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About Eugene weekly. (Eugene, Oregon) 1993-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 15, 2004)
TO THE EDITOR principle of responsible and accountable gov- ernment, which must live within its means, like the rest of us! It’s rare to read about an elected official who stands for more than just robbing the taxpayers to pay off his or her fa- vorite special interest. Good work, Jay! Frank Plaisted Eugene GONE FOR GOOD One thing that has not been discussed in the controversy over ball fields vs. natural areas in our city parks (cover story, 12/24) is that once a natural area is eliminated, it is gone for good. I am a professional ecologist and have never seen a natural area fully re- stored, even after millions of dollars have been spent to do so. In contrast, any flat area can be converted into a ball field. Maybe the city should look for some vacant land to con- vert into ball fields. Randy Webb Eugene CONTRABAND CONTROL The puritanical current that runs so deep in “mainstream America” certainly perpetu- ates the marginalization of hippies and others who smoke marijuana, but to the interests that back both sides of most elections, the issue is control. The repeal of alcohol prohibition dealt a severe blow to the “rule of law” by exposing the very existence of bad laws and the effec- tiveness of civil disobedience in their dissolu- tion. Government intransigence was only overcome by juries refusing to convict alco- hol defendants until Congress finally took the hint and relented. Reeling from the blow, the establishment began to require of jurors an oath to uphold the law, bad or good, thus de- priving posterity of a formidable weapon against tyranny. So now, when the rare marijuana defen- dant threatened with incarceration refuses the plea bargain extortion and stipulates, or ad- mits, possession, the court essentially directs, or orders, the jury to return a guilty verdict. And it complies. Anyone still naive enough to consider someone else’s drug use a moral issue might wish to explore the implications of Jesus’s moderate alcohol consumption, and his fail- ure to proscribe the use of other drugs. You love your paper tigers and scapegoats, though, so when America is bankrupt (which will happen before I admit its authority over what I do to me) and can no longer even af- ford interest on the debt, blame anyone but yourself when we have to trade national sov- ereignty for an IMF/World Bank bailout. Pete Raiteri Eugene TAXING POOCH In response to Pet Wars (12/24) and Pet Peeve (12/31), I have been working to solve the homeless pet problem for most of the 56 years I have been on this planet. To see peo- ple so petty that they are unwilling to spend $2-$5 per year to help solve the pet overpop- ulation problem in Lane County is saddening. Ann Jensen seems to be worried about pri- vacy and money. I guess she is unaware that if you wanted to you could go down to LCARA (Lane County Animal Regulation Authority) right now and have access to any- one’s name that bought a license for their dog — it’s public information. So don’t worry too much about your vet selling you out. The re- port that she is so worried about has to do with breeders and people who deal with ani- mals on a commercial level. Could Ann be a breeder, by any chance? Hopefully she is an “ethical and responsible breeder” who really cares about what happens to the animals she brings into this world. Annie Kayner is worried about “taxation without representation.” Annie, the county commissioners are your representation! Annie also worries about “scroungy ill bred dogs” and “mangy animals.” Does not being one of these so-called “purebred, papered” dogs sentence you to death? And last, Annie says, “Before I pay another unfair and un- wanted tax to support the saving of mangy animals that nobody really cares about, I will have my purebred, papered, neutered dog put down!” Annie, there has not been a first tax, let alone “another” for animals. And yes, peo- ple really do care about these animals. How sad for your poor overbred purebred dog that he should have to end up with a guardian that cares more about $6 a year than his undying devotion and unconditional love. Molly Sargent Pleasant Hill INDIFFERENT COMMISH? Each month I have a day-long treatment for my type of cancer. I have learned to fill the seven-hour procedure by watching the county commissioner’s meetings. I found these meetings most informative, since human services are impacted with the out- come of these proceedings. The impressions of participation by Commissioners Sorenson, Dwyer and Hampton have been very posi- tive, but the two remaining commissioners regarding an attitude of indifference and lack of attention paid to those citizens who have taken their time and energy to present their views. Are the Commissioners Green and Morrison only concerned with the contribu- tors to their campaign coffer? Arnie Gottleib Cottage Grove UNCOVERED The cover of your Dec. 31 issue was hys- terical. I laughed my hat off. Therin Corvington Eugene BETTER CARE I was surprised to read the letter to the ed- itor from Ann Jensen (12/24). The unfortu- nate reality is that due to mankind’s habit of welcoming animals when they are “cute” and discarding them when they become a respon- sibility, we have more and more animals that are not properly fed and sheltered, nor spayed or neutered traveling backyards every day. With this new law, we as humans will be re- quired to accept some responsibility for the animals that we keep, provide them with bet- ter care, and make sure that they or their off- spring will not become victims of this county’s current 24-hour euthanasia policy. All of our pets, whether dog, cat, ferret, or otherwise, are creatures of Mother Earth. They deserve proper food, water, protection from disease, and veterinary care. They tend to be more loving than most of the people that I encounter on the street these days. Can you tell me why they do not deserve the care and consideration that we expect ourselves? Amber Dean Eugene JANUARY 15, 2004 5
