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About The daily Astorian. (Astoria, Or.) 1961-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 22, 2016)
THE DAILY ASTORIAN • FRIDAY, JANUARY 22, 2016 FRIDAY EXCHANGE Thoughts ust a few questions about the passing scene: Con- gressman Greg Walden and Mr. Barry Bushue, president of the Oregon Farm Bureau, think new laws need to be passed that will “prohibit prosecution of farmers and ranchers…” for breaking ex- isting federal laws, because it’s having “… a ‘chilling ef- fect’ on farm practices” (“As US focuses on rural West, what’s next?,” The Daily As- torian, Jan. 19). Is not punishment for EUHDNLQJODZVVSHFL¿FDOO\LQ- tended to have a chilling ef- fect? How about the farmers and ranchers stop breaking them? Secondly, why is the Asto- ria City Council entertaining a proposal of $29 million for this new library? How about entertaining taking about one tenth of that amount, spend- LQJVD\WR¿[XSWKH existing building, and put- ting $2 million into … oh … maybe books? That’s what the library sorely lacks (“City Council might downsize li- brary project,” The Daily As- torian, Jan. 13). And lastly, why do your editors think that years of “no economic growth” in a logging-dominated area where all the marketable timber has already been cut and milled should be “an alarm” (“40 years of no growth should be an alarm bell,” The Daily Astorian, Jan. 19)? Endless growth is cancer, not a viable econom- ic plan or principle. JOSEPH WEBB Astoria J Thank you he Warrenton Commu- nity Center Advisory Board held a breakfast with Santa at the Warrenton Com- munity Center on Saturday, Dec. 19. The breakfast was a great success, and we want to thank the community for their awesome support. We served 200 individ- uals. A special thanks to all our great volunteers; to the Starbucks Coffee shop in Warrenton for their great coffee; the Pig ’N Pancake for their pancake batter; T Warrenton Mini Mart and Warrenton Deep Sea for pur- chasing supplies and food; Mel and Betsy Jasmin for the raffle items, and for their monetary contributions; Vet- erans of Foreign Wars No. 1228 and the VFW Auxilia- ry; Warrenton Fiber; Ocean Beauty; Lektro; Main Street Market; Costco; Marcia Harper Insurance; McCall Tire Center; Wauna Federal Credit Union; and the Co- lumbia River Bar Pilots. A special thanks goes to the Pig ’N Pancake staff who made sure our pancakes were up to standards set by the restaurant, to Santa for drop- ping in, and to the volunteers from the senior citizens group who served our breakfast and washed our dishes. FRANK BECKER Chairman, Warrenton Community Center Advisory Board Face reality he only word missing was “pristine” (“Oyster grow- HUVQHHGVKULPS¿[´The Dai- ly Astorian, Jan. 14). Despite the routine spraying of oyster T beds with pesticides and near- by clear-cut forests with her- bicides, Willapa Bay is often touted for its “pristine” wa- ters. While it is true that oys- ters thrive in clean water, the GH¿QLWLRQ RI ³FOHDQ´ LV RSHQ to interpretation. The oyster industry, like all other industries, has to face up to the realities of the mar- ketplace. That marketplace is increasingly demanding chemical-free food, produced in an environmentally respon- sible manner. Even large re- tailers, including Costco and Walmart, are responding to the food demands of their cus- tomer base. To assert that the oyster industry’s dilemma with bur- rowing shrimp is the fault of those who “don’t live here”— city dwellers, in other words — is ignoring reality. You don’t have to go far in our UXUDO DUHD WR ¿QG WKH WHUPV “organic,” “chemical free,” “GMO free,” and “rBST free” on products available at any food retailer, and on the menus of many restaurants. This marketplace phenome- non is happening despite the millions spent, and columns printed, to defeat food label- ing legislation favored by many consumers. Like any other industry faced with a legacy of pollu- tion, the oyster industry (yes, it’s an industry) will have to DGDSWDQG¿QGZD\VWRFRH[LVW with native burrowing shrimp. This has already been done by a small grower in Willapa Bay, and it can be done again on a larger scale. FRED WHITE Astoria 5A Grateful am so grateful to the young lady who found my purse at Fred Meyer on Wednesday, Jan 13. It was returned to the Infor- mation Desk intact. I extend a huge ‘thank you’ and ‘God bless you for your honesty.’ It is so good to know that there are good people in our community. Again, I say thank you. EILEEN STRAIN Warrenton I Helping Linda inda Geisler is a cashier at Astoria’s Safeway store. She always remembers peo- ples’ names and greets each person in a way that honors their presence. She is sweet rain in a parched desert. More times than not I have left the store feeling better than when I entered, after being served by her. So, I was sad to read in the obituaries section that her young 25-year-old daughter, Whittney Ferguson, had lost her life to addiction. Such a loss is unbearable and unjust. I did not know Whittney, but if she was like her mother, she was special. The obituary for Whittney asked for donations to the Northwest Chapter of the Na- tional Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependency in her name. I will send a donation to them, but I also wish to send a donation to Linda, in memory of Whittney, for care of their horses. It would be kind if all those who have been touched by Linda’s grace do the same. POLLYANNA MINER Warrenton L Ten values, beliefs that will shape Oregon’s 2016 political landscape By ADAM DAVIS For The Daily Astorian On your mark, get set … go! Here comes election year 2016. Oregonians will be facing a number of potentially divi- sive issues including raising the corporate minimum tax, raising the minimum wage, and rolling back climate change legislation. We are entering a year that state Sen. Peter Courtney describes as possibly being our Armaged- don. It is also the time of year IRUUHÀHFWLRQDQGOLVWPDNLQJ so here’s another one for the record book, based on DHM Research surveys and focus groups: Oregonians’ values and beliefs that will inform the state’s political landscape in 2016. First at the 50,000 foot lev- el. 1. Oregonians remain woefully ignorant about how government, politics, DQG SXEOLF ¿QDQFH ZRUN Many do not know how many branches of govern- ment we have in Oregon and cannot name a tax that helps pay for state government service. Sadly, they also have little knowledge about the state’s geography and history. How much of the state is outside the Willamette Valley? Which ZD\GRHVWKHZDWHUÀRZLQWKH Willamette River? What can you tell me about the beach bill, the bottle bill, SB 100, Tom McCall? “Who?” “What?” . . . Oh well, you get the idea. 2. Oregonians are split in assessing the state’s current direction. About the same number believe the state is headed in the right direction as believe we’re off on the wrong track. Scary, however, is how soft the right direction people are in their feelings. Bring up such issues as the state’s high school graduation rate, rural poverty statistics, PERS, or even national and interna- tional issues like terrorism, immigration, and climate change and they are quick to get squeamish. 3. The economy and ed- ucation are important to Oregonians, and they want WKHLU VWDWH JRYHUQPHQW RI¿- cials to do something about these issues. Underneath this sentiment, however, the negativity and skepticism on both issues runs high. For example, with the economy, government of- ¿FLDOV¶ VHOIFRQJUDWXODWRU\ breast-pounding over the private and nonprof- falling unemploy- it sectors. ment rate does not Now at the impress voters; ground level. they are looking for 6. Proponents of family-wage jobs increasing the cor- ZLWK EHQH¿WV LQ porate minimum eco-friendly busi- tax are currently nesses. For educa- sitting pretty. They tion, voters want have going for better use of the them a good bal- money the schools Adam lot measure title, already have as Davis voter antipathy much as they want toward big business, more money for them. Gird and concern about It is also more specif- funding, fueled ically about K-12 ed- your K-12 by headlines about ucation and less about colleges and universi- loins! low graduation rates. On the other hand, ties. the measure would And while the economy and education are be in trouble if there was an- important, just as important other measure on the ballot is government spending and directing any increase in tax- taxation. Related to this is es to property tax relief or a also a growing sentiment that companion measure with a our system of government is reduced tax rate. 7. A graduated increase broken. 4. Despite strong differ- in the minimum wage to $15 ences between political par- in 2019 is a toss-up at this ties about how much gov- point, but $13.50 by 2019 ernment should be involved does better. But a strong 40 percent in addressing the challenges facing the state, we Orego- or so appear to oppose the nians continue to value the measure either way. Many of same things about living these are older residents, Re- here: the clean air and wa- publicans, or voters who live ter, natural beauty, outdoor outside the Willamette Valley. 8. If the unions go for recreation opportunities, sense of community, and cli- increased corporate taxes, will business go after the mate (snow, baby, snow!). We also are concerned unions? Well, we’re not sure about the future of small where that would get them. Currently voters appear businesses in Oregon and our low-income children and se- split on a Right-to-Work mea- sure similar to Wisconsin’s. niors. About 40 percent support 5. Perhaps as validation of what they value about Oregon’s current law, which living in Oregon, residents allows collective bargain- consider the most important ing agreements that require union-repre- “public services” still to be non-member, SROLFH ¿UH DQG HPHUJHQF\ sented employees to share services, all basic to feeling in the costs of union repre- secure and having a sense sentation. A similar number of community. But, just as support allowing non-union important to Oregonians public employees to refuse to is protection of productive share costs. A good chunk of forest and farm land and voters are undecided. 9. And what about repeal- air and water quality, along with K-12 education and ing current law requiring services for low-income chil- the Environmental Quality Commission to adopt rules dren and seniors. Economic development for low carbon fuel stan- subsidies and tax breaks for dards to reduce greenhouse attracting or developing busi- gas emissions? “No” is up by 17 points. ness remain at the bottom of This is not surprising in light the list. These preferences cut of a strong majority of Orego- across political and demo- nians who tell us that climate graphic subgroups, but — be- change requires us to change cause they’re public services our way of life, such as driv- — they are also susceptible ing less or living more simply. 10. And number 10 for to concerns about govern- ment spending and taxation, our list is . . . the ground which can quickly put people game. It is all going to be in opposing camps. Talking about voter turnout. The about core values and public, higher the turnout of young- SULYDWH DQG QRQSUR¿W SDUW- er and minority voters, the nerships helps unify feeling, better the results will be for especially with more involve- Democrats. It is that simple. A competitive presidential ment and leadership from the election will help, but here in Oregon will less frequent vot- ers take time to wade through a long list of ballot measure de- scriptions and local candidate choices? Hard to say, but that is where the action will be this coming year: Get out the vote! Is 2016 the year of Arma- geddon for Oregon? Consid- ering what Oregonians don’t know about government and politics, one wonders whether they know what Senate Pres- ident Peter Courtney means. The Webster Dictionary’s GH¿QLWLRQ IRU$UPDJHGGRQ LV ³WKHVLWHRUWLPHRID¿QDODQG conclusive battle between the forces of good and evil.” The site is Oregon, the time is now, and good and evil are in the eye of the beholder. As battle lines are being drawn, we may want to keep in mind what voters know, care about, and how they’re feeling about some key issues. It may serve us well as we start the battle that is election year 2016. Gird your loins (know what that means?)! Adam Davis, who has been conducting opinion research in Oregon for more than 35 years, is a founding principal in DHM Research, an inde- pendent, nonpartisan ¿rm 9isit wwwdhmresearchcom