news
briefs
“I know numbers, they’re numerical.
Ya’ see if I divide 27,900 lost jobs
by 157 Oregon
companies,
it don’t
sound half
bad now
does it.”
DOCUMENTING
BUSH’S
ECONOMIC
RECORD
• According to the Bureau of Labor
Statistics (BLS), since George Bush took of-
fice in 2000 the economy has lost 1.8 million
private sector jobs, which is seven million
jobs short of Bush’s predictions. The private
sector job losses have been offset by some
gains in government jobs. Total unemploy-
ment in the nation has reached eight million
people, according to Bernie Pollack of the
AFL-CIO in Oregon. Pollack says 157 com-
panies in Oregon have reported “major lay-
offs” totaling 27,900 Oregonians losing their
jobs since 2000.
• Jobs today are shifting to lower-paying
industries paying $9,160 per year less on av-
erage, according to an Economic Policy
Institute report in early 2004.
• In Oregon, unemployment has in-
creased 44 percent under Bush. More than
49,000 more Oregonians are unemployed. In
total, 40,323 more workers in Oregon have
become unemployed under Bush, according
to the BLS (http://www.bls.gov). The agency
also reports that 25,800 manufacturing jobs
have been lost in Oregon.
• Family health insurance premiums have
increased by more than $2,600 under Bush.
In the U.S., the total family premium for
health insurance has increased to $9,068, ac-
cording to a Kaiser/HRET Survey of
Employer-Sponsored Health Benefits. The
U.S. Census says 3.7 million Americans have
lost their health insurance, and a total of 43
million are without health insurance, includ-
ing 511,000 Oregonians. — TJT
SLO-MO SPRINT
CARRIES HOT
CHICK TO
VICTORY
After an early breakaway sprint that set
her ahead of the pack, Hot Chick beat out last
year’s first place finisher Quacker to win the
gold in the much anticipated Rubber Ducky
Race on the Willamette River in the heart of
Eugene Oct. 9 .
After plunging into the cold water from
the bridge more than 15 feet above the river, a
chaotic rush to break away from the flock en-
sued. Hot Chick maneuvered to the outside of
the pack with Quacker close behind in her
wake. The two caught a tail-current giving
them an added boost as they bobbed furiously
to get out in front.
They were beak and beak until the first
GLOBAL
TRENDS,
LOCAL
CHOICES
EXAMINED
rapid, just a few hundred feet down in the
course. Hot Chick chose a clean line, running
down the green tongue and through a small
wave train but Quaker got caught up in some
swirling hydraulics, slowing him down a bit.
Daffy, last year’s second place finisher
who is recovering from webbing surgery fol-
lowing a run in with a snapping turtle last
winter, failed to keep up in the initial break-
away but gained significantly on Quacker as
River Road community activist Jan
he struggled through the rapid. The two
Spencer’s six-session course
teamed up to try to close the gap be-
on “Global Trends —
tween them and Hot Chick.
Local Choices” has
But Hot Chick was bobbing
been rescheduled
strong, negotiating the current,
to begin at 7 pm
avoiding dangerous strainers
Oct. 14 at the
and race-ending eddies.
new meeting
Daffy and Quacker
room at East
gained a few feet on
Blair Housing
Hot Chick, forcing her
Co-op, 940 W.
into an incredible
4th Ave. in the
slow motion sprint as
Whiteaker neigh-
she raced for the finish
borhood. The ses-
Jan Spencer
line and the waiting drift
sions will run every
boat, crossing just seconds
Thursday
evening
before Quacker bobbed across
through Nov. 25 and are free,
the line.
with donations welcome.
“Hot Chick really worked for this
Spencer says participants are encouraged
win,” said her coach, Goose Me.
to attend all sessions but are free to come at
“We’ve been training hard since the
any time. The first session will look at a “va-
spring and after losing by just a few inches
riety of global trends that will have signifi-
last year, she wasn’t going to let Quacker take
cant impacts on global economics, interna-
the lead. I’m very proud of her.” — Melissa
tional relations and the cost of many of the
Bearns, sports reporter
products we depend upon,” says Spencer.
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