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About The Observer. (La Grande, Or.) 1968-current | View Entire Issue (June 11, 2020)
Opinion 4A Thursday, June 11, 2020 Th e Observer OUR VIEW EO Media Group fi le photo Public health offi cials advise Americans to wear protec- tive masks or other face coverings in public. Increase in cases shouldn’t mean tightened restrictions T he Oregon Health Authority announced on Sunday the highest daily COVID-19 case count since the pandemic began. That alone doesn’t mean Oregon needs to bring back the clampdown on gatherings and businesses. More testing means more positive tests. More contact tracing means better monitoring of the spread. As restrictions are eased, it’s to be expected there will be some outbreaks. The restrictions were never designed to stop the spread of the virus. And easing the restrictions doesn’t mean the risks are gone. “Although the number is high today, the overall rate of infection in Oregon remains among the lowest in the United States,” the Oregon Health Authority said in a statement. Reopening is a precarious balancing act. Gov. Kate Brown has emphasized that the state’s reopening plan is based on input from public health offi cials. And it is. But the Portland Tribune reported state health offi cials wanted Brown to further delay any reopening in the state to later in May or June 1. Brown chose May 15. That was within the range of dates health offi cials proposed. It was near the beginning, rather than near the end. Public health offi cials don’t want the economy to slump or more Oregonians to be out of work. But they advocate fi rmly from the position of public health. The choices Gov. Brown has to make are not lives or the economy. It’s lives and the economy. So despite the easing of restrictions, it’s not over. Yes, start living a life that’s more normal. Help local businesses get going again. But also, main- tain distancing. Wear a face covering. Wash your hands. OUR VIEW Pay by the mile is driving your way R evenue to pay for roads and bridges fell off the same COVID-19 cliff that everything else did. Oregon’s 36 cents per gallon fuel tax was causing problems before the pandemic as cars become more fuel effi cient. And then try to pay for roads with a fuel tax when everybody is pretty much staying home. The Oregon Department of Transportation is trying to get Oregonians in on the conversation to fi x it. It’s holding an open house — online during the pandemic. You should know or may already know that what’s more than likely coming is a pay-by-the-mile tax for everybody. A gizmo in your car will send mileage and fuel data to the state. The driver gets billed, less any fuel taxes paid at the pump. Roads get money. The system, called OReGO, is already running. ODOT wants more people to participate to help improve it. You can go to openhouse.oregondot.org/orego to learn more, ask questions and tell ODOT what you think. OTHER VIEWS Can we drop the ‘World’s Greatest Dad’ scam? S peaking as a father (“What — Figure — and fell in love with your am I made of money? Go ask generic future daughter-in-law!”) your mother! When you have Let’s face it: Most of us don’t your own roof, you can make your DESERVE World’s Greatest Dad own rules! No, my abs aren’t fl abby, paraphernalia, either because we’re they’re just meditating…”)… unmotivated, emotionally distant, No, this stereotypically could go on for- dopey or pain- ever. Start over. fully struggling to DANNY TYREE Speaking as a seem cooler than COLUMNIST COLUMNIST, we are. with a strict word For example, limit, I agree good fathers should you may not be getting a World’s be loved and respected. But no dad Greatest Dad gift if the “swear jar” should take for granted that they will threatens to wreck the currencies receive obligatory World’s Greatest of the European Union, Dubai and Dad merchandise. Chuck E. Cheese. Seriously, they should actively You may not be getting a World’s DREAD such a last-minute, Greatest Dad gift if you drive the car no-brainer gift. I mean, if the little over the family pet… WHILE the rascals are just blowing smoke up poor little goldfi sh is being given a your butt, they will become trapped “burial at sea” in the toilet. in a stressful pattern of topping them- You may not be getting a World’s selves. (“Dad, I just paid to have a Greatest Dad gift if you lazily teach whole newly discovered galaxy named the art of self-defense by leaving after you. Yeah…Dad’s Galaxy. Now, around a cassette of Carl Douglas could you please co-sign for a new singing “Everybody was kung fu Prius and for… um… what I still owe fi ghting…” the observatory?”) You’ll receive even LESS martial Conversely, if the kiddos sincerely arts credit if you accidentally taped harbor such a lofty opinion of you, over Carl Douglas with Minnie Rip- they may wind up setting the bar erton. (“Lovin’ you is easy ‘cause embarrassingly low in other areas of you’re beautiful… La la la la la…”) life. (“Pop! I’m so excited! I just drove You may not be getting a World’s my generic car to my dorm at Generic Greatest Dad gift if you slapped the University — home of the Fightin’ “I’m spending my children’s inheri- Indeterminate Species or Historical tance” sticker on the stroller instead of a Winnebago. You may be not be getting a World’s Greatest Dad gift if you cover your forgetfulness of major milestones by lying, “The Tooth Fairy exceeded his budget while buying teeth from meth addicts.” You may not be getting a World’s Greatest Dad gift if you ramble too long with your maxims: “A penny saved is a penny earned,” “There is no ‘I’ in team,” “If at fi rst you don’t suc- ceed, the next vasectomy surgeon may be more competent…” You may not be getting a World’s Greatest Dad gift if you keep praying for an early entrance by John Wilkes Booth as little Johnny (portraying Abe Lincoln) explains how to split rails in his school pageant. Even “woke” fathers face an uphill battle. You may not be getting a World’s Greatest Dad gift if you interrupt your child’s halftime cheer- leading routine to protest the cul- tural appropriation inherent in the “pyramid.” Speaking as a father again, always set reasonable expectations, appreciate Father’s Day and… oh, just WALK IT OFF with the REMAINING leg, for Pete’s sake! About the Author Columnist Danny Tyree welcomes email responses at tyreetyrades@aol. com and visits to his Facebook fan page “Tyree’s Tyrades.” CONTACT YOUR PUBLIC OFFICIALS President Donald Trump: The White House, 1600 Pennsylvania Ave., Washington, D.C. 20500; 202-456-1414; fax 202-456-2461; to send comments, go to www.whitehouse. gov/contact. Oregon Gov. Kate Brown: 254 State Capitol, Salem, OR 97310; 503-378-3111; www.governor.oregon.gov. Oregon State Treasurer Tobias Read: oregon.treasurer@ost.state.or.us; 350 Winter St. NE, Suite 100, Salem OR 97301-3896; 503-378-4000. Oregon Attorney General Ellen F. Rosenblum: 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.oregonlegis- lature.gov/ hansell. Email: sen.billhansell@ oregonlegislature. gov. State Rep. Greg Barreto (58th Dis- trict/ Cove): Salem offi ce: 900 Court St. NE., H-384, Salem, OR 97301; 503-986-1458. Website: www.oregonlegislature.gov/barre- to. Email: rep.gregbarreto@oregonlegisla- ture.gov. State Rep. Greg Smith (57th Dis- trict): 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- 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. Elgin City Councilors: Mayor Allan Duffy, 501 N 11th St., 541-437-1016, mayor@ cityofelginor.org; Mary West, 260 N 5th Ave., 541-805-0443, councilor3@cityofelginor.org; Kathy Warren, PO Box 697, 541-786-9611, councilor6@cityofelginor.org; Risa Hallgarth, PO Box 525, 541-437-9462, councilor2@ cityofelginor.org; Rocky Burgess, 800 N 14th St., P.O. Box 854, 541-786-2417, councilor1@ cityofelginor.org; David Reed, 1011 Detroit St., PO Box 368; 541-975-3306, councilor4@ cityofelginor.org; Ryan Martin, councilor5@ cityofelginor.org. La Grande City Council: Mayor Steve Clements, Gary Lillard, Nicole Howard, Cor- rine Dutto, Mary Ann Miesner, Jim Whitbeck, Justin Rock; through the city manager’s offi ce, 541-962-1309. City of Cove: Mayor Del Little, 503-508- 6727, 504 Alder St., P.O. Box 8, Cove, OR 97824; City Recorder Donna Lewis, 541- 568-4566.
