Governor's Position, Behavior on Tribal rights Are Insulting

Onderwerp:            Governor's Position, Behavior on Tribal rights Are Insulting
     Datum:            Thu, 10 Feb 2000 17:43:19
       Van:            KOLA <kolahq@skynet.be>
       Aan:            (Recipient list suppressed)

<+>=<+>KOLA Newslist<+>=<+>
[article provided by JH. Thanks!]

The Seattle Times: Readers write about the Experience Music Project and
other issues-- Letters To the Editor --
"Seattle Times" =//= February 8, '00 (pg. #: B5)

Tribal rights

Governor's position, behavior on tribal rights are insulting

   I am unable to decide if it is racism, hypocrisy, or just plain stupidity
that prompts the current shameful behavior of this state's government with
regard to the issue of the Yakama Nation acting lawfully within their treaty
rights ("Yakama alcohol taxes have the state smoking," Editorials, Jan. 26).
   The Yakamas, exercising their right to fight alcoholism and drunken
drivers, have utilized the same widely accepted mechanism of individual
states and the federal government, which is to increase taxes on those
products deemed medically dangerous and societally destructive.
   Our own state and the federal government raised taxes on tobacco products
under the banner of protecting our children and recovering medical costs.
   The issue is "demon rum" and the state snivels about money lost in liquor
sales. That is pathetic.
But, what is more pathetic is that nothing is said about the horror of
ruined lives and the destruction of families by alcohol and "(Gov. Gary)
Locke's aides identified $4 million in federal dollars that could be used
for alcohol programs."
   Every day I see people on the street visibly suffering from the effects
of alcohol abuse and it makes me very angry that I cannot personally help
them. They are in my face and they can't see the extreme sorrow, rage and
frustration there because they are lost. I don't want to lose any more.
   I would be failing in my duty as a citizen if my silence were to be seen
as support of a governor who wants to sell more booze.
   The governor needs to pull his head out of his wallet because his
position and behavior are insulting.

Rita Nalette, Seattle

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