Give whistleblowers protection

Even before 9/11 there was a push in the federal government to reclassify documents in the name of "national security" that have been declassified over the years.

We have secret meetings held by the president and vice-president.

We have a Congress that demands to know about domestic phone taps, data mining and other secret programs that trample on our constitutional rights, and when asked about it they say they cannot tell us because of 'national security". They cannot even tell us if it violates our constitutional rightsk, let alone what the program is.

The only way we find out is by whistleblowers who believe the nation is better served by exposing misconduct by the government than the secrecy that hides it, even when classified under the veil of "national security."

Now the Supreme Court has handed down a ruling that scales back the rights of whistleblowers.

It doesn't matter whether it is a Democratic or a Republican Congress, the fact is that is is happening to us. No more secrets, no more lies. Congress must strengthen the legislation protecting whistleblowers.

Lawrence Schuchart

Spokane, WA

The Spokesman-Review

Chicks entitled to opinion

In reference to Terry Griner's comment ("Chicks sing a different tune,"); I have been thinking about this for a long time and the last time I checked, we live in the USA where everyone is entitled to their opinions no matter who they are.

I just recently bought their last CD and it is wonderful. Free speech, isn't that what we are fighting for all over this world? At least one of the rights everyone should have anyway. People, get a clue!

Janelle Baker

Spokane Valley, WA

The Spokesman-Review

Thank Bush for democracy death

Congratulations fans of the Bush administraton! You're almost there. You've just about wiped out 230 years of the building of democracy. Isn't it great to cheer on your leaders as they strip constitutional rights one by one?

Torture of innocent people? Fine by me, you say. Spy on Americans without a warrent? Great! Lock up people with no trials for years? No problem there. The FBI investigation of the League of Women Voters and the Quakers? Oh, they must be terrorists, you muse.

Now several states, including Florida, are imposing draconian laws about voter registration to make it much more difficult to both register voters and to vote. No problem, you say! The elections of 2000 were clearly fraud in Florida. Database Technologies Inc, hired by Jeb Bush and Katherine Harris to purge the polls of "felons," netted 97,000 people, the vast majority both non-felons and minorities who tend to vote Democrat. Since Bush "won" by less than 600 votes, do the math.

Oh , that's just liberal ranting, you say as you dismiss one atrocity after another, lie after lie, massive incompetence (Katrina) and massive corruption. No, just stick to your beliefs, don't question authority and cheer on America's demise. Congratulations. You "won"

Mary Weathers

Spokane, WA

The Spokesman-Review

Speaking out against the war

This war has gone too far for too long. It's time for all of us parents to say stop! We have to get out of this war that should never have been started.

Two, no three, more innocents were killed May 30 ("U.S. troops kill pregnant Iraqi," June 1). Two Iraqi women were rushing to the hospital, one of them about to give birth. The pregnant mother's name was Nabiha Nisaif Jassim. She lived in the town of Samarra. They failed to stop at the new observation post in the side road.

What a sad situation thier daily lives must have been, that a beautiful human phase of life was a deadly undertaking.

Those of you who are my age, that have children Nabiha's age, imagine these young ladies as your precious daughters. You are parents of the world and they are the daughters of the world and they have been killed.

Stand up, join a group to stop this war and stop more children of the world from dying needlessly. Peaceful protesting will be heard!

Rebecca F. Peters
Spokane. WA
The Spokesman-Review