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About The daily Astorian. (Astoria, Or.) 1961-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 5, 2016)
OPINION 4A THE DAILY ASTORIAN • TUESDAY, JANUARY 5, 2016 Elections have real consequences 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 Knappa mother IDs elephant in the room Candor about daughter’s drug death was courageous, farsighted f you are or if you have been a Clatsop County parent, you likely have become aware that one of your children was trying drugs. It is startling, and it is demoralizing. It is also frightening, because addiction — to drugs or alcohol — can become a highway to death. I Linda Geisler of Knappa has lived every parent’s nightmare. She lost her daughter, Whittney Ferguson, to drug addiction. After numerous trips to treatment cen- ters, Ferguson died Dec. 11 in West Hollywood. Addiction is all about telling lies — to oneself and to family and friends. The lie often continues af- ter death, when no one admits the truth of what just happened. “I’m not hiding it; I’m not sweeping it under the rug,” said Ms. Geisler. On the contrary, she has shown enormous courage by speaking candidly at last Friday’s memorial service at Knappa High School. And Geisler told her daughter she would do just that. Prior to the memorial service, the obituary that Ferguson’s family published in this newspaper was startling in its candor. All lives are vulnerable to pitfalls — wrong choices that quickly become life threatening. Prescription drugs, heroin and methamphetamines are among the most dangerous land mines on a young person’s path. Geisler’s proposal to create a local chapter of the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence makes sense. And her concept that students should hear from recovering addicts is right. Unfortunately, the circumstanc- es of Whittney Ferguson’s death were not unique, even in Clatsop County. Death by heroin overdose in this county is becoming com- monplace. Linda Geisler has done our county a service. We should thank her for her farsighted act. way. Instead, the program If Mitt Romney had went into effect at the be- won, we can be sure that ginning of 2014. And the Republicans would have effect on health care has ou have to be seriously found a way to prevent been huge: according to geeky to get excited when these tax hikes. And we estimates from the Centers can now see what hap- the Internal Revenue Service re- pened because he didn’t. for Disease Control and leases a new batch of statistics. According to the new ta- Prevention, the number of uninsured Americans fell Well, I’m a big geek; like quite a bles, the average income 17 million between 2012 tax rate for percent of few other people who work on pol- and the ¿ rst half of 2015, Americans barely changed Paul icy issues, I was eagerly awaiting with further declines most from 2012 to 201, but Krugman the IRS’s tax tables for 201, which the tax rate for the top likely ahead. were released last week. So the 2012 election had major 1 percent rose by more than four And what these tables show is percentage points. The tax rise was consequences. America would look that elections really do have conse- even bigger for very high incomes: very different today if it had gone quences. 6.5 percentage points for the top 0.01 the other way. Now, to be fair, some widely You might think that this is ob- percent. vious. But on the left, in particular, These numbers aren’t enough to predicted consequences of Obama’s there are some people who, disap- give us a full picture of taxes at the re-election — predicted by his op- pointed by the limits of what Pres- top, which requires taking account ponents — didn’t happen. Gasoline ident Barack Obama has accom- of other taxes, especially taxes on prices didn’t soar. Stocks didn’t plished, minimize the differences corporate pro¿ ts that indirectly af- plunge. The economy didn’t collapse between the parties. Whoever the fect the income of stockholders. But — in fact, the U.S. economy has now next president is, they assert — or at the available numbers are consistent added more than twice as many pri- least, whoever it is if it’s not Bernie with Congressional Budget Of¿ ce vate-sector jobs under Obama as Sanders — things will remain pret- projections of the effects of the 201 it did over the same period of the ty much the same, with the wealthy tax increases — projections which George W. Bush administration, and continuing to domi- said that the effective the unemployment rate is a full point nate the scene. And it’s federal tax rate on the lower than the rate Romney prom- true that if you were Obama has 1 percent would rise ised to achieve by the end of 2016. In other words, the 2012 elec- expecting Obama to effectively roughly back to its preside over a com- pre-Reagan level. No, tion didn’t just allow progressives to plete transformation rolled back really: for top incomes, achieve some important goals. It also of America’s political Obama has effectively gave them an opportunity to show not just and economic scene, rolled back not just the that achieving these goals is feasible. what he’s actually tax cuts but Ron- No, asking the rich to pay somewhat the Bush Bush more in taxes while helping the less achieved can seem like ald Reagan’s as well. fortunate won’t destroy the economy. a big letdown. The point, of tax cuts So now we’re heading for anoth- But the truth is that course, was not to pun- Obama’s election in but Ronald ish the rich but to raise er presidential election. And once 2008 and re-election money for progressive again the stakes are high. Whoever Reagan’s priorities, and while the the Republicans nominate will be in 2012 had some real, quanti¿ able conse- 201 tax hike wasn’t committed to destroying Obamacare as well. quences. Which brings gigantic, it was sig- and slashing taxes on the wealthy — me to those IRS tables. ni¿ cant. Those higher in fact, the current GOP tax-cut plans For one of the important conse- rates on the 1 percent correspond to make the Bush cuts look puny. Who- quences of the 2012 election was that about $70 billion a year in revenue. ever the Democrats nominate will, Obama was able to go through with This happens to be in the same ball- ¿ rst and foremost, be committed to a signi¿ cant rise in taxes on high in- park as both food stamps and bud- defending the achievements of the comes. Partly this was achieved by get of¿ ce estimates of this year’s net past seven years. The bottom line is that presiden- allowing the upper end of the Bush outlays on Obamacare. So we’re not tial elections matter, a lot, even if the tax cuts to expire; there were also talking about something trivial. new taxes on high incomes passed Speaking of Obamacare, that’s an- people on the ballot aren’t as ¿ ery as along with the Affordable Care Act, other thing Republicans would surely you might like. Don’t let anyone tell a.k.a. Obamacare. have killed if 2012 had gone the other you otherwise. By PAUL KRUGMAN New York Times News Service Y What did you manage to repress? 10. In Texas, the bia, whose name he pro- much-discussed Jade nounced like the ¿ sh. HeOm miOitar\ exercise 5. Jeb Bush toOd CBS took SOace this summer. that he’s haSS\ with his appy New Year! When it was ¿ nished ... current standing in the We’re going to have an ex- A. The federal govern- SresidentiaO race, but that citing 2016 — including, of course, ment had taken over the he “reaOO\ hated´ it when the ¿ nale of a presidential race that ... state, shredded the Con- seems to have been underway since stitution and con¿ scated A. He was in front. everybody’s guns. Woodstock. B. He had to stand next B. Life continued So much to look back on, so little to Donald Trump at two Gail apace. time. Take this quick quiz and see debates. Collins C. Rep. Louie how much of political 2015 you hav- C. People made fun of en’t already managed to repress: him for saying Margaret Thatcher’s Gohmert, who had raised concerns 1 In her ¿ naO statement of the picture should be on the 10-dollar that the Army might be “preparing for modern-day martial law,” apolo- Oast 2015 debate, HiOOar\ COinton bill. gized for being such a jerk. concOuded « 6. Ben Carson recentO\ ... 11. In Michigan, two state reS- A. “May the Force be with you.” A. Compared Social Security to resentatives’ SoOiticaO careers ended B. “We need to discuss the re- slavery. stroom issue.” B. Acknowledged that the skill when their aduOterous affair became C. “Have I mentioned I’m a sets needed for running the country SubOic. In an attemSt to cover uS the grandmother?” and for doing brain surgery are en- affair, the maOe Oawmaker had ... A. Announced he and his ex were 2 The Democratic NationaO tirely different. Committee tried to ensure maximum C. Released a map showing the opening a summer camp for “recov- T9 ratings for that debate b\ states in the wrong positions during ering swingers.” B. Tried to divert attention by A. Inviting Adele to ask the ¿ rst Geography Awareness Week. question. 7. During one debate, Sen. Mar- starting a rumor that he had been B. Running a “Star Wars Lotto” co Rubio of )Oorida was asked about caught having sex with a male pros- for listeners who turned in early. his aSSarent inabiOit\ to baOance his titute. C. Staged a 50-hour ¿ libuster on C. Scheduling it for househoOd budget de- the Saturday night be- sSite having received behalf of naming the Bible the of¿ - More than an $800,000 advance cial state book. fore Christmas. 12. A Constitution Da\ surve\ b\ DonaOd TrumS on his memoir. Rubio said it was “a great 10 percent defended himseOf b\ the Annenberg 3ubOic 3oOic\ Center reveaOed that ... honor´ to be Sraised Sointing out ... believed A. Only half the respondents b\ 9Oadimir 3utin A. “I didn’t inherit could name all three branches of the When the MSNBC any money.” the Bill host Joe Scarborough B. “I’m just not a U.S. government. of Rights numbers kind of fel- B. More than 10 percent believed cOaimed 3utin was a the Bill of Rights guarantees the brutaO thug, TrumS guarantees low.” said ... C. “Eight hundred right to own a pet. C. One-third believed that Abra- A. “On his birth- the right to grand isn’t what it ham Lincoln was one of the found- day I saw thousands used to be.” of Russians celebrat- 8. On the camSaign ing fathers. own a pet. 1. 3ubOic 3oOic\ 3oOOing reSort- ing on the rooftops in traiO, Ted Cru] enMo\s ed that nearO\ a third of ReSubOican New Jersey.” quoting from ... Srimar\ voters resSonding to its B. “Our country does plenty of A. “The Princess Bride.” killing.” B. “So You Want to Be Canadi- surve\ said the\ wouOd suSSort the bombing of ... C. “At least he didn’t announce an.” A. Agrabah, a ¿ ctional city in the the wrong winner at the Miss Uni- C. “How to Be Your Own Best Disney movie “Aladdin.” verse pageant.” Friend.” B. Halifax. . At the Oast ReSubOican debate, 9. Bernie Sanders once had an C. “Any place that gives us atti- Chris Christie Sromised that when animated comSuter game in which he was Sresident, America wouOd be SOa\ers couOd rack uS Soints b\ heOS- tude.” Answers: 1-A; 2-C; -B; 4-B; a staunch aOO\ of ... ing the senator avoid ... 5-A; 6-C; 7-A; 8-A; -C; 10-B; A. King Abdullah of Jordan. A. Underwear jokes. B. King Hussein, Abdullah’s fa- B. The Democratic National 11-B; 12-B (Only 1 percent could name all three branches of govern- ther, who died 16 years ago. Committee ¿ rewall. ment); 1-A C. King Salman of Saudi Ara- C. Fat cats in top hats. By GAIL COLLINS New York Times News Service Righteous protest H or goons with guns? o live in the American West is to be familiar with ranchers’ feel- ings of victimization at the hands of federal agencies. Indignation ranks right up there with a self-image of rugged self-suf¿ ciency, neighbor- liness and voting Republican in the small towns and rural counties where agriculture remains a center- piece of the economy. It is rare, however, for these simmering discontentments to boil over into full-scale tantrums, and even rarer for such conÀ icts to be- come international news. That’s what happened this past weekend, when hoodlums described as a mi- litia mounted an armed occupation of a U.S. wildlife refuge in south- east Oregon following an earlier peaceful protest. Ostensibly, this fracas is in sup- port of a rancher and his son who were ordered back to federal pris- on after appeals judges found their original sentences for arson too le- nient. The reality is protesters must have been rummaging around for something to be angry about. These are the facts outlined by the Oregon U.S. Attorney’s Of¿ ce in an Oct. 7 press release (www.ti- nyurl.com/HammondCase): • Dwight Hammond Jr. and his son, Steve Hammond, both of Diamond in Harney County, were found guilty by a jury in June 2012 of arsons they committed on feder- al lands. • They were responsible for a se- ries of ¿ res starting in 2001 on U.S. Bureau of Land Management land on which they leased grazing rights. The ¿ rst arson, which burned 1 acres of public land, destroyed phys- ical evidence of several deer Steve Hammond and his hunting party illegally slaughtered. Hammond later claimed the ¿ re was started on Hammond property to burn off inva- sive species and inadvertently spread T to public lands. The Hammonds told one of their relatives to keep his mouth shut and that nobody needed to know about the ¿ re. • In August 2006, in the midst of a burn ban imposed due to severe wild¿ re danger, Steve Hammond torched more public property, this time with the stated intention of providing a buffer zone to save the ranch’s winter feed. • Arson on federal land carries a ¿ ve-year mandatory minimum sentence. The trial judge original- ly imposed sentences well below what the law required. The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, however, upheld the federal law, reasoning that “given the seriousness of arson, a ¿ ve-year sentence is not grossly disproportionate to the offense.” They were re-sentenced to ¿ ve years, with credit for time served, and the U.S. Supreme Court reject- ed a ¿ nal appeal. Responsible ranchers don’t be- have the way the Hammonds did. They burned property that belongs to all Americans. They tried hard to avoid taking responsibility for their crimes. If there is still a “Code of the West,” these actions darned sure violated it. So since the Hammonds aren’t wholesome, innocent ranchers, what are protesters really up to? Dime-store cowboys in search of a cause, their actions are a form of self-important entitlement, meant to strike a blow in favor of privatizing public land — or at least leaving it solely at the mercy of neighboring landowners . Within the right-wing echo chamber of radio talk shows and crank websites, this dangerous behavior will be applauded as a counterattack against the evil Feds. Responsible ranchers want nothing to do with these reckless men who are itching for bloodshed. Where to write • U.S. Rep. Suzanne Bonamici (D): 28 Rayburn HOB, Washington, D.C., 20515. Phone: 202- 225-0855. Fax 202-225-47. District of¿ ce: 12725 SW Millikan Way, Suite 220, Beaverton, OR 7005. Phone: 50- 46-6010. Fax 50-26-5066. Web: bonamici.house. gov/ • U.S. Sen. Jeff Merkley (D): 1 Hart Senate Of¿ ce Building, Wash- ington, D.C. 20510. Phone: 202-224- 75. Web: www.merkley.senate.gov • U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden (D): 221 Dirksen Senate Of¿ ce Building, Washington, D.C., 20510. Phone: 202- 224-5244. Web: www.wyden.senate. gov • State Rep. Brad Witt (D): State Capitol, 00 Court Street N.E., H-7, Salem, OR 701. Phone: 50-86- 141. Web: www.leg.state.or.us/witt/ Email: rep.bradwitt@state.or.us • State Rep. Deborah Boone (D): 00 Court St. N.E., H-481, Salem, OR 701. Phone: 50-86-142. Email: rep.deborah boone@state.or.us District of¿ ce: P.O. Box 28, Can- non Beach, OR 7110. Phone: 50- 86-142. Web: www.leg.state.or.us/ boone/
