OPINION
6A
THE DAILY ASTORIAN • TUESDAY, MAY 19, 2015
The PERS quake: A damage assessment
Founded in 1873
STEPHEN A. FORRESTER, Editor & Publisher
LAURA SELLERS, Managing Editor
BETTY SMITH, Advertising Manager
CARL EARL, Systems Manager
JOHN D. BRUIJN, Production Manager
DEBRA BLOOM, Business Manager
HEATHER RAMSDELL, Circulation Manager
Public lands are
a shared legacy
U
Another scam promises to
make counties rich
nlike many areas of the West, the Lower Columbia River
region isn’t overwhelmingly comprised of federal lands.
The premium timberlands here
were so valuable they were either
snapped up by homesteaders or es-
sentially stolen by a gang of 19th
century railroad owners, lumber
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Clatsop County, much of this went
into state ownership after the eco-
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1930s and ’40s.
Elsewhere in Oregon and
Washington, however, there are
vast tracts of federally owned land
— assets that have sparked some-
thing reminiscent of the Sagebrush
Rebellion of the 1970s and 1980s.
As pointed out by High Country
News, the recent upsurge in effort to
wrest control of lands from the fed-
eral government has less to do with
average citizens than with the Utah-
based American Lands Council, or
ALC, which is largely kept alive
by membership fees paid by local
county governments and, ultimately,
by local taxpayers in those counties.
In Oregon, Klamath and
Wallowa counties help pay for
ALC, while in Washington state,
Ferry, Okanogan, Pend Oreille,
Skagit and Stevens counties sup-
port the cause.
The earlier iteration of this
movement generated plenty of de-
bate during the Reagan administra-
tion. But despite the sympathy of
OHDGLQJRI¿FLDOVLQFOXGLQJ,QWHULRU
Secretary James Watt, land own-
ership wasn’t transferred. It can be
argued the “rebellion” cowed agen-
cies into permitting laissez-faire
decisions, such as unsustainable
levels of logging, which ultimate-
ly led to a backlash that brought
severe cutbacks from which some
rural counties still suffer.
The Center for Western
Priorities points out most of the
funds raised by ALC go toward
paying the staff — fully 40 percent
of contributions pay ALC’s execu-
tive director’s salary.
“ALC comes in and offers
counties this incredible-sounding
deal: ‘We’ll get you these lands
with minerals and timber and re-
sources,’” the Center for Western
Priorities said. “A lot of counties
are very taken with this notion, but
when you pull back the curtain a
bit, (the ALC) is selling an idea that
is actually a waste of their time and
(their) limited funds.”
Still, the dream of direct local
management and ownership of
federal lands remains very much
alive. A southwest Oregon legisla-
tor touted the idea again on OPB
just last week.
Why should we care?
Public lands are a shared legacy
of all Americans. In our area, they
include a national park, extensive
wildlife refuges and essential as-
sets of the U.S. Corps of Engineers
and U.S. Coast Guard. If transfer-
ring ownership to states and coun-
ties had become law in the Reagan
years, there is a good chance that
out-of-state corporations would
by now control many of these lo-
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value. That has been the pattern
throughout U.S. history.
Despite genuine hardships for
counties that heavily rely on timber
revenues from federal lands, public
ownership is a national birthright.
No Congress, president or coun-
ty commission should ever be al-
lowed to dispose of eternal assets
in return for immediate gains.
Music speaks
to Cubans
E
Minnesota Orchestra plays ¿ rst
Havana concert since 1930
stablishing diplomatic relations
with Cuba is one of the smartest
things President Barack Obama has
done. It was high time.
The best second-guessers can
do is to point out that the Castros
are dictators. Of course. And so are
China’s Communist heads of state,
and we’ve done business with
them, ever since President Richard
Nixon breached that diplomatic
freeze.
As part of the U.S.-Cuba rap-
prochement, the State Department
invited American orchestras to
propose a concert in Havana. Last
Friday, the Minnesota Orchestra
gave an all-Beethoven concert in
Havana. The musical program re-
peated what the orchestra’s pre-
decessors had done in its 1930
Havana appearance.
The Minneapolis Star Tribune
reported that following the orches-
tra’s concerts, the American mu-
sicians found their way to a club,
where they jammed with Cuban
musicians. Even the orchestra’s
Finnish music director, Osmo
Vanska, joined in with his clarinet.
If you want to speak to the broad
mass of Cubans, music is probably
the way to do it. Music seemingly
is everywhere in Havana, especial-
ly at night.
The orchestra’s bassist Kate
Nettleman told the Star Tribune:
“There was such a sense of demys-
tifying people on this trip.”
As gifts for Cuban musicians,
Minnesota string players brought
rosin. Brass players brought
mouthpieces.
The Minnesota Orchestra won
the coveted concert engagement
because of its plan to include
Cuban musicians. A Cuban pianist
and chorus were elements in one of
the Beethoven pieces.
Another masterstroke was play-
ing the Cuban and American na-
tional anthems at the concert’s start.
The newspaper reported: “‘Most
Cuban people think Americans
don’t have an emotional side,’
said Ernesto Alejandro Alvarez,
a young composer who had met
the musicians at his university on
Thursday. ‘To play the anthem was
a great show of respect — symbol-
ic for this visit. It has been a beau-
tiful experience.’”
with the PERS reforms be-
ing remains a top concern,
ing overturned, “I’m not
but is mentioned by less than
prepared to pay more in
a majority and split between
taxes for my local schools
those who feel the schools
until education reforms
anner headlines, above the already have enough mon-
have been put in place to
ey
(and
just
need
to
spend
fold: Supreme Court over-
ensure that any additional
it more wisely) and those
turns PERS changes.
money will increase stu-
who feel schools need more
Since the announcement a couple money.
dent academic growth.”
of weeks ago, the chattering class in
The most common
Two more data points
viewpoint, chosen by 31
Adam
Oregon has been focused on assess- from this past weekend
percent, was that “I’m not
Davis
ing the damage from the political suggest it may take some
prepared to pay more in
earthquake aftershocks and
earthquake.
taxes for my local schools.
a prolonged economic re-
What do the billions of unfunded covery before the political landscape Even with the PERS reforms being
PERS costs mean for the state moving shifts enough in Oregon to safely sup- overturned, I feel the schools have
forward?
port building a request of the voters to enough money; they just need to spend
it more wisely.”
Many wonder if the earthquake has increase their taxes.
A smaller number, 10 percent, said
shaken the taxpayers
The state remains
enough that they are
very divided on the “I just can’t afford it. Even though
now willing to tax
need for more state I feel my local school don’t have
‘Voters
themselves to prevent
revenue, even after enough money, I can’t pay more in
listed
taxes for my local schools.”
cuts to important pub-
the PERS decision.
this point, it doesn’t look like
lic services including
In the 2013 Or-
high taxes egon Values and the At
Supreme Court’s PERS earthquake
schools and public
safety.
Survey, 43 has shaken things enough to mobilize
among the Beliefs
DHM
Research
percent agree that Oregonians in support of increased
did some earthquake
top issues our current tax sys- taxes to maintain funding for pub-
damage assessment of
tem with just income lic services. How many aftershocks
that they
our own to determine
tax and property tax would it take, and for how long would
where Oregon voters
unstable to pay they need to happen, to change things?
want their is for too public
are on PERS and the
services. Hard to tell.
Also, consider that we’re only
question of higher tax-
A similar 42 percent
offi
cials
to
talking about the need for additional
es to prevent cuts to
disagreed.
services.
Recently,
we revenue to prevent cuts in services.
address.’
Despite all the
asked voters to con- How about the money needed to ad-
hoopla surrounding the Supreme sider the state’s quality of life and low dress new expenses such as our dete-
Court’s decision, not all voters have ranking compared to other states in riorating water, sewer, and transporta-
heard about it. About a third of Or- many areas. When asked if now with tion systems?
We do know that any future earth-
egon’s voters told us last weekend the PERS decision there was a need to
that they had not heard or read any- raise taxes, 43 percent agreed and 47 quakes would have to be of seismic
magnitude to penetrate the voters’ con-
thing related to PERS within the last percent disagreed.
two weeks. When asked to identify
You want a party divide? While 72 VFLRXVQHVVVLJQL¿FDQWO\DIIHFWWKHLUDW
the most important issue they want percent of Democrats agreed that it is titudes about government and politics,
WKHLUVWDWHJRYHUQPHQWRI¿FLDOVWRGR time to raise taxes, only 16 percent of and alter the political landscape. It will
something about, only 3 percent men- Republicans and 34 percent of Inde- likely take more than one. Perhaps it
tioned PERS.
pendents felt so. That’s not good cal- may take a real earthquake.
Not likely to happen? OK then,
9RWHUV UHJLVWHUHG VLJQL¿FDQW FRQ culus for tax advocates.
cerns about the state’s ability to pay
Wonder if people view the situa- let’s just go after the wealthy and big
for an adequate level of public services tion differently when framed in terms business. What a novel idea.
No wonder only about a third of
such as education and public safety. of “my local schools?” That should tug
Oregon voters feel that over the next
Good news if you think that the cli- at the heart strings, right?
mate may be changing for tax reform.
Given four statements, only 24 \HDUV ZH¶OO ¿QG FRPPRQ JURXQG
The magnitude of concern, however, percent felt the statement that comes and work together to make progress
remains moderate: Less than one half closest to how they feel is “my local addressing the critical issues we face
of Oregon’s voters are “very” con- public schools just don’t have enough as a state.
Adam Davis, who has been con-
cerned (45 percent Democrats; 37 per- money, and now with the recent
cent Republicans; 22 percent Indepen- Supreme Court ruling overturning ducting opinion research in Oregon
dents). Yes, despite the PERS decision. PERS reform, the problem is worse. for more than 35 years, is a found-
Furthermore, voters listed high tax- I’m prepared to pay more in taxes for ing principal in DHM Research, an
independent, non-partisan ¿ rm 9isit
es among the top issues that they want my local schools.”
WKHLURI¿FLDOVWRDGGUHVV6FKRROIXQG
Slightly more, 28 percent, felt even wwwdhmresearchcom
By ADAM DAVIS
For Oregon Capital Insider and
EO Media Group
B
What Strayed’s Wild has wrought
ernmost part of California
with a 20-mile dry stretch,
desert.
and my daughter and I ran
Fewer people have
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men who had all separate-
N THE PACIFIC CREST KLNHGWKHIXOO3DFL¿F&UHVW
ly run out of water on that
Trail
than
have
reached
the
TRAIL, Calif. — This is
stretch and become dehy-
summit of Mount Everest.
arguably America’s greatest Yet, this year, so many
drated.
hiking trail, a 2,650-mile ser- want to hike it that a limit
Drought has also
forced hikers to carry
pentine path running through has been placed on permits
PRUHZDWHU7KH¿UVWHLJKW
desert and wilderness from the so that no more than 50 th-
Nicholas
creeks that we crossed
ru-hikers can begin at the
Mexican border to the Canadian Mexican border each day.
Kristof
were dry.
We encountered anoth-
border.
Another memoir may
er hazard in the form of a
7KH 3DFL¿F &UHVW 7UDLO PHDQ add to the mystique. In Girl
ders through cactus and redwoods, in the Woods, scheduled for publica- rattlesnake that my daughter almost
tion in September, with a possible tele- stepped on. Yet, in the end, most hik-
challenging humans with rivers and vision spinoff, Aspen Matis recounts HUV GR MXVW ¿QH DSDUW IURP EOLVWHUV
VQRZ¿HOGVUDWWOHVQDNHVDQGEHDUV
how she was raped on the second day and a few lost toenails, and it’s hard
It’s a trail of extremes. Hiking it RI FROOHJH DQG WKHQ ÀHG FDPSXV WR to begrudge anyone the chance for a
with my daughter near the Mexican VHHN KHDOLQJ RQ D 3DFL¿F &UHVW 7UDLO bit of nature therapy in the Cathedral
border this month, we sweltered on thru-hike. She starved and suffered of Wilderness.
It’s striking that hikers come to
RXU¿UVWGD\LQVRDULQJWHPSHUDWXUHV on the trail but also found redemption
and a 20-mile dry section through the — and, yes, her future husband by the WKH WUDLO IRU VROLWDU\ UHÀHFWLRQ \HW
often end up coalescing into groups
desert. Six days and a
2,000 mile mark.
bit more than 150 miles
(I wonder if women — because we are social animals,
later, near the town of
don’t have the edge in and solitude is so much more fun
The
Idyllwild, we shivered
trail memoirs. Male hik- when you have somebody to share
in 30-degree tempera-
project toughness, fe- it with.
solitude ers
There’s a hobo spirit on the trail,
tures as the heavens
male hikers vulnerabili-
dumped snow on us.
is getting ty. Ask a man resting on with no social distinctions and every-
The trail is a tri-
a trailside log how he’s body helping everyone else. One ex-
crowded. doing, and he’ll boast of ample of this generosity is the work
umph of serenity and
solitude. Except that,
how many miles he has of “trail angels” who lug water, soda,
these days, the solitude
walked. Ask a woman, hamburgers, cookies or other treats
is getting crowded.
DQG VKH¶OO FRQ¿GH DERXW KHU EOLVWHUV to places where a road intersects a
Apparently, in part because of the mosquito bites and insecurities. That’s trail, to delight exhausted backpack-
book and movie versions of Wild, not universally true, as Bill Bryson can ers. This is controversial, partly be-
about Cheryl Strayed’s journey of attest, but women seem more comfort- cause animals also dine on treats that
discovery and self-repair on her able opening up about the woes that are left out, and it’s also not exactly
hike, some areas of the trail feel as are inevitably much more interesting wilderness when you come across a
cooler with soda.
busy as a scout jamboree.
than the miles.)
Still, all this generosity and mu-
I’ve been backpacking the Pa-
Most would-be thru-hikers will
FL¿F &UHVW 7UDLO VLQFH , ZDV D NLG probably drop out — one woman tual assistance is truly heartwarm-
LQVSLUHGE\WKH¿UVWSHUVRQWRFRP JDYHXSWKLV\HDURQWKH¿UVWGD\DI ing. At about the 140-mile mark, my
plete a thru-hike from Canada to ter 13 miles — but hundreds are ex- daughter and I came across a trail
Mexico, Eric Ryback, who wrote pected to walk every step of the way angel “library” — a glass-protected
bookshelf of paperbacks for any hik-
a book published in 1971 about his to Canada.
feat. My 17-year-old daughter and
Old hands fret that these neo- ers needing to weather out a snow-
I aim to eventually hike the full phytes don’t know what they’re do- storm.
Professor Robert Putnam of Har-
trail, section by section, in this nar- ing (The Wall Street Journal quoted
row window in which she is strong one woman this month who had vard may be right that an unfortunate
enough and I’m not yet decrepit. never spent a night outdoors until fragmentation of society has left us
Last year, we completed Oregon she began her Wild-inspired hike) Americans “bowling alone.” But, on
and Washington, and this month’s and could endanger themselves. The the brighter side, we’re “hiking to-
section took us through the south- trail begins at the Mexican border gether”!
By NICHOLAS KRISTOF
New York Times News Service
O
Where to write
• U.S. Sen. Jeff Merkley (D):
+DUW 6HQDWH 2I¿FH %XLOGLQJ
Washington, D.C. 20510. Phone:
202-224-3753. Web: www.merkley.
senate.gov
• U.S. Rep. Suzanne Bonamici
(D): 2338 Rayburn HOB, Washing-
ton, D.C., 20515. Phone: 202- 225-
0855. Fax 202-225-9497. District
office: 12725 SW Millikan Way,
Suite 220, Beaverton, OR 97005.
Phone: 503-326-2901. Fax 503-
326-5066. Web: bonamici.house.
gov/
• Port of Astoria: Executive
Director, 10 Pier 1 Suite 308, As-
toria, OR 97103. Phone: 503-741-
3300. Email: admin@portofasto-
ria.com
• Clatsop County Board of
Commissioners: c/o County Man-
ager, 800 Exchange St., Suite 410,
Astoria, OR 97103. Phone: 503-
325-1000.