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About Eugene weekly. (Eugene, Oregon) 1993-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 13, 2016)
his speeches and books. His campaign behavior and rhetoric have a striking re- semblance to Hitler’s playbook. Even the slogans used are similar. His fostering and support of white supremacists and mili- tias is not unlike the “brown shirts” which eventually became the infamous Gestapo. Yes, it is quite possible to have a fascist dictatorship in America. And it cannot be undone by any democratic processes. So it is very important for voters to join Bernie in electing a Democratic president and Congress. George R. Hermach Eugene TRUMP TIES Has everyone noticed how exceedingly long Donald Trump wears his neckties? Even accounting for his paunch, the man’s ties are way too long. The fashion advice is pretty simple: The tip of the tie should fall to about mid- belt buckle. Too short ties look clownish, and too long ties look sloppy. There are fashion-conscious members of his family who must certainly have tried to share this information with him. Yet he persists with his overlong ties. Does he think he is making some kind of bold, brash statement? Did his fashion sense arrest at around age 11 along with his emotional development? Or is it some kind of subconscious overcompensation for his stubby little … er, fingers? Ronald Blanton Eugene PRISON STRIKE The largest prison strike in U.S. his- tory is in its fourth week, with a reported 20,000 or more people protesting slavery or near-slavery labor and unsafe living conditions. The media, however, have sim- ply not reported this news. The Constitution’s 13th Amendment freed the slaves but permitted penal servi- tude. Some prisoners work for corporations, prisons, the military or in agriculture, and may be paid as low as pennies per hour. I could not find the percentage of prisoners working. Profits are collected by prisons. The strike began Sept. 9, the 45th anni- versary of Attica (see the 2016 book Blood in the Water), and the media blackout start- ed the same day. It was reported that one Oregon men’s prison (Deer Ridge) and Or- egon women incarcerated at Gig Harbor, Washington, were involved, and a demon- stration held in Portland. Stories can now be found on alternative sites, but the U.S. has no independent monitoring of prisons as in other democracies, and thus no win- dow on what is happening inside. Whether one supports or opposes strikes, we need the news. Could Eugene Weekly run a story if the R-G does not? Mary Rothbart Eugene RAILROAD SAFETY Thirteen railcars derail in Eugene on Sunday afternoon. Is Union Pacific going to sweep another major mishap under a rug they call “an investigation”? e lat Eye witness named Dave — a former truck driver living in the homeless camp only 100 yards away from ground zero — told me he saw the whole event; he was the guy who told the police a tanker car with hazmat placard 1075 was involved. Stretching nearly to Blair Street, rail cars were being marshaled into a tight ra- dius switching track behind the Zip-O log mill-tracks rotten 90-year-old ties. Empty cars pushed too quickly around that tight corner started tipping over with a mighty roar — I heard it a mile away. Dave said that next morning “I just missed the best picture ever taken.” Fire marshals and officials pointing at two large punctures in the tanker car’s outer shell, gesturing it was “this close” to puncturing the inner lining and prob- ably exploding Eugene all to hell. That tank car was quickly hidden from public view. Antiquated track was rapidly being scrapped to prevent stamp dates of 1945 from being evidence. An equally old switch was quickly taken away. A tanker of this sort carries approximately 33,600 gallons of LPG — 263,000 pounds of volatility. Union Pacific had no interest in talk- ing to someone who actually witnessed what happened that Sunday. What investigation? Railroad safety means the public con- tinues living on borrowed time. Glenn Jones Eugene SINGLE PAYER NEEDED Two weeks ago I experienced quite a shock. I needed heart surgery because of Octoberfest a birth defect that had not surfaced in 63 years of active living. Wolff-Parkinson- White syndrome is an electrical short that can result in sudden immediate death (we all know of someone who this has hap- pened to) or it can give you the warning of rapid heart-rate that then just goes away to return another day. I’m grateful for the marriage equality law that allows me to be on my same-sex spouse’s single payer military insurance! I’m grateful to the wonderful McKenzie- Willamette emergency room doc who recognized what was going on and didn’t just send me home as another middle-aged woman with no previous heart health con- cerns. I’m very grateful for the electro-car- dio surgeon in Portland who did an amaz- ing “ablation” to cure my heart defect. What shocks and saddens me is this: In America’s “hearth care for profit” sys- tem we wait until a problem, sometimes fatal, arises. The surgeon told me that in Europe, where every industrialized coun- try has single payer health care, every child has an EKG while in elementary school. It costs $1. They can find about 10 different hidden heart issues and provide corrective care. Hope I live long enough in America to see us care about people’s health over insurance company profits and realize that spending on prevention is healthcare that is cost effective. Grateful to still be alive, but we need single payer healthcare for all, now! Debra McGee Eugene Eugene Yoga Yoga • Pilates • MELT • Zumba TWO LOCATIONS 245 E Broadway & 3575 Donald St FREE ENTRY October 15 3 - 9 pm LIVE MUSIC FREE KIDS' FRANKFURTERS FOOD AND BEER SPECIALS CLAIM 52 BEER KEG TAP AND TASTE PUMPKIN COLORING CONTEST APPLE CIDER HARVEST GAMES AND CRAFTS DOOR PRIZES Storewide Moving Sale! NEW STUDENT SPECIAL $44/4 Weeks • Unlimited Classes Teacher Training RYT200 1027 Willamette • (541) 683-5903 weekends Oct 28 - May 21 www.harlequinbeads.com More info at EugeneYoga.us Come try our 6 new burgers Big Butterfly’s Blackened Blue Blackened Cajun seasoned patty, bleu cheese, Romaine, mayo and crispy fried onions BUY ONE, GET ONE 1/2 OFF LUNCH OR DINNER ENTREE Join us @ 418 A ST OF EQUAL OR LESSER VALUE WITH THE PURCHASE OF TWO BEVERAGES Valid Sunday through Thursday for dine-in only. Coupon required. Limit 1 coupon per table. No split checks. Not valid with other coupons, discounts or daily specials. offer expires 10/31/16 295 W 17th Ave cornucopiaeugene.com 207 E 5th Ave eugeneweekly.com • October 13, 2016 7
