16
september
vernonia’s
voice community
2008
You May Say I’m a Dreamer...
By Charlie Alnut
Walking barefoot on the beach one winter afternoon, a fellow stubs his toe on some-thing
unseen. After jumping around on his good foot for a few minutes and squeezing his damaged
big toe with both hands until it stops throbbing, he eventually hobbles over to the spot where
he hurt his foot. There sticking out of the sand he discovers the handle of what turns out to
be a very special magic lamp. It’s very special because instead of only summoning a genie
when he rubs it, he gets: a rainbow, the parting of what had been a solid overcast gloomy sky,
a sunbeam that illuminates only him and the immediate one square foot of beach that he is
standing on, and a voice that says, “My son, I applaud the self control you demonstrated after
having stubbed your frozen toe on the sharp spout of the lamp and not even thinking of, much
less muttering, a curse. I will grant you three wishes. But, please consider carefully since
whatever you request will have an everlasting effect on the future of the universe.”
It’s like he’s been thinking for years of the possibility of just this event coming to pass.
The fellow doesn’t even hesitate. He is completely prepared. As if he’s been rehearsing what
he’ll ask for once the almighty eventually appears in his life he clears his throat and asks,
“Would it be too much to ask you for complete world peace, to abolish all suffering and put
an end to global warming?”
“Are you absolutely sure? Although there isn’t anything beyond the scope of my power,
granting your three requests is actually trivially simple.”
“Quite certain and absolutely sure.”
And with that remark and the wink of a celestial eye, the third planet out from a relatively
minor star on the peripheral edge of an average galaxy ceased to exist.
Meanwhile, a couple years earlier …
When that guy finally shows up, he’ll be my and a few other folk’s hero. Then again,
he’ll also be the goat for the majority of the world’s population. But that’s OK. It all balances
out since nobody will be left to either praise or to blame him. A real win - win situation.
He hasn’t shown up yet (that we know of), so until he does it’s up to us to cope with and
maybe even improve our world. We seem to have a really unique opportunity. We could
be the first bunch in history that actually does something to make life better for everything
(not just ourselves) on Terra. The place has really become a soup sandwich even though I’m
sure all of our ancestors had the absolutely best intentions. When was the last time you were
reminded to “… leave the place better than when you found it”?
You probably think I’m trying to win the sarcasm prize, so let me give you a little quiz to
demonstrate my point. Can you name the three commodities that were responsible for mak-
ing the US of A such a terrific economic success in a record amount of time after it became
independent? Survey says: Whaling, tobacco and cotton.
Get the picture?
If not, there’s another expression that goes, “If you aren’t outraged you’re not paying
attention.” Maybe I can help. In any case, I’d like to provide you with some ideas about
21st Century Science and Technology to consider and apply as you see fit or reject if you can
fault them. Perhaps I can provide information for you to think about and possibly consider
doing things for definite reasons rather than just going with the flow - economic, political or
advertising - that has failed to ponder the lasting consequences of too many best intentions.
For example: Carbon Credits. That’s where legislation will mandate how much carbon,
mostly in the form of exhaust gasses like carbon dioxide, each process is allowed to release.
If you, your factory, generator or whatever processes are covered by the eventual rules ex-
ceed the limit you get penalized. If you fall consistently under your limit you get to sell the
shortfall as a credit to the exceeder so he can reduce or avoid the penalty he’ll otherwise be
charged. Does this really make sense to any of you? It’s like paying the church to receive an
Indulgence. Or, in modern parlance, it’s like obtaining a fidelity credit - pay somebody else to
remain celibate while you commit adultery, then when you get caught you can point to your
policy with pride and say, “Ya but - I’ve got this offset!” Pretty disgusting when you put it in
those terms although maybe not as obscene as last quarter’s record oil company profits that
are government (meaning taxpayer) subsidized. At the same time, the Renewable Energy
Incentives bills can’t get through Congress. How many cents of every dollar you pay for gas,
oil, propane or electricity will end up in somebody else’s pocket because of Carbon Credits?
Paying for credits, penalties or just administrating the system will not come out of any profit
margins. While the atmosphere continues to be polluted some time in the future can you
imagine that the big boys at Exxon are gonna be saying, “Gee, I wish it was still 2008 when
we broke our profits record - back before the Carbon Credits rules started.”
You can reach me at charliealnut@gmail.com . I’d be interested in your idea’s as well.
Until the next time …(cue John Lennon’s Imagine).
This November...
He is…
Vote
DAVID HERR
Circuit Court Judge
Respected
Involved
Knowledgeable
Committed
Columbia County District Attorney
Wally Thompson
St. Helens Police
Association
Vernonia Police
Officers Association
WWW.DAVIDHERRFORJUDGE.COM
Paid for by Committee to Elect David B. Herr
We are writing this letter to express our gratitude to so many
in our community and outside it who helped with Echoing
Evergreen Booster Day Camp.
PIA Western Alliance, Weyerhauser, Beaverton Rotary,
Storage Too, Cedar Ridge, St. Helens Community Credit
Union, and Wards Mobile Shop.
In December we lost 90% of everything that belonged to the
camp due to the flood that effected everyone in our
community. Because of the kind hearts of so many
individuals and businesses, many of you came forward to
support camp and made it the best year ever!!!
Also to so many individuals, Marsha King, Rita Behnke,
Tony Hyde, Shelly and Herb Husson, Sue and Kevin
Robertson, Peter and Leslie O’Leary, Jim and Judy King,
Carol and Gary Davis, Trish and Ron Maldonodo, Beth
DeLemos, Randy and Sharon Parrow, Thereasa Morris,
Mary Lou Busch, Susan and Dale Pedersen, Penny Costly,
Maria Lemay Dennis and Marilyn Pederson, Kathy Ward.
Thank you to the businesses in our community including;
KLS, Absolute Marble and Granite, Vernonia Lions Club,
Wauna Mill, Dass Logging, Black Bear Coffee Shop, Holce
Logging, Mike Pihl Logging, Gwin Logging, Soderback and
Daughters Trucking, Vernonia Dental, Wauna Federal
Credit Union, Clever Cricket, Vernonia Hardware Store,
Sentry Market, Hancock Forest Management, Wilcox and
Flegal, Vernonia Volunteer Firefighters, Metro West
Volunteers, Mist Fire Department, Intel, Vernonia Police
Assosciation, Skidmore Trucking, TNW Firearms, Vernonia
Jamboree, Windemere Charitable Giving, Photo Solutions,
R. Stephen Atchison
Justice Court Judge
Dear Community,
Most of the kids who came were affected in one way or
another by the flood, and to see the smiles on their faces and
enjoying themselves was priceless. There were so many in
our community who want to remain anonymous- and we
thank you.
He is endorsed by…
And to all of our group leaders and station leaders- your
hard work and effort for the week is the reason we are able to
have camp. We appreciate each and every one of you more
than you could ever know. Without all of your generosity
whether money, volunteering or craft supplies , camp would
not have gone on this year. I truly want you to know how
much we appreciated everything you did to help us and the
kids.
Yours Truly,
Echoing Evergreen Booster Camp Core Staff
Katie Poetter
Robin Dennis
Michelle Dennis