Letters - March 25, 2010

Colfax

Impressed

Over the past several weeks I have immersed myself in data underlying our local school levy. I have learned a lot about how public education is funded and how district operations are managed. The thing that has impressed me most is the need to credit local agricultural land owners for their role in supporting the education of our children.

Sixty five to seventy percent of levy funds are provided by the relatively few individuals that own the surrounding farm land. That is no small contribution in light of ever-difficult profit margins facing agriculture. I have been a recipient of their generosity as a K-12 student myself and the father of five children. So we appreciate the generosity of all our local tax payers, but especially the caretakers of our rich Palouse hills.

Kirby Daily,

Disgusted

This is in response to an article in last week’s Whitman County Gazette.

It disgusted me that over 90 people attended a party for Palouse Mayor Michael Echanove.

This party was for a man who screwed up at work, admitted to it and then is thrown a party and given $2000! I can’t even think of why city employees, county commissioners, and city council members would show up.

The mayor was reprimanded for violations of WSU Policy and given two weeks without pay and our local residents give him $2000.

There are so many more people in this world and for that matter in this city that could use a fund-raiser like that.

A lot of people including me live paycheck to paycheck and could not afford two weeks without pay.

People are losing their homes, some residents have major medical bills, Whitman County is broke, for that matter the city is broke and you people throw this man a party.

I don’t know what Mr. Echanove finances are like, but I don’t think he is hurting any. He works at WSU, no kids at home and is part owner of a popular coffee bar in Palouse. I wish I was hurting that much. Next time I screw up at work and I am put on an unpaid “Stint”, I sure hope you guys throw me a party and give me cash, I will be sure to call on you.

I loved Palouse, but the people who threw and attended this party need to look in their hearts and think about what they have done. You have just taught our children that it is ok to not follow the rules, because you will have a party thrown in your honor and be given money if you do break the rules. You people disgust me!

If the mayor is such a great man he will donate all of the money to the Palouse Community Center or other worthwhile causes. I challenge Michael to do so.

(By the way I lived in the area for over 12 years and never have I seen the Mayor sweep the streets or pick up garbage in town. The only street I have seen him clean is next to his business “The Green Frog”. Maybe he has changed in the last two months since I moved)

Tom Jefferies,

Moscow

(Former resident of the Palouse City area)

Remembers

I remember a Palouse where all were welcomed and tolerance for diverse opinions and lifestyles was celebrated.

I remember city councils where no one stood to gain financially from its decisions. On the very rare occasion when a conflict of interest did occur, elected officials honored their oath of office in defending the laws of the State of Washington and withdrew from discussion and abstained from voting.

I remember a Palouse where speech was free at city council and where mayors respected the Constitutional limits on their own power to stifle dissent. I remember mayors who would never dream of editing minutes. It was understood that those drafts were, after all, the city council’s record and only that body had the right to make changes.

I remember a Palouse where business owners could freely express their opinions without fear of economic boycott from a mayor and his devoted followers.

I remember a Palouse where the State Attorney General saw no need to reprimand the mayor for abridging the First Amendment rights of the citizens he represented. I remember a Palouse when no mayor was under investigation for violating three Washington State codes, when no mayor was found guilty and punished accordingly.

I remember a Whitman County where commissioners held themselves to the highest standards of ethical behavior. Commissioners like Nora Mae Keifer who would look with disdain upon such official misconduct and certainly not raise a standard of praise.

I remember a Palouse where it was unheard of that a councilman could vote over a dozen times for a city-funded project from which he stood to benefit in the many thousands of dollars. Even more unthinkable was that a slavish, vocal minority would bestow accolades for such a violation of state ethics laws.

I remember a Palouse where there was genuine disagreement and heated discussion within a city council that truly reflected the town’s diverse population. I remember a Palouse where there was no arrogant ruling clique whose agenda was either bowed before or a heavy price was to be paid in slander and intimidation. I remember a Palouse where lifelong residents spoke openly of their disagreements with official decisions ... rather than in whispers.

I remember a city government which had never been taken to court. It was inconceivable then that Palouse should be challenged three times in one year and have to pay the appellants each and every time.

I remember a Palouse where councils and mayors lived within their budgets-councils which agonized over and delayed raising water and sewer rates even one dollar out of concern for the impact on citizens with fixed incomes.

I remember Palouse before easy money became a way of life for city government. Before it was even dreamed of that a quarter million dollars of carefully husbanded taxpayer reserves would be gambled on a long shot ... a Breeding’s long shot that didn’t pay off. A long shot where money which the mayor and council took from the citizens’ reserve accounts will never be paid back.

I even remember a Palouse where a young city councilman worked doggedly year after year to get outside funding to redo Main Street. But that was before the coronation.

The Palouse I remember goes back over thirty five years. Since then I have raised my children here, buried my parents and made a life in what was once an enclave for offbeat types and free thinkers.

Today, the simplicity, slow pace and generosity I remember have been steam rollered by leaders who break laws with impunity, impose a harsh conformity of thought and know well how to reward those who worship at their shrine of “progress” and punish those who don’t.

Steve McGehee,

Palouse

Overlords

The news from the west side has been detailing the plans of our Olympian Overlords to entice us, the ignorant electorate, into imposing yet another tax on our sorry selves.

As usual, their presentation is designed to appeal to our baser instincts: greed (economic self-interest by having a lower sales tax) and envy (paying our fair share by stick it to the other guy who makes over $200k a year).

Obviously the lessons of the federal income tax have been lost on us, it having been sold as only applying to the richest and now applicable to all.

Heaven forbid a tax system based on user fees so us “customers” of government could vote with our pocket books on which important “services” provided are truly necessary to us (the gas tax is a good example).

In any event I offer the following arguments in opposition to the income tax:

1) California Governor Schwarzenegger was quoted as saying it doesn’t work. From the LA Times blog:

The current system, based on highly unstable income tax revenue that fluctuates with the economy, “doesn’t work,” Schwarzenegger said.

2) From a moral perspective the income tax is envy-based (the popular phrase of art “fair share” is just another way of saying I covet your property). Obviously those who support an income tax are envious. I use “envy” as meaning jealousy (not its other meaning which is congratulations).

My friend Dr. North has this to say about envy:

Jealousy is the sin of covetousness. The person says, “You have what I want. I intend to take it from you.” Envy is far more insidious. “You have what I want. I can’t get it from you. Yet I resent the fact that you have it. I’d rather see it destroyed, so no one can have it.” The jealous man can be placated. He can be bought off. The envious man cannot be placated short of absolute equality of all aspects of life — an impossibility in a world of hierarchy.

3) The supports of the income tax don’t lead by example. I’ve heard the likes of west-sider William Gates Sr. arguing for the income tax. All I can say is Mr. Gates and his kind are free to contribute as much of their fortune to the State as they see fit. If these proponents of the income tax aren’t willing to contribute freely to their cause I don’t see any reason to submit to it willingly either.

Chuck Petras,

Farmington