Letters to the Editor

I strongly support the perspective represented by Keith Hoeller (Aug. 29) critical of the psychiatric establishment. That establishment, and such groups as National Alliance for the Mentally Ill, are unduly influenced by the massive amounts of money spread around by the pharmaceutical industry. That industry spends an estimated $10,000 per year per doctor to "educate" psychiatric doctors as to the supposed effectiveness of their mind-destroying drugs, encouraging forced drugging over other approaches to helping those who want help. Further, the pharmaceutical industry donates millions of dollars annually to NAMI's budget. NAMI, as a result, is a shill for the forced drug industry.

It is very important that you give equal voice, at least, to those who have been assaulted by the forced drugging practices of the psychiatric/pharmaceutical industry. Forced drugging is equally brutal, I believe, as crimes such as rape -- one's very brain is damaged and violated. The ongoing practice of forced drugging is among the most brutal forms of violence done to citizens of the United States, who consume more psychiatric drugs per capita than any other nation. Forced drugging is wrong in the extreme and must be stopped.

The statement of psychiatrist Loren Mosher upon his resignation from the American Psychiatric Association sheds further light on this subject. His letter was published in Psychology Today (Sept/Oct 1999). David Potter
Portland, Ore.

DEMOCRATIC CONTENDERS

Republican Party has nothing to worry about

The shallow display of leadership by the nine wanna-bes for the Democratic nomination for president of the United States at the recent national debate was predictable. Their pitiful performance reminded me of an old song sung by Sammy Davis Jr., "Send in the Clowns."

In one verse, Davis sings, "Where are the clowns?" At that so-called debate, all America knew exactly where they were. To call their "performance" a debate was laughable. All the Democrats had to offer was a whiny discourse on President Bush's handling of the war on terrorism. None of the wanna-bes had any valid solutions regarding any aspect of the war on terrorism or the national economy. If these nine inept Democrats are the best the party has to offer the American public, then Democrats are in a world of hurt.

As soon as these people wake up and realize this country is at war, then maybe, just maybe, we can all once again pull together and do what is right for America.

Boyce Clark
Edmonds

DONALD RUMSFELD

Empire-builder tries to stifle the people's dissent

Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld is at it again. He's saying critics of his war and his policies are encouraging terrorists. We're exercising our main right as Americans by voicing our disgust at his war and his policies. I say we're saving this country from empire-builders like him.

I'm also saying that Rumsfeld is Un-American for trying to stifle our dissent, make it seem like we're helping the enemy and using his lie-filled rhetoric to advance his agenda in the Middle East.

I believe historians are going to look at him as one of the most un-American architects of the most ruinous policy a U.S. administration has ever enacted -- and that includes Vietnam.

Doug Morrison
Seattle

ARAB-ISRAELI CONFLICT

Hard to negotiate peace without much support

The Palestinian prime minister supported by Israel and the United States as a negotiator has resigned, and a new prime minister has been nominated by Yasser Arafat, whom the Israelis and the Bush administration have attempted to ignore, although he appears to be the most popular Palestinian. It seems obvious that it is impossible to negotiate a serious peace with someone who has little support on the other side.

In fact, it is so obvious that all sides understand the principle. For decades the Israelis refused to negotiate with the Palestinians because it characterized their leadership as terrorists. Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon over his long military and political career consistently has supported annexing all or most of occupied Palestine.

The so-called road map to Middle East peace, supported by the United States, United Nations, European Union and Russia, leads nowhere. The end result is nothing that any side can pin down, with the result that the Palestinians cannot be expected to support the plan. It was easy for the United States to support the road map because it didn't entail any political risks and because we could appear to be doing something toward a settlement, but shame on the others for lending their names to the fiasco.

With no satisfactory compromise in sight, there was certain to be widespread Palestinian support of resistance (always referred to as terrorism), and the Israelis would always have an excuse not to negotiate, but, instead, carry out their plans to annex most of occupied Palestine. The United States will continue to allow the Israelis to do as they wish, which will be a very large Middle East incentive to carry out terrorism against us.

Gary Box

Seattle

Palestinian bombs get special treatment

Recently Israel dropped three 500-pound bombs on an apartment building in an assassination attempt against Hamas leaders.

An article in the P-I mentioned the debate within Israeli political circles about whether such assassination attempts were perhaps "counterproductive."

If a bus blown up by a Palestinian is a repugnant act of terrorism -- which it is -- one would think that bombing an apartment building would also qualify. Where is the outrage?

Peter Henry
Shoreline

MONORAIL TAX

Levy should be calculated with Blue Book numbers

I voted for and have no problem with the Seattle monorail tax, as long as it is fair. I do have a problem with how it is being calculated. According to the state Department of Licensing Web site, my car is valued (for monorail tax purposes) at 28 percent higher than its true book value. An entire automobile industry operates off of Kelly Blue Book, NADA and other pricing guidelines that are already established, readily available and appear reasonable. Why won't the DOL enter the real world and simply use the same information?

Jeff Lehman
Seattle

UW ADMISSIONS

Minority students will be hurt by new policy

In the battle for entry into the University of Washington, illegal immigrants win. Several months ago, state representatives passed a bill giving illegal immigrants in-state tuition at state colleges. The change opened the door for thousands of illegal immigrants. Several days ago, the University of Washington announced a change in its admissions policy. It will provide only 30 percent of its admissions slots for transferring community college graduates. Now hard-working students at community colleges are no longer guaranteed a place at the UW. The change in admissions was prompted by campus overcrowding at the UW. Apparently, there is room for immigrants who have illegally entered our country at the UW but no room for U.S. citizens.

The change will hurt minority students the most.

Maury Miller
Newcastle

Let community colleges develop B.A. programs

Now that the UW has left community college students in the lurch, why not allow the community colleges to develop their own B.A. programs? Suburban UW campuses and private schools are not really an option for the urban working-class students at Seattle Central Community College, where I teach. Most of them don't have dependable automobile transportation. What they need is a public, inner-city, four-year college, something along the lines of City College of New York.

Undergraduate education has never been a driving institutional priority at the UW. In contrast, the underfunded Seattle CC system has been nationally recognized (Time magazine) for its commitment to innovative, small-group learning. Why not build upon this strength? Expand faculty and create a weekend/afternoon B.A. program, using currently empty classrooms in existing facilities.

It's time the Legislature rethinks higher education in a way that preserves educational opportunity for all students.

Peter Knutson
Seattle

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