Arrow-right Camera

Color Scheme

Subscribe now

This column reflects the opinion of the writer. Learn about the differences between a news story and an opinion column.

Metaphors malign jobless

Idaho House members, put down the Kool-Aid! I am one of those people collecting extended benefits. Not welfare, unemployment insurance.

Unemployed since June of 2009, I went back to school and have been searching for work all the while. I have no health care, I do not take welfare or food stamps, and I get minimal child support while I have full custodial and financial responsibility for my child. Nobody is “giving me money” as Dick Harwood said, I am not a “horse at a trough,” refusing to work as Marv Hagedorn stated, and Rep. Shannon McMillan sees extended benefits as a “diseased limb” that needs cut.

These representatives need to drop the snarky metaphors and remember we are their constituents, human beings with real problems. I would give anything to work for a living wage. Without extended unemployment benefits, I shudder to think of where we might be. Shame on those who voted to make a “merciful cut.”

Who do you think you are? I haven’t heard of a single one of you forsaking your publicly funded health care benefits or the perks that go with political office. Whatever happened to the idea of public service? Wake up, Idaho!

Gwen Kelley

Coeur d’Alene

Letters Policy

The Spokesman-Review invites original letters on local topics of public interest. Your letter must adhere to the following rules:

  • No more than 250 words
  • We reserve the right to reject letters that are not factually correct, racist or are written with malice.
  • We cannot accept more than one letter a month from the same writer.
  • With each letter, include your daytime phone number and street address.
  • The Spokesman-Review retains the nonexclusive right to archive and re-publish any material submitted for publication.

Unfortunately, we don’t have space to publish all letters received, nor are we able to acknowledge their receipt. (Learn more.)

Submit letters using any of the following:

Our online form
Submit your letter here
Mail
Letters to the Editor
The Spokesman-Review
999 W. Riverside Ave.
Spokane, WA 99201
Fax
(509) 459-5098

Read more about how we crafted our Letters to the Editor policy