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PAGE A4, KEIZERTIMES, JUNE 1, 2018 KeizerOpinion KEIZERTIMES.COM Treat the cause,not the symptom Here’s a challenge: think of a press- ing social problem that is being solved rather than having its symptons treated by groups both public and private. A person would be hard pressed to think of any social problem whose origins are addressed and attacked frontally. In America we collec- tively pat ourselves on the back for doing ‘something’ about domestic violence, about homlessness, about opiod use. But that ‘some- thing’ is generally treating only the symptoms. Both the public and the private sectors should identify people with vision and leadership who will lead campaigns to address the un- derlying causes of our social ills. It is fi ne to set up a non-profi t organization and establish shelters and programs, but the cycle will continue ad infi nitum until the root causes of opiod abuse, homeless, domestic violence and oth- ers are addressed. The challenge with the homeless issue is that there are as many reasons for homelessness as there are home- less persons. We must be clear about the difference between a person who is homeless and a person who is shel- terless. Everyone should have a per- manent home, the critical issue is those who sleep in vehicles, parks and doorways—the extremely vulnerable homeless population. Among the many things that fuel our homeless population, mental health issues and fi nancial insecurity are major. According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Ad- ministration, 20 to 25 percent of the homeless population in the United States suffers from some form of severe mental illness. In comparison, only 6 percent of Americans are severely mentally ill. When combined with inadequate hygiene due to homelessness, this may lead to physical problems. Half of the mentally ill homeless population in the United States also suffer from sub- stance abuse and dependence. This combination of mental ill- ness, substance abuse, and poor physi- cal health makes it diffi cult for people to obtain employment and residential stability. Better coordination with mental health service providers is one of the top three items needed to combat homelessness. Many homeless people with severe mental illnesses are will- ing to accept treatment and services. Outreach programs are more successful when workers establish a trusting rela- tionship through continued contact with the people they are trying to help. Homeless people with mental ill- nesses are more likely to recover and achieve resi- dential stability if they have access to supported hous- ing programs. We don’t want to make people more comfortable in their homelessness, we want these people to fi nd sustainable, permanent housing. Though experts say the American economy is humming along nicely there is still a large number of citizens who are underemployed or earning less than what is needed to properly house and feed themselves Many times, through no fault of their own, people may fi nd themselves without a roof over their head. Today’s tight hous- ing market makes it diffi cult for those wanting to enter the world of renting. A tight market means that rents are soaring ever higher. New apartments are being built in the region but few of those are truly low-income (there is little incentive for a developer to build apartments in that category). There needs to be ‘can’t pass up’ fi nancial incentives offered by the city, the county and the state, for devel- opers to create low-income housing. For every 10,000 square feet of market value housing built, there should be a huge tax and permit discount offered if a developer also built 2,500 square feet of low-income housing (think tiny houses) in the metropolitan area. Oregon’s annual budget is almost $38 billion. The kicker is expected to return more than half a billion to taxpayers. That $500 million would go a long way to alleviate homeless in Oregon’s cities. A leader would stand up and say that money is needed to help solve a problem people complain about. Do something, do anything, damn the consequences. Appropriate enough state and local monies to fund 24 hour health services where the homeless gather. The homeless issue needs some- thing much different than an 8 to 5, Monday to Friday solution. Let’s get serious and solve this issue. —LAZ our opinion It’s a spending problem As I write this, the Legislative Rev- be on pace to have a record amount enue Offi ce has released its report on of budgetary reserves on hand, nearly the forecast of Oregon’s tax revenues. $1.8 billion between the state’s Rainy Day Fund, Education Sta- The new forecast shows a far bility Fund and other better picture than an esti- unspent money. House mate released in March. Republican Leader Rep. Between personal income Mike McLane of Powell taxes and corporate taxes, the Butte said: “In their haste forecast suggests revenues to pass SB 1528 earlier in the current biennium this year, Governor Brown coming in at $833 million and legislative Democrats higher than the earlier pre- apparently failed to rec- diction. Thus as I’ve said in ognize that by requiring these pages and elsewhere small business to pay $245 for as long as I’ve been in from the million more in state in- offi ce: Oregon doesn’t have taxes, their actions a revenue problem, it has capitol come could trigger the income a spending problem. Last tax kicker,” McLane wrote. month, Gov. Kate Brown By BILL POST “That scenario now ap- signed Senate Bill 1528, pears more likely than not. which blocked a tax cut for If current projections hold, some Oregon businesses. The change meant an estimated $245 Oregonians are in line to receive $555 million would reach state coffers this million of their money back from their biennium—money not accounted for state government. The irony escapes in the March forecast. This bill also no one.” Indeed it is ironic. As we ended the quarterly “Legisla- infuriated my fellow Republicans and caused friction amongst the major- tive Days” we were also informed that ity Democratic legislators when Gov. Gov. Brown and others in her party Brown called a special session earlier are looking to “fi x” the property tax this week to pass a far smaller tax break. “inequality” in Oregon. If the major- The state’s latest revenue forecast, re- ity party were to gain one seat in the leased recently, shows personal income House they could overturn Measures 5 tax revenues for the 2017-19 bien- and 50 which have held property taxes nium stand to come in $555 million in check for 20 some years. What this above initial forecasts. That’s more than state needs is real leadership from real enough to trigger Oregon’s unique leaders that understand how to budget “kicker” provision, which doles money properly. Our kids, schools, veterans back to taxpayers when taxes come in and homeless all need to be properly at more than 2 percent above estimates. cared for and that is not happening Paying out a kicker has becoming even with record amounts of revenue. something of a tradition in Oregon, as Oregon can do better. As always, I am tax revenues continually outpace state honored to serve as your State Repre- sentative in House District 25 and look economist’s projections. In 2015, the state announced a $402 forward to hearing from you anytime. (Bill Post represents House Dis- million kicker. In 2017, it was $464 million. Taxpayers might be in for a trict 25. He can be reached at 503- far larger refund next year. The new 986-1425 or via email at rep. bil- post@ oregonlegislature.gov.) forecast also suggests Oregon might Keizertimes Wheatland Publishing Corp. • 142 Chemawa Road N. • Keizer, Oregon 97303 phone: 503.390.1051 • web: www.keizertimes.com • email: kt@keizertimes.com Lyndon A. Zaitz, Editor & Publisher SUBSCRIPTIONS One year: $25 in Marion County, $33 outside Marion County, $45 outside Oregon PUBLISHED EVERY FRIDAY Publication No: USPS 679-430 POSTMASTER Send address changes to: Keizertimes Circulation 142 Chemawa Road N. Keizer, OR 97303 Periodical postage paid at Salem, Oregon Commencement season 2018 By DEBRA J. SAUNDERS In 2014, commencement season stood out for the list of high-profi le speakers pushed off the graduation stage at top-tier universities. At the peak of academia’s podi- um purges, former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice backed out of her planned commencement address at Rutgers University amid protests over her support of the Iraq War. The free-speech Foundation for Individual Rights in Education took to calling the annual rituals the “disinvitation season.” Universities have gotten savvier since then. They’ve learned not to in- vite controversial conser- vatives so they can spare themselves the shame of graduates fl aunting their intolerance in the name of diversity—blissfully unaware of how authori- tarian they appear. There’s less mess in 2018. Academics smile and present their predict- able politics in benevolent style, as your humble correspondent saw fi rst hand last weekend when a university dean used an occasion meant to cele- brate student achievement to criticize President Donald Trump’s decision to downsize the Bears Ears National Monument in Utah. The worst part: He got his facts wrong. The dean attributed the Bears Ears downsizing to Trump’s Environ- mental Protection Agency—when it was the Department of Interior that recommended the change. For the sake of family harmony, I shall not divulge the identity of the relative who walked away with an advanced degree or the name of the university. But I will quote one of his statements: “Democracy depends on educated citizens.” That’s right, the dean who warned students about the risk of unschooled boobs ruining sound public policy didn’t get his facts straight. When I emailed the good dean about his error, he responded, “Thanks so much for this important correction. Yes, it was the Interior Department. Still my main point is valid, I believe, namely that the federal government is supposed to protect public lands and other public goods.” Get it? Even when he’s factually wrong, he’s so right it doesn’t matter. And yet, facts do mat- ter. President Barack Obama designated Bears Ears a national monu- ment in December 2016. It was the sort of out- the-door move politicians love because there is no risk at the ballot box. It’s also the sort of Washington- knows-best thinking that Westerners have come to expect from beltway bureaucrats, who have no problem with locals having less say in how land in fl y-over country is used. “The larger overview is that this isn’t a problem for most Easterners because the federal government owns very small fractions of the land in the East and most of the Midwest,” noted Todd Gaziano, executive director of the pro-property rights Pacifi c Legal Foundation. In both Nevada and Utah, however, the federal government owns more than half the states’ acreage. Obama’s the opinion of others Bears Ears consumed 1.35 million acres, which is bigger than the size of Rhode Island. Trump’s downsized Bears Ears spans 201,876 acres—which makes for a pretty big spread, but not big enough for the dean. Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke rec- ommended that Bears Ears be down- sized in keeping with the Antiquities Act of 1906. The act called for monu- ments to be “confi ned to the smallest area compatible with proper care and management” of land based on its val- ue as an historic landmark, prehistoric structure or for its scientifi c interest. It makes sense to limit how much land can be put off limits by executive fi at. Monument status, Gaziano noted, can mean less land for cattle grazing, mining and roads—endeavors that create jobs. “What I don’t think he under- stands,” said Gaziano of the dean, “is the impact of legal monument desig- nation on the individuals who aren’t employed in Ivory Tower universities.” The only benefi t Gaziano sees in monuments that consume more than one million acres is “environmental use for granola-crunching backpack- ers.” The dean’s remarks were remi- niscent of the opposition campaign to oil drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, a cause dear to many who never have or never will set foot in the refuge. They throw out words like “public good” without seeming to weigh how their good intentions could shortchange people who actu- ally live off the land. They mean well, and that’s all that matters. (Creators Syndicate) What’s in a team’s name? Plenty News out of Albany recently an- nounced that South Albany High School has decided to surrender its Rebels nickname for something more acceptable even though the old name has been quite diffi cult for some to give up. It’s been used at South Albany for years. While its origin was the Confederacy, ad- opted as a battle cry in fi ghting the North, the objective being to pre- serve, protect and per- petuate the enslavement of their fellow African- American citizens. Such a time from our past cannot be labeled anything other than grossly inhumane since it’s indisputably known that African- Americans are just as human as all the other homo sapiens: the difference solely skin color with all other body parts identical. Nevertheless, a war was fought by Americans against other Americans, resulting in 1.5 million casualties. So, how many modern day Americans feel right about attending sports events where participants and spectators cheer for the Rebels? Meanwhile, although the mat- ter is not brand new to Oregon, a few moons ago one of its secondary schools, Cleveland High School, ar- gued long and hard, with many a bitter feeling aroused, to preserve their In- dians mascot. Now, we, the informed among us, know how the American Indians, and original dwellers of what became known as North America, were treated. The real American Indi- ans, those same real natives who set- tled in North America—long before European explorers arrived—having their name taken to celebrate victory or defeat in sports events. Incidentally, at Cleveland High in Portland, Indians has been replaced by Warriors. Never wanting the dust to get en- tirely settled in mascot land, there now brews in Portland another mas- cot donnybrook. This time it’s over Quakers as a mascot name for Franklin High School. Never mind that early and famous American pa- triot Benjamin Franklin was never a Quaker, the found- ers of Franklin High some- how decided that would be a better mascot name that, for arguments sake, “lighten- ing,” as old Ben had some- thing to do with enlighten- ing humankind vis-a-vis the fundamentals of electrical conduction. A formal complaint was made with the Portland Public Schools Educa- tion Board over the use of Quakers at Franklin High and the complaint resulted in the PPS board devoting a year to choose a new name. The com- plaint was explained as Quakers is the name of an organized religion and, as such, is “inappropriate, offensive, and gene h. mcintyre unconstitutional” for use as a school’s mascot name. Incidentally, the board, after receiving the complaint, has de- cided to review all its district naming policies and make changes accordingly. Whether an issue is viewed as great or small often depends upon the be- holder. The mascot debates are prob- ably considered by many Americans as small issues. Nevertheless, no mat- ter the degree of importance, these debates are symbolic of the Ameri- can spirit since colonial times to try to serve the needs and concerns of all citizens rather than what’s narrowly self-serving and self-centered, biased and prejudicial. It is the belief of this writer that we Americans should do everything possible to pull together: A prevailing condition of cooperation and sensitivity for all, hopefully en- abling our nation to reunite as in some former times where every American sees this as a place to call home. (Gene H. McIntyre lives in Keizer.)
