Letters To The Editor

BUSINESS AND LABOR

Insurers’ priorities out of whack

Re: “Insurers surprise senators (Oct. 4). Insurance companies will pay for treatment of someone’s stupidity when it comes to gambling (not life threatening), yet they will not pay for help needed for medical condition.

I was diagnosed with sleep apnea, a condition where you stop breathing at night. Sleep apnea can be life-threatening if left untreated. I discussed with my doctors a treatment and was given the option of a somnoplasty, a procedure that reduces the size of the palate. I felt this surgery was medically necessary for me.

This condition causes me to snore from the time I go to sleep until I wake up. Because of the snoring, I never get the REM sleep needed to feel rested in the morning. In addition to other symptoms, I find myself falling asleep while driving. I am putting the lives of myself, my family and others in danger when I get behind the wheel.

My claim was sent to MSC Premera Blue Cross and was denied. The procedure will cost about $1,800, yet will not be paid by my insurance because, according to them, it is experimental.

The insurance companies have their priorities in the wrong order. Beverly Wheeler Spokane

Kaiser retirees suffered net loss

Gayle Schertenleib (Letters, Oct. 12) might want to consider that her husband, who is back at work for Kaiser, may someday be a Kaiser retiree.

When my father, Gordon Gower, retired from Kaiser in 1983 after 34 years of service, he was promised certain things. One was that his lifetime benefits were to be non-negotiable in the future. In recent labor negotiations, it was decided that retirees’ benefits could be changed. They now have to pay for their medical benefits out of pocket. What else will the union see fit to take away from them in the future? They’ve been told they’d never have to pay more than what they receive in pensions. So much for promises.

I don’t blame Schertenleib for being angry with the retirees who crossed the picket lines but it’s not fair to lump all retirees into such a category and shortchange them all. My father has been a loyal union man for over 50 years and I was raised to believe you never cross a picket line. And while my father might not have walked the picket lines with the strikers, he and my mother did provide support through contributions to the union that in turned helped striking Steelworkers and their families throughout the strike.

I, too, am happy that the Kaiser strike is over and that the Steelworkers have returned to their jobs. I’m concerned, however, for my parents and the many other Kaiser retirees whose future is less secure than before. Debra L. Schenk Spokane

SPOKANE MATTERS

Young people show up and vote

Young people in Spokane deserve a lot more credit than they sometimes get. Recently, the Teen Advisory Council of the Chase Youth Commission, in cooperation with the Citizens League of Spokane, teamed up to put on the first annual Candidates Youth Forum. Young people packed the City Council Chambers for a dialogue with candidates for the positions of strong mayor, City Council president and Spokane County commissioner.

The forum concluded after two hours of discussion with a mock election. John Powers won over 80 percent of the votes for strong mayor. Steve Corker was elected as council president and Bill Burke and John Roskelley were elected as county commissioners.

The young people who organized and attended this very successful forum deserve our respect and support. Their commitment and energy give us hope for the future of our community. Don Lukes Chase Youth commissioner, Spokane

Sterk out front in race to the bottom

I catch myself wondering what the politicians think of us, the public.

Spokane County Sheriff Mark Sterk’s recent criticism of County Commissioner John Roskelley particularly troubles me.

I know Roskelley was very concerned about safety (world-class climbers live longer that way), the welfare of children and protection of the needy long before he ran for office. To broadcast hollow castigations at this time reveals their political nature.

The intrigue for me lies in Sterk’s intense arrogance, both as it pertains to Roskelley and to the public. Anyone who has interacted with Roskelley, as an athlete or as a fellow human being, has to be impressed with his gritty integrity and sincere desire to benefit society. To insinuate that he’s not interested in safety, children’s welfare or catching a public enemy is to redefine the nadir of political ethics.

Sterk, as a modern-day Lone Ranger, you’ve given new meaning to the function of your mask.

Roskelley, I suggest the good news is that things can’t get any worse. Joseph McManus Spokane

Roskelley not people’s best choice

I believe John Roskelley, as a commissioner, does not have Spokane County’s best interest at heart. He has a very narrow and biased political agenda that is contrary to economic development and the creation of jobs. Roskelley is anti-business and you cannot be anti-business and for jobs.

He voted against Commissioner Phil Harris’ proposal to give a tax rebate to the citizens rather than increase the reserve from $19 million to $21 million. Roskelley seems to have a strange concept of what governing is about.

Karl Wilkinson has a proper sense of governing and great experience relative to providing leadership as a county commissioner. He served on the board of East Valley School District for 12 years, served our country as a Marine in Vietnam, where he was wounded, and is working as a productive contributor to our private enterprise system. He is a father of six children and has been a Scoutmaster for many years.

I believe Wilkinson would have voted to give a tax rebate to the citizens, rather than increase an already sufficient reserve.

I urge citizens of Spokane County to retire Roskelley and elect Wilkinson for a brighter Spokane economy, and to make Spokane an even greater place to live and work. Luke G. Williams Spokane

Roskelley favors careful development

My grandmother was born in Spokane in 1890. She lived to see Spokane grow from a small town to a large city. In my lifetime, I’ve seen the Spokane Valley grow from a scattered farming area to a suburban area of 90,000 residents.

Thankfully, our Valley has managed to maintain a portion of our unique rural atmosphere. A good deal of the thanks goes to County Commissioner John Roskelley.

Roskelley knows development is inevitable, but he’s smart enough to balance development with respect for an area’s uniqueness. He knows schools, roads and services as well as the character of an area must be considered before development is allowed.

Unfortunately, Roskelley’s opponent is the darling of the developers. Not only does his opponent have the best wishes of the developers, he also has access to their deep pockets.

Let’s face it, we all want a good quality of life, and Roskelley’s battle has been to maintain our quality of life. Spokane needs Roskelley and Roskelley needs our votes. Let’s all do it! Sally Jackson Spokane

Roskelley helpful to special-needs people

John Roskelley attended the Disability Fest at Spokane Community College and helped the kids on bikes, built for-special-needs rock climbing, plus other sporting events. The event is to help kids with special needs to be able and independent.

Roskelley serves on the board of Paratransit, which buses the kids to their jobs and other places. He has helped my son, Brian, to keep his ride to work on Paratransit. Brian has cerebral palsy but is very bright.

Way to go, Roskelley. Thanks to The Spokesman-Review for its excellent coverage of this event. Jan H. Cunningham Spokane

Burke tactics a complete turnoff

Congratulations on an outstanding article on the so-called debates between Commissioner Kate McCaslin and Bill Burke. As he continues to try to smear this outstanding citizen, he only demonstrates that if you grandstand and insult you show you know nothing.

I find his tactics disgusting and insulting to the intelligence of anyone who pays attention to government. We need maturity in the courthouse, not polemics. R. Terry Lynch Spokane

5TH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT

Nethercutt a known quantity

It was gratifying to see The Spokesman-Review’s editorial endorsements of U.S Sen. Slade Gorton and of Rep. George Nethercutt. These endorsements prove again The Spokesman-Review does not fall into the cliched category of so-called biased liberal media. Thank goodness. Your editorial was right on in commenting that “Residents of Eastern Washington’s 5th Congressional District don’t need outsiders to tell them how to vote.”

It is disappointing to listen to Richard Clear in an ad paid for by an outsider group stating, in effect, that he’s switching parties to vote for Tom Keefe, a five-month resident of Eastern Washington.

Considering his recent loss in the primaries, it seems obvious to many of us that Clear is clearly more interested in seeing Nethercutt lose than in seeing Keefe win.

We residents of Eastern Washington know the commendable job Nethercutt has been doing for us. We have no idea of what Keefe is up to. Joseph M. Harris Spokane

Not-from-here a lame nonissue

Re: your Oct. 10 editorial about negative campaigning, I am dismayed to see a series of television commercials portraying Tom Keefe as an outsider. Since he has lived in different parts of the country before moving to Spokane, the ads suggest he wouldn’t know anything about quality schools and could serve as a tour guide in Washington, D.C., because of time spent living there.

I am surprised that the state Republican Party would make official in its negative advertising such a petty sentiment as insider-outsider.

If our political leaders expect to encourage new businesses to locate here or to teach our children tolerance and respect for others, they can’t talk out of both sides of their mouths. Drawing distinctions about where one came from only underscores xenophobia - fear of outsiders - and is so shortsighted as to be blind.

If the land-bridge theory across the Bering Sea is accurate, even ancestors of Native Americans may have come here from Asia, making nearly everyone in this community from some other place. And Rep. George Nethercutt has spent enough time in Washington, D.C., to be a tour guide there, too.

How about discussing useful, positive campaign issues? Penelope B. Rundle Mead

Ignore turncoat; vote Nethercutt

Having known George Nethercutt for several years I have supported him in his election campaigns. I was one of the many supporters who urged him to change his mind about limiting his service and run for re-election.

I strongly disagreed with Richard Clear’s reasons for running against Nethercutt in the primary election but I would just as strongly defend his right to do so. After Clear’s many months of harping a so-called conservative view he now jumps in to endorse a long-time liberal carpetbagger as being a better choice to represent us in Washington, D.C.

Tom Keefe has no past connection to our area at all. Clear’s endorsement must be a real payback to the big East money calling itself “Term Limits” that financed his primary campaign.

Clear talks about integrity. How do you suppose the people who voted for him in the primary feel about his integrity now?

Nethercutt is an outstanding representative, a gentleman who is sincere and straightforward. My thanks to him for changing his mind and once again fighting the fight for us. He deserves our votes, not the sold-out and misguided shots from Clear. Dick Canfield Liberty Lake

And the next change of mind … ?

Six years ago, term limits was an important issue to a large group of voters in Eastern Washington. George Nethercutt appeared before us and vowed with absolute sincerity that he would serve for only three terms. He now runs for a fourth term.

In this election, saving the Snake River dams has become as important an issue as term limits was back in 1994. This time, Nethercutt comes before us and, again with absolute sincerity, vows he’ll work to save the dams. What is there in this year’s save-the-dams pledge that differs from Nethercutt’s pledge in 1994 to come home after three terms?

Nethercutt’s opponent, Tom Keefe, worked for the late Sen. Warren Magnuson, who played a key role in getting those dams built. Keefe’s involvement with building the dams is a good reason to believe he’ll work to save them.

On the other hand, Nethercutt’s pledge to save the dams seems based solely on the fact that a large group of voters wants them saved.

Voters who believe in term limits invested their faith and their votes in Nethercutt, and he betrayed them. If you want the Snake River dams to remain standing, are you willing to place your faith in Nethercutt? As the dams fall, one by one, will Nethercutt look at us with absolute sincerity and say he changed his mind? Timothy F. Taylor Spokane

GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS

Militaristic rhetoric disturbing

Gov. George W. Bush and Dick Cheney’s talk about “strengthening the military” is frightening - and all the more disturbing because so many people seem to fall for this hype. These two politicians are fighting past wars and their talk about national defense sounds as if an armada was approaching our shores (light the fires!).

Certainly, we need a strong military. But it has to be a new and different kind, possibly a smaller one. Until we have figured out what we need, we can only waste money by pouring huge sums into an outdated structure. Consider that this is really, really big government. This belligerent talk is not winning us any friends abroad, where we often are looked at as bullies.

Or could it be that all this militaristic talk is just political posturing? Moritz Kundig Spokane

I don’t want Democrats’ kind of help

Whether it’s Vice President Al Gore, Maria Cantwell, Tom Keefe or any other Democrat, they all make the same promise: to “provide prescription drugs to every senior citizen under Medicare.” It must be on page 1 of their war strategy book.

I don’t want them to give me prescription drugs. I had a good medical plan, paid for by the company I retired from, until I reached age 65. I was then forced under Medicare for my health needs. The company then reimbursed me for my $49 class B coverage. Who pays for the balance of my coverage? Younger working people who need the money to raise their families, that’s who.

I now have excellent prescription drug coverage paid for by my former employer. If forced into the Democrat prescription plan, I’m sure my former employer will pay the $600 insurance fee for me but then again, who will pick up the remainder of the benefits?

The Al Gore-Democrat plan will relieve a lot of large companies of the contracted prescription drug benefits for their retirees and who will pay the bill? The same young taxpayers who are footing the bill on my Medicare class A and B! Democrats are trying, piece by piece, to force us into the same national health plan, Hillary health care, that we rejected so emphatically in 1993. Seniors, wake up!

The Republican plan will provide assistance for seniors who need it and leave people like me, who neither need it nor want it, alone. Jean Bell Springdale

Get with it and earn your keep

To Vice President Al Gore, Sen. Slade Gorton, Sen. Patty Murray and Rep. George Nethercutt - shame on you all! After all your combined years in elected office, the greatest country in the world spends $4,000 per capita per year on health care and still has millions of uninsured people with little access to care. Drug costs are unaffordable and regularly our seniors trek to Mexico and Canada to buy their prescriptions at affordable prices. The message is simple: Stop your political squabbling, reform Medicare and create a safety net that allows all Americans access to basic health care. Franklin G. Browne, M.D. Spokane