Labor exploited

Mon., June 5, 2017

Your May 24 editorial “Ag industry winces at tough talk” might have been improved by writing “Ag industry winces at possible loss of exploitation of non-citizens.” To continue to refer to this situation as simply “labor” is akin to calling an indentured servant a “worker who lives with us 24/7.”

This situation of exploitation continues because news sources soft pedal the issue in headlines. Perhaps the editors could look to the current issue of the Atlantic and its cover story to see what modern slavery looks like in a Filipino family in this country in this time. The exploitation of migrant labor will continue just as statues of Jefferson Davis will continue to stand in the South: until someone says what the problem is in words that are strong enough to match what is really happening.

David Riggs

Seattle

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