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About The Clackamas print. (Oregon City, Oregon) 1989-2019 | View Entire Issue (Nov. 23, 1994)
OPINION The Clackamas Print Page 3 Wednesday, Nov. 23,1994 ‘No’ vote on 15 received as blessing by Helenmarie Nelsen Contributing Writer Hurrah, for post-election blessings! Oregon’s controversial election is over and the absentee ballots have all been counted. All of us have a lot to be thankful for. Or do we? Or, who does? The answers depend on how our favorite issues or candidates came out Z Z in the final count. W nior citizens and anyone beyond the age of 18 (or over the junior college level), would find no help available for them if needed. This would have included hospitals, jails, social agencies, doctors or counselors needed to help them fight for their better health, social acceptance and equitable rights opening social agencies that were closed down by the passing of Bal lot Measure 5 in 1992, and for ex panding and reopening wards at Dammasch and Pendleton MI hospitals,” Kulm stated. “We won’t have to put up with the ‘roadblocks’ we have run up against every time we travel to Salem to speak with the legislators. They will have to listen to us now,” Kulm said. “One of the big problems will be the ensuing fight with the educators (who wished this measure had ■Harold Kulm passed). They hold President, CAMI a bitterness toward the AMI’s goals. as respected and contributing They now will have to convince members in our communities. their legislators to find ways to Harold Kulm is the president make the monies granted to the of the local Clackamas Alliance schools more effective, without for the Mentally Ill (CAMI), a cutting 30 percent away from the support group for the families and other 70 percent segment of the friends of the mentally ill. Kulm communities need is a retired principal, vice-princi ing more funds to z z pal and educator of various jun guide the hundreds * * We won’t have to put up with the ‘roadblocks’ we have run up against every time we travel to Salem to speak with the legislators. Amid the moans of disappointment from the voters who did not see their im portant ballot mea sure pass or fail, we can see the hushed and silent prayers of thanks on the faces of the voters who voted “no” on Mea sure 15. These were voters who knew what their reasons for vot ing it down were, voters vindi cated by the 51 percent who agreed with them. To make the 49 percent losing voters feel bet ter, we wish to soothe the ruffled feathers of Measure 15 propo nents by stating some of the most significant reasons this measure was supposed to fail. It proved to all of us that it should never have been put on the ballot written so eironeously, con fusing while persuading the vot ers, thus causing the close mar gin between the “yes” and “no” votes. Many of us recognized that Measure 15 was clearly an amendment to the state constitu tion, giving the state a law that would have to be followed until another election could make an amendment to the amendment. If it had passed, the homeless, chronically mentally ill, the se 9 9 ior high and grade schools in the Northeast and Southeast Portland areas. He is thankful that Mea sure 15 did not pass. Although he has always supported the schools and voted for them, this time he saw the truth in Measure 15. Kulm said that although the proponents of this bill misled the voters with a poorly written bill, its effects must be carried out be cause it is now Oregon’s law and must be followed and be dealt with by the legislators. “The most significant factor is that now we can go to the leg islators with our reasons for re necessary for them to proceed into the work field or more advanced training in colleges), O’Hara agrees with Kulm that Measure 15 was a poorly written bill. “Money is needed for educa tion, and also for agencies, to help alleviate crime. The problem is...who is going to pay for it,” O’Hara said. “Our first attack for change will be against the closure of Dammasch Hospital (now slated for April 1, 1995). If the state should decide to sell Dammasch, we (CAMI) and the Washington and Multnomah County AMI’s will fight for the monies from the sale to be placed in a trust fund for the support and care for the Mi’s, and not into the state’s gen eral fund (as it is now slated), which could go to any other fund the state decides on,” Kulm said. Kulm and all the AMI sup porters feel that all the monies gained' from the sale of Dammasch belong to the AMI’s and their causes. cured, like Parkinson’s Disease or diabetes. “Our second attack,” Kulm continued, “will be heard in Janu ary 1995 when we will be send ing letters to many organizations and legislators, urging their sup port for our causes. We will be appearing in Salem to personally present our problems and needs to them with members of the tri county AMI’s and some of our struggling sons and daughters with us.” When asked what his prayer for this Thanksgiving season is for himself, Kulm replied with out hesitation, “I pray that some how the public will realize that this sickness of the brain is not a choice, and that they will accept these ill persons with dignity and not reject the Mi’s efforts to be come well as they become able again to function and work in the community. “Holidays are always hard for the MI. Our loved ones do not always feel well enough to join us, but we are thankful for the answers to our prayers that we have witnessed, and will continue to pray for further success for our Mi’s as we con tinue in our efforts to educate the pub lic toward their Money is needed for education, and also for agencies, to help alleviate crime. The problem is ... who is going to pay for it. of still mentally ill (MI), homeless and older citizens that are increasing in numbers on our streets and in need of help,” Kulm said. Doris O’Hara, another well-known retired educator in the Clackamas area, is also relieved that Measure 15 did not pass. Although she is still an educator for the state, teach ing at Cascade College helping with the illiteracy of the techni cally skilled (having insufficient education in the literary skills -Doris O’Hara Cascade College Dammasch has been sup ported for years by the donations of the families and supporters of the Mi’s for the ongoing care and well-being of their loved ones who are ill with brain diseases that can be controlled and sometimes support,” Kulm added. So, with all the voters, let us pray for more bless ings on this Thanksgiving season. Blessings that will allow us to prosper and grow (even amid all our adversities) into the New Year! j y Reagan, greatest leader of all times into motion the recovery from the tages, as it translated to more ma by Eric Eatherton recession Reagan had inherited turity and wisdom. And you know Staff Writer While I was thinking of some from his predecessor, Jimmy we need that in a leader. subject matter for my column (I’d Carter. It was a recovery that I was nearing my eighth birthday, when Reagan took of encountered writer’s block at the lasted eight years. Reagan also handled foreign fice in ’81, and was thus not re time), I turned on the news. I heard our beloved former Presi policy like few before him. He ally concerned for what was go dent Ronald Reagan disclosing wasn’t afraid to tell the Soviets ing on at that time. Now in col his having Alzheimer’s disease. they’d deal with the best defense lege, and looking back on what I also heard of the recent election technology in the world if they he did, I realize what he was do victories by the Republican party, tried to force upon other parts of ing the whole time. What he did giving it control of Congress for the world their brand of Marxist should serve as a model for fu the first time since Eisenhower socialism (“communism”). The ture leaders. was president. “Star Wars” defense system There were certain things he Having heard all this, then, I worked so well the first time, it knew during the ’80s which could decided to write a tribute on this scared the Soviets into eventual be taught now (especially now former leader of our nation. nonexistence. with a Republican Congress); e.g. To speak of Ronald Reagan He did so well as president, capitalism starts with the indi is to speak of perhaps our nation’s in fact, that in 1984, not even vidual and more disposable in greatest leader in recent times. If 4000 votes in Minnesota kept him come for the individual (tax cuts he wasn’t the architect of the larg from winning all 50 states. are one way to accomplish this) est peacetime economic recovery But it wasn’t so much what means more tax revenue down the in our nation’s history, at least he he did in office that I respect line. And government’s effective was, by signing the tax cuts of Reagan as for what he represented ness works in inverse relation to 1982 into law, the contractor. Up while in office-or out of office, for its size. until that time, the top tax rate any that matter. He represented, in my I know not when the next American could pay was 70 per opinion, what hard work can do great leader of our nation will cent. The new law brought it for you in America. Before he come, but when they do come down to percent. became president, Reagan had around, they will know what to By keeping more of what they been Governor of California. do. ‘Til then, though... thank you earned, the average Americans Before that, he was an actor. for eight years of a job well done, were able to buy more items with Reagan’s status as the “el Mr. President. You will always the new found money. That set der statesman” also had its advan have my respect. F iom all o| tu km al Tke CM ulhim Pimi, ute iwM lika la wM you and youu iamilie^ a imy oa|e and kappy Ikaukoytuiity.
