letters
TO THE EDITOR
and judicial elections. Constitutionally
protected democracy busting, so to speak.
Kind of ironic.
Here’s an example of what’s at stake.
By spending just 1 percent of their profi ts,
the largest 100 corporations will be able to
double the current political spending by all
parties and federal candidates. So who’s
your daddy? Soon all elected offi cials will
know the answer.
I scanned the forum for any paper
and ink corporations that might stand
for Citizens United, et al and unlimited
corporate campaign fi nancing. No thing
stood. But the fl esh and blood people who
fi lled the room all stood for democracy and
common sense.
My conclusion: Corporations have
no legs, and Citizens United and its ilk
make no sense. If you agree, then join me
in telling our elected representatives that
corporations are not people and money is
not speech. Hurry, while they’ll still take
our calls.
Benton Elliott
Eugene
THE REAL TEA PARTY
There are some realities to the origin and
motives of the Tea Party that, apparently, are
not as well researched by some Eugeneans
as the colors of prison garb worn by WW II
Nazi prison camp inmates (“Tea Party of the
‘20s” letter, 1/27).
A quick visit to Wikipedia will show
that the Tea Party was born of Ron Paul
supporters commemorating the anniversary
of the original Boston Tea Party. A
fundraiser was held for the 2008 presidential
primaries advocating and end to fi at monies,
disengaging from foreign entanglements in
Iraq and Afghanistan, and upholding states’
rights. It endorses reduced government
spending (on war and entitlement programs),
lower taxes, reduction of the national debt
and federal budget defi cit, and adherence
to an originalist interpretation of the U.S.
Constitution. I pulled this information
almost verbatim from Wiki.
Glen Beck hijacked the Tea Party. He
assumed control of something that was born
of the people. Something simple and very
American in motivation; millions of citizens
who had little to no political involvement
until they collectively said aloud what
they were thinking for many years. Beck
represents the ideology of millions of
uninformed and under-educated people, but
he does not represent the ideology of the Tea
Party. Anyone who wants a real high profi le
representation of Tea Party ideology should
look at Ron Paul. Paul and Beck could not be
further apart in motivation, life experience,
ideology or credibility.
Perhaps if either side of the political
spectrum stop casting their opponents as
“modern day Nazis” there could be real and
fruitful debate and agreement on issues that
are bankrupting our country fi nancially and
socially.
Keith Schneider
Kerry Sipe
Eugene
SHO 3rd Annual
Open
tro
In
House
Tours
DRINKING GOURD
ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
Wine
Tasting
FUNDRAISER
Saturday, Feb. 19, 2011
4:00-7:00pm
Hult Center for the Performing Arts - Lobby
A 21 & Over Event
Ì Grades K-5
K-3
Ì Classes of 10
students
15 students
Ì Peace
WĞĂĐĞĞĚƵĐĂƟ
ŽŶ
education
Wine Sampling
Hors d’oeuvres
Silent Auction
Music by Group Th erapy
dgschool.org
689-5255
2809 Shirley
Eugene
Tickets $15
www.HultCenter.org
or Hult Center ticket offi ce
541-683-5000
WEDNESDAY,
O
P E N H O FEB.
U S 9 E
W e DROP
d . , D e BY
c . 1 6-8PM
5, 6-8PM
West Eugene EmX: We’re listening.
The West Eugene EmX (WEE) project is nearing an alignment
decision and your input is important!
At the Joint Locally Preferred Alternatives (LPA) Committee
meeting on January 31, representatives from the Eugene
City Council, LTD Board, and Metropolitan Policy Committee
selected their preliminary LPA recommendation for the
WEE project:
•
•
West 13th/11th Alignment Mitigated Concept, and
No Build
Your voice needs to be heard! Plan to attend this open house
and public hearing to learn more and provide your feedback.
to
Open House/Joint Public Hearing
Plan !
d
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
atten
Open House: 3:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m.
Joint Public Hearing: 5:30 p.m. - 8 p.m.
Eugene Hilton, 66 East 6th Avenue, Eugene
To l nd out more about the project, go to our website at
weemx.ltd.org. Input can be made at these events. Input
can also be provided by email (ltd@ltd.org), by mail (PO
Box 7070, Eugene, OR), or by telephone (541-682-6100).
REPAIR SALE
Sale ends February 28th
Bring in your
Birkenstock
footwear during the
month of February
and SAVE 10% on
repairs*
* S al e l i m i ted to cl as s i c B i r k ens tock ,
B i r k i ’s, Papi l l i o and s el ec ted Tat am i
and Foot pr i nt s. L i f t s and m odi fi cat i ons
exclu ded.
ltd.org
SANDALS SHOES CLOGS BOOTS
WWW.EUGENEWEEKLY.COM • BLOGS.EUGENEWEEKLY.COM
Note: Footwise-Corvallis Repair Sale starts March 1st
&#SPBEXBZt%PXOUPXO&VHFOF
t.PO4BU4VO
'PPUXJTFJTPO'BDFCPPL'PPUXJTF&VHFOF
EUGENE WEEKLY FEBRUARY 3, 2011 5