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

Penny wise, pound foolish

Sat., April 1, 2017

Thanks to The Spokesman-Review for publishing the March 18 guest editorial, “Societal costs of cutting NEA, NEH outstrip savings,” by Elisabeth Mermann-Jozwiak and Ginger Ewing. They are right to criticize the Trump administration for its benighted decision to slash funding for the National Endowment for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Humanities - and also, I would add, for public broadcasting.

To shift a relatively small amount of money so that we have more to feed to our monstrous military programs is to move backward from cultural progress. For some four centuries now, this sort of foolishness has been described as “penny wise and pound foolish.”

Wayne Pomerleau

Spokane

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
Email: letters@spokesman.com
Fax: (509) 459-3815
Phone: (509) 459-5430