Letters To The Editor

HEALTH AND SAFETY

Tighten, enforce food handler rules

As a restaurant employee and restaurant patron, I am very concerned with the recent hepatitis A incident at the downtown Carl’s Jr.

The main reason for hepatitis problems in restaurants is the lack of screening of employees for diseases and the lack of proper training for correct food handling procedures.

If you want to work in a restaurant, you will eventually need a health card. To obtain a health card you must take a class at the health department that is followed by a written test. It is not required, however, that you have a medical checkup. Also, many restaurants are very lenient about these cards, so many employees don’t even have them or don’t get them until months after beginning employment. That means the prep cooks may not even know how to be safe while handling food.

I suggest that a drastic change occur. All restaurant employees should be required to get a medical exam, verifying that they do not have dangerous diseases. Also, health cards should be required prior to employment and employers should be strict in seeing to it that they do.

These steps should be taken to prevent future incidents of hepatitis A and other diseases being transmitted through the food served at restaurants. Jarrott Moonitz Spokane

Restaurants should take more care

When I read “Carl’s Jr. customers at risk” (Feb. 17) I was disturbed, because it seems that every year some food service business develops a problem with either hepatitis A or E-coli.

The hepatitis A problem at Carl’s Jr. not only affected me but the other 1,600 kids that I go to school with, some of whom eat there every day. Many of Lewis and Clark’s students, including myself, had to get a shot for a virus that could have been controlled in the first place. This is not acceptable and should not be tolerated.

Food companies must provide all the necessary shots for their employees. If a food service company cannot guarantee that their food will not be contaminated, then they obviously shouldn’t be in business. Jamie Black Spokane

Strikers’ tactics dangerous

Striking Kaiser Steelworkers have stooped to a new low. Their hatefulness toward the drivers of semi-trucks and other vehicles entering and exiting the Kaiser Trentwood facility as being displayed by the sharp steel screws that are littering the roadway in front of their picket lines. This not only endangers the lives of those whose tires pick up the screws, but any others in vehicles around them when their tire is low. Apparently, the Steelworkers have never witnessed what occurs when a semi blows a steering tire. Would their actions be considered homicide should an accident take a life? Chris Sartain Spokane

PROTEST

Showgirls’ foes want theocracy, control

I never cease to be surprised. Recent letters criticizing the agenda of those marching at State Line prove to me there are still freedom-loving people in the Spokane area. As even a casual reader can see, most of the letters to the editor reflect someone or some group’s desire to quash someone else’s freedom or heap more societal or governmental authority on all of us.

To be sure, those zealots picketing at State Line are within their rights. However, those of us who do not share this zealousness need to understand what their real goals are beyond the stated goal of helping a few women who choose to dance semi-nude. Their goal is the elimination of anything they do not deem to be in the best interest of their envisioned society. In short, these people have no real use for freedom and diversity of thought. They want a theocracy, not a democracy.

The rest of us need to wake up. Remember, this country went down this road before with Prohibition.

While the rest of the world laughs at us and our puritanical debates, we continue to lose perspective as to the real issues facing our great country. Jim Prokop Moses Lake

`Leave the club alone’

Re: “Dancer trying to earn a living,” (March 4). If what happened in Spokane happens to Stateline Show Girls, it would put many women out of work, which is not good for the community.

I do not agree with church groups that want to protest against this type of adult entertainment. My rights are being violated and religion is being forced on me. I do not see representatives of Showgirls protesting churches. Leave the club alone. Stephen E. Ousley Spokane

Protesters should do some real good

After reading the article about Stateline Showgirls, I was disappointed the protesters-religious affiliates would expend so much energy and time on the showgirls who are trying to support themselves and their families without the help of welfare.

These people who are protesting should devote their time and energy toward helping these girls find suitable employment with decent pay or support a worthy organization helping needy children, the homeless or disabled. Spend time seeing the elderly in a nursing home instead of protesting. Leave showgirls alone.

This is something that has been going on for centuries and will continue for centuries to come. If Stateline Showgirls is shut down it will just come in another form. You protesters must learn to deal with it and get on with your lives and direct your energy toward a more needy cause.

There is more trouble and danger at the establishments that serve alcohol than there is at Showgirls, which allows no alcohol. Patrons of Showgirls do not get into their cars after a night of viewing and endanger your life or mine.

Let’s not forget that this is a free country and what one chooses to do with their lifestyle is their own business, not yours. What goes on behind closed doors, unless they are your own, is none of your concern. There has been no problems to arise at Showgirls other than you, the protesters. M.L. Wheeler Spokane

It’s a free country - get it?

Re: “Foes say strip club crosses line,” (March 4). Last time I checked, this was a free country. If people don’t like the strip clubs, then don’t go there. If people want to take up a cause that hurts and kills people, they need to take a stand on drunken driving. A lot more people are hurt and killed by drunks than by adult entertainment. James W. Taylor Spokane

PEOPLE IN SOCIETY

Kids aren’t convenience items

Last week, Fern Christenson asked, “Are we overdosing innocent children?” (Opinion, Feb. 28). I would respond, yes!

Her points were all valid. I would add to them. We exist in a microwave society. Instant gratification and convenience are demanded because, “I am worth it.” Lack of time and self-indulgence rule virtually every aspect of our lives.

Take a vitamin pill with your fast food instead of shopping for and creating a beautiful salad. Divorce your mate instead of going through the agony of counseling and maturing together. Calm your difficult child with a mood -altering drug, and don’t forget to take your own Prozac. You’ve had a rough day and need to relax.

Ignore the statistics, which seem to show a direct correlation between the high divorce rate, both parents employed full time, diets composed of highly processed food and our increasingly troubled children. Otherwise, you might have to reconstruct your values and change your lifestyle.

Often, when both parents are employed outside the home, neither seems to have the resources to deal effectively with a difficult child. Neither does the child’s busy day-care provider or teacher.

Previous generations grew up believing that time, energy, self-sacrifice, discipline, patience and maturity are the ingredients for successful parenting. Those values are not compatible with instant gratification.

This change in values is the root we might explore. As with the dandelion, it has spread easily, grown deeply and the taste is incredibly bitter. The cure requires hard, dirty work. Our children are worth the effort. Bernadette Haddleton Post Falls

Stars and bars symbol of ignorance

I’m a 49-year-old white male who is deeply ashamed. Not at my grandparents or great uncles but at the ignorance of their time. All human races were created equal. Slavery was and is wrong. The Confederate Flag is the symbol of brave men and women who fought and died for what they were taught to believe in, which was the ignorance of their time. The American flag will always fly higher.

To fly the Confederate flag should be a reminder of the ignorance of the time. It should be a reminder to future generations that bravery is not always right, just as museums and history teach our young about the horror of the Holocaust and what prejudice and ignorance can create. Let’s teach our children that when they see the Confederate flag, it stands for a generation of people who used their bravery for an ignorant cause. W.L. Pack Spokane

Many agree with Schlessinger

Several letters have appeared recently condemning Dr. Laura Schlessinger’s piece of Feb 12. As a fan of Dr. Laura’s, I decided to check out the Religious Declaration on Sexual Morality, Justice and Healing Web site for myself. It condones the blessing of same-sex unions, abortion on request and ordination of women and sexual minorities. Just thought the public had a right to know why Dr. Laura did not agree with the document. A lot of people wouldn’t. Cinda L. Smaagaard Spokane

SCHOOLS AND EDUCATION

Vote to pass Mead school levy

On March 14, voters in the Mead School District will be asked to approve a three-year maintenance and operating levy. No increase in tax rate is expected, as this levy is to replace the local levy approved by voters in 1998.

Sixteen percent of the district’s budget comes from this levy. These funds provide for many programs for students with special needs, programs for talented and gifted students. Many extracurricular activities such as band, orchestra, athletics and field trips are funded through this levy. So is transportation for extracurricular activities.

My daughters are involved in several of these activities, including field trips, band, orchestra and athletics. Transportation is crucial to me, since a couple of mornings a week one of my girls goes to one place for band, while at the same time the other goes to another place for orchestra.

I strongly urge voters to approve the three-year maintenance and operation levy, to allow the district to continue so many of these well-subscribed programs. Liz Squires Spokane

Valuable programs should continue

On Tuesday, Mead School District voters will be asked to approve a maintenance and operations levy to replace the current levy. I urge all voters to vote yes.

Both of my children attended Mead schools from kindergarten through grade 12 and have received an outstanding education. Opportunities afforded them through programs funded by the levy enriched their learning, broadened their perspective and enhanced their sense of self as they discovered their place in the world.

Not all children are the same and one-size-fits-all education is wholly inadequate in today’s world. One of the Mead School District’s strengths is its commitment to providing appropriate and diverse curricular and extracurricular activities and support programs so all students can succeed at something. Making up over 16 percent of the budget, levy funds are essential to the district’s ability to fulfill this commitment.

Please join me in ensuring that these educational opportunities we value and have come to expect remain available to all our children. Vote yes on Tuesday. Linda Becker Spokane

GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS

Wrong change for Social Security

When the generation X, Y and Z taxpayers cut us boomers off from Social Security retirement benefits, we can thank the 106th Congress. With bipartisan support, the House just passed a bill repealing the law which reduced benefits for recipients who weren’t actually retired. Now old folks can claim the full amount of Social Security retirement and still work full time. This is wrong.

Today’s workers support retirees by paying 13 percent of their income directly or through employer contributions to the Social Security fund. When the boomers retire, the burden on workers will be tremendous. If today we give the money to those who don’t need it, tomorrow we can expect the program to be drastically reduced.

Social Security retirement was originally intended to prevent poverty among the aged. Today, Social Security favors the rich. The rich pay no contributions on wages after $72,600 and none on unearned income, i.e. from capital gains on investments or real estate. The rich often receive retirement from other sources and receive their full Social Security retirement benefits. Double and triple dippers often make more in retirement benefits than the average worker brings home. The new law adds to the problem.

The right thing to do would be to limit benefits for those who have no need, tax all income and reduce the Social Security tax on wage earners now. Since that course requires wise and courageous leaders, it won’t happen. Instead, Congress will continue to tax the workers until a new majority forms. Then the good times will be over. Terrence V. Sawyer Spokane

Many don’t want to be force fed

Despite what the Republican and/or Democratic party may say about independents, neither party can win without them. I’m tired of these parties sending up a candidate of their choosing and not listening to the people. We now have a candidate who is appealing to us and they want to discredit him. Maybe it’s time that the parties take a look at their candidate and switch to the man the people like. Carl A. Bergman Spokane

McCain stands taller than Bush

Bush? Bush? We don’t want a bush and we don’t want a shrub, either. And that’s what George Jr. is, a shrub. He simply doesn’t measure up. What we want and what we need is a tree. A big, strong oak tree. We want and we need John Wayne McCain. David. W. Farlowe Post Falls

Looks like another inside job

Who are these people who are voting for and giving big momentum to Gov. George W. Bush and Vice President Al Gore? Although I don’t agree with them, either, at least Sen. John McCain and Bill Bradley stand for something substantive. But Bush and Gore’s core belief seems to be that they should be president.

How will the status quo ever be challenged if the automatons who vote these days continue to support the Republicrat’s anointed without question? How can a third or fourth party ever gain a foothold in this country if voters and most of the mainstream media won’t even give the challengers within the Republicrat Party a shot?

Or, perhaps claims that the fix is in aren’t so far-fetched. Kevin Tighe Sagle, Idaho

Keyes provides `refreshing change’

I sure hope D.F. Oliveria is wrong in his Huckleberries column from March 6. I don’t believe that “only in Idaho” will you find a white Mormon who wants to be a delegate for presidential candidate Alan Keyes, a black Catholic. And I hope not all Americans will be thinking of color or religion. I’m not. I will cast my vote for Keyes. He is a refreshing change from the usual candidate. Dorothy A. Benoit Coeur d’Alene