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

Tired of special treatment

What does the 99 percent want? Among many other things, we want to see former Kootenai County chief deputy clerk Sandra Martinson do hard time for grand theft just like anyone else would. We’re unimpressed that another member of the public servant club, Judge Fred Gibler, finds it “difficult” to sentence her at all.

We see another special someone, a former official, receiving special treatment from a justice system designed to protect its special club membership from the justice it purports to dispense. We see Martinson making over $30,000 a month to sit in jail for three months when she should be in jail for 10 years and her possessions liquidated to pay back the money she stole from Kootenai County taxpayers.

Yes, there were reasons for all this to a judge sympathetic to Martinson’s illness, statute of limitations, you know, all strictly legit. From Wall Street to Washington, D.C., to Kootenai County, Idaho, it’s always strictly legit for the 1 percent, while the 99 percent of us go on picking up the bill and being held responsible for our acts. We’re tired of it. We’re not going away. We’re here for the duration.

Dave Henderson

Spirit Lake, Idaho

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