Take care of your dogs

Hi, we are 9 years of age and we save dogs. We think that dogs should be treated with respect. So hug your dog, or give it a treat! Tell your dog that you love it with your whole heart. We want you to care for your dog, not just dump it in your backyard or on the street.

Even if your dog is a pest, that doesn’t give you the right to abandon it. Instead give it to a home that will love it and care for it.

Halle Hober and Chloe Lemon

Spokane

Wal-Mart influence abounds

I recently learned that Wal-Mart de Mexico allegedly paid bribes and gave “donations” to local government officials throughout Mexico in order to obtain permits easily and quickly in their rush to build stores and gain market dominance in Mexico. Also, top-level Wal-Mart executives tried to hush up these actions by shutting down their own internal investigation. Bribery is a violation of the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and is a criminal offense in Mexico.

A number of issues arise. First, such behavior shows how unregulated free enterprise and competition can lead to widespread corruption. Wal-Mart, with its well-known zealous, anti-union bias, has provided a devastating model contributing to the relative, downward economic slide of middle-class wages. Today, the rate of private-sector unionization is now down to less than 7 percent. Thus, working people have had their bargaining power weakened and their wages diminished, even as productivity, profits and dividends are generally up for U.S. corporations.

With the Citizens United decision, U.S. corporations can overpoweringly influence our political sphere.

Our nation has been Wal-Martized, corporatized and Fox-inated. The “success” of corporations has cost the middle class its economic position and is costing the nation its democracy.

Philip A. Deutchman

Sandpoint

Don’t play favorites

Once again, it appears the Spokane County Democratic Party is up to old tricks with its anointed, appointed favorite son candidate.

In 2010, it was Andy Billig, and this year it is Marcus Riccelli. While I don’t discredit Mr. Riccelli’s merits, I believe a true democratic process allows all Democrats equal access.

I am hopeful that “good Democrats” will not allow candidates Jon Snyder and Bob Apple to be treated as second-class citizens, as occurred in the 2010 election.

Louise Chadez

Spokane

Holder is unaccountable

The U.S. Department of Justice under Eric Holder put three Navy SEALs on trial for punching a terrorist in the stomach during his capture (Ahmed Abed allegedly was behind the killing, burning and hanging of four Americans from a bridge in Iraq). Then came the inability to discern voter intimidation via Black Panthers (it’s intimidation whether by the KKK or the Panthers).

There was a desire to try 9/11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed in New York City. The World Trade Center memorial, museum and complete rebuilding will be completed before these “man-caused disasters” see justice.

The DOJ filed suit against an Illinois school on behalf of teacher Safoorah Khan for religious discrimination when, after nine months on the job, she desired a three-week leave to visit Mecca, and the school board nixed it.

And, of course, it sued the state of Arizona on immigration law, all the while ignoring the many sanctuary cities.

Recently, Joe Donnelly, a Democrat from Indiana, supported a contempt of Congress sanction against Holder for the “Fast and Furious” gun-tracking scandal.

Holder is a polemic hack, but President Barack Obama says he’s doing a great job. Imagine what they could accomplish in another four years.

Christy Miller

Sagle, Idaho

Health care toll is sickening

Every year, 45,000 Americans die of something that doesn’t exist elsewhere in the developed world. They die from complications due to lack of medical care. If a flu virus found only in America killed 45,000 annually, we would march on Washington with torches. Do we count the uninsured as collateral damage in our scramble for financial success?

This is social engineering at its worst. The “haves” and “have mores” determine who gets medical coverage. Nowhere else in developed countries do people die or go bankrupt for lack of medical coverage.

Judeo-Christian teachings state that God judges individuals and nations by how they treat those who live at the margins. Every major religion in the world puts compassion at the top of its list of values. Somehow the “gospel of prosperity” or “me first” sells better.

If you consider America a Christian nation, where does Jesus say that financial success shows God’s approval and those who don’t make it deserve what they get?

Capitalism creates abundant opportunities. But raw capitalism has a cruel underbelly – survival of the fittest, rewarding the dominant. It works best when balanced with compassionate institutions, laws and people.

It’s moral gut-check time in America.

Larry Winters

Cheney

Impressed with seniors

Recently I volunteered to be a member of a panel whose job it was to listen and evaluate senior presentations at Mead High School as well as Mead Educational Alternative Division. It is a graduation requirement that every senior successfully complete a portfolio that includes a transition plan from school to work or further education.

After listening to many seniors present their work, I feel compelled to assert my opinion of the high quality of education taking place in public schools today. Contrary to the “buzz” often touted that public schools are failing, I found clear evidence that public schools are doing an excellent job producing engaged and productive graduates who are the workforce and leaders of tomorrow.

Congratulations to the graduating seniors and to the teachers, staff and engaged adults who worked diligently to support their learning. High-quality public education is a cornerstone of democracy and is worthy of our support.

Mary Kay Gerards

Spokane

Explain firing at MAC

Your call (May 26 editorial) for an explanation of Forrest Rodgers’ firing at the MAC states the problem perfectly.

Spokane’s a tiny town. Everybody knows everybody. Consequently, it’s your word, candor and transparency that count – not rapid backpedaling or lawyering up when board and committee actions are questioned. Simply explain what happened, when and why.

This can be done without violating personnel confidentiality. If things were done inappropriately, correct them and move on. You can regain the support of the Spokane community through your best service by being true fiduciaries – faithful servants – who serve the mission of the MAC well, solely and selflessly.

The MAC is a true gem. Allow members, donors and every visitor to continue to enjoy it and show it off to their friends. Let them point with pride to the great exhibits, collections and events, and to the diligent and intelligent management of the MAC that makes all this possible.

What’s so ironic is that Rodgers was hired to boost funding in light of reduced state support. How can anyone pull that off in light of board and committee actions that rob the MAC’s greater art-loving constituency of the enthusiasm to support that effort?

Brooks C. Sackett

Spokane

Noise ordinance is sound

I am glad the city of Spokane enacted a noise ordinance to control excessive downtown street music volume.

I work in an office building about a half block east of River Park Square, where musicians frequently play amplified music. While my office is hundreds of feet away and five stories up, the music has often been so loud that I cannot concentrate and perform my job.

I am not a music hater, nor do I dislike street musicians – if their volume is reasonable and they do not intimidate passers-by or impede foot traffic. I reject the notion that cities are supposed to be noisy and people need to meekly accept whatever musical decibel level is dished out.

Kudos to the mayor and city for attempting to achieve a more equitable balance between musicians’ freedom of expression and the greater public good.

Rodney Aho

Spokane

Call the Pothole Patrol

It was obvious to me that the “Pothole Patrol” must not have driven up or down Rockwood Boulevard to arrive at their destination of 25th Avenue for their repairs. If they had they couldn’t have helped noticing the miserable conditions of Rockwood from 10th Avenue to Southeast Boulevard. It needs that 36-hour immediate attention, desperately, of the “Pothole Patrol.”

P.S. Are they ever going to pave the streets of Mount Vernon between 37th and 39th? Could they at least fill in the giant holes in those streets? The dirt from those streets that seeps into our homes is a constant aggravation I have lived with for almost 30 years!

Sherri Hyams

Spokane

Pay comparisons unfair

The recent criticisms about the “very high salary of $240,000 per year” for the new superintendent of Spokane’s school district are unfair because the arguments are compared with other government employees (governor, state attorney general).

The fact of the matter is that our superintendents throughout the greater Spokane school districts are serving as chief executive officers for the most important enterprise in our country: education. If their salaries were compared to college sports coaches in our state (e.g., over $2 million for WSU football coach) and CEOs with comparable responsibilities in the corporate world, then their salaries would actually be “very low.”

Furthermore, the school boards that are being criticized approving these salaries are comprised of business people and other professionals who understand the value of recruiting and retaining talented CEOs to lead our school districts with competitive salary packages.

These board members are also taxpayers who make salary decisions for superintendents. Our state and local budgets should always reflect the cost of education at the top of the priority list to assure a strong future for education in Washington and the positive outcome it will have for our economy.

Wes Teterud

Spokane Valley

Buying liquor in California

Under state control, Washington liquor prices were almost double what they are in Northern California. Indications so far are that prices will go even higher with private sales. There’s really no excuse for this since the state will no longer be leasing the buildings and paying the employees to sell the stuff. This is nothing more than state government continuing its attitude of treating adult consumers like ignorant children.

For me an annual trip to Northern California is the way to go. The savings in the price difference will way more than pay for any gas I might burn.

Tom Starr

Spokane