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