.

The events in Florida are also related to the abuses referenced above. Our politicians do not represent the people. We can take the power back. Consider third-party options. This house of cards, which is our culture, disenfranchises 98 percent of the citizenry. For democracy to function, everyone must participate. Gregory Rupert Spokane

Poison sugar plums, anyone?

Kaiser lays off 400 people at its Mead plant two weeks before Christmas. Brilliant PR work portrays this as a response to a power shortage.

Oh, by the way, Kaiser will sell the power it doesn’t need and make more money than if it had used that power to make aluminum.

Union workers, did you get the message? Is Kaiser immune to public opinion?

There is a hazardous waste problem out there. Why doesn’t someone in government act? Do any of our officials or representatives think that the profits made from selling power from “our dams” will be spent at Nordstrom in Spokane? Skilled public relations by Kaiser will answer all of these questions and more?

This is the season for fairy tales, but I bet the 400 workers and families of Kaiser workers won’t buy Ray Milchovich’s explanation. Frank A. Malone Spokane

Avista has the power to rip us off

I became distressed after reading the Dec. 9 Spokesman-Review regarding our power supply, so I need clarification.

Avista oversold power to California so we in the Northwest, known for its abundant natural resources, are asked to limit our electrical use and brace ourselves for an increase of possibly 29 percent in our rates, after being told we will be getting rebates.

What is wrong with this picture? A CEO makes some bad decisions, out of greed, leaves town with a huge financial package and we the consumers are being told we are going to pay for it. It is all about profits and the shareholders, and even though the Avista customers are not technically shareholders we should have some say.

Avista Corp. has taken advantage of us and will probably get away with it because we have no other options. Peggie Boothe Spokane

Stop the waste - problem solved

What is all this hype about possible brownouts in Eastern Washington due to increased demand caused by a big Arctic cold front? Has anyone looked around? Have you noticed all of the neon lights that burn 24 hours a day or the high rises in downtown with lights burning at all hours, or the gas stations all over town with lights on over the gas service area all the time? Why?

Our society is wasteful. We could conserve so much power that this brownout talk would dry up and go away for a long time.

My theory is that the utilities want more power generating capacity in Washington and probably want the taxpayers to subsidize it like in the days of WPPSS about 20 years ago. I say no, let’s conserve the power we have and use it with conservation in mind. Let’s only burn lights that are absolutely necessary.

This supposed shortage could also be a way of justifying the need for the Snake River dams when those should be breached immediately to save the endangered salmon.

Let’s get real about conservation. Now is the time! Let’s take the initiative and do it voluntarily, before it is required. And let’s start subsidizing alternative sources of power like wind, solar, fuel cells and other technologies still on the drawing board. When I was a kid, my dad often reminded me to turn off the light when I left a room. How about you? Steve Bradburn Spokane

Meet Our Journalists

Jesse Tinsley

Meet Jesse Tinsley. As a certified drone pilot, this veteran Spokesman-Review photographer often can be seen capturing beautiful aerial photographs of our region. Sometimes though, the job requires getting down with the dogs.
Jim Meehan

Jim Meehan is no stranger to Zag Nation. As the lead writer covering the Gonzaga men’s basketball team, he tells the stories behind the game and gets fans a bit closer to their favorite players.
Molly Quinn

There is no artist in Spokane like Molly Quinn. Her whimsical style is instantly recognizable to readers of The Spokesman-Review. She has painted gorgeous illustrations that instantly elevate the journalism accompanying it. She brings to life the stories that defy photography. She makes our pages better.
Rob Curley

Spokesman-Review editor Rob Curley loves to talk with people and learn about their lives, whether it's a best-selling author or a stranger he meets downtown on his walk to lunch. It's that inquisitive nature combined with a playful sense of storytelling that helps make our newspaper different than most.