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About Eugene weekly. (Eugene, Oregon) 1993-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 8, 2016)
LET TERS PLEASE IGNORE MY PRIVATE $2 BILLION FOUNDATION On Aug. 21 The New York Times reported the Clinton Foundation has raised about $2 billion since 1997. Apparently “truth” bends in the direction of money, a shiny pot of gold that just happens to have the Clinton Foundation address at rainbow’s end. Most Americans are not convinced this “amazing coincidence” isn’t a conflict of interest. Foundations and influence peddling will be Hillary Clinton's Achilles heel way beyond any of the Benghazi intrigue. Nearly all foundations and think tanks are basically tax loopholes and shell corporations. Same-minded family and friends snuggle on “the big dole” — the public illusion is philanthropy. How much exactly is Chelsea Clinton paid by the “Clinton” Foundation? Oh. Never mind! She must earn every penny. How often are the Hoover or Cato institutes actually correct in their foreign policy ideology? Maybe the G.W. Bush Foundation should study that minor foreign policy issue. America has been marched off to war and precious ground water “fracked” — all based on “ biased opinion” — peddled as gospel truth. Foundations with ambiguous mission statements sound good… but what actually happens behind those golden doors shouldn’t be a tax write-off and money playground for the 2 percent club. It’s their world — we apparently just live in it. Glenn Jones Eugene ODE TO EAGLE PARK Sometime in the late 1990s I began printing stickers with the moniker “Ain’t No Time to Hate” for Eagle Park Slim. Looking through my records last week, I found that I had reprinted them 16 times. That’s about 15,000 stickers that Slim distributed, along with several hundred “Peace Through Music” bumper stickers. Slim was a serious purveyor of peace, love and understanding. Herb Everett Eugene FOOD WASTE IN SCHOOLS As kids are heading back to school, I hope you will print this letter written by my mother before her recent passing: “As a substitute teacher in Eugene- Springfield for more than 20 years, I have worked at many different schools from K-12 and have seen a problem that urgently needs to be addressed! "It’s lovely that many schools teach kids to recycle and reduce waste. But it’s shocking and saddening to see that kids are wasting food. Lots of food. Sometimes I am on cafeteria duty during lunchtime so I observe how much kids are eating and what is being thrown away. For example, an apple with one bite, half a hamburger, an untouched kiwi, milk with only a few sips taken. Sometimes kids don’t like their food. Sometimes the portion is too big. Sometimes the kids are in a hurry to get 4 to recess. Sometimes they eat the junk and toss the healthy stuff. Whatever the reason for dumping and wasting food, please — teachers, principals, parents, PTA — help your school to figure out a simple remedy! Wasting food is shameful and sends a hypocritical message to kids who are being taught to ‘reduce, reuse, recycle.’” Tara Delgado Springfield EDITOR'S NOTE: This letter was written by Truleen M. Delgado and submitted on her behalf by her daughter. MURAL QUESTION I want to thank all of you who are responsible for the new Beau Stanton mural on the side of the McDonald Theatre in downtown Eugene. It is a massive and beautiful work of art. Beau Stanton is a top-notch artist, and Eugene is privileged to have such an incredible piece of his art. But … With all of the incredibly talented artists in Eugene, the surrounding area and in the state of Oregon, why did they bring an artist all the way from New York City? I am happy Beau Stanton will be eating well, but I would have preferred to see that kind of investment made in our local artists community. Sam Dantone Florence CHEMTRAIL MEETUP I am writing in response to the letter submitted and printed in the Aug. 25 issue of EW. I too have viewed, sometimes on a daily basis, a regular and routine lying of lines in our skies. I live out near Spencer Butte and sometimes it is atrocious. The sky at times is a “white out” within an hour. I have been following this (with many others in Eugene now) for more than 15 years. I have written the FAA, EPA, Obama and our congressmen and senators. I have gotten a “brush off” response and sometimes no answer at all. I attended a conference in Redding, California, last year and more than 1,000 people from around the U.S. showed up about this phenomena. Nicolas S. Andersen is not the only person in Eugene that is now beginning to look up! I am holding a forum 6 to 10 pm Thursday, Oct. 20, at the Eugene Garden Club for anyone interested in knowing more about what might be going on over our heads. I will have a documentary filmmaker from Southern Oregon present for a PowerPoint presentation and answer people’s questions. Susan Klein Eugene MORE CHEMTRAILS In regard to last week’s letter about chemtrails, I am glad to finally see something about this subject in a newspaper. Last year, at the beginning of the school year, when I was taking my daughter to school, I saw tic-tac-toe in the sky: chemtrails. For many days in a row they were spraying. I called Peter DeFazio’s office several times trying to get some September 8, 2016 • eugeneweekly.com answers. What I got from them was a letter on official congressional letterhead signed by Peter DeFazio, with the following astounding response: There is no scientific evidence that chemtrails exist. If you see a suspicious airplane and “contrail” in the sky, take a picture of the plane, including the identification number on the airplane and what make of plane it is, what direction and location the plane is flying, as well as the camera make and lens that you use to photograph. Whoever wrote that letter must have been a comedian. Keep your eyes on the skies, folks! Mike Walrath Deadwood MONEY AND POWER In response to Mike Miller’s letter titled “Love to Law Enforcement” in the EW, circulated July 21: It’s not funny how you divide our community into two categories. I am also a law-abiding citizen, with a different view of the men and women that have quietly removed the “To Serve and Protect” from their expensive vehicles. At the end of June, I had my vehicle unlawfully impounded for not carrying proof of insurance. Did you know that impounding a vehicle for no insurance is against federal code, Oregon state statute and the Eugene Municipal Code? Only under strict exceptions is it allowed. After your transportation is taken, you have five calendar days to request a hearing to contest the validity of the tow. At the bottom of the fine print that explains this, you are then threatened with court costs in the event of your being ruled against. I won mine. Then I won the trial to have my citations dismissed. No probable cause or the lesser, reasonable suspicion to stop my vehicle. Law-abiding citizen, single mother victimized by officers that either don’t have a knowledge of our basic laws or have a complete systematic disregard for justice. Actually, my vehicle was impounded after I denied a search of my vehicle with their drug dog. (Keep in mind that I have no criminal record and this is our tax dollars hard at work.) I am aware of my right to privacy, guaranteed to me under the U.S. Constitution’s 4th Amendment, and I value and protect my right and responsibility to invoke it. Even if I had a criminal record and was on parole or probation, I am guaranteed my right to privacy protected by the Oregon Constitution, Article 1 Section 9. Know your rights or you don’t have any! I believe our law enforcement has divided this community into two categories: their “income” and their “inmates.” Not that it matters which side we are on — it’s all money and power to them, and we allow it. Especially, when we have people already reducing other citizens’ rights and life to naught for their legal system. The only time I’ve had my car stolen is by the Eugene Police Department, with assistance of the implied threat of intimidation with a badge that should deserve a little respect. Melissa N. Hite Eugene UNWISE CANDIDATE Hillary’s obvious FBI-proven dishonesty with its hints of corruption could harm artists and other liberals as much as conservatives. This is because you cannot trust her word, and so you cannot know what she may try next — perhaps censorship, or other oppressive measures. Certainly taxation has not been helpful to small-scale entrepreneurs, nor has government spending particularly helped the poor, since we have more problems than ever. Her history of poor judgment over the years as a public servant is not very encouraging. Of all the wonderful, intelligent, ethical women available to head our government, Democrats have chosen their candidate most unwisely. J. Robert Burger Eugene FAN THE FLAMES OF DEMOCRACY Tuesday’s (Aug. 30) 5-0 vote from the Lane County commissioners to revoke a proposed ordinance that would have allowed them veto power over ballot initiatives is due, in large part, to Lane County residents’ outrage and pressure. Through letters to the editor, calls to commissioners, attendance at the commissioners’ meetings and donations to the cause (democracy isn’t free), we are witnessing democracy in action! Our work is far from over. The commissioners are slated to revisit their proposed ordinance within six months. And we know the opposition will not go “gently into that good night.” Attorney Stan Long has promised to sue the county if the commissioners do not cave to the will of corporate special interests. We must continue in defense of the people’s constitutionally protected right to the initiative process. So, let’s fan the flames of direct democracy and celebrate the power of the people. You can do this by gathering signatures at freedomfromaerialherbicides. org and by donating money. Let’s pledge our vigilance to protecting the people’s rights! Let’s continue our march toward a healthy democracy. And thanks to all of you for your hard work and tenacity. Michelle Holman Community Rights Lane County Deadwood COME TO CLIMATE RECOVERY LAWSUIT As parents and grandparents we have an amazing opportunity to be involved in history! At 10 am Tuesday, Sept. 13, 21 brave youth plaintiffs will appear in a landmark constitutional climate recovery lawsuit against the federal government here in Eugene. The youth’s case is based on constitutional and public trust principles and seeks a nationwide, science-based Climate Recovery Plan on behalf of all present and future generations. What you can do is show up, attend the hearing and bring your children and
