Letters to the editor: using surplus, limit density, fourth generation and thoughtcrime

Using surplus

Hell may have frozen over. For the first time ever, I have found agreement with an editorial by the Statesman’s editorial page editor, Scott McIntosh — the July 25 editorial entitled: “Here’s how Idaho should use budget surplus for tax relief.” 1) Eliminate the grocery tax. This is a no-brainer and should have been done years ago. The lower-income people are hit hard by this tax and the supposed offset tax credit is paltry in comparison. 2) “Pay off school construction debt”. All of that debt is on property tax bills. Paying off part of the debt would, as Mr. McIntosh states, would reduce property taxes. Those retirees on a fixed income could use some relief from the mounting property tax bills. These two solutions would have a broad and positive effect for many Idahoans.

I may never again agree with Mr. McIntosh and the liberal leanings of the Idaho Statesman, but I do agree today.

William R. Logsdon, Sr., McCall

Limit density

I adamantly oppose the Statesman’s Editorial Board’s position that encourages and approves Spokane-like zoning changes to allow more “multi-family, denser housing styles” in all residential housing zones. Boise’s new planning director, Tim Keane, has presented a new proposal that backs off city-wide up-zoning, and I hope he will be given the opportunity to follow through on his vision of a city that does not revolve around streets packed with automobiles and high rise buildings that invite more traffic. Residents of Southwest Boise recently petitioned the county to not rezone a piece of commercial property into high-density housing. I ask the county to put in place the infrastructure to support additional housing (better roads, more schools, local businesses, public transportation) before approving housing for those who will need these services.

Lani Gerber, Boise

Fourth generation

In 1852, in search of gold, the young Robert H. Leonard left Maine for the western United States. In 1865, he came to Silver City, Idaho. Having earned some money he returned to Maine and married Adelaide, a childhood friend. From this marriage came a son, also named Robert H. Leonard, who would grow up to be elected on the Republican ticket as probate judge in Owyhee County. He was my maternal grandfather.

I mention this because interlopers from states like Missouri (Moon), New Mexico (McGeachin), and California (Giddings) are presuming to tell us fourth-generation Idahoans what “Idaho values” are. I was born and raised in Idaho with a family history on both sides that stretches back to 1800s Idaho so I know something about “Idaho values.”

One of the lessons I learned both as an Idahoan and as a Republican was to mind my own business.

So when I see outsiders like Dorothy Moon telling us to load our guns to shoot opponents, I emphatically say “No!”. When I see an outsider like Scott Herndon telling women what they can and can’t do with their bodies, I must emphatically say “No!”

Gary L. Bennett, Boise

Thoughtcrime

Coming to a legislature near us … thoughtcrime. It may be 38 years later than George Orwell’s prediction in his novel 1984 of government control over what people can say or think, but the recent Supreme Court ruling allowing states to regulate reproduction is spawning some truly Orwellian statutes.

South Carolina is leading the Big Brother parade with S.1373, a bill which would outlaw providing information over the internet or telephone that could be deemed assistance for women to terminate their pregnancies. The bill, handcrafted by the National Right to Life Committee would restrict websites and internet hosts (including anyone who posts to the internet) from sharing information that might influence someone to consider an abortion.

Idaho’s radical right legislature is sure to take notice. Over several recent sessions, they’ve already passed nearly word-for-word laws crafted by the conservative, corporate-beholding American Legislative Exchange Council. Now the NRLC bill comes as a welcome addition to their ALEC-inspired docket.

It may soon become illegal, not to mention unprofitable to speak and write what you consider the truth. Legislators are readying, 1984-style, their online “ear trumpets” to monitor what we “Proles” are thinking.

Rick L Davis, Pocatello