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About Sandy post. (Sandy, Oregon) 1938-current | View Entire Issue (July 6, 1978)
' * ST»« ♦¥ » * • • « « • » « «NI e-e « * * « « » - « * » ■*í*e> Editorial and Opinion What other editors say Roses to Society of St. Paul government reimburses the home at a top rate of only $22.43 per bed per day. We commend the Society of St. Paul and St. Jude’s Home on the occasion of their 20th anniversary, and also for the home’s per severance and faithful adherence to high quality despite lack of public financial support. Truth is, private gifts to the Home come only around Christmas time, which seems odd for a place that brings Christmas to the masses daily. (VB) Sandy’s nationally-honored St. Jude’s Home for long-term nursing and residential care is a public- service facility which deserves public praise and support. For 20 years, the Society of St. Paul has served the health care needs of people from this area without regard to ability to pay. The Episcopal order continues to operate one of the finest facilities in the country, too, despite recent short funds in Medicaid reim bursement. While actual per patient daily costs run $24.31, the Tax revolt has ramifications Oregon’s so-called property tax revolt - apparently destined for the November ballot, seeks to balance the tax burden of government and social services evenly on the shoulders of all. While emphasis on other forms of taxation such as state income tax would appear more equitable, one has to worry about the long-range effects of peeling one layer of civic responsibility (leadership, if you will) from the property owner. The landed gentry traditionally set the pace for this country’s develop ment. Their community pride and authorship built schools, roads, libraries and parks. True, their number is dwindling, as a large percentage of 20th century countrymen turn to maintenance-free apartm ents where young people simply turn the key on their way out the neigh borhood. As land dwindles and property values rise here, a new age steeped in public apathy toward government and limited civic involvement greets a growing landless class. When society creates the sort of chasm where lower middle class Americans and young people can no longer feel the pride of home ownership, will they respond to society with gestures of civic pride and responsibility? When denied children, pets and parties by the special set of rules governing tenants, will this new class of landless citizens respond with pioneer spirit to the special problems facing their new age? Perhaps. Actually, we’re gambling that they will with passage of the tax-limitation initiative, because social tax in creases of any sort under the proposal will require a two-thirds majority of all registered voters. Some day down the road, of course, most Americans will probably live in apartments. Our concern now is that lack of ownership doesn’t convert into lack of civic concern. We hope, too, that property owners who face some escape from taxes don’t see this relief as an escape from civic leadership. Even after the house is built and paid off, there remains serious quality of life con siderations such as street lighting, water and sewers, schools, libraries, parks and social ser vices. Someone must pay the price. (VB) Buffoonery at Labor Department Berry pickers have fought in berry wars in the fields — pelting friends with the juicy projectiles — as long as there have been pickers and berries. In recent years, however, the berry war has stretched across the continent, involving Northwest growers and Washington, D.C., bureaucrats. Department of Labor officials denied waivers to Washington and Oregon growers that would have allowed 10- and 11-year-old pickers into the fields. A series of protests followed and after several days of “ it’s-OK,-it’s not-OK” to pick, a federal judge granted a temporary injunction that allows the young pickers to work. Labor officials, in denying the waivers, said farmers did not provide adequate documentation that the pesticides used in the fields where the 10-and ll-year-olds work would cause them no harm. Generations of pickers have worked in those fields. No proof has ever been established that pickers were harmed by pesticides. And how much difference is there between ll-year-olds and 12-year- olds? Pesticides will injure the younger one and not the older? Greater harm is probably being done by not allowing the children who want to work the opportunity for experience. The younger a person starts picking, the better he gets — and the more money he earns — as he gets older. Labor officials seem to disregard the economic harm done to the growers who can’t get their crop picked before it perishes on the vine. Berries are a delicate crop that must be harvested fast before a change in the weather, such as this year, causes the berries to rot faster than they can be picked. Regulations regarding pickers should be developed at the local level, not in Washington, D.C., by bureaucrats who’ve probably never stooped over a row of berries in their life. Von Broschlor. G«n«rol Monogor Carolin« Duff. Offic« Monag«r John Klin«. Editor Mark Floyd, Staff R«port«r Fubb»hed w eekly Thursdays by Th« Outlook Publishing Co Bow 68 Sondy Oregon 97055 Second do *» postage paid ot Sandy Oregon 668 5548 SUBSCRIPTION RATES In M ultnom ah ond Clochomo* Counties per yeor .................... 17 00 Servicemen on y odd re*» 17 00 ... In Oregon o u tttd e M ultnom ah ond IL C A n a l i « « n t • r w « n r ID Of) MfMlill O u’ »»de Northwest ond Pocdic Coo»t »tote« per yeor ........................ 1 11 00 Oregon N H A PER aL •09e 2 In Northwest ond Porihc Coost Stote* outside Oregon per year J9 00 ™ AseociPtiOff 1 •»presented Nationally by U S SUBURBAN pbess inc ■ Sondy Pott Sandy Oregon 97055 No 27 July 6. 1978 Congress gets message, but- After years of runaway growth in the federal budget, Congress clipped a measly $800 million off the magic beanstalk this month. The reason for that overdue act of thrift is the recent passage of a tax limitation by California voters The final results are not in on the im pact of the California measure, where $7 billion were slashed from the budgets of local schools, cities and counties dependent on property tax. The result may be chaos,, as officials have been predicting, or it "Cheer Up, Chuck... may have no serious con Some Day One O f Those Malpractice Attorneys sequences. It now seems certain the Is Going To Need Surgery.” most fearsome tax-dragon of all, the federal government, has heard the song of the taxpayers’ sword. Now the Congress is taking action to avoid feeling the pain of living with in our means. For a moment last week, it even looked as though be auctioneer and his en To the Editor: Congress would deny itself thusiasm urged participants The One Way Theatre held a picnic-auction on July 2. on to some very good We had high hopes for this “buys” . We feel a renewing sense of first fund raising project as we needed to raise money for purpose knowing that Sandy our next production, “The merchants are supporting Impossible Y ears” (in our endeavors. The very real If you are one of those labor of love involved in November). persons who is puzzled by the beginning a theatre such as We were grateful for the wonderul reception we this is made easier by the meaning of criminal justice, received from Sandy Area knowlege that civic pride try this one on for size Merchants when they were extends tous. A sheriff in Tennessee is We will do all we can to being sued by* two inmates approached for donations for our auction. The assistance make Sandy as proud of us as because he wouldn't let them along with the many we are of Sandy. have television in their cells. Marlene Tebo donations from friends of our One of the prisoners was Secretary-Treasurer One Way Theatre helped us sentenced to death two One Way Theatre raise over $400. Sandy months ago for murder. The Jim Wilhite volunteered to Letters-to-the-editor some vital benefits such as waste and spending. But Congress has never free haircuts, plants for responded. Bloated federal office and other such in agencies have grown an dispensable perks. nually. Inflatioinary budget But the message has yet to deficits have been accepted penetrate that deeply. by Congress as a part of the Congress is not convinced the national scene, not tax limitation is anything something to be concerned more than another result of C a lifo rn ia ’s excessiv e about. Now perhaps the message sunshine and free spirits. is getting through. But the So now, as Oregon and messenger will be the local other states face a tax taxing districts fighting to limitation m easure in provide essential service» November, there is no doubt with badly eroded funding Congress will be watching sources. The messenger will Getting the message through no doubt survive, but in may be the most worthwhile many cases may be a point of the tax limitation hopeless cripple, unable to movement. meet the real needs of It is sad that taxpayers people. must cut the services from The tax limitation in which they derive most Oregon would reduce direct benefit in order to be budgets here by 42 percent. heard at the source of If Congress cut the federal greatest waste. budget 42 percent, few people For years, poll-takers and would have problems with individual voters have been property taxes. That is not a telling Congress to reduce message the feds want to spending. Most members have been elected, at least in hear. — Lebanon Express part, on promises to reduce ** Cruel and unusual other has been in jail 14 months for armed robbery. They prepared their own, handwritten brief. according to a news service story, that was file in circuit court alleging severe mental strain and violation of rights under the Eighth Amendment. It is the latter that prohibits . . cruel and unusual punish ment.” The two prisoners are asking the court to order the sheriff to pay each of them $120,000 in damages. Which leads us to wonder what kind of price they would put on the matter if they decide their mattresses are too hard. The News Guard Lincoln City Time to think about digital watches and the ‘sad children of the ‘60s’ by Arlie J. Hoover This morning I read the newspaper faster than usual. I think my new watch caused it. I just got rid of my old digital watch and got a new, traditional, watch for my birthday. Traditional, you remember, means the kind of watch that shows the whole day, from 12 to 12. For several years now I’ve been struggling to survive with a digital watch. I remember when I first got it (as a gift), I liked the shiny gold bracelet and the attractive red crystal and it was fun to punch and watch the numerals flash in the little window. For a few days. But soon the new wore off and for some vague reason I began to dislike digital watches. I can list all kinds of practical things wrong with them. For instance, it’s impossible to tell time at high noon on a bright sunny day. The light of your little old wrist computer just can’t overcome the candle power of the sun. Furthermore, there’s no way you can “ sneak a glance” at the time with a digital watch. In the middle of a boring interview, you have to make a conspicuous motion with your right hand and punch the little beggar to get the time, all of which may embarrass your guest. If the preacher in church is prolonging a boring sermon your daughter has to reach over in an obvious gesture, push up your cuff and punch to see what time it is. Reach, push, punh, and stare— it’s all so much wasted motion. Digital watches are expensive, at least if you, like me, are accustomed to buying a $15 Timex every five years. My digital batteries wore out in six months, even though they were supposed to over the digital watch. You remember the Now Generation, those sad children of the 60’s? Many are still with us, though a bit older now. They were the ones who coined the phrase, “ Never trust anyone over 30!” They were the ones who demanded everything now, Paradise Now, Peace Now, Out of Vietnam Now, Equality Now, Sex Now, They didn’t seem capable of waiting for anything They scoffed at the good old puritan idea of “deferred gratification.” They made ah idol of the Naked Instant and burned a lot of old values on its altar. The naked instant! . . . that sounds almoat immodest, doesn’t it? What’s wrong with an instant being naked? What’s wrong is that the naked instant is a giant abstraction. Stricktly speaking, it doesn’t exist. As St. Augustine noted, try to catch the present moment and it slips immediately into the past. The present moment is an indefinable point that is continually pressing into the future and receeding into the past Deify it and you deify a nonentity. Could it be that digital watches testify? to people’s desire to make time stand still, to arrest the relentless onward march of time? E tern ity - achieved with the punch of a button! The ultimate in technology! The Now Generation seems to have an aver sion to both sides of the naked instant. They hate history and they fear the future. They hate history. They complain when it's required to graduate from college They seldom take it as an elective. They declare It “ irrelevant.” They fear the future. They advise against having children. They won’t use a marriage ceremony that says “ till death do us port.” Sometimes they won’t even get married. They fear long-range promises and commitments They preface all covenants with the proviso, “A b long as . . Should we coin a new word for this mental disease of the Now Generation? Let’s call it "chronophobia," which means, “ fear of time.” Yes. it certainly feels good to be able once again to see the entire day on my watch. The only trouble is. I keep punching the stem of this n^B- fangles timepiece and nothing happens' * watches I don’t like, something deeper than dollars and batteries and wasted motion. But, the more I muse, the more I begin to see that there’s something more about digital last a full year. At six dollars a battery, that’s pretty expensive chronometry! There’s something philosophically misleading about a timepiece that shows only the present minute of time. If you can’t look at the entire Should we coin a new word for this mental disease of the Now Generation? Let’s call it ‘chronophobia,’ which means, iear of time’. face of a watch and consider a full 12-hour day, it’s difficult to think of the day as a whole, synoptically. Man transcends time. This is one of the many ways in which he differs from the animals. Reviewing the past and planning the future are uniquely human. With a digital watch, you have to think hard to review the time you’ve already spent or to plan the time you’re going to spend. It’s extra labor to “ think back” or to “ think ahead” when all you've got is that bare, naked instant blinking red at you. What if all our calendars showed just one day at a time? Would we be able to plan effectively? It struck me as interesting that the "Now Generation” was the very group that went ape Another view: Keep watch on Michigan By our count, some 26 states permit the sale of alcoholic beverages to people under 21 Most use 18 as the minimum age, but some use 19 and at least one i Delaware) uses 20 The rest of the states, in cluding Oregon, retain the tra d itio n a lly s ta n d a rd minimum age.of 21. ’ Proposals to lower the drinking age have come before the Oregon Legislature any number of times, and one undoubtedly will come around in 1979 In that connection, we note that an initiative petition is being circulated in Michigan which would raise the drinking age there, now 18. back up to 21. In past debates on this sut .ct here, Michigan often has been cited by both sides TJv»se who want to keep the age at 21 claim Michigan has experienced a drastic in crease in alcohol-related traffic accidents among younger people since lowing its age to 18 Those who want the age lowered claim there has been no noticeable in crease in Michigan accident rates. We have no idea how Michiganders will vote on the initiative measure, if it gets on the ballot. But it will be nice if their debate at least pins down the answer to the question of what effect the lower drinking age has had on the highways. Eugene Register -Guard Arlie Hoover is dean of Columbia Chriatfta College in Portland. BOYD the SOVEREIGN STATE of AFFAIRS I DON’T UNDERSTAND THE BAKKE DECISION DON’T LET IT BOTHER YOU . NEITHER DOES THE SUPREME COURT WHY NOT7 ! A WOOD BECAUSE \
