Letters To The Editor

WASHINGTON STATE

Toss off the blanket primary

On Sept. 26 a public hearing was held by the Secretary of State Ralph Monroe, regarding the blanket primary. The political parties believe it’s their right to choose their own candidates in the primary election, so each voter has to declare a party affiliation and can only vote for that party. This is a gross invasion of privacy and choice.

If the parties want to vote for their own candidates, then they should do so at their own expense and not bring them to the public at taxpayers’ expense. Every election in Spokane County costs approximately $300,000 Why should we pay for each party to choose its own candidate?

Our state Supreme Court has upheld that the blanket primary is constitutional but the parties are talking of suing to have it changed. Their argument that the blanket primary allows people to vote for the weaker candidate of the opposition is hogwash. How many of us would throw away our vote that way?

Get involved in this issue and contact the secretary of state to voice your opinion. We have had the right to privately choose who we vote for since 1934. Let’s keep it that way. Catherine W Fricke Veradale

Vote no on Initiative 713

Initiative 713 proposes to be our second statewide experiment with wildlife management through ballot box biology. This is despite the fact that we are still dealing with the effects of the first experiment, Initiative 655, which was followed by cougar attacks on two children.

I-713 is funded by the same deep-pockets, out-of-state special interests that funded I-655 and likewise raises the specter of unwanted consequences to follow. Not the least of those is how the average property owner is to handle mole and gopher problems, since I-713 prohibits commonly used mole and gopher traps. And there is no mention of who will be responsible for the considerable costs that will be incurred trying to use nonlethal methods to control animal pests.

Both Colorado and California have passed similar initiatives with major wildlife control problems as a result. It’s time to let the dust settle in the aftermath of previous experiments in ballot box biology and vote no on I-713. John J. Wey Yakima, Wash.

Park fees are reasonable

A while back, a reader wrote to the paper stating how expensive it is to get into the observatories at Mount St. Helens (Letters, July 21). Perhaps this person misunderstood how it works.

We just got back from touring the Mount St. Helens area and took the Spirit Lake Memorial Highway drive. There are three memorial observations on this highway. You may stop at any one of these three observations and pay a one-time, for-the-day fee of $6. You then receive an arm band which will get you into these observatories as many times as you want, all day long.

There are also Forest Service observatories you can tour for free. The drive to Mount. St. Helens is beautiful, the road is very well maintained and so are the observatories. Also, the films and displays are very educational, and the views stunning. I would recommend this tour to everyone. You can’t beat it for $6! Tammy L. Fountaine Veradale

BUSINESS AND LABOR

Resolute Steelworkers are heroes

In today’s society we are always looking for heroes, role models and just good citizens who stand up for what is right. The trend seems to be million-dollar-a-year athletes for that role. I guess that’s the easiest sell to our kids.

How about just an average Jane or Joe who believes in a cause, sticks with it through thick and thin, no glory or spotlight, and a lot of ridicule and financial embarrassment. And after 18 plus months, maybe, just maybe, a victory.

Ask a locked out Kaiser Steelworkers’ children if they feel their parents are all of the above. Ed C. Ellenz Spokane

Union sold retirees out

I have been reading about all the good things the Steelworkers gained in their new contract. However, I haven’t seen anything on what the retirees lost. If we won’t agree to go on an HMO, my wife and I will have to pay $70 a month for health coverage.

This was to be a lifetime benefit and was guaranteed in our retirement agreement. Now, the international union has decided it can negotiate a payment out of us retirees. Since I retired in 1983, I was told the union couldn’t negotiate benefits for us. But now it has decided it can negotiate away our benefits. However, the union says it will not take away what our retirement pension is.

The door is open for it to take anything or everything. Gordon Gower Elk, Wash.

GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS

Bashing the well off un-American

Re: Steve Carpenter’s Sept. 26 letter, “Bush? Pride? Get the defoliant.”

Through this campaign I keep hearing the liberals attacking the rich. Is this not the land of opportunity? Since when is it a bad thing to be financially sound and wanting to keep more of your money? I don’t understand the rationale that the rich in this country should have to carry everyone else.

I think this attitude of not helping yourself and expecting the government to do it for you is the principle of the Democrats. They want you to believe you are not intelligent enough to do it for yourself and therefore you need them. I wonder if the bank accounts were the other way around if this would change their minds. Apparently, Hollywood’s Alec Baldwin says he will move out of the country and Carpenter will sell his TV and save his money if Bush is elected. These are just two more reasons to vote for Gov. George W. Bush. Sheila Naccarato Spokane

Urge that Nader be in debates

Why is the Commission on Presidential Debates afraid to let Green Party candidate Ralph Nader participate?

I strongly urge people to visit the Commission on Presidential Debates Web site, www.debates.org, and ask that Nader to be included in the debates.

Our country is still a democracy, isn’t it? Sarah Backus Thousand Oaks, Calif.

OTHER TOPICS

Enough about tolerance, diversity

OK, enough already. I would really like to be able to read The Spokesman-Review without being admonished or made to feel guilty every day about society not being tolerant of gays or of diversity.

It used to be that a newspaper was just that, a newspaper. Now you’ve turned into some sort of a social engineering project. It’s not helping matters by trying to force your socialistic views on everyone, especially on those who don’t agree. You’re not going to change anyone’s mind who lives by their own morals or who likes this area just as it is. What will be changed is your subscriber list. Sure, you have freedom of the press. But remember, we have the freedom to not buy your paper any more. Kathy Hood Sandpoint

You have to wonder about Idaho

The Violence Against Women Act was finally renewed by the House on Sept. 26. The only members voting against renewal were Republicans and all were men except one, Helen Chenoweth-Hage.

In a way I can understand why male yahoos would be against aiding female victims. After all, the victims must have been asking for it, right? But how does a woman, and a national leader at that, get to feeling that same kind of hostility and insensitivity toward women? And what is it with Idaho that its keeps re-electing her? My friends, family and I vacation in Canada two times a year. To get there we will continue to avoid going through Idaho. Bill Leong Spokane

Thanks for neighborly generosity

Many thanks to all the people who have contributed goods and funds to the Rocky Hull Fire survivors. It’s been my great pleasure to be the person who hands many of your donated items to people who have lost nearly all their material possessions.

I wish you could see the look of pleasure, relief and joy on the faces of these people as they accept the sheepskin mattress cover, chain saw, generator, nails and doorknobs, encyclopedia set, organic beef and numerous other items you have generously given.

Most of the fire survivors now have an abundance of clothing, so there is no need for more at this time, though with the changing season there may be a need for good warm winter clothes and boots in the near future. You can keep informed of the changing needs by checking the Community Connections Oroville Web site at www.cococenter.org and checking under volunteer opportunities.

When people have lost so much, it’s comforting to know that neighbors care and will help. Thank you all. May many blessings be yours. Trudy Lynn Okanogan, Wash.

Try to learn your way past prejudice

Re: “Yes, being openly gay invites trouble, Letters, Sept. 29. Here are some points for Paul Hast to ponder.

The idea that being gay is a chosen lifestyle is indefensible in light of modern scientific research. And what do children have to do with compounding the picture? In fact, over 96 percent of sex crimes against children are committed by heterosexual adults.

Suppose the statement, “You cannot push ideas on people who believe those ideas to be wrong,” were to be applied to Christians, Jews or people of color who struggled for equal rights in 1964.

Instead of basing your prejudices on ignorance and fear, why not educate yourself and others on the beauty of the colorfully woven fabric of human diversity. Chris H. Miller Spokane