Letters To The Editor

Tue., Oct. 10, 2000

SPOKANE MATTERS

Lame excuses don’t solve our problem

A drug house causes us to live in fear, anger and disillusionment. “Drug house” seems like a euphemism when we consider the experiences we must encounter. Syringes are found on the lawns. Drug purchases are made on streets where many children play, while prostitutes aggressively proposition neighbors in their own yards.

This kind of activity has gone on in our neighborhood for at least six years. During a SWAT team raid last month, guns and drugs were discarded in yards.

Our neighborhood joined to share concerns and solutions more than a year ago. The police and Safe Streets have guided and supported us throughout this ordeal and we applaud their professionalism. Our spokesman has met with Mayor John Talbott twice, yet Talbott is unable to help hard-working citizens who are held hostage by criminals. Talbott claims the lack of action is the fault of the city attorney.

If this house and these activities were across the street from the residence of the mayor or city attorney, would this problem be so difficult to solve? The lack of resolution causes only acrimony toward our city government. Kathleen and Alain Turcotte Spokane

Roskelley enemies low-class bullies

Having learned of the unethical, slanderous, Joseph Goebbels-style political propaganda campaign of lies unleashed by Spokane County Sheriff Mark Sterk against County Commissioner John Roskelley, I wonder if others are as tired of the mean-spirited, bullying tactics employed by right wing conservatives as I am.

It is now clear that a vote for the Sterk-Karl Wilkinson side is a pro-right-wing bully and pro-irresponsible-development vote (e.g. the Republican developers do not want to abide by the 200-foot Spokane River buffer zone that protects public interests).

A vote for Roskelley is a pro-classy public official (e.g. even after an unrepentant Sterk refused to apologize for his appalling attack letter composed of pure lies, Roskelley praised the job done by Sterk in the past two years) and pro-responsible-development vote. Spokane County citizens are lucky to have Roskelley as a public official.

Thank you, Roskelley, and keep up the good work. I suspect that there are many people like me who are behind you and fed up with the right-wing conservative bullies. William F. Saur Spokane

Vote to make Talbott ex-mayor

It saddens and disturbs me tremendously to witness the deterioration and degradation taking place in political races today in our city. We lack good representation from incumbents but they have dirt-throwing down to an art. Somehow, we have lost the purpose of their campaigns, buried in the muck.

I once heard that malice is stupidity raised to a higher power. Well, Mayor John Talbott, you have not only raised stupidity to a higher power but have raised dirty politics to a new level. Does Spokane really look that stupid to you? Your behavior further demonstrates lack of control. (Oh, excuse me, you didn’t know about these negative ads against John Powers). Shame on you.

Good for you, Powers, for not lowering yourself to this desperate, degrading level.

Our City Council hasn’t had a controlling power for too long now. Would it get better if we were to give Talbott more power? I think not. Peggy Murphy Spokane

Send Sabey a message; Elect Powers

I was shocked to read that Dave Sabey had contributed $5,000 to a PAC that is targeting John Powers.

For those who don’t remember Sabey, he is a wealthy Seattle developer. He purchased Frederick & Nelson (the old Crescent department store) , J.C. Penney in downtown Spokane and NorthTown Mall. Frederick & Nelson went into bankruptcy and J.C. Penney moved to NorthTown. He later sold NorthTown to the owners of the Valley Mall. Sabey has done more to destroy downtown Spokane than any person or entity in the history of our town.

Although I am a Republican and Powers is a Democrat, I urged him to run for strong mayor. Powers not only supports a strong downtown Spokane but also a strong Spokane as a whole.

A vote for Powers will be a strong message to Sabey to get out of Spokane politics and stay out. Patrick A. Sullivan Spokane

WASHINGTON STATE

Vote Lowry for legacy

As a 21-year employee with the Department of Natural Resources, former U.S. Forest Service employee, forester and a conservationist (B.S. in forest resources, University of Washington, 1979), I am very concerned about the race for the state commissioner of public lands position. This year there is a very clear choice

While I have strong reservations about the timber industry’s influence through the Republican Party on the Department of Natural Resources’ regulation of it and state land management of two million acres of public forest land, Mike Lowry is opposed to negative campaigning. Therefore, I will respect his wishes.

If you believe in sustainable forest ecosystems and protection of fish and wildlife, I urge you to vote for Lowry for commissioner of public lands. He has proven his long-term advocacy for the state’s natural resources.

Just in my short 50 years as a Washington resident, I have witnessed significant depletion of the state’s natural resources. Lowry is our only hope of providing a legacy, for my children and for all future generations.Please vote for Lowry for lands commissioner. William Bidstrup Colville, Wash.

Request change for privacy’s sake

I recently tried to get insurance quotes (or in some cases, actual underwriting) for comparison with my present auto, home and umbrella policies.

Much to my shock, I was told that they (I checked this with several companies) require my wife’s and my Social Security numbers. One broker said it was to check our credit record. Another company said it was tied to examining whether I had too many house/property-related claims.

Both of these reasons are bogus, as the insurance industry apparently maintains a huge big brother- type database by name and address, easily sufficient to track claims by name and/or address.

I resist giving my Social Security number out to my mother, let alone to companies that likely have little or no cyber security (not to mention their many employees who have access to this info and the freedom with which the industry shares its data with other companies).

I was told by one company that Montana has filed suit against the insurers licensed to sell insurance in that state, to stop them from requesting Social Security numbers. I called our insurance commissioner’s Consumer Fraud and Complaint Division and was told that the companies are free to demand Social Security numbers until the Legislature passes a law stopping that practice.

Contact (as I did) the governor, your legislators and the commissioner’s office, and ask them what they have done in the past to stop this invasion of privacy and threat to identity theft. Ask what they plan to do in the future to stop this practice. Tom Mosher Spokane

5TH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT

Spite job makes no sense

I have been waiting for somebody to mention the blatant prejudice of the anti-Nethercutt ads sponsored by Eastern term limit groups. To condemn Rep. George Nethercutt for changing his position without also condemning Democrats for similar actions on this and other issues is indefensible.

Furthermore, it is obvious that term limits imposed on, or pledged to, by any individual congressional officeholder are impractical. The objectives of term limits will be achieved only when limits are mandatory for all members of Congress. Nethercutt has stated his desire to pass such legislation with other like-minded representatives.

It is ridiculous for Richard Clear, Eastern PACs or the voters of this district to call for Nethercutt’s defeat because he changed his mind after further study of the issue. Fortunately, he was not defeated in the primary. Let’s see whether the voters will remain as true to principle as Nethercutt has during his years serving us in the House. Jack Schenk Cheney

Repayment and hard lesson averted

So, Rep. George Nethercutt has engineered a reprieve from having to repay the $5.8 million owed to the federal government because of a failed plan by some civic leaders to ramrod a new bridge in downtown Spokane that the people neither wanted nor were allowed to vote on. That means that somewhere in America 1,000 taxpayers who pay $5,800 in taxes and may never have heard of Spokane will see their money go down a rat hole created by this plan.

I know that our local conservatives who want the government out of their lives will be at their keyboards composing letters condemning this action.

I really don’t know if the end result of this will be positive or negative. It could be positive if certain people would learn from their mistakes and vow to never let it happen again. More than likely, it will be like bailing out your children when they have done wrong, not letting them learn the hard lesson that foolish actions can have grave consequences. Donald N. Fitzgerald Spokane

Farmers appreciate Nethercutt

Farmers recognize the man who works for them and has their interest at heart. The proof is in the pudding. Consequently, Rep. George Nethercutt was awarded the coveted Golden Plow Award for his congressional work on behalf of the nation’s farmers. The farmer is so fortunate to have Nethercutt on the agriculture subcommittee.

Vote for Nethercutt. He represents our farming community so very well. Jane Allison Schuster Spokane

GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS

Democracy being subverted

What was the precedent for Ralph Nader being refused attendance at the national debate while holding a legitimate ticket for the event? Terry Gross of National Public Radio’s “Fresh Air” asked this question of Allen Schroeder, author of “Presidential Debates: 40 Years” and he had no answer. Usually, he responded, the third-party candidate either filed a lawsuit or a complaint but never has one showed up at the event.

Jim Hightower remarked that he’s “known Ralph Nader for 30 years and that he is not someone who would storm the stage.”

The League of Women Voters originally provided this public forum but since Ross Perot was allowed to participate and had major impact, the parties took over the event.

The media should resolve this dilemma by providing alternative settings for all candidates to air their positions, which is what democracy is all about. Troubling as it is to some folks, Nader is talking about the deeper issues that should concern all voters, i.e. what democracy is and can be.

The people have to participate to make democracy happen. Already, the prediction is that fewer voters plan to vote because of their frustration over the choices of the evil of two lessers. The worst thing that can happen is for people to not vote.

Packaging of presidential candidates has grown to be a multibillion-dollar business. Greater money and greater frustration about the candidates buying their slots in government lies ahead. We’ll have representation that rules the people, rather than being for and by the people.

Write in the names of candidates you prefer. Voting is the essence of democracy. Susan S. Whaley Spokane

Gore wrong on abortion issue

The first presidential debate underscored at least one crucial distinction between the candidates. Gov. George Bush believes it is the responsibility of government to protect the lives of our society’s most helpless and innocent members - unborn children.

The “health of the mother” clause Vice President Al Gore insists on, in the case of partial-birth abortion, is no restriction at all and he knows it. One can always find a doctor who will, for the right fee, certify that a woman’s mental or emotional health would be damaged by carrying her baby to term. Former Surgeon General C. Everett Koop has testified that partial-birth abortion is never necessary to protect the physical health of the mother.

Gore is comfortable in a world where it’s OK to partially deliver a viable baby girl, puncture the base of her skull with a sharp instrument, vacuum out her brain, and collapse her skull -thus ensuring the delivery of a very dead little girl. What a guy. What a dangerous world for the helpless. Charles A. Scott Valleyford

BUSINESS AND LABOR

Avista must be rid of Matthews

Washington Water Power Co. was one of the best run utility companies in the country. Avista Corp. is one of the worst. The slide from best to worst started with one person, Tom Matthews. It is time to send him back where he came from.

If the board of directors of Avista doesn’t have the intelligence or the courage to do it then the stockholders need to find a new board, before his management totally destroys what was once a great company and so destroys the economy of this area. Pat O’Leary Spokane

Poor, minorities get brushoff

Right now, when I need extra money to defray dental expenses, I keep hearing a the dental plan advertisement on the radio. For a measly $10.95 a month I can get full dental coverage. Unfortunately, it is not available in my area.

Insurance is the most discriminating racket in the world. They will not cover you unless there is nothing wrong with you and a good chance of nothing ever being wrong with you. Of course, they make exceptions if you happen to be wealthy enough to pay a very high premium. Their offices are manned by educated people who are paid good wages to sit and tell poor people, when the doctor’s exam comes in, that they are not in good enough health to be insured. By refusing to ever help the poorest in the land, they will always have the luxury of feeling that they are better than other people.

I think the reason Bill and Hillary Clinton’s national health care failed is because most of the nation’s leading physicians don’t want to deal with too many minorities. I believe they are prejudiced and find minorities disagreeable. Wesley A. Storer Spokane

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