THE DAILY ASTORIAN • FRIDAY, MARCH 24, 2017
FRIDAY EXCHANGE
Get U.S. back
rump is building war not
peace, not education, not
school lunches, not Medic-
aid for the folks down the
street. Trump is the worst thing
that has happened to this coun-
try, and in the 50 days on the
throne, has destroyed many of
our freedoms and hopes. Those
values that the rest of the world
looks to us for an example
of how things can be are fad-
ing. No Sesame Street?
We must fight or per-
ish. Contact your senator, your
legislator, your mother, your
neighbor, your old boyfriend,
your cranky uncle. This must
stop. This is not 1938 Ger-
many, is it?
I want my country back.
MARY TANGUAY WEBB
Astoria
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President Joe King?
he notion that our pres-
ident’s false accusa-
tions and statements could be
“jokes,” and not taken seri-
ously, is absurd. This behav-
ior is contrary to our collective
desire of honesty and faith in
our elected representatives, our
government.
In my opinion these
unfounded statements are
clearly intended to incite Mr.
Trump’s political base. They
are a national disgrace that
must not be ignored.
I call on my fellow citizens
to step up your game and speak
out. Find a channel to express
your opinion.
CLAYTON RICE
Warrenton
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Budget must be cut
’m really getting sick of the
national media, as well as
the local media, ranting and
raving about national bud-
get cuts. They allowed the last
president to never send a bud-
get to Congress in eight years,
thus running the country on
extending resolutions — driv-
ing our national debt to about
double, without any over-
sight of what all of the previ-
ous presidents had built up —
without a word of objection.
So, what has built up must be
driven down before our coun-
try has a financial meltdown.
There is fat everywhere,
including the Coast Guard
and Social Security. Some on
Social Security have collected
as much as 100 percent every
year, more than they contrib-
uted. Our local media would
have you believe that the Coast
Guard wouldn’t exist if they
are cut. I’m sure that negoti-
ations can be made to lessen
the cut.
And, some Coast Guard
stations should be eliminated.
Just look at what has been
downsized here in Astoria:
Point Adams Life Boat Station
was closed; Coast Guard Base
Tongue Point, that worked on
buoys, was closed or down-
sized, and three buoy tenders
in Astoria became one; the
Port Security unit Astoria was
closed in 1960; and the U.S.
Navy closed Tongue Point in
1963-1964.
Obamacare is a disaster. I
have friends paying between
$700 to $1,500 a month now
under Obamacare. I’m under
Medicare, which approves
about 10 percent of the bill for
payment on whatever we have
done. It is no wonder that doc-
tors and hospitals have begun
to refuse taking on new Medi-
care patients.
Wake up America, the
national debt has to be cut
and yes, we all have to suf-
fer. We’ve lived off the fat far
too long. If we do nothing, we
could have a financial situa-
tion like Germany after World
War II — our money could
become worthless. Is that what
you want?
ROBERT JACOBSON
Astoria
I
Art, not bombs
e are grateful to be liv-
ing in Astoria, which is
rich in artists, writers, musi-
cians, actors, etc. And, accord-
ing to Americans for the Arts,
the nonprofit arts industry
(museums, theater and dance
companies, performing arts
centers, orchestras, arts coun-
cils and others) generates $22.3
billion in federal, state and
local tax revenues annually
— a yield well beyond their
collective $4 billion in arts
allocations.
Because the National
Endowment for the Arts sup-
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A supporter of Warrenton, always
love Warrenton. I love the people
I have met and the politics; I even
love the Eighth Street “dam” (FYI, it’s
a tide gate, not a dam). I hate to step
away from something I’ve enjoyed
nearly half of my adult life, but my
business and personal finances dictate
that I have to make this decision.
I will miss my Monday morning
coffee meetings, and countless work
sessions with my fellow commission-
ers, where we envisioned the future.
I learned a lot during the last dozen
I
ports artistic excellence and
improves access to the arts by
granting funds to nonprofit
arts organizations, I call on
our federal officials to support
an increase in funding for the
NEA beyond its 1993 fund-
ing level of $174 million. That
funding figure equals $290
million in today’s dollars.
Our schools need more arts
education. Schools, especially
those struggling, can retain
their best teachers by becom-
ing incubators for creativity
and innovation; places where
students want to learn, and
teachers want to teach. Stu-
dents with an education rich in
the arts have better grade point
averages, score better on stan-
dardized tests in reading and
math, and have lower dropout
rates — findings that cut across
all socio-economic categories.
Congress and state edu-
cation leaders should support
strong arts education programs
in order for local school lead-
ers to include the arts in all dis-
ciplines (dance, theater, music,
visual and media arts) in their
curriculum.
Some of the greatest cul-
tural assets of our country
are in our rural communities.
Rural economic development
should be strengthened to help
these communities promote the
richness of their heritage, and
assist local artists with their
entrepreneurship.
Across the country, the
role of the arts as an economic
engine is growing in accep-
tance and strength. I call on all
lawmakers to support fund-
ing and policies at the fed-
eral level that would recog-
nize the growth potential and
direct benefits of encouraging
cities and states to strategically
invest in the arts in order to
drive economic development.
Art, not bombs — let’s create
not destroy.
LaREE JOHNSON
Astoria
McCarthyism?
he Seifers’ March 10 let-
ter catalogues allegations
against Russia and Vladimir
Putin characteristic of the “lib-
eral” media during the height-
ening new Cold War with Rus-
sia (“Affairs of state”). The
charges are characteristic of a
dangerous new McCarthyism.
There is no evidence of
“Russian aggression.” The two
tiny states, South Ossetia and
Abkhazia, illegally claimed by
Georgia, chose to protect them-
selves from Georgian absorp-
tion in 2008 by joining Rus-
sia. The Ukraine fracas began
in an illegal Neo-Nazi led
coup against a legitimate gov-
ernment. It was an act of U.S.
sponsored “regime change,”
piloted by the neoconserva-
tive National Endowment for
Democracy.
The Crimea has harbored
Russia’s sole warm-water port
for centuries, anchoring Rus-
sia’s fleet. Western Ukraini-
ans had supported the Nazis in
World War II, when the USSR
lost some 28 million peo-
ple to the Third Reich. Rather
than live under a new fascism,
Crimea’s 97 percent Russian
population voted in a referen-
dum, legal under international
law, to rejoin Russia. Rus-
sia never invaded Ukraine to
take Crimea. Nor has Russia
invaded Ukraine on behalf of
the ethnic Russian population
of the eastern Donbass region,
seeking separation from Kiev.
In the matter of the 2016
election, Princeton Russian
Studies scholar, Stephen Cohen
states: “CIA allegations of Rus-
sian hacking are wholly unsub-
stantiated. Best evidence shows
that inside sources leaked
embarrassing DNC informa-
tion to WikiLeaks, which then
exposed it.” Cohen also points
out that a “cautious” Putin
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years from five city managers and sev-
eral more department heads that each
brought different strengths to the job.
I saw a new wastewater treatment
plant and water reservoir get built, the
emergence of a strong retail hub along
U.S. Highway 101, and some long-
awaited improvements to our marinas.
I loved being part of an effort to help
folks solve problems. That made the
donation of my time worthwhile.
I will still be involved with my
city, because achieving the goals that
would hardly wish to meddle in
the American election in favor
of an “erratic” Trump.
Trump’s “lavish praise” of
Putin, merely complimented
the Russian leader’s high intel-
ligence and 86 percent home
approval rating. Cohen points
out that Franklin D. Roos-
evelt said more complimentary
things about Stalin, and Nixon
about Brezhnev. The meet-
ing of Michael Flynn with the
Russian ambassador was also
nothing out of the ordinary for
an incoming National Secu-
rity chairman. And the sole
evidence of Trump’s business
deals with Russians had to do
with U.S. condos.
The New Cold War is U.S.
manufactured, and dangerously
reckless. As there is little to
no high level communication
between the U.S. and Russia,
in the face of NATO’s prov-
ocations and missiles on the
Russian border, the Union of
Concerned Scientists views the
chances of nuclear war now as
higher than in the Cuban Mis-
sile Crisis.
STEPHEN BERK
Astoria
Studying Oregon
am a fourth-grade student
in North Carolina. In fourth
grade, we do state reports, and
I have chosen your state. I am
very excited to learn about the
great state of Oregon as I work
on my report.
Most of the information
that we get for our reports will
be from books and websites.
We also like to get informa-
tion from people who live in
the state, too. This is why I am
writing.
I am hoping people will be
willing to send me some items
to help me learn more about
the best things in Oregon. I
could be things like postcards,
maps, pictures, souvenirs, gen-
eral information, newspa-
per articles or any other items
that would be useful. You can
mail the items to: Brooke Bur-
towski, Mrs. Dodd’s Class,
Charlotte Latin School, 9502
Providence Road, Charlotte,
NC 28277.
BROOKE BURTOWSKI
Charlotte, North Carolina
I
we established at the beginning of the
year are extremely important to me.
However, I will be doing it in a differ-
ent capacity, as I focus on what’s best
for my family’s future at this time. I
will not say this is the end to public
service for me; I will always remain a
supporter of this community.
Thanks for letting me be your
mayor.
MARK KUJALA
Mayor of Warrenton
Hammond
hill is a fake Matterhorn; but
we have Coxcomb Hill, with
its breathtaking views of the
magnificent Columbia River,
Youngs River, the Lewis and
Clark River, Youngs Bay and
our glorious forests, as far as
the eye can see.
Then, If you really want
to get “high,” as suggested by
“Mr. Gearhart,” you can climb
to the top of the Astoria Col-
umn and launch a balsa wood
glider. A place like this can
only be found in Astoria.
LARRY ALLEN
Astoria
Support NPV
he National Popular Vote
(NPV) ensures a major-
ity wins by making all votes
equal. Opponents say it disfa-
vors small states, but 94 per-
cent of campaigning occurs in
12 “swing atates,” ignoring the
majority of small states like
Oregon.
Rural states are less diverse
than urban ones, instead of
rural, do opponents really
mean white? Like slavery
times, there’s no penalty for
voter suppression. Arkansas,
with a 54.3 percent voter turn-
out, has the same electoral
vote as if 100 percent turned
out. The NPV makes voter
suppression cost state’s influ-
ence creating an incentive
to, gasp, encourage people to
vote. Counting minority party
votes encourages voter turn
out. Wyoming voters would
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have the same representation
as Californian voters. Cam-
paigns will have to refocus
on forgotten voters, giving us
more influence, not less.
Until 1824, the electoral
vote of each U.S. House dis-
trict was cast for the candidate
they chose, often resulting in
an alternative election in the
U.S. House, where Wyoming
and the Dakotas could outvote
California, Texas and New
York combined. After 1824,
without complaint, voters in
48 states gave up district rights
to vote against the majority,
and no one under an NPV will
complain that the loser of the
vote should win. It’s irrational
to believe that Oregon’s elec-
toral votes should be cast for
the candidate chosen by Ore-
gon voters. So that the candi-
date with less votes can win
the presidential election, like in
2000 and 2016.
Now our Legislature is con-
sidering NPV. Please contact
Sen. Lee Beyer 503-986-1706
and Sen. Arnie Roblan at 503-
986-1705, and ask them to vote
for SB823 that enacts the NPV
like 11 other states have, and
against the “poison pill” bill
SB825. They’re the two sena-
tors on the Senate Rules Com-
mittee that can kill the poison
pill bill in committee.
If all votes were equal in
the beginning, white, male,
pro-slavery representatives
wouldn’t have gotten elected,
and slavery would’ve been
abolished without the Civil
7A
War. If Native Americans’
votes counted, there would’ve
been no trail of tears, and if all
votes counted equally in 2016,
there would be no President
Donald Trump.
THEODORE THOMAS
Astoria
Farewell to Astoria
ow, hard to believe it’s
been 25 years. Even as
we are excited to leave for a
new chapter in our lives for our
home in Coronado, Califor-
nia, we are going to miss Asto-
ria so much. Our list of what
we are thankful for is exten-
sive: wonderful neighbors who
were always there for us, good
friends and co-workers, teach-
ers who made such an impact
on our kids’ lives and incredi-
ble community members who
taught us how a small town
works together.
We’ve enjoyed the many
opportunities to sing — at
the Liberty, the Lund House,
church and various concerts
and events — and the perfor-
mances of “Amahl and the
Night Visitors” were especially
memorable. We will miss the
Riverwalk, good restaurants,
viewing beautiful sunsets from
our front window and eating
really fresh salmon. We have
fond memories of even noisy
sea lions and one-way streets.
The view from the Column,
the sound of the trolley, fog
horns at night — especially on
New Year’s Eve — geese fly-
ing and honking overhead …
we could go on and on.
We originally came here for
our beautiful Victorian house
we call “The Big Blue.” The
Holmes family lived in it for 70
years, the Collins family for 26
years, and now we leave after
25 years. We know that new
legacies will continue to be
formed in this historic home.
Astoria has been an amaz-
ing place to raise our children,
as well as grow in our own
maturity and experiences. For
all this, we say a huge thank
you and farewell — we will
forever hold Astoria in our
hearts.
KEITH and GENNY
BUTENSHON
Astoria
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4,500 kids thank you
for protecting our river and making
learning outdoors possible!
Overlooked
he Friday, March 17 Let-
ters to the Editor section
in The Daily Astorian had two
disparaging letters regarding
Astoria as a tourist destination.
The fella from Gearhart appar-
ently has hated Astoria for over
50 years because of “panhan-
dlers” and “potheads” (“Tourist
destination?”), and the woman
from Astoria thinks the town is
wonderful, but is embarrassed
by the east end “lady” figure
and the fact that the downtown
has too many “shops of alter-
native health and recreation”
and far too many breweries
(“Inviting trouble?”).
Neither letter mentioned
the fact that Astoria also has
the Columbia River Maritime
Museum, the trolley, the Fla-
vel mansion and museum, the
docking station for the Coast
Guard cutters, the Riverwalk,
the Oregon Film Museum,
the Astoria Bridge, the River
Pilots’ station, the Clatsop
County Heritage Museum, the
Garden of Surging Waves, the
Liberty Theater, the East and
West Mooring basins, the Asto-
ria Music Festival, the Astoria
Regatta Festival and parade,
the Fisher Poets Gathering and
the May and September arrival
of cruise ships.
Astoria is a real live town,
with real live people. If you
want to visit a place where
everyone lives in a fantasy
world, go to Disneyland,
where they have a Main Street
void of panhandlers, pot shops
and breweries and their highest
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Anchor QEA • Bank of the Cascades • Bass IT
BergerABAM • Brown and Caldwell
City of Portland, Bureau of Environmental Services CMTS,
Inc. • David Evans & Associates, Inc.
EPSON Portland, Inc.
ESA | Environmental Science Associates
ETEC, LLC • Georgia-Pacific, Camas Mill
GreenWorks PC • GSI Water Solutions, Inc.
Kern & Thompson, LLC • Kiewit Corporation
Lane Powell PC • LKE Corporation • Metro
Murray, Smith & Associates, Inc. • Neil Kelly
NW Natural • Otak, Inc. • Port of Portland
Port of Camas-Washougal • Portland General Electric
Wieden+Kennedy • Winkler Development Corporation
Wolf Water Resources, Inc.
w w w. e s t u a r y p a r t n e r s h i p. o r g