LET TERS
MEATY COMMENTARY
It is clear that EW enjoys trolling
“sensitive types” — it gets people talking
about the newspaper. But I thought
opening your article about a food truck
with, “Butchering — cutting down an
animal for food — is an art, a calling, a
passion,” is creepy and demands comment.
Everyone knows that raising animals
for meat is a huge calamity for the environ-
ment and leading to starvation because the
land and water used could grow far more
plant-based food. Most of the animals peo-
ple eat come from factory farms, which are
profoundly cruel.
Yet people continue to eat animals for
three main reasons — conformity, laziness,
or selfishness. Conformity is unthinkingly
continuing to do what others do. Laziness is
continuing out of habit, no matter if it’s nec-
essary or not. And selfishness is when you
continue because you enjoy it though you
are aware of deep ethical problems. Occa-
sionally someone has a biological necessity
to eat meat, but that’s an exception.
Do some real research — biologically,
human beings are herbivores. The cultur-
al practice of eating flesh has made heart
disease the most common cause of death.
From start to finish, eating animals is an
epic disaster. How can anyone continue in
good conscience?
David A. Caruso
Eugene
HOPE FOR THE FUTURE
We are plaintiffs in Juliana v. United States.
In 2015, 21 of us youth joined to sue the U.S.
government for taking actions that cause and
enhance the dangers of climate change.
We know it’s not obvious that the U.S.
government causes climate change, so let
us explain.
First, the government sets our national
energy policy and what kind of fuels we
use. When it sets standards for how inef-
ficient the things that burn those fuels can
be, like our cars, the government is taking
actions. When it leases land to corpora-
tions to dig up coal or drill for oil or gas,
the government is taking actions. When
it offers tax breaks and subsidies to fossil
fuel companies, the government is taking
actions. When it permits the pollution that
comes out of the energy system it controls,
the government is taking actions.
HOT AIR SOCIETY
When you add up all these actions, the
U.S. government, more than anyone else,
is responsible for the level of carbon di-
oxide pollution that will determine the cli-
mate in our lifetimes.
As young people, we’re not worried
about Trump’s opinions on climate change,
but the U.S. government’s actions. Be-
cause we know the actions it takes today
to promote fossil fuels will cause emis-
sions that will cause climate change.
And that climate change will mean
impacts that we will have to live with
throughout our lifetimes.
That’s why we take a comfort in know-
ing that Trump can withdraw from the Par-
is Agreement, but he can’t withdraw from
our lawsuit.
Kelsey Juliana, 21, Eugene
Tia Hatton, 20, Bend
Kiran Oommen, 20, Eugene
Alex Loznak, 20, Roseburg
Miko Vergun, 16, Beaverton
Isaac Vergun, 15, Beaverton
Zealand Bell, 13, Eugene
Sahara Valentine, 12, Eugene
Hazel Van Ummersen, 12, Eugene
Avery McRae, 11, Eugene
ON THE RIGHT TRACK
Life lessons my grandson learned at the
NCAA track and field meet:
Whether you win or lose, you acknowl-
edge your competitors. You congratulate
those who came in ahead of you and also
remember those who came in behind you.
No matter how far behind you are, you
always finish the race.
You listen to your coach. Even after do-
ing something great on the field, you go
straight to your coach to see how you can
get better. Because you can always get bet-
ter.
When you’re out of the running in a
field event, you acknowledge the fans with
grace — no matter how disappointed you
are.
Track fans are supportive of their own
team but also of everyone’s efforts, no mat-
ter what team. They appreciate effort and
accomplishment no matter whose they are.
Focus and strive. Do this and you will
accomplish things in life.
Judy Fleisig
Springfield
BY TONY CORCOR AN
Truth Comes Out
IT'S ROAD KILL IN THE LEGISLATURE
H
ow tense is it in Salem right now? The governor just hired a crack
team of medical specialists called cranio-proctologists to inves-
tigate the alleged legislative leadership. There’s ample evidence
that the state Capitol is about to explode. And with less than a few
weeks until the July 10 sine die date for adjournment, something
needed to be done.
First of all, there’s road kill everywhere. The voting margins are so thin that
even majority Democrats are getting run over. In the House, Rep. Diego Hernan-
dez's threatened “no” vote would have meant defeat for the $8.2 billion biennial
budget for K-12 education. When Hernandez made it clear early that he would
vote "no" on the education budget, Ways and Means co-chairwoman Nancy Na-
thanson used her authority to remove Hernandez from the Education subcommit-
tee. She then cast a "yes" vote on the budget, allowing the budget to progress to
the full Joint Committee on Ways and Means.
Rep. Sal Esquivel, R-Medford, is another example of road kill. The provider
tax made it out of the House by the narrowest of margins: 36 votes. A super major-
ity of 36 House votes is required for any tax measure. There are only 35 Demo-
crats in the House, which is where tax measures must originate. In this case, one
Republican voted for the bill.
Way to go, Sal. Republicans put tremendous pressure on you, but you bucked
them with your vote. And HB 2391 is huge, a health-provider tax that will gener-
ate $550 million to pay for medical care for the state’s low-income residents and
keep Junction City’s state hospital open. The bill increases taxes on hospitals and
imposes a new levy on insurance premiums.
HB2391 passed with a yes vote from Sal, a six-term House member who previ-
ously announced he will not run for re-election in 2018. So before you cast him in
the courageous category, remember that Sal has already announced his retirement.
Therefore, he won’t be “tea-partied” by a right wing Republican in his next pri-
mary — the fate of disloyal Republicans who do the right thing on budget matters.
Another form of road kill.
Which brings me to Ashland’s newest state senator, Republican Alan DeBoer.
He’s quoted as saying he might support a gross receipts tax for education. Make
4
June 22, 2017 • eugeneweekly.com
him vote! If he votes yes, great. If he votes no, then he can explain to all those fine
constituents in Ashland why he can’t support adequate funding for public educa-
tion or Southern Oregon University.
This Ashland seat was Democratic before the legendary Doc (Alan) Bates
passed away. DeBoer is facing his Alan Bates moment.
DeBoer is under heavy political pressure from his party to vote no on the gross
receipts tax for education. Like Bates, he has stated that the proposal is not what
he himself would prefer, but it is the only proposal that is in front of the legislature
to vote on. Make him vote!
Saul Hubbard of the R-G recently reported on four other Republicans who
could wind up as road kill on these tough tax votes. Besides DeBoer, senators
Jackie Winters and Brian Boquist (who already crossed the NRA on a gun bill)
will have tough choices. And representatives Cliff Bentz and Greg Smith could
be tea-partied as well.
The transportation package and the education funding component are still not
in place at this late date. Democrats appear ready to capitulate by dropping the
gross receipts tax and proposing temporary additional corporate taxes. Kicking
the road kill down the road, to mix metaphors.
So yeah, desperate times call for desperate acts. But I think it’s working.
Who’da thunk you could sneak those tasty peanut butter cookies laden with
Ex-Lax and a superb Jagoo hash into the House and Senate Republican caucus
rooms? It was too easy.
Turns out Jagoo is just what the cranio-proctologists recommended to cut
things loose in Salem. Jagoo is a powerful combination of strong indica and sa-
tiva strains. You get the best of both worlds — the strong couch-locking indica
and the powerful thinking sativa. Smoke too much and you might get a headache;
most people take this to fall asleep and to relieve themselves of pain. This is a
powerful strain.
We all know Republicans are suckers for sweets, right. Just look at their lead-
ership, especially in the Senate. Anyway, Jagoo turned out to be the perfect strain.
Throw in a little Ex-lax and voila! You’ll see movement! Stay tuned.
Former state Sen. Tony Corcoran of Cottage Grove is a retired state employee.