Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About The daily Astorian. (Astoria, Or.) 1961-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 29, 2016)
THE DAILY ASTORIAN • FRIDAY, JANUARY 29, 2016 FRIDAY EXCHANGE Just kidding still think that Mr. Trump is going to walk to the podium one of these days and say, “Just kidding. Never wanted the job. Just wanted to show what a circus can be made of the American campaign season.” DAVID AMBROSE Astoria I Support refuges ’m writing to express my support for the people of Harney County, the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge, as well as our local Haystack Rock, which itself is part of the Oregon Island National Wildlife Refuge. In Southeastern Oregon, armed outsiders advocating for WKHLU RZQ VHO¿VK DJHQGD KDYH overtaken the county, the people of Burns and the refuge for several weeks now. The lives of the citizens have been seriously disrupted. Financial damages mount. The uniqueness of that refuge is being trashed daily. Clatsop is a rural, though coastal, county. Imagine the chaos that would ensue in our communities if an armed group overtook Cannon Beach and the Rock. It is not that far-fetched. Who thought a group such as Bundy and company would set up housekeeping at the Malheur Refuge? National wildlife refuges belong to all Americans. MELISSA CADWALLADER Cannon Beach I Know the numbers was in the Fred Meyer parking lot the other day and someone was looking at my tire cover which says: “Feel the Bern.” I asked the young woman if she liked Bernie Sanders and she said, yes, she did, but she thought it was time for a woman president. Is this what we need now? Bill Clinton, in 1994, brought us the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). We were told that this would bring strong economic growth to our country, and create 200,000 jobs. But it brought economic ruin. One hundred million U.S. jobs lost because of NAFTA, decreased wages, and increased inequality, and we have not recovered from this. President Obama promised the U.S. free trade agreement with Korea, KORUS, would produce 70,000 jobs, but instead lost 75,000 jobs. You I Linn County suit is economic terrorism he Linn County commissioners’ lawsuit against the state for its management of forest policies shares common ground with the militants in Harney County. The militants want grazing restrictions lifted on land maintained by the government as a wildlife sanctuary for over a century. The commissioners want the state to forsake its duty, established in 1998, to manage forests for ecological, recreational and aesthetic values as well as logging. Like the militants, the commissioners would degrade the long-term quality of our public lands for the sake of immediate economic gain. Their massive law suit is economic terrorism that could cost the tax payers a billion dollars. It’s no coincidence that this legal threat coincides with the timber industry’s proposal to open 70 percent of Clatsop T are supposed to believe that we “recovered from the 2008 recession” and that the unem- ployment rate is a little over 5 percent. The Bureau of Labor calculates unemployment six different ways. John F. Kennedy ZDV WKH ¿UVW SUHVLGHQW ZKR started manipulating jobless numbers, and future presidents did, also. It excludes several categories of workers in order to show lower unemployment rate. These workers are unemployed but are not counted. Both Bernie Sanders and Donald Trump have stated that the real unem- ployment rate is around 40 percent, and Fortune magazine says they are spot on. Our presidents have been sending our jobs overseas. We need jobs, good paying jobs, now. Although every candidate for president after 1994 promised “more jobs,” we do not have jobs that replaced those that have been lost. Now 70,000 more jobs will be lost through the new trade agreement, the 7UDQV3DFL¿F 3DUWQHUVKLS (TPP). So for starters, what we need is a president who knows what the real unemployment number is. Do you agree? DIXIE GAINER Nehalem School changes here are somethings I would change about Broadway Middle School in Seaside. I would allow students to use their cell phones in class, and a longer passing period time T and Tillamook counties’ managed forests to clearcutting, reducing conservation to a mere 30 percent. Like the timber industry, the commissioners say “to hell with the general public,” whose interests are being protected by the government. The 15 counties that receive revenues from logging have had 18 years to get used to the idea that massive clear cutting on public lands is a thing of the past. During that time span they have failed to create alternative sources of revenue for their constituencies. The Linn County lawsuit is an example of failed leadership at the state and local levels, and a lack of character on the part of commissioners, who would rather litigate and connive than do the hard work of creating a sustainable vision for the future. Last year, the Clatsop County commis- sioners created a 30-year vision plan that between classes, and have longer lunches. First, I think students should be allowed to use their cell phones in class. If students need help spelling a word they don’t know, they will be able to use their cell phones. Also if students QHHGHGWKHGH¿QLWLRQRIDZRUG a cell phone would be good. Another thing is if students need to research information, the students can use their cell phones. Second, I think students should have a longer passing period time between classes, because if some students can’t open their lockers, they won’t be late if they had more time. Also, if students need to go to the bathroom they won’t be late to their class. Another thing is if students drop their stuff, and pick up their papers and spirals, they won’t be late to their class. Finally, I think school lunches should be longer. Students who are in last in line don’t have much to eat. Also, if you’re last in line you don’t get what you want to eat. Another thing is to have a longer recess. It should be like an hour. As you see, I would make some changes to the school. I would allow students to use their cell phones in class, have a longer passing period time, and have a longer lunch time. EZEQUIEL LOPEZ-MOTA Seaside Need all information pen letter to the Cannon Beach Planning Commission: Many O was forged with abundant public input. In the second line of the “Overarching Vision” it clearly states that we as a county “protect and enhance our scenic beauty and natural resources as the foundation of our prosperity and outstanding quality of life.” The operable words here are “protect” “enhance” and “scenic beauty.” I have faith that Chairman Scott Lee and the other commissioners will live up to the county’s vision plan by repudiating the Linn County law suit. In that same spirit, I trust that our commission will repudiate the 70/30 proposal by the timber companies and work for a county-wide moratorium on clear cutting, which is exacerbating global warming, desecrating the visual environment and poisoning the air and water. ROGER DORBAND Astoria of the arguments for and against Jeff Nicholson’s proposed Planned Unit Development (PUD) have been expressed very well by others. After attending the December meeting on this matter, I would like to express my reflections on the topic, regarding procedure. The opinions are mine and mine alone. Oregon wisely requires many land use decisions to be made during a 120-day window to provide fairness to all parties involved. In this case, the city has a reasonable period in which to analyze the proposal, the public has a reasonable period to offer comments for or against, and the developer can expect a reasonable period for a decision to be reached. This all assumes that the developer provides the information required upon which a decision can be made. It also assumes that staff members will accept only a complete application from the developer. What Oregon law does not anticipate is a municipal staff member formally accepting an incomplete application. When that happens, the 120-day clock starts ticking, but neither the municipality nor the public have the information needed to evaluate the proposal, much less the ability to render a reasoned decision. I don’t know whether Mr. Nicholson’s incomplete application was accepted by the city (and approved by its legal counsel) in error, or out of bias in favor of the development. ,QHLWKHUFDVH,SHUVRQDOO\¿QG it inexcusable when “profes- sionals” perform their duties in such manner. CLEVE ROOPER Cannon Beach Escape tower onsidering the Cascadia Subduction Zone event predicted in this area, I am concerned about the possible tsunami that would accompany such an occurrence. Because I’m retired and have time to prepare for this event, I have complied with some of the suggestions put forth by Patrick Corcoran and other experts on the subject. I have become a ham radio operator to enhance my communications, been a participant with the Clatsop County Sheriff’s Department search and rescue team to educate myself on survival WHFKQLTXHV DQG ¿UVW DLG DQG prepared a “to go” pack with emergency supplies. I have also attended local up-dating meetings on the North Coast. But the 50-foot elephant in the room is the tsunami that would accompany such an event. Since I live near the mouth of the Columbia River in Hammond (with 100 other homes, more or less), we will EH ¿UVW WR JHW ZHW ZKHQ WKH water comes. And if the wave that reaches us is anything like the experts predict, there is no adequate high ground to walk to (all concrete/asphalt roads would likely be disrupted or FORJJHGE\WUDI¿FWRDYRLGWKH tsunami. C 5A Vertical evacuation is really the only practical way to prepare. That means constructing a steel (?) tower within a 10-15 minute walking distance of us to accommodate 60-100 people, probably some pets, and personal supplies. Where? There is a vacant lot on the corner of Russell DQG 3DFL¿F GULYHV DFURVV IURP the brick guardhouse. Other possible sites also exist in the area. Eventually, any locale along the coast that lacks immediate high ground could be a candidate for such a tower. Financing might be provided by a combination of government grants, contributions from interested groups (such as tours during the summer, antennae from local governments, ham radio users and bird watchers), and donations and fundraisers. Such a tower would need to survive the liquefaction from the initial and subsequent quakes, as well as the water surge. I am hopeful that expertise in such construction (50 feet high or so) exists in the North Coast area. I realize that obtaining momentum for such a project ZRXOG EH GLI¿FXOW WR GHYHORS since most people worry today about paying the rent or putting food on the table. An event that may occur tomorrow or some years from now is easy to set aside. And I’m not sure my new year’s resolution of winning the ORWWHU\ DQG ¿QDQFLQJ WKH WRZHU myself is all that viable. But it might be worth thinking about it. DAVID SKARRA Hammond Get realistic really think the letter by Joseph Webb hit the ol’ book in the binding (“Thoughts,” The Daily Astorian, Jan. 22). My wife and I enjoy our library and use it a lot. But, as a retired building contractor, I think the $29 million cost of a new library is way overboard. :H WKLQN WKH ¿JXUHV JLYHQ by Mr. Webb are do-able, if we don’t get too big for our pants. As many people today only read apps, why waste the money. We do need more books for us fogies, and the existing parking LV¿QH Lets get some realistic specs sent out for bid. Forget the pie in the sky stuff. This (thank goodness) is not Portland. DICK DARBY Astoria I 7KHWKUHHFRUQHUHG¿JKWIRUWKHVRXORIWKH*UDQG2OG3DUW\ By CHARLES KRAUTHAMMER Washington Post Writers Group ASHINGTON — It’s hard to believe that the United States, having resisted the siren song of socialism during its entire 20th-century heyday (the only major democracy to do so), should suddenly succumb to its charms a generation after its intellec- tual demise. W Indeed, the prospect of socialist Bernie Sanders, whatever his current momentum, winning the Democratic nomination remains far-fetched. The Dems would be risking a November electoral disaster of historic dimensions. Yet there is no denying how far Sanders has pulled his party to the left — and how hard the establishment candidate, Hillary Clinton, has been racing to catch up. The Republicans, on the other hand, are dealing with a full-scale riot. The temptation they face is trading in a century of conservatism for Trumpism. The 2016 presidential race has turned into an epic contest between the ethno-nationalist populism of Donald Trump and traditional conservatism, though in two varieties: the scorched- earth fundamentalist version of Ted Cruz, and a reformist version represented by Marco Rubio (and several so-called establishment candidates) — and articulated most fully by non-candidate Paul Ryan and a cluster of highly productive thinkers and policy wonks dubbed “reformicons.” Trump insists that he’s a especially of the tea conservative, but party movement) — in his pronounce- limited government. ments and policies, The most telling conservatism seems example is his more of a rental wholehearted — a three-story support for “eminent penthouse rental with domain,” i.e. the Central Park-view, forcible appropria- to be sure — than tion by government an ideological home. of private property. Trump protests that Charles Trump called it Ronald Reagan, too, Krauthammer “wonderful.” migrated from left to Trump has not yet called right. True, but Reagan’s trans- formation occurred in his 40s — Vladimir Putin wonderful but he has taken a shine to the not, as with Trump, in his 60s. In radically different swaggering mini-czar who ways, Trump and Sanders are seems to run his trains on time. addressing the deep anxiety When informed that Putin kills stemming from the secular opponents and journalists, stagnation in wages and living Trump’s initial reaction was, standards that has squeezed the “Well, I think that our country middle and working classes for a generation. Sanders locates the villainy in a billionaire class that has rigged both the economic and political system. Trump blames foreigners, most prominently those cunning Mexicans, Chinese, Japanese and Saudis who’ve been taking merciless advantage of us, in concert with America’s own leaders who are, alternatively, stupid and incompetent or bought and corrupt. Hence Trump’s most famous policy recommenda- tions: anti-immigrant, including the forced deportation of 11 million people; anti-trade, with a 45 percent tariff on Chinese goods and a 35 percent tariff on U.S. manufacturing moved to Mexico; and anti-Muslim, most notoriously a complete ban on entry into the U.S. Temporarily only, we are assured, except that the ban applies “until our country’s representatives can ¿JXUHRXWZKDWLVJRLQJRQ´²D standard so indeterminate as to be meaningless. Trump has limited concern for the central tenet of American conservatism (and most does plenty of killing, also,” the the two men. Cruz is a genuine kind of moronic what-about-the- conservative — austere, indeed Crusades moral equivalence that radical, so much so that he conservatives have railed against considers mainstream congres- sional conserva- for decades. tives apostates. Although, to be The $QG¿QGV7UXPS fair, after some p r o m p t i n g , Republicans not conservative at all, as he is Trump did come out against are dealing now furiously, belatedly the killing of with a full- insisting. journalists. My personal Cruz is often scale riot. preference is lumped with for the third Trump in the “anti-establishment” camp. That ideological alternative, the suited Cruz tactically for a while, reform conservatism that locates but it’s fairly meaningless, the source of our problems not given that “establishment” can in heartless billionaires or crafty mean anything these days. And foreigners, but in our superannu- given the huge gulf between ated, increasingly sclerotic 20th- the political philosophies of century welfare-state structures. Their desperate need for reform has been overshadowed by the new populism, but Speaker Ryan is determined to introduce a serious reform agenda in this year’s Congress — boring stuff like welfare reform, health care reform, tax reform and institu- tional congressional reforms such as the return to “regular order.” Paired with a President like Rubio (or Chris Christie or Carly Fiorina, to go long-shot), such an agenda would give conser- vatism its best opportunity since Reagan to become the country’s governing philosophy. Unless the GOP takes the populist leap. In which case, a conservative restoration will be a long time coming.
