YOUR OPINION

If some of the wealthiest individuals on the planet tell us AI and its associated data centers are so hugely beneficial to mankind, why would they seek to maximize profits when they already control a disproportionate amount of the planet’s wealth?

In the late 1800s, the socalled Robber Barons accumulated vast wealth, often by exploiting the citizenry. Then, to buy public tolerance and polish their images, ruthless 19th-century industrialists pivoted to massive, high-profile philanthropy. Their strategies to manufacture public goodwill included Carnegie’s libraries and Rockefeller’s donation of land to the parks system. They and others founded and endowed universities such as The University of Chicago, Vanderbilt and Stanford. They donated to the arts and museums of the time.

Carnegie wrote influential essays arguing that the rich were merely trustees of their wealth and were obligated to use it for the betterment of society, painting their fortunes as a societal benefit rather than a result of exploitation. This current crop of Robber Barons (Musk, Zuckerberg, Bezos et al) just want to bleed the public dry. Musk tweets white supremacy, Bezos buys super yachts. Wouldn’t they be better citizens if they “donated” AI/data centers for the public good?

-Roger Haick Loon Lake

PUD manager salary increase a concern

As a ratepayer and candidate for PUD Commissioner for District 2, I find the PUD Board’s recent decision to raise the General Manager’s salary just seven months into a three-year contract deeply concerning.

The employment agreement was clear: a $220,000 salary with performance reviews to follow. Yet, two members of the Board chose to bypass the formal evaluation process entirely and approve the raise. During the meeting, even the board president admitted, “…we need to do a better job…and have a better process…”.

In a county where the median household income is less than $65,000, our public utility must be a model of fiscal discipline and transparency. When the general manager disregards a binding contract, and the board capitulates, they aren’t just ignoring their own governance process; they are failing their fiduciary duty to the ratepayers.

We need commissioners who will insist on structured, measurable performance standards before a single extra dollar of ratepayer money is committed.

As your next Commissioner, I will end this practice of “winging it” and require that employment contracts be followed, restoring the accountability our community deserves. We need leadership that prioritizes the interests of the people who pay the bills, not executive convenience. -Ernie Hood Newport

Hospital bond means more access to health care

After listening to a presentation by the Newport Hospital administrators about the upcoming bond to remodel the hospital, I came away with three important pieces of information new to me.

First, many of us have tried to make an appointment with a specialist in Spokane and been told it will be several months before you can see the doctor.

How will the remodel of Newport Hospital impact this? With increased facilities Newport can contract with doctors to come here and provide services. We may not employ additional physicians but will have room for contracted physicians to work.

Second, the increase in the number of operating rooms means that surgeons who want to be able to work in Newport can do so on an increased basis. I learned that one operating cannot be booked with backto- back procedures because of the time it takes to thoroughly clean between patients. Operating rooms must also be kept available for emergencies.

Third, the remodeled facility will include an oncology department. Summit Cancer Care is ready to partner with Newport Hospital but they need dedicated space for, among other things, chemotherapy. That means no more long drives to Spokane for cancer care.

-Martha Nichols Newport

We are a Democratic

Republic

A couple months ago I wrote a letter to The Miner asking why some right-wingers are insisting that the US is not a democracy (my answer – they seek to destroy our confidence in the election system). Two conservative respondents argued that the United States is not a democracy because it is a republic. They overlook that we are a democratic republic.

One respondent even stated that because Thomas Jefferson did not believe in the rule of the majority, therefore we are not a democracy. She failed to mention that at the time of Thomas Jefferson only property-owning or tax-paying white males could vote. That means that at the time of our founding she would not have been able to vote. But since then, we expanded our elections to include women, Blacks, and Native Americans. The governed choose those who govern them.

The foundation of this democracy is confidence in free and fair elections. We should guard against any attempts to undermine our election system – like the actions that are being promoted by the Trump administration. Ignore this nonsense about the US not being a democracy.

Protect free and fair elections – even if your side loses.

Sandy Nichols Newport

Supreme Court

The Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) recently rendered several opinions.

I question their opinion on Birthright Citizenship. The 14th Amendment was created for the newly freed slaves. Generations had no country to call home.

The 14th was their path to citizenship.

The SCOTUS opinion on this goes further. It says any child born on the magic soil of the US is automatically a US citizen.

The bar for citizenship was just lowered to the ground. Let me get this straight, two people here illegally can now create a legal citizen? What about expectant mothers flying in from around the world, on temporary visas, to have an ‘American’ child? I’m not sure that’s what our Founders intended.

I recently read a Chinese Ambassador saying that Chinese women fly into the US to have babies (birth tourism) to the tune of 100K per year over the last decade. As soon as they get the baby’s passport, they fly back home to China.

If that’s true, that’s a million babies. What if they are raised communists and come back as adults to work and maybe run for government? This should require legislation.

-Glen Pierce Spokane/Cusick

Mixing faith and logic produces nonsense

The Supreme Court has ruled on birthright citizenship, and my first thought is that any foreign women who produces a positive pregnancy test should be given an American citizenship certificate for their unborn child before returning to their home country.

The unborn child was conceived in America and should be given citizenship even if it isn’t born in America. That’s because life begins at the moment of conception, so being born is just a follow-on event for a person who is already alive. The unborn child was alive in the USA and should be considered a citizen at the moment the egg is fertilized.

Welcome to the American nightmare of twisted political logic. Mixing faith with logic produces nonsense. Making laws based on religious dogma has a similar designation. Early in America’s history the color of skin and having female sexual organs justified slavery, and discrimination.

Today religion is being co-opted to return to the days of political persecution. An example of this was reported in The Miner last week with our public hospital withdrawing from a contract with a religious Idaho pregnancy center. Doctors would have signed a sexual purity pledge and withheld birth control for single women.

-Pete Scobby Newport

250th Celebration a success

I extend my sincere gratitude to all individuals who participated in the Pend Oreille County Government-hosted America250 Celebration, which took place at the Old County Courthouse on last Tuesday.

From the elected officials and guests who read the Declaration of Independence to all the singers, including all the people behind the scenes, especially all the volunteers. It is unfortunate that more younger people were not present to experience the event.

The sole concern I had was that Washington Avenue was not decorated. Considering the celebration of 250 years and the street’s name, it appears to be a missed opportunity to have decorated the street. This could have been done actually for Memorial Day, maintained throughout the Rodeo, and would have been completed in time for the 250th birthday of our nation. O’well, despite that and the inclement weather, the event was a huge success! In my opinion.

-Renee Webster Newport