letters
TO THE EDITOR
in history from the working and middle
classes to the wealthy.
Recently an R-G op-ed piece “America
Fails Wealth Gap test” states that the top
20 percent of wealthy individuals own 85
percent of the wealth, while the bottom 40
percent own very near 0 percent. The income
gap is not any better. The richest 1 percent
takes in 24 percent of the nation’s income up
from 9 percent in 1976. About 80 percent of
the increase in income since 1980 went to the
top 1 percent of the richest individuals.
The City Council’s decision to make the
local income tax more progressive should be
applauded. It’s time to act before America
becomes a “banana republic” ruled by an
oligarchy and where public schools, through
underfunding, are destroyed while the rich
send their children to private academies.
Pete Mandrapa
Eugene
R-G TRANSPARENCY?
A judge’s Twilight Zone interpretation of
the Open Meetings Law has public offi cials
confused about communicating with each
other between meetings. What can the daily
newspaper responsible for infl ating the case
do next?
The Register-Guard could lead us out
of this mess by modeling how to conduct
its business in public. No more unsigned
editorials drafted in closed-door quorums.
Sure, the R-G is not subject to open meeting
statutes, yet this isn’t a time to hide. Can R-G
management comfortably go on meeting in
private to infl uence public opinion? Since it
fi nds great fault with how some Lane County
commissioners have done it, let the paper set
an example.
Release all internal emails and directives
related to development of its righteous
indignation toward offending commissioners.
Make public all notes from discussions
between editorial staff. Country Club chatter
with contacts, too. Any dissenters inside the
paper? Let us hear from reporters who may
not agree with ownership.
For an institution that states above its
editorials that it is “endeavoring to be candid
but fair and helpful in the development of
constructive community policy,” now is the
time to show everyone how it should be done.
David Sonnichsen
Eugene
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EDITOR’S NOTE: This letter was submitted earlier to
the R-G but not published by the time we went to press.
LOCAL SEXPLOITATION
Eugene Weekly is our local newspaper, with a
loyal following. Our community eagerly awaits
its appearance every Thursday. We ask the staff
to use thoughtful policy and discernment in the
writing and advertising chosen for publication.
Nothing published should make an object of
any person, especially those who are the most
vulnerable in our community.
The traffi cking of minor girls is driven by
market demand. Eugene is on a major traffi cking
route, San Diego to British Columbia. Portland
is a major source of minors for traffi cking and
Eugene is another target. The prime age for
entering prostitution is 13.
Is there any reason to encourage a market
for sexual exploitation? To run a full-page
advertisement that appears to have a very
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EUGENE WEEKLY MARCH 3, 2011 5