Budget cuts hit home

There it was, all on Page 1 of the April 19 metro edition of The Spokesman-Review. Two stories in bold contrast that illustrate the warped and twisted priorities of our federal leaders.

The lead story announces $31 million to be spent at Fairchild Air Force Base for an army reserve center and maintenance shop (“Reserve to get new center”). The news was proudly announced by our U.S. Congresswoman Cathy McMorris who apparently was instrumental in getting the project approved.

The second and contrasting story describes an Early Head Start child development program that serves low-income families (“Early Head Start site may close”). The downtown program may be forced to close due to an $80,000 decrease in federal funding. For some reason Congresswoman McMorris’ name was not associated with this story, although the decision to cut funding for the program was made by the same people in Washington, D.C., who approve the defense department budget.

Our federal decision-makers have warped and twisted priorities. If I were in their shoes I would have trouble sleeping at night.

Eugene Johnson

Spokane

Budget allocations askew

A sad irony in the Wednesday Spokesman headlines. The first and most prominent, “Reserve to get new center,” was contrasted by the less prominent, “Early Head Start site may close.” Thirty-one million federal dollars are funded to open a new Army facility while an $80,000 decrease in federal funding will close down a child developmental program for low-income families.

U.S. Rep. Cathy McMorris “credits the new military center to the combined efforts of elected officials.” There is no mention if elected officials or anyone else are taking credit for the drop in federal funds for Head Start.

Under Bush and the Republican-dominated Congress, the national debt has risen to over $8 trillion. There was a budget surplus when Bush took office. Our federal government is spending $10 billion a month. It continues to cut taxes for America’s wealthiest and has engaged us in a war that is costing countless human lives and has nothing to do with protecting the security of the U.S. population.

We are allowing our elected officials to cut funding for education and vital social services while spending billions and billions for a war that benefits no one but Halliburton and other corporate profiteers. Shame on us all.

Sean McCarthy

Spokane

What’s it going to be?

Your two lead articles on the front page of the April 19 edition, “Reserve to get new center” and “Early Head Start site may close”, the latter due to cuts in federal funding, send interesting and diametrically opposed messages.

I am not necessarily opposed to the military having new and expensive facilities to store their toys and play their games, but does it have to be on the backs of disadvantaged infants and children struggling for an equal start in the complex world we have fashioned for them?

I could only wish that Congresswoman McMorris could find it in her heart to speak out for those whom our society has rendered voiceless. I fear not that the military will find ways to have their voice heard.

We must decide in our minds what it is that constitutes a great nation. Is it a well-oiled and armed-to-the-teeth military machine poised to strike any nation or people who dare oppose our policies? Or is it a healthy, well-educated and fully employed populace, poised to defend our country should that occasion arise? Methinks we cannot have both.

Wayne L. Attwood

Spokane

Undercutting children shameful

While I am very much against this Buchet war, a feeling of warmth came over me when I read about the $31 million to add new buildings to Fairchild (“Reserve to get new center,” April 19). This certainly means Fairchild will not be on the government cutting board anytime soon, a much needed boost for Spokane area economy.

But my heart was quickly wrenched from my body, my soul and spirit crying within, when glancing down to the picture below and reading of the possible closure of the Early Head Start program (“Early Head Start site may close”).

I would like to ask Cathy McMorris (whom I voted for and who will receive an e-mail from me about this subject) to please go back to whatever government heads you went to before and ask them for an additional $500,000 or so to continue giving these children and mothers the help and support they need.

Wouldn’t it be great if Republicans and Democrats and non-party voters and Christians, atheists, Muslims, Buddhists, Jews, blacks, whites, Hispanics, gays, lesbians, neo-Nazis, Hawaiians, Tongans, heck, even Bush and Cheney would just pull together and help our kids?

Kameeiamoku Morrison

Colville