Letters To The Editor

BUSINESS AND LABOR

Attitude poor substitute for knowledge

Re: “Top execs worth rates in gold” (Letters, Dec. 27).

I read with interest Jon Michael Yeager’s letter concerning Kaiser. His audacity amazes me: “Spokane’s little people need to wake up and try a blanket.” His condescension reminds me of the “let them eat cake” mentality. His pretense of knowing all about the cost of talent in industry is a facade for ignorance about the struggles of daily life.

Talented executives are able to balance the interests of shareholders with the needs of workers. Kaiser CEO Ray Milchovich and his ilk lack both the insight and ability to achieve that kind of balance.

Perhaps it would behoove Yeager to stop his “we can’t do anything about it” whining and say something productive.

I am proud to be one of the so-called little people. I also am proud that I have the guts to do something about the corruption in the Kaisers of the world.

One other point deserves mention. Yeager misses the point of private enterprise. Executives are not paid on the backs of the public but on the success of the enterprise.

Walk a mile in the shoes of a Steelworker, Yeager, and your ivory tower will crumble quickly. Thomas L. Doran Spokane

End subsidies for business

“Top execs worth rates in gold” (Letters, Dec. 27) really made me mad.

First, I am tired of hearing how executives must be paid exorbitant amounts just to do their jobs. Only $250,000 a week? Give me a break. It takes years for the average worker to earn $250,000.

It’s time for lawmakers to change the way our money goes to companies. If a company like Kaiser can pay one person $250,000 a week it doesn’t need our money. Whatever happened to the old saying, “a day’s work for a day’s pay”? It seems some top executives use this saying, “a day’s work for a year’s pay.”

Jon Michael Yeager talks about the cost of talent in industry. I say give them an honest salary for what they do and keep taxpayers out of it. David Farman Newman Lake

Strike aftermath difficult, too

For the past two years my father and I have been in a struggle. My father has been a loyal Steelworker at Kaiser for 11 years. Even though the strike is over, my dad hasn’t gotten his job back. Eleven years of hard work turned out to be all for nothing.

I remember getting up at 8 every Thursday morning over the summer to go to the Kaiser workers’ food bank.

My dad was sad for a long time and felt like a failure because he had lost his job (through no fault of his own). He’s gone through three jobs in the last two years and has been laid off from each of them. He has a job now but he’s about to get laid off from that, too.

My dad does a good job of keeping going and never giving up on life, family, work or anything else. I sure wish that Maxxam Corp. Chairman Charles Hurwitz and Kaiser CEO Ray Milchovich would give him his job back. Mandy Patterson Spokane

LAW AND JUSTICE

Court earns support despite decisions

Re: “Justices blew their credibility,” by Eleanor Robson (Letters, Dec. 23 ) We need to remember the Supreme Court ruled 7-2 (liberal and conservative ) that to continue the recount under the existing ever-changing rules would be unfair and therefor unconstitutional, then by a vote of 5-4 put a stop to the chaotic process.

Robson felt that it was a partisan ruling. Perhaps it was. Yet she did not make the same claim about the Florida Supreme Court ruling in favor of Gore’s team.

That court had six Democrats and one independent, their ruling was found to be unconstitutional by the 7-2 vote of the U.S. Supreme Court, and 5-4 regarding the remedy. It seems the Florida ruling was truly partisan as well as the two dissenting votes of the U.S. court.

Robson indicated the U.S. court was partisan and it would be a very long time before she could trust them again. I assume she means she won’t be able to trust them until there are enough justices on the court to tip the vote in favor of the liberal slant. That would be called a fair decision, whereas the conservative slant is called partisan?

Our Supreme Court judges are appointed by our presidents, selected according to the person’s integrity and ideological bent in interpreting law, specifically constitutional law. It should not surprise us that some of the decisions rendered reflect these slants. They certainly have my confidence and support even though I don’t always agree with the decisions handed down.

John Davis Spokane

`May be charged’ not good enough

What is this? The Spokane woman who gave birth in a Salt Lake City Airport bathroom stall “may be charged” with child abuse/neglect?

What is wrong with this picture? Two more minutes and that baby would have died a horrible death - if not for his guardian angel who had the guts to do what was right and save his life. It’s obvious his mother had no intention of doing that. Just where does this country draw the line on child abuse? I only hope that the judicial system does what is right and puts this woman behind bars where she belongs for the attempted murder of her newborn.

Protecting innocent children should be the court’s top priority. Do your job, make a statement and stand proud in defending these kids. Jeanie Smith Nine Mile Falls

PEOPLE AND ANIMALS

For so many reasons, go vegetarian

The new year provides us an opportunity to consider how we can improve our lives and make the world a better place for all. A simple but powerful approach toward this goal is through our food choices. By shifting to a plant-based diet, we benefit our health, preserve the environment and reduce animal suffering.

According to the American Dietetic Association, studies have shown that vegetarians and vegans have a lower risk of breast cancer, colon cancer, diabetes mellitus, gallstones, heart disease, hypertension, kidney stones, obesity, osteoporosis and stroke.

Because livestock animals are injected, fed and sprayed with antibiotics and pesticides, their waste contains toxic chemicals. Much of gets into our waters. Most of the organic water pollution in the United States is attributable to animal agriculture.

The Animal Welfare Act doesn’t apply to animals used for food. Most domestic farm animals are raised on factory farms, confined their entire lives in tiny cages and stalls with concrete, slatted metal or wire mesh floors. They live amid their own and other animals’ wastes.

The new millennium provides every one of us a great opportunity to examine the impacts of our diet, our health, the planet and the millions of animals tormented and killed for food. On the first day of the new year let’s turn over a new leaf, kick the meat habit and get a new lease on life. Jeff L. Caldwell Spokane