Networks’ decision shows little class Once again, West Coast voters will know who has won the presidential election before they vote. In 1984, the TV networks projected Ronald Reagan as the winner as early as 5:15 p.m. Pacific Standard Time. The polls on the West Coast don’t close until 8 p.m. This means when people who came home from a long day of work and turned on the TV, they were in formed of the winner of the presidential race. Their re sponse was likely, "my vote doesn't matter." The networks say there’s nothing wrong with the practice. If they get the news, they are going to share it with us. Normally, that’s fine. The networks have a respon sibility to deliver the news in as quick a manner as possible, especially when it’s important. But when it comes to politics, it’s an entirely different issue. The networks are effectively discouraging people from voting. If someone doesn’t think his or her vote matters, there's nothing to stop that person from stay ing home. The entire point of voter registration drives this year were to encourage people to vote. Now the networks are reversing the trend. rcupiu iiiiiy ui^uu {hat projecting the pres idential winner is no big deal. They may be lieve the candidate would have won any way. But there are other races going on within It's dangerous to underestimate the laziness of the average voter. individual status that art; a big deal. Oregon has the Au Coin/Puckwood battle und several significant ballot measures, including Measure 9. That particular meas ure should be enough to encourage people to vote be cause not only the state — but the nation — is watch ing. The networks also argue that people will bo re sponsible enough to vote anyway. And they're right. The average person should realize the importance of expressing his or her opinion on matters of national significance. And according to an Oregonian poll, only 3 percent of those not voting in 1984 chose that path because of network projections. But it is optimistic to assume that everyone will fulfill their voting responsibility. It's dangerous to un derestimate the laziness of the average citizen. People need more reasons to vote, not less. The question is why networks insist on projecting winners when it could potentially affect so many vot ers? Two reasons: ratings and scoops. News organiza tions arc always looking to get the big story before their competitors, and the networks are no different. Certain ly ABC isn’t going to delay its projection if NBC and CBS are broadcasting the story. They know their rat ings will be down and the other two will be up. One of the networks needs to step up and say. "We're not go ing to do it.” Unfortunately, that’s not likely. They want the sto ry tix) much. West Coast voters deserve better, though. Oregon Daily PO BO* 3 < S3 lUGINf OHt CON #7403 Th# Oregon Daily Emertd « pot#i»hed daify Monday through f "day dunng the achoai yea/ and Tuesday end Thursday doting the mmmer fry the Oregon Dady t mar aid PutX»h*ng Co Inc at (he Unvervty ol Oregon. E ugene Oregon The Emerald operate* rfidependonity U TK..»Aau rwtuu no IdQO WMAT ABOi/T TWE S*L SCANDAL1 (AtteftiCAKS UA\£ A SHOP! ORY. f Wk iRAWCATf I SCAMOM, TUi I /RAQgate iSCAMDAL,7UE- J r i MUAL, /Hfc- I Dow'r woRfty. r SAID TUB Af*£RicAH PEOPLE. «Av£ A SHORT MEANS' _t7^ Mtn |wt4 TUE Bft£AKiN6 1 OF THE NO Nivi 1 TATES' PROMISE? I 1 ATAEAicaMS s hmb a l SHORT V AAfeMOftY. ECuCAVch ptzES'De^T. — Neet ’s not neat Loretta Nwl of the Oregon Citizens Alliance held a press conference last week, a sneak preview of what's in store for Oregon teachers if Ballot Meas ure 4 passes And what an odi ous little tale Neat helped spread Her front person, a Thurston Middle School parent, said her daughter "fell uncomfortable*' taking a shower in the presence of a teacher (KUGN. Oct. 15) She said the teacher "stared at" her daughter (Register-Guard, Oct. lb), although she didn't exactly say the teacher "was a lesbian." She then said she hadn't planned on filing a complaint until Neel “explained the pro cess." What else about the process might Neet have discussed? Thirty lashes at the public pil lory? The public "dunking seat"? (If the teacher didn’t drown, she's innocent ... if she did. well ... that proves she's gay!) Burning at the stake? Ncet's trial by innuendo is not one whit removed from the hysteria enacted by the reli gious extremists in Salem, Mass , circa 1700s. Make no mistake, if Measure 9 passes, more of these witch hunts will be aimed at Oregon teachers ... four and suspicion will bo the order of the day for Oregon's schools. But wo can put a stop to Noel's and the (XIA's ambitions of being Oregon’s Morality f’o lico and Witch Hunters. Inc. Vote no on Measure 9, Nov. 3. Cast your vote opposing bigotry and supporting diversity, oquallty and freedom for all Or egon citizens. Carol Barg Eugana Mad as spit I wont to the memorial for Brian Mock and Hattie Cohens a couple of Fridays ago. I never thought things could got this bad. Didn't we determine that consenting adults could sex each other up all they wunl In private? Now. suddenly, when press ing fundamental economic questions should be read - dressed — concerns that affect the material lives of all people whether they be gay. straight or bored — some self-righteous, self-centered sexual fascists think they tan barge In and lo botomi/.o our social conscience. I am horrified at the murders of Innocents slain because of their love. I am mud as spit at Bullot Measure 9 and its diver sionary impact on the dobuto over tbe nature of our political economy The million-plus dol lars raised to fight Measure 9 would be better directed aguinst AIDS. But it's like we're battling a house-fire and someone's kick ing us in the crotch I think it could all be a very successful ploy on the part of the right to distract attention from the fact that the entire wealth of the country is quietly being sucked up by a few cold capitalists, while their fundamentalist, mo ronic minions shriek uhoul queer touchers in the schools as the ontire educational system teeters on the brink of farcical collapse because of the very policies of thoir bosses. Tho limits of my patience for tbe Measure 9 crap have been reached. Now wo transcend the passive tense. Trash it. Next! Chrto Brady History Oregon’s home 1 have been a resident of Ore gon since 1968. when my father retired from the military and moved our family back to his home state. 1 have many fond memories of my childhood spont on a farm a few miles south of Tillamook. Now in 1992, I am afraid for the future of this state I am proud to call home. When 1 was a teen-ager attending Tillamook High School, I began to realize that I was different from most of my classmates. Although no teacher or coun selor spoke of homosexuality at school, I gradually became aware that 1 was lesbian in my orientation. 1 met my partner Laura in 1982. und last your we pur chaser! a home in Eugene for ourselves and our five cats. We aro fortunate to have support ive families and good friends, both gay and straight. We are not ‘'militant," nor aro we un healthy or intent on molesting children. We do not ask for "special rights" — we simply want to live our lives peaceful ly and without fear of verbal or physical attacks by people who have been encouraged by the (X'.A to view us as perverse and abnormal. The defeat of Measure 9 will not grant social rights to any ono, but it will demonstrate that Oregonians do not want to legalize discrimination against any citizens of this stato. Please vote no on Measure 9 and keep Oregon a place we ran all call homo. Cat bar in* Johnson Eugana Foot of Gorax I am writing in response to Norm Kuehl’s letter (ODE, Oct. 16) about him being a Satanist in favor of Ballot Measuro 9. Kunhl expresses feelings that are not felt by all Satanists. 1 am a Satanist. as well, but there is a big differ ence between Kuehl and my self; 1 am a gay Satanist. I per sonally don't know any Satan ist who favors Measure 9. I feel that we all need to learn how to get along, what is done in the privacy of one's home is his or her choice. 1 hope that some day, all Satanista will get along whether they be straight, bisexual, into bestiality or whatever they choose to do. Unfortunately this day has not come, so I will conclude with a personal message to Kuehl, “I curse you with the foot of Gorax." Russsil Loomis History