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OPINION 4A THE DAILY ASTORIAN TUESDAY, MARCH 22, 2016 Foretelling Trump, Sanders BY ADAM DAVIS For The Daily Astorian 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 Obama puts the ball in play in Cuba This is leadership of the highest sort n the complex world of diplomacy — where gestures carry meaning — President Barack Obama was not greeted by a head of state after he landed in Cuba on Sunday afternoon. The KLVWRULFVLJQL¿FDQFHRI2EDPD¶VWULSFDQEHVXPPHGXSLQWKLV simple calculus: What the U.S. government tried for 50 years has led nowhere. It is time for diplomatic change. With a prod from Pope Francis, the president last April took the extraor- dinary step of opening diplomatic relations with Cuba for the ¿UVWWLPHVLQFHWKHDGPLQLVWUDWLRQRI'ZLJKW(LVHQKRZHU This is no sure thing. But has declined dramatically DVZLWKWKHSUHVLGHQW¶VRIIHQ- over the past 25 years. Before sive on health care, which led the president would propose to the Affordable Care Act, congressional action to end and his multi-state agreement the embargo, there must be with Iran, he is all about get- progress on human rights in ting on with the future. Cuba. In that sense, our presi- Perhaps the most photo- dent is aligned with the Cuban genic and joyous aspect of people. the Obama trip to Cuba was Just as 50 years of frozen WRGD\¶VEDVHEDOOJDPHEHWZHHQ diplomacy has not worked, the Tampa Bay Rays and the QHLWKHU KDV )LGHO &DVWUR¶V Cuban National Team. The HFRQRPLF PRGHO $V $%&¶V president was joined by Jackie Chris Cuomo said on Sunday: 5RELQVRQ¶V ZLGRZ 5DFKHO “At the end of the day, Cuba is 'HUHN -HWHU DQG /XLV 7LDQW a Third World country.” ,I RI¿FLDO +DYDQD ZLOO $ QXPEHU RI 0/% WHDPV wanted this game, reports Bill JUDVS LW 3UHVLGHQW 2EDPD¶V Chastain. but the Rays were bold step holds great promise. This is leadership of the picked through a lottery. Within the Cuban- highest sort. It is what we American population, support should expect of a U.S. for the Cuban trade embargo president. I KH 'RQDOG :H NQRZ WKH national story, but how about here in Oregon? It is a sim- LODU VWRU\ +H LV FXUUHQWO\ OHDG- ing the pack in the Republican primary election (though not by much) and is viewed posi- tively by a narrow majority of Republican voters and about a third of all Oregon voters. with voters. And, as fore- T $QG %HUQLH" +H¶V GRLQJ EHW- ter than Trump with his party in 2UHJRQ $PRQJ 'HPRFUDWV KH LV viewed a little more positively than +LOODU\ DQG LV QDUURZO\ OHDGLQJ KHU LQWKH'HPRFUDWLFSULPDU\HOHFWLRQ although voters feel she will ulti- PDWHO\EHWKHSDUW\¶VQRPLQHH Readers of the 2013 Oregon Values and Beliefs Study should not be sur- prised by how well these unlikely can- didates are doing with broad swaths of Oregon voters. (Go to www.ore- gonvaluesproject.org to refresh your memory about this study.) The study may not have named names, but it essentially foretold three years ago 7UXPS¶V DQG 6DQGHUV¶ FXUUHQW DSSHDO to many Oregon voters. A quick refresher course not only illuminates their appeal to many Oregonians, but also reminds us how much Republi- FDQVDQG'HPRFUDWVLQ2UHJRQGLIIHU in some of their core social values and beliefs, including those that touch on the economy. The numbers may also foretell the outcome of the November presidential election in Oregon when you consider the party registration numbers as of February for Republi- FDQV'HPRFUDWV DQGQRQDI¿OLDWHGRWKHUV² depending, of course, on which groups mail in those ballots. Both Trump and Sanders are tap- ping into the anger many voters feel toward government, politics, and the media by painting themselves as anti-establishment and their oppo- nents as part of the status-quo respon- VLEOHIRUZKDW¶VZURQJZLWK$PHULFD They are also singing the right tune about trade agreements sending U.S. jobs overseas. Beyond these general commonalities, however, the two can- didates take different roads to connect he 2016 Clatsop County Outstanding Businesses Awards last week were an enjoyable reminder that cre- ative and successful people are exploring how to make a living on the coast. &ODWVRS (FRQRPLF 'HYHORSPHQW 5HVRXUFHV which sponsors the awards, has proven during its rela- tively brief existence to be a valuable advocate and edu- cator both for startups and long-term businesses. The awards were in part a WULEXWHWR&('5¶VFRIRXQGHU and past president Skip +DXNH ZKR RSHUDWHG JUR- cery stores in Astoria for many years before becom- ing executive director of the Astoria-Warrenton Chamber RI &RPPHUFH +DXNH ZDV ahead his time in highlight- LQJORFDOVHDIRRGDQG3DFL¿F Northwest wines. &('5 UHÀHFWV WKH VDPH fundamental priority — showcasing local talents and products to build success in a nation that increasingly val- ues homegrown quality. 2XUFRYHUDJHRIWKH&('5 awards, plus additional pho- tos and details in the April T edition of Coast River Business Journal, make it clear that we have much to be proud of. Running a small business — or really big RQHV OLNH +DPSWRQ /XPEHU Mill and Bornstein Seafoods — demands energy and fortitude. The awards are a tacit rec- ognition of how far Clatsop County communities have come in recent decades. No longer isolated and insular, cities like Astoria, Warrenton, Seaside and Cannon Beach have established a reputa- tion as good places to start a business. Kathy Kleczek, DZDUGZLQQLQJ RZQHU RI /D /XQD/RFDRIIHUHGWKLVSHU- spective on our pro-business environment: “This award is also a representation of the people behind our success, the people that work with me and the people that spend their hard-earned dollars in our store for things that may not be the cheapest, but are made the best way possible.” (YHU\ \HDU &('5 RIIHUV accolades for local products DQGVHUYLFHV/HW¶VJLYHWKHP our business. nians agreed with the state- ment, with majorities in all geographic and demo- graphic groups except ... you guessed it, party. Is that the sweet smell of socialism in the air? For many Trump Publicly funded health supporters insurance for all citizens. Society as a whole Almost three quarters of has become too soft and 2UHJRQ 'HPRFUDWV Adam feminine. felt this was important Davis Two-thirds (66%) of in 2013 compared to just Oregon Republicans in 2013 agreed one quarter of Republicans. Non-af- with this statement compared to 21% ¿OLDWHGRWKHUV VSOLW WKH GLIIHUHQFH DW RI 'HPRFUDWV DQG RI QRQDI¿O- 50%. Among all Oregonians, it was LDWHGRWKHUV$PHULFD KDV WR EHFRPH 53% to 27%, with the remaining neu- harder and macho? Sounds, a little tral or not sure. It should not be a sur- 7UXPSLVKGRHVQ¶WLW" SULVH WKHQ WKDW 6DQGHUV¶ VXSSRUW IRU :H¶YH JRQH WRR IDU LQ SXVKLQJ increasing government spending to equal rights in this country. guarantee health care to all citizens as $ERXWWKHVDPHQXPEHURI a right, and not a privilege, has legs Oregon Republicans agreed with this ZLWK PDQ\ 'HPRFUDWLF SULPDU\ YRW- VWDWHPHQW 'HPRFUDWV ZHUH DW RQO\ ers three years later. DJUHHPHQW DQG GLVDJUHH- 7UXPSDQG6DQGHUVDUHQRWÀDVKHV PHQW 1RQDI¿OLDWHGRWKHUV ZHUH in the pan. Similar to what we see at 37% agreement, 57% disagreement. WKH QDWLRQDO OHYHO VLJQL¿FDQW QXP- 9DOLGDWLQJ WKLV ¿QGLQJ IRU 5HSXEOL- bers of the party faithful here in Ore- cans was the 74% agreement with JRQ VXSSRUW 7UXPS¶V DQG 6DQGHUV¶ the statement, “It seems like blacks, messages. That support has been women, homosexuals and other waiting to be harnessed since 2013 JURXSVGRQ¶WZDQWHTXDOULJKWVWKH\ and likely before then. But, there is want special rights just for them.” something else. A look at the core 3HUKDSV WKLV H[SODLQV ZK\ WKHUH¶V values and beliefs underlying this applause when Trump talks about support is revealing. It tells us a lot women using words like bimbo, dog, about Oregon voters and particularly, and fat pig. considering the voter registration numbers, how out of touch Republi- For many Sanders cans are with most Oregonians about supporters key issues related to equity and the Our society would be better off if economy. the distribution of wealth was more Adam Davis, who has been con- equal ducting opinion research in Oregon $PRQJ'HPRFUDWVWKHUHZDV for more than 35 years, is a found- agreement in 2013 with this state- ing principal in DHM Research, a ment, compared to 31% of Repub- QRQSDUWLVDQDQGLQGHSHQGHQW¿UPLQ licans, and 64% of Independents. A Portland and Washington, D.C. Visit strong majority (63%) of all Orego- www.dhmresearch.com told in the 2013 study, what WKH\¶UHVD\LQJLVUHVRQDWLQJ big time. Check out these ¿QGLQJVQRZDOPRVWWKUHH years old. On invincible ignorance dates who inveigh against FHQWDQGPRVWRIWKHÀXF- WKH HYLOV RI EXGJHW GH¿- tuation in incomes we see cits and federal debt feel involves people going from, say, $350,000 to emember Paul Ryan? The obliged to propose huge high-end tax cuts — $450,000 or vice versa. VSHDNHURIWKH+RXVHXVHG much bigger than those of As one comprehensive to be a media darling, lionized George W. Bush — that survey put it, “The major- as the epitome of the Serious, would eliminate trillions ity of economic mobility occurs over fairly small +RQHVW &RQVHUYDWLYH ² QHYHU in revenue? And economics aside, spans of the distribution.” mind those of us who actually why such a commitment Average incomes over Paul looked at the numbers in his to a policy that has never multiple years are almost Krugman as unequally distributed budgets and concluded that he had much support even IURP WKH SDUW\¶V RZQ as incomes in any given was a con man. base, and appears even more polit- year, which means that tax cuts that These days, of course, he is ically suspect in the face of a popu- PDLQO\ EHQH¿W WKH ULFK DUH LQGHHG overshadowed by the looming list uprising? targeted at a small group of people, Trumpocalypse. %XWKHUH¶VZKDW5\DQVDLGDERXW not the public at large. %XW ZKLOH 'RQ- all those tax cuts $QGKHUH¶VWKHWKLQJ7KLVLVQ¶WD ald Trump could for the top 1 per- new observation. As it happens, I per- Ever since win the White cent: “I do not like sonally took on the very same argu- +RXVH²RUORVHVR the idea of buying ment Ryan is making — and showed income badly that even our into these distribu- that it was wrong — almost 25 years rotten-borough sys- tional tables. What ago. Yet the man widely considered inequality tem of congressio- \RX¶UH WDONLQJ WKH *23¶V LQWHOOHFWXDO OHDGHU LV VWLOO began its nal districts, which about is what we making the same old claims. heavily favors the call static distribu- 2. PD\EH ,¶P MXVW LQGXOJLQJ D GOP, delivers the sharp rise in WLRQ ,W¶V D ULGLFX- pet peeve by focusing on this par- +RXVH WR WKH 'HP- lous notion.” ticular subject. Yet the persistence the 1980s, ocrats — the odds Aha. The of the income mobility zombie, like are that come Jan- one favorite income mobil- the tax-cuts-mean-growth zombie XDU\ +LOODU\ &OLQ- ity zombie strikes (which should have been killed, once ton will be presi- conservative again. and for all, by the debacles in Kansas dent, and Ryan still (YHU VLQFH DQG/RXLVLDQDLVSDUWRIDSDWWHUQ excuse has speaker. So I was income inequality Appalled Republicans may rail interested to read began its sharp rise DJDLQVW 'RQDOG 7UXPS¶V DUURJDQW been that what Ryan said in LQ WKH V RQH ignorance. But how different, really, a recent interview favorite conser- DUHWKHSDUW\¶VPDLQVWUHDPOHDGHUV" it doesn’t ZLWK -RKQ +DU- vative excuse has Their blinkered view of the world mean wood. What has he EHHQWKDWLWGRHVQ¶W has the veneer of respectability, learned from recent mean anything, may go along with an appearance anything, events? because economic RIWKRXJKWIXOQHVVEXWLQUHDOLW\LW¶V And the answer positions change just as impervious to evidence — because is, nothing. all the time. Peo- maybe even more so, because it has /LNH MXVW DERXW ple who are rich the power of groupthink behind it. economic everyone in the this year might not 7KLVLVZK\\RXVKRXOGQ¶WJULHYH positions Republican estab- be rich next year, RYHU 0DUFR 5XELR¶V HSLF SROLWLFDO lishment, Ryan is so the gap between IDLOXUH +DG 5XELR VXFFHHGHG KH change all in denial about the the rich and the would simply have encouraged his roots of Trumpism, UHVWGRHVQ¶WPDWWHU party to believe that all it needs is the time. about the extent right? a cosmetic makeover — a fresher, to which the party :HOO LW¶V WUXH younger face to sell the same old deliberately cultivated anger and that people move up and down the defunct orthodoxy. Oh, and a racial backlash, only to lose control economic ladder, and apologists last-minute turn to someone like of the monster it created. But what for inequality love to cite statistics John Kasich would, in its own way, I found especially striking were his showing that many people who are have similar implications. comments on tax policy. I know, in the top 1 percent in any given :KDWZH¶UHJHWWLQJLQVWHDGLVDW boring — but indulge me here. year are out of that category the least the possibility of a cleansing 7KHUH¶VDODUJHUPRUDO next year. shock — of a period in the political You might think that Republican But a closer look at the data ZLOGHUQHVVWKDWZLOO¿QDOO\IRUFHWKH thought leaders would be engaged shows that there is less to this obser- Republican establishment to rethink in some soul-searching about their vation than it seems. These days, it LWVSUHPLVHV7KDW¶VDJRRGWKLQJ² SDUW\¶VREVHVVLRQZLWKFXWWLQJWD[HV takes an income of around $400,000 RULWZRXOGEHLILWGLGQ¶WDOVRFRPH on the wealthy. Why do candi- a year to put you in the top 1 per- with the risk of President Trump. By PAUL KRUGMAN New York Times News Service Another crop of retail R leaders wins our support Group showcases local talents and products to build success Both Trump and Sanders are tapping into the anger many voters feel toward government, politics, and the media by painting themselves as anti-establishment and their opponents as part of the status-quo responsible for what’s wrong with America.
