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About The Observer. (La Grande, Or.) 1968-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 6, 2020)
4A MONDAY, JANUARY 6, 2020 The Observer OUR VIEW Trump still has rural support A recent story in the Capital Press tried to gauge whether rural voters still support Donald Trump. It appears that they do. We don’t think potential opponents in the up- coming campaign are doing much to understand Trump’s appeal to those voters and address their concerns. Rural voters accounted for 17% of the electorate in the 2016 elections and Trump carried 62% of the rural vote, according to exit polls. Electoral maps show the president largely carried rural counties in the Pacifi c Northwest. A recent poll by Grinnell College in Iowa shows that Trump’s approval rating among rural voters ranges from 56% to 63% on issues such as his perfor- mance as president, the economy and immigration. Support for Trump in rural areas is not unani- mous or homogenous. Even among supporters it’s not uncommon to hear frank discussions of the presi- dent’s shortcomings — both in policy and manners. The president has delivered a mixed bag for farm- ers and ranchers. On the campaign trail Trump railed against trade deals he said were unfair to the United States. Agri- culture depends on foreign trade and the prospect of more advantageous treaties was just as appealing in rural America as it was in the industrial Midwest. His on-again, off-again trade war with China has had a huge impact on farmers. His imposition of pu- nitive tariffs on Mexico and Canada even as he was announcing a replacement for the North American Free Trade Agreement led to retaliatory duties on farm products. But that deal has now passed the House. There are bilateral agreements with Japan and South Korea. Phase One of a multi-part agreement has been an- nounced with China. The president has delivered on his promise to reduce government regulation, most notably in reversing the controversial “Waters of the U.S.” rule. Farmers and ranchers have mostly benefi tted from the 2017 tax reforms. Rural voters largely felt left out of the conversation during the eight years of the Obama administra- tion. But our sources say the Trump administration is listening and they are being heard — even if they don’t always get what they want. Trump has twice addressed the American Farm Bureau Federation’s national convention and has addressed the FFA’s convention once. No president since George H.W. Bush has done either. A frenetic spellbinder, Trump is a master at keep- ing the attention of both friends and foes focused on himself and his agenda. It would be a mistake for challengers to believe that his rural supporters are being manipulated. Trump is merely giving voice to positions on trade, regulation, taxes and the role of government that they already had. If they want the rural vote, challengers must come more in line with those views. In 2016 many rural voters saw Trump as the lesser of two evils. With just 10 months until the next elec- tion, they aren’t seeing a viable alternative in 2020. MY VOICE Vietnam vets another year older, still without a capital city memorial T he United States of America Com- memoration of the Vietnam War is currently ongoing. This national commemoration was authorized by Congress, established under the sec- retary of defense and launched by the president in May 2012. It will continue through Veterans Day, Nov. 11, 2025. This program com- memorates the 50th anniversary of the Vietnam War and recognizes all who served on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces, regardless of location, during the period of Nov. 1, 1955, to May 15, 1975, as a Vietnam veteran. While 2020 brings another year, our Vietnam veterans are a year older and there is still not a Vietnam War memo- rial in Oregon’s capital city of Salem. During the Vietnam War era, more than 9 million Americans served in the United States military. More than 2.7 million served in Vietnam, of which about 57,000 were Oregonians. It is estimated that a total of 180,000 from Oregon served during the Vietnam War era. Currently, it is estimated with data provided by the United States Census Bureau, that there about 100,000 Or- egon Vietnam era veterans alive today. The average age of our Vietnam veterans is now over 70. The Vietnam Veterans of America announced that the average age of their membership in 2019 was 72. The United States Department of Veterans Affairs published a report that forecast 14,000 Oregon Vietnam veter- ans either have passed away or will die between 2015 and 2020 at a rate of 8 veterans per day. It is inevitable that our Vietnam veterans will leave us. Vietnam veteran and United Mine Workers of America, International Union President Cecil E. Roberts made this statement in March 2019: “With an estimated 390 Vietnam veterans pass- ing each day there will be few, if any alive in 10 years.” The state of Oregon dedicated a beautiful World War II Memorial on the Oregon Capitol Grounds on June 6, 2014. At that time, over 95% of all World War II veterans were gone already. It has been said by several Orego- nians that we have an urgent situation. Time is running out. The window of opportunity is slowly closing for the state of Oregon to honor its Vietnam veterans while they are still with us. A Vietnam War memorial on the Oregon Capitol Grounds is needed sooner rather than later. During the 2020 legislative session, it is anticipated that a Senate bill will be introduced which will establish a Vietnam War memorial on the Oregon Capitol Grounds. Currently, the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department and the Oregon State Historic Preservation Offi ce are reviewing a proposed design for such a memorial. You can see the proposed design at www.vietnamwarmemorialfund.org. It is estimated that the proposed Vietnam War memorial on the Oregon Capitol Grounds will cost 2.7 million dollars. A nonprofi t corporation exists to raise these needed funds. The stated goal is to raise these funds from the private sector. Oregon Gov. Kate Brown: 900 Court St. N.E., Salem, OR 97301; 503-378-4582. Oregon Secretary of State Bev Clarno: 136 State Capitol. Salem OR 97310-0722; 503-986-1523. Oregon State Treasurer Tobias Reed: 350 Winter St. N.E., Suite 100, Salem, OR 97301- 3896; 503-378-4329. Oregon Attorney General Ellen Rosen- blum: Justice Building, Salem, OR 97301- 4096; 503-378-4400. State Sen. William S. Hansell (29th District/Pendleton): Salem offi ce: 900 Court St. NE., S-423, Salem, OR 97301; 503-986- 1729. Website: www.oregonlegislature.gov/ hansell. Email: sen.billhansell@oregonleg- islature.gov. State Rep. Greg Barreto (58th District/ Cove): Salem offi ce: 900 Court St. NE., H-384, Salem, OR 97301; 503-986-1458. Website: www.oregonlegislature.gov/bar- reto. Email: rep.gregbarreto@oregonlegis- lature.gov. State Rep. Greg Smith (57th District): Salem offi ce: 900 Court St. NE., H-482, Salem, OR, 97301; 503-986-1457. Heppner offi ce: P.O. Box 219, Heppner, OR 97836; 541-676-5154; Website: www.oregonlegislature.gov/smithg. Email: rep.gregsmith@oregonlegislature.gov. Oregon Legislature: Legislative docu- Subscription rates per month: By carrier...............................................$11.80 By mail, all other U.S. .............................. $15 A division of You can help. Call your state legisla- tors and tell them you wish for them to pass the Vietnam War Memorial Senate Bill. You can also make a tax deductible donation to the cause. Another year has passed and, with your help, we are one year closer to honoring our Vietnam veterans with a Vietnam War memorial on the Oregon Capitol Grounds. ments and information are available online at www.leg.state.or.us. City of La Grande: Mayor Steve Clem- ents, City Manager Robert Strope; P.O. Box 670, La Grande, OR 97850; 541-962-1309; fax 541-963-3333. Union County Commissioners: Donna Beverage, Matt Scarfo and Paul Anderes; 1106 K Ave., La Grande, OR 97850; 541-963- 1001; fax 541-963-1079. Wallowa County Commissioners: John Hillock, Todd Nash and Susan Roberts; 101 S. River St., Room 202, Enterprise, OR 97828; 541-426-4543, ext. 11; fax 541-426- 0582. STAFF Phone: SUBSCRIBE AND SAVE Stopped account balances less than $5 will be refunded upon request. Steve Bates has resided in Boring for 42 years and is a life member of the Associates of Vietnam Veterans of America. He serves as chair of the Committee on Memorials & Remembrance and president of the Vietnam War Memorial Fund. He can be reached by email at vietnamwarmem@aol.com. My Voice columns should be 500-700 words. Submissions should include a portrait-type photograph of the author. Authors also should include their full name, age, occupation and relevant organizational memberships. We edit submissions for brevity, grammar, taste and legal reasons. We reject those published elsewhere. Send columns to La Grande Observer, 1406 Fifth St., La Grande 97850, fax them to 541- 963-7804 or email them to news@ lagrandeobserver.com. YOUR PUBLIC OFFICIALS SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION NEWSSTAND PRICE: $1.50 You can save up to 34% off the single-copy price with home delivery. Call 541-963-3161 to subscribe. About the author 541-963-3161 An independent newspaper founded in 1896 (USPS 299-260) The Observer reserves the right to adjust subscription rates by giving prepaid and mail subscribers 30 days notice. Periodicals postage paid at La Grande, Oregon 97850. Published Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays (except Dec. 25) by EO Media Group, 1406 Fifth St., La Grande, OR 97850 (USPS 299-260) COPYRIGHT © 2020 THE OBSERVER The Observer retains ownership and copyright protection of all staff-prepared news copy, advertising copy, photos and news or ad illustrations. They may not be reproduced without explicit prior approval. Toll free (Oregon): 1-800-422-3110 Fax: 541-963-7804 Email: news@lagrandeobserver.com Website: www.lagrandeobserver.com Street address: 1406 Fifth St., La Grande POSTMASTER Send address changes to: The Observer, 1406 Fifth St., La Grande, OR 97850 Periodicals postage paid at: La Grande, Oregon 97850 Publisher........................................Karrine Brogoitti Classifieds ........................................ 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