Letters To The Editor

Washington state

Initiatives have gotten out of hand

Somebody ought to stop these irresponsible initiatives that are disrupting our state and local governments. Nobody likes paying taxes but we sure like the services provided by our governments, including police and fire department, libraries, transportation and a host of other services provided to us. Without all these it would be a cold, cruel world indeed. Without Child Protective Services, for instance, who would protect abused and abandoned children?

Before you sign all these petitions, think seriously about how what they propose to do might affect us. Just the cost of defending our governments against initiatives that are not well thought out has added to state, city and county expenses enormously. Dorothy E. Carter Spokane

At long last, let’s bypass Colfax

Wake up, Spokane drivers, as well as you Washington State University students and parents! Colfax is truly a bottleneck - a narrow funnel that directs traffic through a half-mile maze of stores and stoplights. A speed trap? Yes and it’s more. It is a hostage-taking invention to promote Colfax business, as well as to increase the town’s treasury through traffic fines.

Those driving through Colfax must slow to 10 mph, stop at one to three signal lights and pray that some overanxious policeman likes their driving.

We have put up with this silly arrangement long enough. While Highway 195 has bypassed Rosalia, Spangle and Steptoe, highway authorities stubbornly refuse to bypass Colfax. Even Idaho’s notorious Highway 95 avoids towns such as Craigmont, Ferdinand and Cottonwood.

Why is Colfax not bypassed? I believe it’s politics. Past chairmen of the state Senate Transportation Committee from Whitman County have protected the Colfax funnel. Instead of using gas tax revenue to build a bypass, they spent thousands seeing to it through traffic must transit Colfax.

If we demand it and our legislators, govenor and state highway people have the courage and political will, this can be corrected. We could take a lesson from Idaho drivers who have demanded and won such a solution for Highway 95.

Call the Washington state Department of Transportation, (800) 368-2559; Gov. Gary Locke’s Spokane office, 456-4417; Sen. Mary Haugen, (360) 786-7618); and Rep. Alex Wood, 625-5354. Frank T. Yuse Spokane

Spokane matters

Cost of living is what counts

I read with interest the Nov. 17 article on raising the pay for Spokane County elected officials.

I used to work for a large company and I know a lot of other people who are still working for that company. Employees would, and still do, take a reduction in pay when they moved to Spokane. They would get raises when they moved to the coast or to other large cities. I was told that my salary was based on the cost of living in Spokane.

If the salaries of the officials are raised, based on the salaries on the coast, then all businesses should raise the salaries of all working people, based on the income of people in comparable jobs around the nation. Spokane wages are based on the cost of living in our area, not in other large cities. Or was I told wrong by my employers? Jack Snizik, Jr. Spokane

Government and politics

Democrats’ actions questionable

Could it be that the Democratic Party wants to win regardless of the official outcome of the elections? Is that what the American government call a fraudulent process when such happens in other countries? Is that why a fraudulent process is harshly criticized by many Americans when it happens abroad?

Are we still in the United States of America or are we suddenly part of a Third World country government party that does everything they can to stay in power because they do not want to relinquish power? Emili Morales-Kuchler Spokane

This is a joke but it’s not funny

Stop the insanity! This is no longer an election, it’s politics and it’s boring. If we had held it based on the popular vote this thing would be over. And, even though my guy would lose, at least it would not be the huge international joke that it has become. At this point, I don’t want either one of these characters. He said, they said, she said - I want my Momma!

Four things ought to happen before 2004.

1. Eliminate exit polling, which leads to stupid mistakes and makes the “news” people look like idiots.

2. Devise a simple and straightforward national election ballot that can be reliably machine-counted.

3. Have all absentee ballots in to their precincts and counted on election day.

4. Get rid of the Electoral College.

This is not news any more, it’s a colossal joke. My biggest fear is that people just won’t vote in the next election. What does it matter? They’ll just take it to Judge Judy anyway! Douglas Kaer Spokane

Dispense with imperfect ballots

Miami-Dade County is making a hand count of the “undervotes,” the ballots rejected by the machines for not having votes punched into them. Some could also be called “pregnant chad” ballots. These ballots go to the county canvassing boards, which decide what the intention of the voter was. What are these people, psychics?

Like thousands of others, these ballots should be cast away. Trying to interpret the voters’ intentions leaves too wide a margin for error, partisan interference and/or abuse. Let’s get this thing over with. Erin R. Pitner Spokane

Republicans shift blame for defections

In the Nov. 19 article, “Votes for Libertarians hurt, Republicans say,” Washington Republicans blame Libertarian candidates for their losses in several close races. I say the Republican Party should blame itself.

While there are ex-Democrats, ex-independents and people who were never politically active before all now in the Libertarian Party, there are also many former Republicans.

The article quoted a Washington Republican,“Us Republicans need to find a way to reach out to the Libertarians.” These freedom loving ex-Republicans have heard Libertarian sentiments from Republican politicians for decades but government keeps growing, taxes keep rising and our freedoms keep shrinking. As the saying goes, fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me! In this case it would be fool me dozens of times.

Libertarians don’t just mouth sentiments of personal liberty, responsibility, smaller government and protecting and enforcing all of the Bill of Rights. We actually believe it and act on our beliefs. Not one of the over 300 Libertarians in office across the country today, nor any Libertarian in office before, has ever voted to raise taxes. How many Republicans is that true of? Ron Lahr Spokane

This will be interim presidency

As for the presidents-in-waiting, I would hate to be in either man’s wingtips. Whoever “wins” will have a tainted presidency and will always be thought (by the opposition) to have stolen the election. The winner will be, in effect, a lame duck from the git-go, as the citizenry marks time for four years until the next , and, it is hoped, decisive election. Dick Warwick Oakesdale, Wash.

People and animals

Deal decisively with dog abuser

Thank you, North Division Veterinary Clinic, for taking care of Griz the dog after the horrendous ordeal he went through. Donating your time, kindness and services to his recovery has not gone unnoticed. Acts of kindness like yours rise above the horrific, sick acts people such as Melvin Gover commit.

Gover needs immediate professional and spiritual help. What he did to Griz is sick and deserves punishment. I am tired of hard-earned tax dollars being wasted on this person’s repeated errors of judgment, such as the convictions in Lincoln County for manufacturing marijuana, second-degree possession of stolen property in 1989 and third-degree theft in 1993. Get your life together, Gover, and quit burdening the communities you live in. We are tired of supporting your excuses and being your victims.

As for Superior Court Judge Larry Kristianson, what was he thinking? He put a man back into our community who purposely committed a sick, violent act, has a criminal record and admits to an anger problem while suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder. Kristianson could have served Gover and our community better. I didn’t know that living in and owning property in Pend Oreille county makes one a “safe” bet.

Deputy Prosecutor Tony Koures should do his best to get Gover convicted, to protect the rest of us from possible future harm resulting from the man and his troubles, and also to rectify what was done to the dog and the community. Leslie L. Cushman Elk

Mistreatment must stop

In the past few weeks I have heard of three separate incidents of violence against animals and it makes me ill! These animals being injured or killed are a part of someone’s family. They are someone’s walking partner or source of companionship and entertainment.

Imagine being dragged behind a truck or shot and killed, pretty much just for being there. How sick is that?

I hope the people responsible for these heartless acts are fined and sentenced the maximum amount allowed. Deliberate acts of animal cruelty are repulsive. Jodi A. Allison Liberty Lake