TO THE EDITOR
the WOW Hall, above High Priestess). It is
unfortunate that we can no longer enjoy
fresh organic and cheap meals in such a
happy atmosphere. I will enjoy the memory
of Planet Goloka. I only wish more people
supported them while the magic was here.
Risa Dotson
Eugene
KEEP DON HAMPTON!
Please rally in support of Don
Hampton as county commissioner of east
Lane! He represents the swing vote in the
commission, the difference between a bal-
ance of quality rural and urban life and the
threat of big developers. It is crucial to
elect an experienced and fair-minded per-
son who puts principle, common sense and
the interests of the people above politics —
a good listener who wants to keep the qual-
ity of life in east Lane while supporting the
efforts of small enterprise.
Don Hampton is endorsed by
Congressman Peter DeFazio, former Oregon
State Sen. Tony Corcoran and many mayors
and councilors in east Lane county.
During his service as commissioner he
has, among other activities: saved more
than $2 million dollars in unnecessary road
work, voted to restore 24/7 sheriff’s pa-
trols, voted to retain funding for rural
health care clinics, and worked to speed up
the permitting process. He opposes the un-
necessary Coburg power plant.
Don Hampton’s opponent, Faye
Stewart, is poised to challenge him with
large sums of money at his disposal, but
Stewart has no experience in government.
Keep Don Hampton as county commis-
sioner with your vote!
Kathleen Epstein
Eugene
sorts to “Holy shit,” “damn,” “fuckin’” and
references to people’s physical deformities
(“hunchbacked, bug-eyed nurse”) to spice
up a pointless, boring, self-focused article.
You not only waste space but look foolish
choosing to print such drivel.
Julie Rogers
Eugene
OFFENSIVE WRITING
EWEB would like to pass along a 5.4
percent increase, which we should oppose
for two major reasons. The first is that ac-
cording to the Sept. 17 edition of The
Oregonian, the Bonneville Power
Administration (BPA) has reduced whole-
sale electricity rates by 7.5 percent begin-
ning Oct. 1. Although the article explicitly
says that consumers should not expect an
equivalent decrease in rates, it cites
Portland General Electric as only raising
rates by 1 percent due to the actions of
BPA. I believe that at the very least, EWEB
should keep rates at status quo, and I take
issue with the statement in EWEB’s letter
to consumers that a portion of the increase
“would pay for higher wholesale energy
costs from the BPA.” The rate increase
cited in the EWEB letter is not backed up
by either The Oregonian article or the in-
formation available on the BPA website.
The second reason we should object to
the rate increase is due to the dispropor-
tionate impact it will have on small busi-
nesses and low-income citizens in our
community. While big businesses have
large financial backers to call on, and can
afford to pay higher utility costs, our com-
munity-owned businesses have nowhere to
turn when their utility prices rise.
Everything should be done to shield small
business owners from unnecessary utility
rate increases.
Low-income earners also face dilem-
mas when electricity rates rise, and fortu-
nately, EWEB has effective programs in
place that help those in need. However, I
fear that by raising electric rates, fewer
people will be able to pay their power bills
and become dependent upon EWEB pro-
grams. Many low-income earners in our
community take pride in being able to pay
their bills without assistance, and every-
thing should be done to allow them to con-
tinue to do so. Please write a letter to
EWEB letting them know how you feel.
T.K. Keen
Eugene
Why does the EW keep running pieces
by Ben Fogelson? The content is trivial,
the style offensive and they are pointless.
Casting about to have some flair or sub-
stance in “Swimmin’ Boys” (8/26), he re-
CITIZENS UNITE!
EDITOR’S NOTE: EWEB tells us BPA’s overall costs are
increasing: “Bonneville is lowering wholesale rates by
7.5 percent, but only for a third of the power EWEB buys
from BPA. For the other two-thirds of the BPA power,
Bonneville is increasing wholesale costs,” says Lance
Robertson of EWEB.
STICKY FINGERS
So the president does not need a permis-
sion slip, and he’ll stick to his guns in his
war. I can’t help being reminded of another
head of state who also did not ask for a per-
mission slip before invading another coun-
try, claiming he was only “returning fire.”
He also stuck to his guns — until he shot
himself, leaving his country in shambles.
Those who fail to learn the lessons of
history are condemned to repeat them.
Helmut Plant
Eugene
6 OCTOBER 7, 2004