Letters To The Editor
GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS
Same old Clinton bashing again
Sen. Larry Craig and his followers’ attack on President Clinton`s roadless initiative is just another example of the never-ending Clinton bashing that the country has experienced the last eight years.
The economic impact of the roadless ban on special interest groups is minor. Existing logging roads provide ample access to the national forests for multiple uses. After all these years of heavy federal subsidies for the timber interests, the real issue is the loss of subsidies.
What do the opponents hope to gain with their divisive politics? Why do they bash the ban`s supporters as dishonest and elitist?
Clinton decided this issue in the best interests of the country, as a whole, and that of future generations.
Craig and company bring to mind the populist politics of George Wallace in the 1960s. Instead of race, the issue is Clinton, the “enviros” and the Forest Service, who serve as their scapegoats. Their divisive politics have accomplished nothing and been very counterproductive.
People of the Inland Northwest need to unite in order to meet the challenge of the future. Thomas Jefferson was the originator of the Conservative movement. Jefferson thought responsibility to future generations was of the greatest importance. Clinton is being truly conservative and has the support of a solid majority of the people.
When will we realize the folly of local politics?
Let’s come together and compromise on subsidized helicopter logging of young fir stands and on funds to protect the Northwest quality of life. S.S. Howze Sagle, Idaho
Nethercutt aide treated us rudely
We are writing to express our disappointment and dismay over the treatment we received from Rep. George Nethercutt’s aide during the Republican convention several weeks ago.
We are high school students who are interested in politics and eager to get involved. We volunteered to help the Eastern Washington Term Limits group parading as part of the King Weasel entourage. We wanted to urge Nethercutt to keep his promise, and convey to the people attending the importance of keeping one’s word.
As we arrived in front of the convention site, Nethercutt’s aide greeted us with vulgar language we would rather not repeat. It is no wonder why so many young people do not want to get involved in politics these days.
Although we understand why they would not be thrilled to see us, has civility been completely tossed out the window these days? Nethercutt should be ashamed of the treatment we received from the people he employs. One of the great things about our country is the ability to disagree, but not like that.
It appears that when you work for someone who breaks their word and lies to the voters, you must have been taught it is OK to treat people that way. Mark Kendall, 15 and Jeremy Fagan, 15 Spokane
Military retirees never got a say
Re: “Retirees’ interests sacrificed” At least the union members of Kaiser are getting an opportunity to vote on the issue that affects their health care. Every U.S. military retiree thought they would have “lifetime health care” for the services they rendered their country. This was a benefit promised numerous times during their enlistments. Now we pay for our health and dental care. When was our opportunity to vote, our arbitration? Jim Zarkos U.S. Air Force, retired, Spokane
THE ENVIRONMENT
Roadless areas comment deadline today
Today is the last day to send your comments to the Forest Service regarding the draft environmental impact statement about the inventoried roadless areas of our national forests.
Don’t let this very important opportunity pass you by. Let the Forest Service know that you favor alternative No. 4, which prevents additional logging, road building and mining. Request that they implement their plan now and not wait for the next revision of the forest plan, which could be years away. Ask them to include smaller roadless areas that aren’t 5,000 acres and larger and also ask them to include the Tongass National Forest in Alaska, which is totally excluded at this point.
Send your comments to:
USDA Forest Service-CAET
Attention Roadless Areas Proposed Rule
PO Box 221090
Salt Lake City, UT 84122
Remember, this is for our children. Future generations deserve some wild and pristine places that have been spared the agonies of our so called management.
Look at a clearcut, a tree farm, a wild and pristine forest. What would you like to be remembered for by future generations? I want to be remembered for the wild places, like the ones I’ve so enjoyed in my life. Steve Bradburn Spokane
Senator on wrong side of pollution issue
Sen. Mike Crapo recently announced that he would fight the new Environmental Protection Agency total maximum daily loads requirement. This euphemism is used to describe the amount of pollution allowed by the EPA.
The senator means well but what isn’t known by 99 percent of the public is that there are 21,309 streams and segments that the fish can’t breed in and/or you shouldn’t swim in, in the 50 states. These streams are in a mess because of chemicals, nutrients, sediment, pesticides or a host of other reasons. This enormous number could be compounded by the fact that many states underreport their TMDL’s by as much as 100 percent. The Western Center for Environmental Information has this information documented.
WCEI applauds the EPA for raising the standards. Hopefully, it will reverse the trend now seen on the threatened and endangered species lists generated by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Servicce.
WCEI is documenting all the polluted streams (TMDL’s) in the United States (see www.wcei.org). It is hoped that more states will cooperate with the EPA rather than fight about how much more polluting they can do. Idaho needs to lead the way toward clean streams that mean clean water for everyone.
Crapo must have misread what the new EPA requirement is and what the EPA wants Idaho to do. Max Casebeau director, WCEI, Sun Valley, Idaho
Don’t fall for the big lie
The drum beat of the environmental action gang continues to drown out the muffled voice of common sense. Most people have been led to believe the lie that we all need to be nonpartison, smiling, politically correct individuals; that we must believe everything that the enviro crowd spews out through the national media; that we must agree to every new regulation and idea that these people come up with in their behind-closed-doors seances. Scrooge said it best: “Bah! Humbug!”
We continue to be inundated with the lie that we are doomed unless we take out our dams, save the salmon, relinquish our water rights, stop farming, fence off our forests and water bodies, save the lynx, save the catchfly, save the ground squirrel, save the bat. We are told that “we the people” are to blame for every problem on Earth. Even natural disasters are blamed on people. Hey, even nature is being blamed for being wrong!
What will it take to stop this nonsense? Patriots! Patriotic, clear-thinking, honest, moral people with courage can turn the tide. Are there any other patriots out there? There better be or the lie may come true! Robert D. Lonn consultant-planner, Davenport, Wash.
HEALTH AND SAFETY
Stop for pedestrians? No thanks
Well, I nearly got someone else killed today. This has happened twice before. I don’t mean to endanger anyone, it just happens!
What do I do that makes me a menace to others? I stop to let pedestrians pass. Before, I have stopped on four-lane roads to let someone cross in the crosswalks. Before, the drivers in the fast side sped past me, not knowing or caring why I stopped. Before, two older women have had to move or jump back to keep from being hit. This all happened one foot away from the front of my truck. I almost saw two terrible accidents, right before my eyes.
I learned my lesson. I don’t stop on four-lane roads unless I have the whole road to myself.
But today was different. I was going east on Buckeye, a two-lane road. There was a mom with two little children waiting to cross. There was no one coming from the other direction and I could block the lane behind me. So I stopped. Bad move. A woman behind me, late for work or a mocha, swerved to the left, crossed the double yellow line into an intersection and only slowed down a little when she saw the mother and children in the crosswalk. It was horrible. There again, I almost saw a tragedy, feet before my eyes.
I did it again. I stopped for a pedestrian. When will I learn? Guy Slover Spokane