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
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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
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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.”
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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
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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-
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ter than Trump with his party in
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viewed a little more positively than
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although voters feel she will ulti-
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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-
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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-
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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-
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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.
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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
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and past president Skip
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cery stores in Astoria for
many years before becom-
ing executive director of the
Astoria-Warrenton Chamber
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ahead his time in highlight-
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Northwest wines.
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fundamental priority —
showcasing local talents and
products to build success in a
nation that increasingly val-
ues homegrown quality.
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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
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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.”
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accolades for local products
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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
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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-
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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
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big time. Check out these
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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.
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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.
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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-
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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-
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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
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VLQFH DQG/RXLVLDQDLVSDUWRIDSDWWHUQ
excuse has
speaker. So I was
income inequality
Appalled Republicans may rail
interested to read
began
its
sharp
rise
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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
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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.