Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Eugene weekly. (Eugene, Oregon) 1993-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 13, 2009)
letters TO THE EDITOR happen. The same folks that allowed Michigan to tank are preventing our country from turning over a new leaf. Big Oil and Dirty Coal are demanding freebies and giant loopholes so that they can keep on polluting and shift the costs to ordinary citizens. We can be Green Ducks and Sustainable Beavers if we can support this piece of legislation and let our Congress members and local legislators know that we want the American Clean Energy and Security Act to pass. It is a good piece of legislation that can lead to more investment, create new jobs, now and in the long-term. Jocelyn Orr Portland NO WAY OUT I found this cover story (8/6) incredibly naive especially the quote, "Many in the state who have lost their jobs stay put rather than look elsewhere for work." DUH! Could it possibly be that if you lose your low- paying local job you then simply do not have enough money to move? And are these clearly neophyte writers unaware of the relocation Catch-22? Very few employers will hire you for the average job (I'm not talking corporate relos here) if you do not already live in their area, yet the vast majority of landlords will not rent to you if you are unemployed. For the average worker, relocation expenses are not an employer-paid benefi t. Wishing for Oregon to have more fl exible and adaptive policies is an utterly futile waste of brain cells. I have lived here the worse part of two decades and things have not gotten better but much, much worse especially in terms of public policy in everything from Oregon's attitude toward higher education to its barbaric treatment of its poorest citizens, the homeless, mentally ill and destitute. Frankly most people I know who have moved here from elsewhere are desperate to leave, but the vortex of bust-and-deeper- bust (haven't yet seen a boom or even a boomlet) keeps them economically captive, without any viable choice in the matter. A.J.B. Baldwin Coburg GUESS WHO’S COMING? Authors Margheim & Ordonez’ essay on Oregon’s jobless ranking (8/6) was well written but omitted some key facts. They point out that Oregon’s labor force is increasing. They don’t mention that much of this is due to the infl ux of illegal aliens into California and Oregon. These people are not Oregonians, but they are taking Oregonians’ jobs. They are also bringing in most of the state’s methamphetamine. The authors list actions Oregon’s legislature could take to mitigate high unemployment. They say nothing about the appalling lack of courage in Salem to deal with the illegal alien problem. Oregon is a sanctuary state for illegals. Unlike Arizona lawmakers, our legislature is too afraid of the Chamber of Commerce, CAUSA, La Raza, ACORN and the rest of the pro-illegal immigrant camp. They refuse to even consider common sense measures Tim Verkler • A Full-Service Real Estate Broker • • Earth Advantage S.T.A.R. Graduate • • Former Home Builder • FRESH BEANS DAILY! Taste the Difference! Dry, Triple Cleaned Beans are Cleaned Again, Cooked Until Just Right & Salted. Of the top three Eugene Weekly favorite Mexican Restaurants we just might be the only one that serves fresh whole beans daily. Not Canned! Not Refried! AUGUST SPECIAL Bean Tostada w/ a side of Chips & Salsa $ 5 . 75 D ONALD D EXTER J R DMD LLC DENTISTRY "The first wealth is health." -Ralph Waldo Emerson Invest in your health, the returns are abundant. 2233 W ILLAMETTE S T , B LDG B • 541-485-6644 www.drdexter.com elevate Multi-Million $ Annual Sales 1999-2009 hearts of space new dreamers 485-1613 10 to 11p tu 11p to 1a mo & tu timverkler@remax.net • www.eugeneproperties4u.com Good for You. Good for Your Wallet. Good for Your Planet too! Come Explore Our Wetlands! Saturday, August 15th, 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Family Exploration Day at Golden Gardens Park Bring enjoy Bring a a lunch lunch and and enjoy independent discovery. Bug independent discovery. Bug Free! nets, field guides, binoculars nets, guides, and a field restroom will binocu- be lars and a We’ll restroom be available. be on will hand available. to answer your questions. Golden Gardens is located in Eugene’s Bethel Golden Gardens is located in Eugene’s Bethel neighborhood, the intersection of Golden neighborhood, at at the intersection of Golden Gardens Street and and Jessen Jessen Drive, Drive, north of Barger Gardens Street north of Barger Drive. For For more more information information contact Carrie Drive. contact Carrie Karl Karl at . at 683-6483 or carrie@wewetlands.org 683-6483 or carrie@wewetlands.org . WWW.EUGENEWEEKLY.COM • BLOGS.EUGENEWEEKLY.COM EUGENE WEEKLY AUGUST 13, 2009 5
