Letters To The Editor

Washington state

I-745 a way to export our money

Initiative 745 claims it will improve our roads. Be sure to read the rest. It says I-745 will not raise your taxes but will instead divert 90 percent of locally raised taxes from public transportation.

Keep in mind that these taxes are raised locally and spent locally. There is nothing in the wording of the initiative that says local-option tax dollars will be returned. If 90 percent of all local-option tax dollars go to Olympia for use on road projects with the highest priority, with that ranking to be determined by our legislators (of which we only have nine out of 147) what are the odds of our tax dollars returning to our area? Is it then fair to imagine that if this initiative passes we will pay the same taxes but have no public transit system and no improved roads?

Please consider carefully and vote no on I-745. CJ Tyler-Watson Transportation Choices Coalition, Eastern Washington office, Cheney

Business people may settle a score

Re: “No second chance for Gregoire, court rules,” Oct. 12.

As I read your article concerning the loss of over $18.8 million in taxpayer money due to the “inadequate case load management within the attorney general’s office,” I can’t help but wonder what the consequences will be for state Attorney General Christine Gregoire. Do we the public just forgive and forget this latest snafu, as our elected officials are so found of referring to mismanagement and incompetence? Or, do we actually hold someone accountable?

Within Washington’s business community, Gregoire’s office is not known to be user friendly, but rather a foe of small business, descending like vultures on any possible mistake someone may make. In the past her department seems to have taken delight in outright bullying business owners. Now that the shoe is on the other foot, Nov. 7 will indeed prove to be a rather interesting day. J.W. Cars Spokane

5th Congressional District

Nethercutt’s negative ads obnoxious

I am disgusted by the negative ads the Republican Party is running about Tom Keefe. Rep. George Nethercutt’s ads ignore the issues of Eastern Washington. Instead, Nethercutt resorts to name calling and negative campaigning.

Keefe talks about how he will fight for Medicare and a prescription drug benefit. What is Nethercutt going to fight for? A fourth term he promised not to seek? Dylan Gant Pullman

Nethercutt sees to our needs

When our city officials called upon Rep. George Nethercutt to help in relieving their debt to the federal government for the abandoned Lincoln Street bridge project, he listened. He worked with federal officials and found an acceptable solution, and the debt of over $5 million was excused.

We are fortunate to have an elected official who is willing to take the lead when help is needed and responds to the needs of our community. Let’s hope that this spirit of caring for the taxpayers’ interest will prevail with those who seek to manage our affairs in the next local elections.

Nethercutt deserves our vote. Stuart Evey Spokane

Nethercutt flunks bad-school test

The last time I tried to visit Rep. George Nethercutt in Washington, D.C., he was called away to inspect a military installation in Virginia. I found that particularly disconcerting since, as a member of the powerful House Appropriations Committee, Nethercutt has never, to my knowledge, taken the time to visit the infamous School of the Americas at Fort Benning, Ga.

In one of our conversations, Nethercutt was critical of Spokesman-Review editor Chris Peck for writing an article about me and the SOA while I was in prison because Peck had never been to Fort Benning. I responded that Peck was not privileged to vote in the U.S. House of Representatives, like Nethercutt, who has consistently voted to continue funding for this internationally criticized embarrassment to U.S. citizens.

Even Nethercutt’s Washington state Republican colleague, Jack Metcalf, has voted to close the SOA.. Nethercutt’s votes in favor of this evil institution have cost American taxpayers over $100 million since he was first elected, in spite of the fact that he himself has never visited Fort Benning!

Nethercutt has a standing offer from me to accompany him to Fort Benning so we’re sure to ask the “right” questions whenever he’s ready to cast an informed vote with integrity. Paddy Inman Mead

Government and politics

Gorton’s seniority important

As we approach the U.S. Senate race next month, protection of the Northwest’s right to the use of the federal-based hydro systems electricity should be on every citizen’s mind. We in the Northwest have been very fortunate to have the benefit of this clean, renewable and low-cost source of energy. However, with the ever-looming shortage of electricity, especially in California, we can expect many attacks on our preference rights to this resource.

In the past, the Northwest has had senior senators who could and did protect our right to this resource. Their names were Magnuson, Jackson and Hatfield. Today, the Northwest only has Slade Gorton in that seniority position and he has done an excellent job of looking out for us.

I encourage all Washington voters to think what it would be like if we had to pay what Californians pay for electricity and what that would do to all our industries. Do you think Boeing, Microsoft and many of the other major energy users would still be here if their electricity rates doubled or more?

Gorton’s seniority and committee positions are extremely important to all of us, as we all receive benefits from the federal based hydro system. It’s important to keep him representing us in Washington, DC. Mike Conley Moses Lake, Wash.

Gore can’t be trusted

Do you trust Vice President Al Gore with your future?

Gore must think the citizens of this country are all naive. He will stand before us and say whatever comes to mind that will make him look better at the moment. He has repeatedly been called on the carpet regarding mistruths but continues on, evidently not concerned that they’re a problem. Obviously, he had a good teacher in President Bill Clinton!

Do we want to continue with someone in the White House we cannot trust? I thought this country had enough of that for the past eight years. It’s time to restore some integrity to the highest office in our land, let alone the most powerful office in the world.

Whether you believe in the Second Amendment or not (the right of the honest, law-abiding, hard-working citizens of this country to own a firearm), you should be very concerned about any government that already has 20,000 laws on the books, neglects their enforcement then clamors for more. Clearly, the agenda of the Clinton-Gore administration is far more reaching than just saving lives. And, Gore has indicated no deviation from that policy if elected.

What will be the next right(s) we lose, possibly some that you cherish?

If you want the government of this great land to continue to be less than trustworthy and more obtrusive in your life, Gore is your man. Larry K. Schierman Mead

Gore critics mangle the facts

Two Oct. 9 letters attempting to make political points against Vice President Al Gore used skewed facts.

Ted Farr, stating that Social Security is a failed program, claims the average person of 65 has paid $161,300 into the system and will receive $255,000. At the current contribution of 6.2 percent, that means his average person has been earning $65,040 per year for the last 40 years. His other numbers may be equally distorted.

I’m a less-than-average person who’s contributed $40,561 to Social Security. I will retire next year receiving about $10,800 a year. If I live as long as the annuity tables predict, I’ll receive about $200,000 in benefits. If I had a spouse who never contributed to the system I could receive $16,200 a year for a total of $300,000.

Social Security is my 89-year-old mother’s only income. Social Security isn’t a failure because it has provided the only retirement income for many elderly Americans. However, my three grown children who actively contribute to Social Security may not benefit from it. It does need revision.

Mark Springer states that federal employees have a retirement system based solely on investments in stocks and bonds. He’s wrong. All federal employees hired after 1983 are covered by and contribute to Social Security. In addition, they have a voluntary tax-deferred savings plan which allows them to contribute a percentage of their income into any one of three funds, one of which is a stock fund. The employee is responsible for direction of the investments and their ultimate growth. Don’t 401(k) plans and IRAs basically do the same thing for other employees? Janet Callen Coeur d’ Alene

Federal retirement facts misstated

In his Oct. 9 letter, Mark Springer misinforms (unknowingly, I assume) readers about the retirement program for federal civilian employees. He says, “Democrats know that federal employees have a retirement system that is based solely on investments in the stock and bond markets.”

This is not so.

Federal employees, including members of Congress, participate in either the Civil Service Retirement System or, since 1984, the Federal Employees Retirement System. CSRS was closed to employees entering federal service after 1983. Those participating in FERS are able to contribute several percentage points of their salary to the federal employee Thrift Savings Plan but they still pay into and are covered by Social Security, and a significant portion of their retirement plan is a taxpayer-funded pension - a safety net, if you will.

As I understand it, older federal employees who are still under CSRS do not contribute to Social Security, have a very good underlying pension larger than that in FERS, and are allowed to make only a very limited investment in TSP.

Springer is correct that, through the Thrift Savings Plan, federal employees have several options - soon five funds - for investing their contributions, which the government matches to a larger degree for FERS employees. The federal TSP, with its safeguards, could be a good model for reforming Social Security.

Much misunderstanding exists about federal employee retirement programs.

Don’t base your vote on rumors, especially if passed on by someone clearly favoring one party. Charles Latimer Spokane

Appears farmers favor Bush, Cheney

I often wonder who Vice President AL Gore is talking about when he says he works for “the working man.” I drive across Eastern Washington, Idaho, Montana and Wyoming for my work. I have yet to see one sign posted on a farmer or rancher’s land supporting Gore. Farmers and ranchers are some of the hardest working people in America. They all seem to see Gov. George W. Bush and Dick Cheney as their best choice. Steven Christian Spokane

People get the nonsense they want

I fully agree with Opinion editor John Webster’s editorial that “mud” (vicious nonsense) should not be used in election campaigns. He would sound much more convincing if he would use this standard himself. Just look up his Sunday endorsement of Gov. George W. Bush and compare it with his own suggestions on Tuesday.

It makes no sense to imply that living on the South Hill disqualifies a candidate (Tuesday). But why, then, is being “Westerners” (Sunday) a qualification? To say that a lawyer is not trustworthy just because of his profession is nonsense (Tuesday). But so is the statement that the current administration wanted to punish Microsoft for its success (Sunday).

In the center of Prague there are several McDonald’s outlets. Some of my friends blame “globalization” for it. They are wrong. If people were not willing to buy fast food there would be no McDonald’s in Prague.

This is the same with the recent election. We love nonsense, innuendo and soap opera effects. The less meaning a slogan has, the more popular: “smaller government,” “candidate of the working people,” “freedom of choice” - it’s bipartisan. The candidates are here not to educate and possibly alienate the public. They are here to be elected.

Yes, there are exceptions: John Roskelley, John Powers and Kate McCaslin. Those exceptions are the only reason I intend to vote this year. Peter C. Dolina Veradale

Other topics

How cold and selfish people can be

On the morning of October 2, I was driving down First Street in Cheney, heading toward Spokane. To my left, I saw a little white dog lying in the two eastbound lanes of traffic. I glanced back in my rear-view mirror and to my horror, saw that the little dog was shaking and still breathing. Traffic continued to pass him by as if nothing had happened.

With my heart in my throat, I turned my truck around and picked up the poor little dog. Trying to control my urge to vomit, I put the dog in my truck. People were still passing and no one stropped to help. I rushed the dog to the vet. I understand that accidents happen and know the dog should not have been running around. But what astounds me most is the fact that the person who hit the dog didn’t bother to stop. Where is your heart, you cold-hearted beast? You should be ashamed of yourself. You left a poor animal for dead.

And for those of you who drove by, you should be ashamed of yourselves for not stopping. Yes, I too had a place that I needed to be at on time. I hope that if something like this ever happens to your loved one, they will be treated better than you treated this dog. Melissa T. Kunkel Cheney

Band not out to generate friction

Regarding your article on the Lewis and Clark Marching Band performance of “The Death of Custer,” I feel it was a far too biased piece of writing.

As a student belonging to an ethnic minority, I understand what the Shadle Park student must be feeling, along with perhaps some others of the Native American population. But please try to remember that we, the band, did try to make the performance as historically accurate as possible within the extent of the music. People researched the battle and what both sides wore and looked like, and we dressed accordingly, from the uniforms and shoes that band members wore to the beads and braids the auxiliary wore. The problem with trying to make events from the past politically correct is that it may be wrong now but it was right back then.

No controversy was intended over the performance and we certainly tried to make this piece as fair as possible.

Please remember, this is always about the music and we use the auxiliary to enhance the power and energy of the piece of music. Julian B. Leiserson Spokane

District wasting my tax money

I’m offended by recent events involving Lewis and Clark High School’s rendition of the battle of Little Bighorn. As a taxpayer, I’m offended to learn I appear to be paying for full-time political correctness police in District 81, a so-called equity office.

As a conservative, I’m offended by the gross hypocrisy of the left, people who would be screaming foul in the press if a politically correct presentation had been similarly censored, as would the press itself. Of course, my offense won’t change anything because it isn’t “diverse.” Jonathan H. Lundquist Spokane

Refuse the plastic, in writing

How often do you find a letter from some company that contains an application for a credit card? And does it seem that the more debt you have, the more applications you seem to get? I know I seem to get more of them when my current debt is all I can handle.

For a while, I would throw them away as soon as I found them. But then I would hear all the stories about people whose credit rating had been ruined by a stranger who found the application, filled out and mailed it. Then, this stranger ran up a huge debt.

I think I have found the perfect solution to this problem. I bought a low-priced shredder and word processing program for my computer. Now, whenever I receive one of these applications, I write a letter to the issuing company requesting that they not send me any more applications, and to remove me from their mailing lists. Then, I shred the application.

If you want the companies that send out these potential financial disasters to leave you alone, try what I have suggested. It may take more than one time for the company to get the message but it might work! Ernest J. Chamberlain Spokane