Letters to the editor: Judge Jackson, vote for better, publish file and others

Judge Jackson

What’s happening to this country? Why are so many in our nation, and especially in Congress, so prejudiced, closed-minded, uncaring, selfish, self-centered? Why does Judge Jackson begin with two strikes against her? She’s black, she’s a woman. Listening to the recent hearing for the Supreme Court nominee was sickening as Graham, Grassley, Hawley, Cruz and their ilk revealed more about what they are. Their lies, distortions, scurrilous comments and attacking her on her integrity and competence speaks to the prejudice, pettiness and despicableness which are way to prevalent in our political system and typical of way too many of our elected officials. Their desire for cruelty and simplistic ‘solutions’ is inexcusable considering what we should receive from political leadership. It reflects on the lack of intelligence, honesty, and patriotism by too many in Congress and in our nation who are American only because of birth. Politicians like Graham, Hawley, Cruz and Grassley have no business on the public stage. Though somehow elected to represent their state, hopefully, they are not representative of most of us. They represent the worst in human dignity.

Lilburn Wesche, Boise

Vote for better

For a state that prided itself on little government regulation, this legislative session has introduced, or in some cases passed, legislation that promotes the exact opposite. Many of our current legislators want to be involved in: decisions private employers make about vaccine requirements, decisions about the kinds of materials libraries can and cannot distribute, decisions about the use of masks during a public health crisis, and decisions about personal health care matters that are best decided by the patient, his/her physician and if minors, by their parents. And they want to do this on a statewide basis rather than allowing local officials to make decisions based on local conditions. Is this who we are? Idaho, we can do better.

Vote in the primary on May 17 and in the general election on Nov. 8.

Maggie Frole Spurling, Boise

Publish file

There have now been several opinions and letters published in the Idaho Statesman in opposition to H666, the bill that would make it illegal for librarians to distribute harmful materials to children.

For fifty years it has been illegal for bookstore employees to allow children to purchase books that depict nudity, sexual conduct or sadomasochistic abuse, or books that contain explicit and detailed verbal descriptions or narrative accounts of sexual excitement, sexual conduct or sadomasochistic abuse.

Somehow bookstore employees have managed to avoid arrest and incarceration. I’m sure librarians can too.

It would be simple enough for the editors to publish the contents of the “super-secret folder” on the Idaho Statesman website. If the material is appropriate for children it certainly is benign enough to be published without any redactions on the website. Then we could decide for ourselves whether the material is age-appropriate for the children of Idaho.

Don Fleming, Pocatello

Climate action

Several months ago, the Statesman reported on a student organizing success: after months of advocacy by students across the city, the Boise School District passed a “Collective Commitment on Clean Energy.” However, students were disappointed by the lack of SMART goals in this so-called commitment. We learn SMART goals in school: specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound. This vague document the BSD board adopted in November met none of those criteria. For many students, this felt like a slap in the face to our fears about climate change and our concerns about their schools’ impacts on the environment.

As school board elections approach in August, it’s time that the discussion about sustainability resurfaces. We need a real clean energy commitment and long-term sustainability plan for our schools, not more greenwashing. As a student at Timberline High, I’d like to see our elected officials and district leaders engage in real discussion with students, educators, and community members about this issue. In order to receive my vote in August, trustees must show legitimate interest in protecting students’ future and the planet we are to inherit. Readers should call their school board members and demand a real climate action roadmap.

Kyler Rachael, Boise

Highway 20

Gov. Little,

I am writing you to request that U.S. Highway 20 between Chester to Ashton be designated as a priority in your $200M in upcoming funding.

If you have not recently traveled US 20 between Chester and Ashton, let me tell you it is likely the worst federally designated route in this state. Just last month Fremont County resident Joan Kvachkoff was killed on this section of highway. Joan’s death was preceded by Joseph W. Sturgeon killed in 2020 and Janis Clark along with Jose Alfredo Angulo Demara killed in 2017 on this same stretch of highway. This is a deadly section of highway, especially in the summer months. As you likely know, this is the primary route to the west entrance of Yellowstone National Park. The west gate to the park is the busiest of all the gates with over 40% of the vehicles entering the park coming through this gate which totals nearly 750,000 vehicles per year.

Ted Austin, St. Anthony

Stay home

The Idaho Legislature is really concerned about saving money and keeping government out of people’s lives. That is why they passed the latest anti-abortion bill? The state obviously has too much money and we need to spend as much as possible on lawsuits.

Should the governor of Washington be sued as an accessory since he has invited Idahoans into Washington to use that state’s reproductive services? Again the Legislature does not believe in government interference in personal lives but will now have to monitor what Idahoans are up to when they enter Washington or Oregon? If Idahoans can use reproductive services in Washington or Oregon but not in Idaho, is that a violation of equal protection under the law or do “states rights” come into play. And how do the states interact with vastly different laws. At least the Legislature does not want to interfere in people’s personal lives? We might be better off if the Idaho Legislature only met once every two years.

Sidney Asker, Boise