Letters

Headlines say it all

Funny, The Spokesman-Review’s Dec. 7 headline read, “Voters recall West.” A headline in the lower right portion of the front page read, “Saddam tells judges to ‘go to hell.’” I imagine that the ex-mayor is thinking the same thing about two-thirds of the voters.

The ex-mayor has maintained that he knew nothing about the automatic downloads on his computer. I think that we will read another headline in a few months: “Ex-mayor sues Gay.com.” After all, he will need some way to maintain his lifestyle and income.

John Searle

Spokane

Numbers don’t lie

I think it is interesting that George W. Bush and Jim West have about the same approval rating these days – 35 percent or so.

John P. Sayles

Spokane Valley

Stand up and support Bush

In response to “Bush’s sad folly” (Dec. 1). I am just outraged by the lack of support some U.S. citizens have for the current administration. Did I vote for Bush? Heck no. When I was at college in Idaho, when those my age were dying in Vietnam, protesters parachuted in on the campus lawn. I was not a protester. I could not believe the insanity of not supporting our troops over in Vietnam. What must they think? The woman camping outside Bush’s ranch should seek a camping permit for our beautiful national forests. Volunteer or find a hobby. I have not lost a child and by God’s grace I hope I never do. But, if she did join one of our forces and was killed, I darn well know that I would not be marching in Washington because she died. Yep, let’s pull out of Iraq. Let’s undo all the good that our troops have done. Yepper, let’s just tape a flag on our car. I seriously extend my heartfelt sympathy to every family that has lost a loved one in the war. They stood up for what they believed.

Colleen C. Lartz

Spokane Valley

Government can’t keep promises

Referring to the picture accompanying the AIDS relief article with the sign saying Keep the Promise (“Bush says AIDS relief reaching more patients,” Dec. 2). You are naive if you believe your government will keep any “promise.” Veterans groups have been trying for years to get the government to live up to its promise of free medical care for older-generation retirees, without any success. But good luck in your effort.

Kreston McClure

Cheney

Donate rest of tainted money

What about it, Cathy? Now that disgraced California Congressman Duke Cunningham has pleaded guilty to corruption, our own Rep. Cathy McMorris has decided to donate the $1,000 contribution her committee received from Mr. Cunningham’s to a local charity (“McMorris donates tainted PAC money,” Dec. 6). But before her constituents can see this as anything other than a cynical, holiday season example of public giving, further examination of Rep. McMorris’ other contributors are in order.

Deposed House Majority Leader Tom DeLay stands accused and indicted on felony charges of corruption that include money laundering and illegal campaign contributions intended to illegally influence the Texas political process. During his years in Washington, D.C., Mr. DeLay has become notorious for his heavy-handed use of power, so much so that he has been repeatedly admonished by the House Ethics Committee. As a result of his recent indictment in Texas, Mr. DeLay was removed from his leadership position.

Mr. DeLay took particular interest in funneling money to Rep. McMorris’ campaign and made a direct contribution of $5,000. If Cathy McMorris is really interested in fumigating her campaign war chest, I know of at least one additional contribution that should be sent to our local food bank. How about it, Cathy?

Sharon Smith

Chair, Spokane County Democratic Central Committee

City needs spending accountability

If Shakespeare were alive in Spokane today, I believe that he would pose the question, “Accountability, where is thy sting?” Based on extensive study and analysis I seriously question the concern for accountability in city government.

I have read about the spending habits of the city but not the accountability related to them. I have read about five people going to New York on a bond-refinancing trip which, as a former regional audit manager for the state auditor’s office, I find difficult to accept. When I queried city officials about it, I was informed that it was justified. Yet there is concern by some that social services will be cut in the new budget. It seemingly is another example of truth, beauty and justification being in the eye of the beholder.

Accountability in city government cannot be selective. Let us hope that our city officials begin to realize this. Many citizens, including those affected by the cuts in social service programs, are counting on these officials. I shall be waiting with great anticipation for a copy of the efficiency study if it is performed.

Mike McKinnon

Spokane

Program cuts are disgraceful

Shame on us. The latest funding cuts to Partners with Families and Children and the Martin Luther King Jr. Family Outreach Center are an example of who we have become as a community and as a nation (“State cuts funds to local programs,” Dec. 2). By allowing this to happen we say to the world that the poor, the struggling, the disabled, and most of all, our children have no value or place in our society. “Sink or swim” is the motto of the “compassionate conservative” as we pursue a national policy of profit, tax cuts and war. Our priorities show who we are. The way we treat the least of us is a true indicator of our spirit, honor and character. It’s about time we start acting like a Christian nation instead of just loudly proclaiming to be one.

Darlene Brice

Spokane

Big Brother’s at it again

I just got a letter from my insurance company. What it said, in essence, is the following:

“Important notice about your policy. We have recently discovered a programming error that resulted in your policy being renewed with a lower premium than what was approved by the Washington Office of the Insurance Commissioner. We are obligated by law to provide the rates that were approved by the Office of the Insurance Commissioner.

“As a result, your premium will be increased at each future renewal until your premium reflects the filed rates. In order to minimize the effect of our programming error, a 10 percent maximum increase will be used to calculate your renewal premiums. The Office of the Insurance Commissioner is aware of the situation and has approved our plan for this correction. If you have any questions please contact your agent for personalized service. Thank you.”

Whatever would we do without an ever-growing state and federal bureaucracy to take care of our every need and look out for our best interests? Expecting the government to protect the public from big business is like expecting a pack of wolves to protect the sheep from the coyotes.

Ron Yorke

Spokane

Restore union, human rights

The law says we have the freedom to form unions, if we so choose, without harassment or retribution from employers. But the law is toothless and the enforcement weak, and it is routinely violated.

It’s gotten so bad the international organization Human Rights Watch says the United States is a violator: “Loop-hole ridden laws, paralyzing delays, and feeble enforcement have led to a culture of impunity in many areas of U.S. labor law and practice. Legal obstacles tilt the playing field so steeply against workers’ freedom of association that the United States is in violation of international human rights standards for workers.”

That is why I support the people and the labor unions on Dec. 10, which is International Human Rights Day, advocating the restoration of union rights.

In addition, I urge Rep. Cathy McMorris to support the Employee Free Choice Act, which will reform federal labor law and restore freedom to choose unions.

Jim Fitzgerald

Spokane Valley

Use caution with power of attorney

Just a little but important message from one senior to another. Family fraud is one of the most sinister types of elder abuse. Be extremely careful to whom you entrust your power of attorney. Make sure there are safeguards in the document to require monthly or quarterly accountability to you. More often than we can imagine, and as unsavory as it may sound, adult children have been known to drain all of a parent’s assets. Don’t make relatives joint owners of your home or bank accounts.

Protect yourself; don’t be a victim. See your attorney if your power of attorney does not protect you against misappropriation of your assets.

Anne Ashley

Spokane

Thanks for breastfeeding story

Heather Lalley’s article “An important bond” (Dec. 6) brings attention to an important and often overlooked reality of today’s workforce: breastfeeding employees. I especially appreciate her mention of the cost savings associated with supporting breastfeeding employees. Many employers don’t consider this aspect.

The Washington “breastfeeding law” is confusing. Heather was correct in her article; businesses are encouraged to support nursing moms. However, there is no mechanism in place for Washington companies to “bill themselves as ‘infant-friendly’ in promotional materials if they support breast-feeding.” When the law was passed in 2001, dollars were appropriated to do this work but after a month, the funding ended due to budget shortfalls. Currently, businesses cannot get any such designation from the Department of Health. Additional legislation was proposed last year and likely will be reintroduced this year; learn more at www.hmhbwa.org/forprof/BCW/ legislation/wa_legislation.htm.

Your readers may be interested to know that Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies Coalition of Washington and the Breastfeeding Coalition of Washington acknowledge businesses that are particularly supportive of breastfeeding. The Outstanding Employer Award is presented annually. Previous recipients include Davita, Inc., Agilent Technologies (in Liberty Lake), Russell Investment Group, and others (see www.hmhbwa.org/ forprof/BCW/awards. htm).

Kimberly Radtke

Breastfeeding Coalition of Washington, Seattle

ID versus evolution

The letter from J.E. Hill, “Put ID to the test” (Dec. 3), is yet another example of someone not understanding the intelligent design versus Darwinian evolution debate. The writer challenges “ID’ers” to devise an avian flu vaccine without using biological evolution. Through this challenge, Hill infers that either intelligent design or biological evolution have something to do with designing vaccines. Neither do. Intelligent design does not claim to be “a science” as Hill seems to think it does. ID is merely an interpretation, opinion, conclusion, or belief about what is behind the scientific data gathered through “mainstream scientific inquiry (and) experiment.” Both Darwinian evolution theory and intelligent design theory are proposed explanations based on scientific inquiry, not in spite of it. ID makes no claim of being a separate type of science or even a new definition of science. It is really quite simple. Does the interpretation of scientific data, in any field of study, direct you to a “designer” of some fashion or does your interpretation lead you to believe that innumerable random processes are the explanation for life and the world, as we observe it?

David Stockdill

Spokane

Quacking up over duck patrol

I got a good laugh from an article Nov. 23 titled “CdA duck hunters bagged at B.C. border.” Our bureaucratic government wouldn’t let them back across the border with ducks harvested in Canada because of bird flu. Those ducks would probably have migrated to the U.S. within a week anyway!

Do you suppose I could get a job with the customs department shooting ducks and geese on the border before they cross into the United States? Maybe we could set up a distant early warning line or “duck line,” and develop a fowl missile to shoot down all of the hundreds of thousands of water fowl that migrate from Canada through the U.S. every year.

P.S.: Please don’t tell Ducks Unlimited though; I’m not sure how they would react.

Harry Grubham

St. Maries

Flying the safer skies

We owe the air marshal who took action in Miami a great thank you (“Marshal kills man,” Dec. 8)! Air travel just became a great deal safer. Terrorists now know that air marshals are actually on planes and that they will, in fact, take decisive action if necessary. Until this happened, all we had was a government press release and a hope that terrorists would believe it.

Thank you, Mr. Air Marshal, whoever you are.

Larry Gants

Spokane Valley

Wilderness exploitation gone wild

Rep. Richard Pombo (R-Calif.) is at it again. This radical right-wing pawn of the timber and mining industries apparently never met a wilderness he didn’t want someone to exploit and ruin for a fast buck. First he obstructs passage of the Wild Sky Wilderness bill, which would protect thousands of acres of pristine forest and alpine habitat here in Washington, and now he has co-sponsored a bill that would “reform” the outdated 1872 Mining Act by turning the clock back even further, allowing sale of public lands to mining companies and developers at rock-bottom prices. These private corporate entities could then shut the public out of lands that used to belong to them. The measure was snuck into the ongoing budget negotiations, but was thankfully noticed by watchdog groups and genuine public servants like Rep. Jay Inslee (D-Wash.).

This measure can and should be opposed and defeated. The long-term costs to humans and wildlife habitat far outweigh the short-term benefits of such reckless proposals. If Rep. Pombo really wants to help out the U.S. Treasury, he could begin by opposing the unnecessary and outrageously expensive war in Iraq, instead of seeking to sell off our children’s rightful heritage.

Glen Cosby

Spokane