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About The daily Astorian. (Astoria, Or.) 1961-current | View Entire Issue (May 1, 2015)
THE DAILY ASTORIAN • FRIDAY, MAY 1, 2015 Big money speaks picked up a copy of The Oregonian a few days ago. My attention was drawn to Steve Duin’s column titled “A chance to tackle big money in Oregon politics.” Big Money is here in our Oregon legisla- ture, and it is not good. It is like a cancer that is spreading unseen throughout our state government. He goes on to mention that on April 21, Sen. Elizabeth Steiner Hayward (D-Beaver- ton) will testify in favor of allowing Oregon voters to consider contribution limits. She thinks that American pol- itics have been taken out of the hands of the average Ameri- can voter, the average citizen. Really? Well this senator has taken a bill that she sponsored that was totally rejected by the average Oregon citizen, and secretly stuck it into a bill in the Education Committee. Early this year she intro- duced SB 442 that would remove the philosophical ex- emption to vaccines. This bill was withdrawn March 11, because of an overwhelming negative response by Oregon voters. A cosponsor of the bill, Sen. Alan Bates declared “the people have spoken, and they (senators) listened, (but not Sen. Steiner Hayward). Sen. Bates said they would not bring up the bill in the foresee- able future.” The foreseeable future passed quickly, and Sen. Stein- er Hayward has, at the last minute, submitted this bill into the Senate Education Commit- tee. SB 895 and 895-2. This bill favors the vaccine industry, requires lots of bookkeeping for schools, requires schools to publish their exemption rate online and on report cards, and states that if you want an ex- emption you have to get one from a physician, a physician’s assistant or a nurse practi- tioner. She eliminates naturo- paths and the online video you can watch for information on vaccines and sign off on it to get an exemption. A word about the “exemp- tion rate.” It only counts two things: 1. If a child has had all their vaccines on schedule, they are counted as vaccinat- ed. 2. If a child has had all but one of the required vaccines or less, the child is counted as ex- empt, or unvaccinated. So the exemption rate doesn’t tell anything about the real vaccination rate of Oregon children. It turns out, accord- ing to Sen. Bates, a physician, that Oregon children are vacci- nated in numbers that put them in a high compliance rate. It is just that parents want to choose when and what vaccine when vaccinating their children, in- stead of using the Centers for Disease Control schedule. The publicity for Big Phar- ma invented the “Anti-Vaxx- er,” the mythical parents who put us all in danger because they don’t vaccinate their chil- dren. The popular media, in- cluding The Oregonian, will continue to push the idea of these mythical parents. They hope this idea will urge you into bullying others to increase vaccine rates. Big Money is speaking. Are you listening? DIXIE GAINER Nehalem I FRIDAY EXCHANGE Gillnetters appreciate community support ear Clatsop County voters: I would like to thank you all for showing your support in helping the Columbia 5LYHU FRPPHUFLDO ¿VKHUPDQ NHHS RXU jobs for a little while longer. I am a ¿IWK\HDU ¿VKHUPDQ RQ D &ROXPELD River gillnet vessel. We, as a commu- QLW\DQGRXU¿VKLQJÀHHWDUHKDSS\WR KDYHDIHZPRUH\HDUVRI¿VKLQJEHIRUH they try to shut us down again. We all know that the gillnetters provide hundreds of jobs for this com- munity and this county, from dock D political action committees — devote millions in lobbying and campaign funds to Repub- lican politicians and political candidates willing to gut Social Security and Medicare through privatization schemes; to dis- enfranchise African American, Latino, elderly, young and dis- abled voters through voter-ID bills sponsored by the conser- vative American Legislative Exchange Council’s Voter ID Bill being passed by Repub- lican-controlled state legisla- tures throughout the country; and to support passage of the XL Pipeline that will greatly EHQH¿W WKH .RFK EURWKHUV¶ RLO and gas holdings in Canada. Additionally, the Koch brothers fund suspect research reports and books from think tanks and hand-picked faculty members at universities en- dowed by the Koch Brothers directly and indirectly. These disinformation campaigns in- clude donations to support uni- versity professors who deny climate change. Certainly Koch Industries supports our local economy through production of toilet paper at Wauna. And Koch Industries have every right — especially since the recent Cit- izens United Supreme Court decision — to lobby an end to Social Security and Medicare, fund anti-union politicians, generate Koch-friendly disin- formation, buy endowed pro- fessorships, and protect their climate-changing activities worldwide. But residents in Clatsop County also deserve to be more fully informed about the ownership of an important lo- cal manufacturing plant being ballyhooed by their local daily newspaper. JOSEPH BERNT Cannon Beach A long-term risk recent local editorial re- garding Monsanto Cor- poration’s disconnect with the American public mentioned WKDW JHQHWLFDOO\ PRGL¿HG RU- ganism (GMO) critics “have failed to produce any docu- mented hazards for people who consume them ... biotech- nology provides the best pros- pect for feeding the world’s growing population with crops engineered to resist drought and disease” (“Monsanto is sorry, but decades late,” The Daily Astorian, April 2). The substantial risk of GMOs is not in consumption, but in producing a compla- cency in humanity that bio- technology solves everything: i.e. GMOs prevent famine, feed the world and people ZRQ¶WKDYHWRPDNHDQ\GLI¿- cult fundamental changes. Name mill owners Thirty-plus years ago the n Tuesday, April 14, The Green Revolution saved In- Daily Astorian devoted dia from a great famine. The 136 column inches of space to biotech then was petrochem- a feature on the evolution and ical fertilizer, hybrid seed, ownership of the Wauna paper and pesticides. We now know mill, now owned by Georgia more about the risk of some pesticides (the International 3DFL¿F³&URZQ=WR*3´ Nowhere in the lengthy Agency for Research on Can- article, however, did reporter cer (IARC) report concludes Mike Williams mention who glyphosate, aka Roundup, a RZQV WKH *HRUJLD 3DFL¿F SD- probable cause of cancer). per mill, information likely of The downside of nitrogen interest to local environmen- fertilizers and improved seed talists, progressive Democrats, is that while they produce and opponents of moving oil greater yields, plants demand and gas by rail, barge, or pipe- greater water input. Aquifers line through Clatsop County or around the world continue to be depleted faster than they the Columbia River. ,Q *HRUJLD 3DFL¿F can be replenished. In Punjab province, Indian was purchased for $21 billion by Koch Industries, the second farmers must dig wells that largest privately held company used to produce enough water at 100 feet to over 500 feet. in the U.S. Koch Industries, with The cost of wells and technol- annual revenues in 2013 of ogy often exceeds monetary $115 billion, is controlled by returns; 270,000 Indian farm- the controversial, politically ers have committed suicide conservative Koch brothers, since 1995. India avoided Charles and David Koch, who famine then, but they didn’t own about 90 percent of their stabilize their population. GMOs may be another giant multinational company. Together the Koch Brothers Green Revolution, improving every year — through their pri- yields and saving the world vate fortunes, foundations, and from immediate famine, but O A ZRUNHUVWR¿VKEX\HUVFDQQHULHVDQG the net builders — even Englund Ma- rine would lose a lot, if not most, be- cause we the gillnetters buy hundreds of thousands of dollars of equipment. We are very happy that this communi- ty came together and voted to keep us here in the Columbia River main stem ¿VKHU\ 7KLV FRPPXQLW\ ZLWKRXW WKH ¿VK- HUPDQZRXOGGH¿QLWHO\SOXPPHWDQG lose hundreds of jobs and hundreds of community members if you all it may also be the Pied Pip- er — if humanity ignores its human reproductive responsi- bility and continues to exceed the innate carrying capacity of earth’s resources. DAVID FITCH Astoria Art changes lives ongratulations to the Clat- sop Community College Foundation for their recent suc- cess with the Arts and Experi- ence Dinner and Auction. As a local artist I receive annual invitations to donate art for this event. These letters promote the dinner auction as “a gathering place for art col- lectors” and stress, “donation of original work ensures the success of this event.” The re- sults of this year’s dinner and auction certainly bear witness to these statements. Art is an es- sential component of commu- nity and learning, and should have a high priority in our com- munity college. While I have donated in the past, I have declined doing so for the last few years. With each letter I become more and more dismayed by the apparent dis- connect between the apprecia- tive words for the arts listed in the invitations, and what I see KDSSHQLQJ WR WKH VWDI¿QJ DQG scheduling in the art depart- ment itself. One might think there was a plan to eliminate the art department altogether. Studies have shown that art instruction increases the stu- dent’s capacity to learn across the board, not just in art, but also in seemingly unrelated subjects, including the medi- cal and maritime sciences. Art also provides graduates with the creative problem solving and observational skills that employers are looking for in DOO¿HOGV$OOWKLVLVLQDGGLWLRQ to the creation of artists. Artists are the keepers and recorders of our community experience. 7KH\ LQVSLUH UHÀHFWLRQ RQ RXU place in the community and our actions within the community. In short, the arts should be seen as containing and embracing all aspects of our college instead of being a kind of side diversion. Art is much more than a mere leisure time activity meant to relieve the stress caused by more “important” pursuits; it supports, inspires and enables all else to go on. I ask every- one with similar thoughts to HPDLO WKH RI¿FH RI SUHVLGHQW Lawrence Galizio, pschulte@ clatsopcc.edu, and make your support of the arts program at CCC known. Art makes a difference — it changes lives. RHONDA GRUDENIC Astoria C Autopsy protocol his letter is written in re- sponse to a letter by Dani Williams published April 24 questioning autopsy policy in a recent death (“Do an autopsy,” The Daily Astorian). While we cannot, for legal and privacy reasons, get into the details of that particular case, we would like to take this time to explain how the system works in our state, and particularly in our county. All citizens who die either unattended by a physician or under any sort of suspicious circumstances undergo a com- plete and thorough post-mor- tem physical exam. The exam is done locally by a medi- cal doctor who is the district medical examiner. If further FODUL¿FDWLRQLVQHHGHGRUXQH[- pected injuries are noted, then an autopsy is requested to the state medical examiner. All autopsies are done in Portland, E\RQHRIWKH¿YHIRUHQVLFSD- thologists in the state medical H[DPLQHU¶VRI¿FH Autopsies are considered on a case by case basis, and are not automatic, even if request- T had not acted as quickly as you did WR WKH SUREOHP RI EDQLVKLQJ XV ¿VK- erman from the Columbia River. We thank you for your support, and the hard work you do in decision-mak- ing to keep this great community and this great state alive and helping us be able to feed our families with this line of work that we so proudly love and cherish. Thank you once again, Clat- sop County voters. DEVIN ROBERTS Astoria ed. Please know that all Clat- sop County deaths are treated equally regardless of the back story, and there is no discrim- ination in determining which cases are referred for autopsy, regardless of that person’s eth- nicity, lifestyle, or other issues. The families are informed RIWKHSK\VLFDOH[DP¿QGLQJV and the reasons for the deter- mination of whether an autop- sy will be completed, or the reasons it is not. :HKRSHWKLVFODUL¿HVKRZ things are done in the state, and any further questions about the system can be referred to ei- ther of us below. JOSHUA MARQUIS Clatsop County District Attorney JOANN GIULIANI, M.D. District Medical Examiner Deposit needs work few months ago, the War- renton City Commission- ers voted to enact, and passed a new $100 utility deposit (for garbage, water, sewer, recy- cling) to be paid by all new util- ity customers, due to the high rate of nonpays they were expe- riencing when people moved. In speaking with many Warrenton residents, they are not aware that any time they move from one Warrenton res- idence to another within the city limits of Warrenton, they are considered a new account, no matter how long they have lived in Warrenton, or that they have always paid their bills on time or use auto-pay. Since Warrenton does not A use Social Security numbers to track customers — like NW 1DWXUDO3DFL¿F3RZHU&HQWX- ryLink, etc., does — they give you a new account number and your old account, along with your payment history, does not follow you. The $100 is collected when you want to start service at your new location, and the money is kept for as long as you live in that residence, no matter how many months or years, interest free. In other words, you get penalized whether you pay or bill on time or not. Maybe this idea needs a little work? DIANA TALARSKY Warrenton Help the helpers work as a home-based care provider in Hammond. In talking with my co-workers, I know that none of us are in this career for the money — we do this job because we want to serve others. Caring for others is a job we love, but we work for low wages, and without a retirement plan, making it next to impossible to save for the future and retire some day. There is no way my co-workers can retire on the salary they’re getting. It’s a no-win situation all around, and it’s not fair to people who work so hard. It certainly shouldn’t be what we get af- ter year and years taking care of others. We deserve to retire someday, too. There will come a time when we can no longer work, and then what will we have to rely on? I 5A We need help. Legislative leaders in Salem are currently considering Senate Bill 615 and House Bill 2960, bills that would create the Oregon Retirement Savings Plan and give every Or- egonian a straightforward option to save the money they earn and plan for the future. It costs em- ployers practically nothing, and it’s what we all deserve after a lifetime of hard work. SYLVIA STEPHENS Hammond Brim questions am writing about the recent editorial, “Healthier airport makes for a stronger local so- ciety” (The Daily Astorian, April 13). While we agree, what was confounding to us is why the seriousness of the bar pilot injury, a Brim Aviation fatality, the proposed $220,000 Federal Aviation Administra- WLRQ ¿QH DJDLQVW %XUO %ULP and his current FAA investiga- tion of the illegal training tow- er, have not been given more investigation? Is the almighty dollar rul- ing? Is the Port of Astoria so desperate for money that death and destruction of lives are negated? Why would the ¿[HGEDVHRSHUDWRUSURFHVVEH deemed so unnecessary that an open-bid process does not even take place? Why would DQDYLDWLRQRXW¿WZLWKVXFKD history, even be deemed wor- thy? Is it perhaps a, “it hasn’t happened here yet? Or to me or my family?” One must pon- der. We received an email from a paralegal who wrote,” if I did these things with my car, I would be behind bars.” It is hard for us to under- stand why the editorial seemed to mention Brim Aviation as a productive member of the Port, without substantiating all of the facts. Hopefully, another tragedy will not happen, or be neces- sary, before people are no longer afraid (or unwilling) to speak the truth. If money or friendships over-rule safety and common sense, no matter what the Port does, it will not succeed — and that would be a shame. LINDA LEWIS Ashland I 0-:-2+;-8,%0>,)-1)67 %2)(9'%8-32463+6%1&=8,)%0>,)-1)67%773'-%8-32 Living with Alzheimer’s: For Caregivers – Late Stage Saturday, May 16 | 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Clatsop Community College Columbia Hall, Room 219 1651 Lexington Ave., Astoria, OR 97103 In the late stage of Alzheimer’s disease, caregiving typically involves new ways of connecting and interacting with the person with the disease. Join the Alzheimer's Association Oregon Chapter for this class to hear from caregivers and professionals about resources, monitoring care and providing meaningful connection for individuals with late-stage Alzheimer’s and their families. This class is free, but registration is required. To register, call 800-272-3900. Offered in collaboration with: ,)040-2)
