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About The nugget. (Sisters, Or.) 1994-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 19, 2016)
Wednesday, October 19, 2016 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon Looking Outward Dan Glode Columnist Just look at the faits Take criticism seriously, but not personally. If there is truth or merit in the criti- cism, try to learn from it, otherwise let it roll right off you. — Hillary Clinton Early this summer, before the political conventions, a friend’s daughter came to visit. We have known her for many years. She is now in her early 30s. She and I have a history of heated political discussions. We both love to argue politics and we did so into the wee hours. This has been an excel- lent year for those so inclined. We got on the subject of Hillary Clinton’s low trust polling numbers. She argued it was because Hillary is a woman and that alone is the reason. I told her I thought gender was a factor, but that Hillary had so many other reasons to give voters pause regarding her trust- worthiness. Now, after the conventions and into the fil- let of the campaign season I think while there are reasons she is considered less than fully trustworthy, those rea- sons have been dramatically amplified by the fact she is a woman. In short, her gender is a huge factor in the way she is regarded by voters, and the most important factor. I have wondered why it is that Hillary, who is objec- tively one of the most quali- fied candidates presented to us to date, is almost neck-and-neck in the polls with a licentious, ludicrous, lying lunatic. It hit me while watching the commentaries on the media both before and after the first debate. Every media outlet talked about how low the bar was set for Trump and how expectations about his performance were minimal. Then I wondered why that was the case? Why such a low bar just for him? Is it because he is unstable, unpredictable, just plain nuts? Why is the standard of accomplishment so much lower for him than for her? When all is said and done I see only one logical conclu- sion: Hillary is a woman. One of the disadvantages Hillary has is the fact that for most of her adult life her life has been subject to public scrutiny, so lets look at that a bit. Her time as First Lady, U.S. Senator, and Secretary of State have all been public displays and everything she has done has been viewed with a microscope. Living with all this she has proven to be one of the toughest people who have run for this office. She can handle anything. Trump’s life has been opaque and hidden from public scrutiny. So we don’t really know anything but snippets like the fact he probably paid little or no income taxes, he is a misog- ynist, and obviously very bigoted. We see the little he cannot help but display: his middle-of-the-night crazy tweets, his race-baiting, his unstable nature. Hillary has made some poor choices at times but, really, eight Congressional Benghazi investigations by mostly white, Republican males which found nothing, “lock her up!” chants at the Republican convention, dep- recating political buttons, 51 interruptions by Trump at the first debate, incredibly horrible political parapher- nalia by Trump supporters using the B-word, and the list goes on. A look at the demograph- ics explains it all. She has the greatest unfavorability rating among white men. In all the elections, by all the fact-checkers since they have been doing this kind of thing, for over twenty years, with all candidates Republican and Democrat that have run for president, Trump heads the list for lying. He is at the top, she near the bottom. Yet, “Lying Hillary” is the Trump chant. Suffice it to say this has been the most bizarre — and scary — election ever held. So listen up fellas. I mean you, the white males out there. We have been in control a long, long time. Long before recorded his- tory. Somewhere in the back of our heads, deep in our inner recesses, is the thought that we should always be. Accepting a black presi- dent was difficult for many Spooktacular Savings $300 t n D i sc o u For the month of October ber when you start a comprehensive treatment program! Call for a complimentary consultation, fl exible fi nancing & family discounts! SISTERS DENTURE DENTURES: Partial, Full or Implants for all ages. 541-549-0929 — 35 years experience — Smile by Amidee and The Brace Place! LOCALLY OWNED 541-382-0410 410 E. Cascade Ave., Sisters CentralOregonBracePlace.com Customized Echo 3-in-1 Utility Trailer 10 x 7.5 ft. muti-use trailer with removable sides, ramps for loading from side or back, and steel halo bars. • 1 or 2 ATV Hauler • Multiple Kayak Hauler • 4-sided Wood Hauler • Attached Spare Tire • Secure Tie-down Storage ge Gas Can • Storage for 2 Larg Large Cans $2,700 Call 480-773-1255 of you. This election could be tougher, as the bias goes back far longer. Perhaps we are even hard-wired that way, I don’t know. What I do know is that this is the beginning of the 21st cen- tury and we need to change and let this one go. Remember Sergeant Friday on Dragnet? He used to say: “Just the facts ma’am.” The facts are that three out of five col- lege graduates are women, in law schools women are a majority, same goes for medical school and most professionals. With all the inroads made in recent years in business and finance, women are still dispropor- tionately underrepresented in Congress. In short, mostly white men are clinging to power and don’t want to share. A last gasp. Come on guys, we need to stop being dino- saurs and begin to evolve. The country and the world depend on it. Make Sergeant Friday proud — just look at the facts. 23 PARADE: Annual event brings out costumed kiddos Continued from page 3 Food Bank. Rotarians will be man- ning the pedestrian cross- ings on Cascade Avenue and Elm Street, and ask that all children cross Cascade Avenue there. Two routes go through town, one on the east side of Elm Street and one on the west side. Groups of between 50 and 75 children (and accompanying adults) head off from Fir Street Park, with the first group heading west, the next going east, and so on. Leaders will be identified either by costume or a bright orange vest. Motorists are advised to seek an alternative route through town and are asked to also avoid Hood Avenue and Main Avenue, as trick- or-treaters will be using those streets. PAID ADVERTISEMENT Is Your Child Considering a Gap Year? Ask These Questions First A growing number of U.S. students are taking time after high school to expand their horizons before pursuing further studies. Most students who take a year off, also known as a “gap year,” use the time to gain real-world work experi- ence, become more involved in volunteer work or learn more about other cultures through traveling. While a gap year can be rewarding, the prospect of taking a year off from academics may create some anxiety for you or your child. Asking your child some important questions can help you both get on the same page about whether a gap year makes sense. What do you want to accomplish by taking a gap year? First, help determine your child’s motivations for wanting to take a gap year. Why is it important? Then, challenge your child to create a specifi c plan with a goal, so his or her time isn’t spent watching Netfl ix or sleeping-in. Has your daughter wanted to start her own business? Encourage her to draft a business plan to execute. Does devoting time to charity peak your son’s interest? Sug- gest that he design a project that will make a big difference for an organization. The more specifi c your student can be with his or her intentions, the better you both will feel about the open months ahead. Look for websites and organiza- tions dedicated to helping students embark on a meaningful and productive gap year. Or, encourage your child to interview several people who have completed gap years to learn about their experiences. Have your student review their plans with a trusted teacher or guidance counselor to get an outside perspective. Can you afford to take a gap year? If your child was accepted to the college of his or her dreams, check to see whether the school has a gap year policy. Some colleges will accommodate re- quests for deferral and save any scholarships your student has earned for their return. Others may reduce the scholarship or require your child to reapply. Sit down together and discuss how to best fi nance his or her gap year. Calculate the price tag of a gap year together to determine if it’s within fi nancial reach. To raise additional funds, suggest that your child save as much as possible, fundraise or secure a second job over the summer. In some cases, asking for fi nancial support from a family member or applying for grants and scholar- ships may make sense. Can you afford not to take a gap year? The gap year can be invaluable if your student is uncertain about what school to attend or which major to pursue. Time away from academics can also allow him or her to refresh and recharge, so your student enters college ready to fo- cus on the future. It can be expensive to attend college and pay for coursework that ultimately doesn’t lead to a satisfying career path. Students who take a year off to work or travel give themselves a chance to mature and also learn the value of a dollar. Adult responsibilities loom in the future, making a gap year after high school quite possibly a “now-or-never” proposition. Taking a gap year isn’t the right option for every student. If your child is excited for college or if it makes sense fi nancially to continue with his or her studies right away, keep in mind that college will provide ample opportunities for new experiences. Mark Greaney is a Financial Advisor with PacWest Wealth Partners, an advisory practice of Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc. in Bend, Oregon. He specializes in fee-based fi nancial planning and asset management strategies and has been in practice for 17 years. Contact Mark at www.PacWestWealthPartners.com, or call him at 541-389-0889. Mark is located at 35 NW Hawthorne Avenue, Bend, OR. Ameriprise Financial and its affi liates do not offer tax or legal advice. Consumers should consult with their tax advisor or attorney regarding their specifi c situation. Investment advisory products and services are made available through Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc., a registered investment adviser. Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc. Member FINRA and SIPC. © 2016 Ameriprise Financial, Inc. 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