Letters To The Editor

GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS

Cantwell sticks to the issues

With all the political ads on television, it’s difficult to discern were the truth lies. It’s impossible, based on a 30-second spot, to sum up exactly where a candidate stands on the cost of prescription drugs, education, the environment and half a dozen other critical issues we face. On the other hand, many candidates find it easier to criticize than to articulate the real issues facing Washington and our nation.

We are fortunate, however, to have Maria Cantwell as a choice for our next U.S. senator. She took the time to visit each of Washington’s 39 counties to articulate her positions on the most important issues. Her ads and clearly focused literature make it clear that Cantwell is the right choice for U.S. Senate. She has a proven track record in the private sector, as a state legislator and as a congresswoman. She is willing to listen to us as we battle the issues facing us. Simply put, I will be proud to have Cantwell as my senator. Becky Lucke Spokane

Gorton source of nonsolutions

We have reached a crisis in health care coverage and we can use this election to send a clear message to Washington, D.C., that we want it fixed.

How many of our neighbors have to drive across the border to buy drugs? How many children must go without the most basic of health coverage before we hold our current elected officials accountable?

I am a retired Navy and World War II veteran. We have a term in the military that’s asked when something has gone awry, “Whose watch was it on?” I think we know Sen. Slade Gorton’s prescription drug legislation (or should I say placebo legislation), which never received even one signature from his Senate colleagues, was politics as usual.

This is not the first time he has dropped the ball on his watch. In fact, he has voted against a meaningful patients’ bill of rights on more than one occasion.

Today, individual health insurance plans are unavailable in 30 counties. This is totally unacceptable. We need leadership, not lip service or negative comments.

Think Maria Cantwell for U.S. Senate. She has a record of taking the hard votes, including the Family and Medical Leave Act and other efforts to give people more control over their own care and how they care for their families.

Remember who has been on watch and asleep at the wheel this election cycle. Orvall Nelson Spokane

Texas schools suit our family

Re: Tom Akren’s Sept. 1 letter concerning the Texas educational system: The “proof of the pudding is in the eating,” as the old saying goes. I don’t know about his statistics but we have two sons and their families living in Texas. Both are extremely happy with their children’s teachers, curriculum and overall rating of the system.

One family, in El Paso, came from Denver and says there is no comparison, that El Paso schools are much better. The other resides in Austin. They have nothing but compliments for their school system.

We are talking about a total of five children in five different schools, kindergarten to high school.

It goes to show that actual participation far exceeds the so-called facts’ of statistics. There is no comparison between Vice President Al Gore and Gov. George Bush. Guess which one we support. George E. Dodds Spokane

Silver-tongued orator worth little

Vern Von Drehle’s Sept. 1 hatchet job on the Republican candidate for vice president showed complete lack of knowledge of facts. The fact is, one does not have to be a silver-tongued devil to accomplish tasks, goals, etc.

Case in point: If there were ever two silver-tongued orators, they are Al Gore and Bill Clinton. Yet look at their accomplishments in the last eight years. What have they done about taxes? The gave us a big tax increase. Medicare - for eight years they did nothing. Social Security - for eight years they did nothing. High price of prescription drugs - they did nothing. Military readiness - they emasculated the military. The allowed the sale of military technology and for secrets to be slipped to China. The list could go on forever, ad nauseam.

I would much rather have a factual, dull speaker who can accomplish something rather than a silver-tongued orator whose only real accomplishment is to handle the truth very loosely and accomplish nothing. E.R. King Spokane

LAW AND JUSTICE

Fast, decisive punishment works

In response to the Jesuits’ Aug. 28 guest column deploring the death penalty, there are compelling arguments to the contrary. In fact, most Americans approve of the death penalty.

Innocent people have been executed. It is also a fact that many innocent persons have been gunned down by lawbreakers.

A recent Texas case brought forth the fact the suspect had 12 appeals. Twelve appeals after a life of murder and rape. Each appeal was rejected. How many appeals is one entitled to? Should it be 15 or 20?

There is substantial evidence that swift and appropriate justice is a powerful deterrent in many countries. The problem in this country is that we have watered down the legal process to such an extent that the crime is long forgotten by the time the last appeal is finally heard and rejected at a profound cost to the public.

Three strikes’ laws have also come under attack by bleeding hearts. Yes, they require some modification but the essential purpose is again a powerful deterrent. Crime is decreasing and I believe part of the reason is capital punishment and three strikes’ laws. Claude W. Morris Spokane

Drunk drivers the real menace

I am so sick of all the news flap about the 100 or so deaths over a decade in vehicles with faulty tires. Yes, get the tires replaced. Yes, investigate. Yes, litigate if necessary. But how about the thousands of deaths each year from alcohol-related traffic fatalities? Where are our priorities?

We could bring that number down by getting serious about punishing people who drink and drive. Let’s try several things.

1. No plea bargaining down to a lesser offense.

2. Mandatory suspension of license for six months.

3. Stiff monetary fines.

4. In-house incarceration to be paid by the offender.

5. Decals on every car in the family warning that if the offender is driving, then call the police.

5. Impound the cars of a repeat offender.

6.Permanent suspension of license for second offense.

7. Hard jail time for third offense.

Would that keep all chronic drunk drivers off the road? No, but most would learn to make other arrangements when drinking. And do not accept the whine that doing without driving would be hard on the job or embarrassing for the family to have decals on the car when they are driving. It needs to hurt and social shame must be applied to force people to plan ahead for themselves.

We treat DWI or DUI like a game. It is serious and far more deadly than a few dozen deaths from faulty tires. Nancy Parker Spokane

OTHER TOPICS

Midwest farmers don’t burn

I enjoyed the opposing editorials your staff wrote about wheat burning (Opinion, Sept. 1). Of course, from a legal standpoint, Gary Crooks is right: The Washington Department of Ecology is obligated to implement the terms of the out-of-court settlement it negotiated with the clean air group, Save Our Summers.

Yet I still have a hard time understanding why any state or local government would approve any form of field burning. I grew up in the Midwest, where they grow a lot of wheat and don’t burn fields, even though they have at least as many insects, plant diseases, noxious weeds and dense stubble. Is it because, as Minnesota Public Radio’s Garrison Keillor points out, there’s a lot of Lutherans in the Midwest and they have more common sense? Dr. David Demers Pullman

Spare us the hypocrisy

Re: D.F. Oliveria statement of Aug. 31, “Idaho’s image problem isn’t going to go away until Butler and his compound do.”

It is indeed a fine line that exists between reporting the news and manufacturing it. And it is the frailty of that line which would lead an honorable journalist to closely observe it.

Daily, The Spokesman-Review covers its front page with fluff pieces which require little journalistic skill and thus avoids having to report the truly important world news. The exception to this pattern occurs when the front page columns and subsequent ones are devoted to Richard Butler and the Aryan Nations.

If the medium is the message, The Spokesman-Review’s message is, if it bleeds, it leads. Unfortunately, The Spokesman-Review is not alone in its suspect allotment of manpower.

Judge Charles Hosack showed us his wisdom when he limited the media coverage of Aryans trial jury selection to one pool reporter. His was an attempt to restrain the media from doing to this trial what it did to the O.J. Simpson trial.

The blame for North Idaho’s image problem can be found not only at the feet of Richard Butler but on the front steps of The Spokesman-Review Building. Those responsible for The Spokesman-Review would be well advised to respect that aforementioned line and spare us the sanctimonious hypocrisy. Dennis N. Stevens Colville, Wash