Letters To The Editor

SPOKANE MATTERS

Make DARE private program

For whatever reasons, the county needs to make budget cuts. Certainly, it must look at the greater good for Spokane County. In doing so, the DARE program has been targeted for some of these cuts. The DARE program has its merits, but Spokane County can’t afford the luxury of such a program.

I believe the DARE program should be cut. It’s hard for me to justify the amount of money officers are paid to teach children what their parents should be teaching them - to stay off drugs. There isn’t any hard evidence that it’s been effective in accomplishing this.

To those who think this is a program worth keeping, please find other ways of doing do. Create a program supported and taught by parents. Be innovative. Spokane has done this with the community-oriented policing programs, so why not with DARE?

Spokane people are very good at coming together when there is a need. Here’s an opportunity. I wish you well. D.L. Jones Spokane

These people know no bounds

Again the electorate has given thumbs down to Mayor Jack Geraghty and the Spokane City Council’s decision process and lack of leadership.

Bev Numbers’ whipping and the questionable close race of Orville Barnes wasn’t due to a single issue such as the Spokane Transit Authority. It was about the future of honest government in Spokane.

I now hope they will adopt a fair and honest process for all, not just for downtown and their special interests. So far, they haven’t learned their lesson.

On Nov. 20, this arrogant, dishonest, herd voted on the agenda for the meeting at 4:30 p.m., in violation of their own rules which state the starting time to be at 4:45 p.m. Councilman Chris Anderson arrived at 4:36 and the sneaks had already voted.

I’m not paying for anymore frivolous programs such as the science center, consultants, low-priority projects or spending money long-term, driving our city further and further into debt. I hope the council will please instruct your city manager to cut the fat and not our services.

Citizens, watch the city budget and this wasteful group. Please get involved. It’s you and I who will pay and pay and pay. Lee Picard Spokane

BUSINESS

Employer distorts insurance facts

Michael Saad (Frank Bartel column, Nov. 15) once again has expressed misleading and false statements about the workers’ compensation system in Washington.

Saad’s description of the consequences of the claim from one of his injured workers is grossly misleading. His statement describes something that never occurred as a consequence of a particular claim or combination of claims.

Saad said his insurance rates went from 2.6 percent of payroll to 15 percent - a sixfold increase - between 1987 and 1990 because of the claim. What actually occurred is that his business was reclassified into a risk class that carried a rate six times higher than the previous class. Instead, Saad misstates the truth to make Labor and Industries appear arbitrary and capricious.

Instead, he should note all the facts.

In 1991, Saad’s premium rate dropped to 77 cents per each worker hour, down from 85 cents the previous year. In 1992, the rate increased to $1.12 when not one but two expensive claims entered his claims experience.

Also, employers in Washington have various options to cut premiums. The best example is found in our retrospective rating program.

Since 1981, we’ve refunded more than $276 million to participating employers who improve workplace safety and their claims costs. Earlier this year, the department made record refunds of $66 million to 5,500 employers.

Saad’s statement about “mass confusion” is baseless. The Legislature approves our budget. An outside source performs an annual audit. Our books are open to anyone. Craig Hinnenkamp, regional administrator Spokane Office of Labor and Industries

ENVIRONMENT

Thank forest wreckers for floods

It really is no wonder that one to three inches of rain is producing the tremendous, 40-year-high flooding in Washington. All one has to do to see why this is happening is drive over any of the passes and look at the massive clearcutting the Forest Service and the private lumber industries have done in raping our forests.

I learned in fifth grade natural resources class in the 1960s what the feeder watershed was for. It’s no wonder that today the lumber industry has decimated our forests and created this problem of erosion and water runoff.

It doesn’t take a nuclear scientist to know that forests retain water and that denuded hillsides create floods. This small amount of rainfall shouldn’t be creating the floods we are seeing.

This is an example of the decimation of natural resources for profit in the short term - and of ruining the environment in the long term. I weep for the forests. Chris Miller Spokane

PEOPLE IN SOCIETY

Indians don’t do keepsies

Years ago some local Indians traded some common items to a missionary, who further traded them to someone else back East.

Since these items were unique and different to the person back East, he preserved them and passed them on to his descendants.

The Indians, on the other hand, apparently didn’t place much value on these types of items, as they eventually discarded the rest over the years replacing the old with new. Now that these items have gained collector’s value, the Nez Perce Indians have suddenly developed a “spiritual” and “cultural” attachment to them and expect them back. Even though their ancestors relinquished ownership in trade for value received.

Now I know how the term “Indian giver” came about. D.E. Twitchell Spokane

Violence more than a kid with a gun

I’m not unaware or unconcerned about “youth violence,” but I’m deeply concerned about the direction of the discussion that makes violence appear to be only a youth problem.

Humans aren’t born innately violent. Children learn violence from adults and imitate adult violence.

The media give great prominence to violence and assure that people who might otherwise receive little attention become celebrities through acts of violence. Certain films and TV shows honor “good guys” who accomplish their good by violence. Acts of violence receive widespread reporting, while acts of goodness get little attention. Children aren’t given public role models of nonviolent people. Even sports heroes are honored for their violence.

Verbal violence precedes physical and technological forms of violence. Spokane talk shows, whether right or left, use verbal slurs to demean individuals and groups of people, to make them appear of lesser human worth or even not-human.

People with economic power, who use their unconscionable pursuit of greed while dismissing workers and others, commit acts of violence.

Working for nonviolence calls for the cooperation of all the community to change their hearts and their thinking and to regard all other persons and groups with respect. Let’s all go to work on ending violence by changing our own thinking and doing. Let’s show youth how to be nonviolent. Fr. Larry Dunphy, O.F.M. Spokane

Babies deserve better

Just a little note to all the women who are planning to have a baby only to return to their job four weeks later.

Do all of society a favor and get a cat instead. Sherri Schlosser Spokane

What makes for more good will?

We all agree that it would be wonderful to have more of the true Christian Christmas spirit that both staff writer D.F. Oliveria and associate editor Scott Sines referred to in their Nov. 24 Opinion debate.

However, the question should not be whether we need a longer “season of good will.” It should be about what activities and customs will best help bring this “season of good will” about without distracting from this “season.” Does hoopla, glitz and commercialism add to or distract from the “acts of kindness such as helping, giving, family and friends” as referred to by Sines. Dick McInernery Spokane

IN THE PUBLIC EYE

Speaker could use some education

I’m very offended by the remarks of our Republican House speaker, Newt Gingrich, in The Spokesman-Review on Nov. 22.

He spoke at a gathering of Republican governors in New Hampshire and said our welfare system subsidizes people for nothing. He also said we have an education system which allows kids not to learn and rewards tenured teachers who can’t teach, while destroying poor children who are trapped in a process with no hope.

After attending District 81’s Festival of Arts, band, orchestra, chorale and art exhibit at the Opera House on Nov. 21, in which about 450 of our talented high school children presented an excellent program, I’m certain you can’t find more talented, committed and dedicated teachers and children.

I’m very offended by Gingrich’s remarks. I think he should come out of Washington and off his pedestal to see that there are good teachers and excellent programs that we all enjoy, instead of criticizing and trying to cut funding for our education system. Harry M. Burger Spokane

I honor more-deserving Americans

Re: Michael Millhollin’s Nov. 29 letter concerning the myth of former Capt. Scott O’Grady’s being awarded national hero status. I say amen.

Across our land, in veteran’s hospitals, there are those confined to wheelchairs, to using white canes and to mental chaos. They weren’t invited to a private visit with the president and they weren’t regaled by congress. A book of their exploits would not bring great riches, yet my accolades are directed at them because they stood bravely between me and harm’s way. For that, I am forever grateful. Don Kerley Grand Coulee

RELIGION

What God says is what counts

I found the Nov. 25 article “Methodist statement declares baptism is an act of divine grace” a good start for Methodists to look into. I will add a word of caution.

No matter what man says or does, he can’t change what the word of God says.

We live in an age in which we want God to fit our idea of what our God should be. We have become masters of rationalization. So, is it any wonder men interpret the Bible to fit their needs? The reality is that God gave us the instructions on salvation. Whether we obey God or man is up to us.

If we want to know what men think about baptism, this piece by David Briggs was wonderful. If you want to know what God says about baptism, read Acts 2:38, 41 and 47. Men say: “there are many baptisms;” “visit the church of your choice;” “all faiths are fine;” and “since we’re all going to heaven, let’s not question anyone’s belief because it’s a personal thing.”

God says, “There is one body, one spirit, one hope, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father” (Ephesians 4:4-6). We must obey God rather than man. Kevin B. Dahl Coeur d’Alene

GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS

Forget government; Think taxpayer

What does one think would happen if our schools, our newspapers, our radio and televisions would substitute the word “taxpayer” instead of using the word “government.” Just a little substitution of a word.

Just imagine the whining teenager saying: I want the taxpayer to pay for this pregnancy. I want the taxpayer to support myself and my child. I want the taxpayer to pay for my college, and on and on.

The whining worker: I want the taxpayer to pay me more. I want the taxpayer to build low-cost housing. I want the taxpayer to give me this and give me that.

The whining welfare person: I want the taxpayer to pay me more. I want the taxpayer to build a nice place for me to live. I want the taxpayer to supply me with medical, more gasoline, and on and on.

The whining senior citizen: I want the taxpayer to increase my Social Security. I want the taxpayer to supply free medical, free dentistry, free eye care and, above all, free prescriptions. I want the taxpayer to pay any increased cost on my Medicare insurance premiums. I want help here, I want help there, all from the taxpayers.

Sounds terrible to whine for all the free stuff from the taxpayer. The word “government” is so intertwined, it sounds like something other than what it is.

The taxpayer. The taxpayer. The taxpayer. Chuck Spiller Sandpoint

Private group forms to help seniors

Your editorial, “Congress targeting the aged, disabled,” in the Nov. 19 paper is timely, accurate and informative.

Earlier this year, a group of seniors from five Eastern Washington counties, realizing that federal funds for many senior projects and entitlements would decrease in the coming years, established a private, nonprofit organization as a means to encourage private donations and grants. This was accomplished with the incorporation of the Senior Assistance Fund of Eastern Washington (SAFE).

We are prepared to work in partnership with Aging and Long Term Care of Eastern Washington (ALTCEW), the government-designated area agency on aging for our area that served over 10,000 seniors last year in Spokane, Whitman, Stevens, Pend Orielle and Ferry counties. Seniors received services such as adult day health, flu shots, case management, and congregate and home-delivered meals.

Should Congress not honestly face the human costs of its cuts, and your editorial leads me to believe that you have doubts it will, SAFE hopes to help support these programs and others that assist seniors. Bill Childs Senior Assistance Fund of Eastern Wash., Spokane

Good old keep on keepin’ on Coolidge

Syndicated columnist Cal Thomas described President Calvin Coolidge in his Nov. 25 column. I liked Coolidge’s definition of what it takes to succeed:

“Nothing in the world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent. The slogan ‘press on” has solved and always will solve the problems of the human race.”

During Calvin Coolidge’s years in office, I believe it was one of the rare times the budget was balanced and the national debt was reduced. Walter A. Becker Pullman, Wash.

Not worth the risk

Question: What is worse than not backing the president on Bosnia?

Answer: One dead United States serviceman. Norman Johnson Spokane