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About Eugene weekly. (Eugene, Oregon) 1993-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 21, 2004)
TO THE EDITOR and helped give Little Elmo an 86 to 90 per- cent approval rating. Kerry, perhaps because incredibly wealthy, attacks incompetent Little Elmo mainly on given issues and seems incapable of galvanizing voters. Little Elmo promotes warfare by trying to instill terrorism hysteria in the populace. In fact, the U.S. has at times engaged in terrorism, e.g., Nixon’s sending the CIA into Chile to help bring down Allende and install Pinochet. On the phone, a greater Seattle friend rightly called the politi- cal situation in this country “frightening.” Paul J. Green, Ph.D. Eugene BLAME THE R’S In the 8/12 News Briefs, Rep. Phil Barnhart’s opponent would have us believe that Barnhart is responsible for the problems of Oregon’s schools and health care systems. In fact, the hard right wing of the Republican Party, in control of the Oregon House for the last 14 years is responsible for the mess. Barnhart has been a champion of our schools since 1994 when he was first elected to the Eugene School Board. Barnhart knows our state is moving in the wrong direction, but has been consistently outvoted in the leg- islature. Barnhart’s right wing Republican opponent wants to run against the policies of his own party while blaming Democrat Barnhart for Republican failing. Don’t let him get away with it! In a Democrat-controlled Legislature, Assistant Democratic Leader Barnhart will be an im- portant part of the solutions we need. Jeremy Hall Eugene STRUGGLING TO SURVIVE I’m a person living on SSI disability. My income is $564 a month. I’ve reached the point where my limited income won’t make it through the month anymore. Groceries, gas, electric, and medications that the insurance won’t pay for anymore are bigger than my check. I’m slowly going under and I know I can’t survive another four years of this. Does anyone else have the same problems? Ruth LeBrun Eugene NO LEADERSHIP Why would someone vote for Ralph Nader as an “alternative or protest choice” for the presidency? During the past four years, as far as I’m aware, Nader has not shown leader- ship or contributed to any national programs, other than, possibly, auto safety. He has no background to manage the broad range of do- mestic affairs of this country, nor does he have the knowledge and experience to man- age foreign affairs. Nader has not demon- strated leadership qualities in any area. Of course, the Republicans, who are help- ing finance Nader’s campaign, would love to see votes for him — that would ensure the election of the deceitful, greedy Bush admin- istration and friends. Robert Rubinstein Eugene ticle by Kera Abraham on the “Window on War” (profile of Peshwaz Faizulla, 9/9) and was thankful for finally getting a different perspective on what is happening in the Middle East today. I am sick and tired of the U.S. media giants inundating us with garbage information and commercials. To most in the U.S., life has become a numbing unfulfilled daily trip to unsatisfying work to pay credit card company bills for the things we pur- chased that we for the most part don’t even need. I for one have learned a lot from this ar- ticle — that we Americans are missing the point on living a more fulfilling life. Live within your means. Do not become a “slave” to material things. Sure, the huge house on the hill looks nice and man would that be nice to have (you think?). I am losing hope for America as long as corporations have bought Washington, as long as people live in poverty amidst colossal government waste. I will as of this day, cancel my cable TV and newspaper, start to garden more, take more walks with my wife and listen to the birds and most of all slow down. I am com- pletely satisfied with what I have and I want no more as I have all I need and then some. I do not want to create any more impact on the Earth than I already have. I see no value in that. Thank you Peshwaz Faizulla for provid- ing a view of life here in the U.S., your obser- vations hit to the core of all of us. Steve Brasch Oconomowoc, Wis. Beauty comes in all sizes, and so do our pants! Our PIE clothing line is locally made with CUSTOM SIZING done at no additional charge. Order your HEMP clothing today! We’re GRATEFUL for your support ❣ ★ Mon-Sat 10-8/ Sun 12-6 ★ Corner of 11th & Willamette in the ❤ of Downtown Eugene UNDERFUNDED Head Start needs more funds. Currently in Lane County, Head Start is only serving 50 percent of those children eligible due to lack of funding. Research has shown early educa- tion programs like Head Start can prevent school failure and crime. John Kerry has a plan to save Head Start. The No Child Left Behind Act created new requirements for ed- ucators but did not give them the funding they needed to complete them. The No Child Left Behind Act was underfunded by $27 bil- lion. John Kerry has a plan to fully fund edu- cation programs that teach kids, not just test them. After-school programs are in danger of losing funding. Kerry is a strong supporter of after school programs. I am in high school and I have witnessed how after school pro- grams can save lives. I know two different people who were considering suicide and did not go through with it because they made friends in an after-school program. I know other students who did not drop out of high school because of an after school-program they were in. In the last three years college tuition has risen 35 percent and 220,000 people were priced out of college. Many more felt they had no hope of affording college. Kerry has a plan to bring college education to all Americans. Send me to college. Vote for Kerry. Peter Howland Springfield SEEING SMOKE LESSONS FROM A KURD I read your paper regularly as I used to live in Oregon many years ago. I read the ar- After the attack on our country on 9/11, President Bush promised that he would make the hunt for Osama bin Laden the number one OCTOBER 21, 2004 7
