Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About The daily Astorian. (Astoria, Or.) 1961-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 13, 2018)
4A THE DAILY ASTORIAN • TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2018 editor@dailyastorian.com KARI BORGEN Publisher JIM VAN NOSTRAND Editor Founded in 1873 JEREMY FELDMAN Circulation Manager DEBRA BLOOM Business Manager JOHN D. BRUIJN Production Manager CARL EARL Systems Manager OUR VIEW Brown needs to govern from center Should focus on priorities — PERS reform is the place to start K ate Brown was re-elected as Oregon governor with 49.99 percent of the vote in the latest statewide results. She should never forget that num- ber. Neither should her Democratic colleagues in the Oregon Legislature. Even if her tally edges past 50 percent in the final results, voters did not seem very enthusiastic for her policies or her performance. Oregon needs a new Kate Brown, one who will govern from the center instead of one who is seen as placating the pub- lic-employee unions and their allies who not only helped keep her in office, but also added to their Democratic majori- ties in the Legislature. Brown has resolutely opposed sig- nificant changes in the Oregon Public Employees Retirement System, even though the pension system’s $22 bil- lion unfunded liability is grabbing ever- larger pieces of city, county, school and state agency budgets. It remains con- founding that the governor and unions are willing to sacrifice current jobs — AP Photo/Steve Dykes Gov. Kate Brown addresses the crowd after winning re-election Nov. 6. and the public services those employees perform — to prop up pensions. A number of worthwhile changes have been proposed by state Sens. Betsy Johnson, D-Scappoose, and Tim Knopp, R-Bend, the League of Oregon Cities, the Oregon School Boards Association and other individuals and organizations. Meanwhile, the need for PERS reforms is an ongoing topic at the annual Oregon Leadership Summit because so little has been accomplished during Brown’s tenure. Yet Brown and her cohorts argue that the proposals would accomplish too little, would be unconstitutional and would break contracts. Not so. Certainly, any changes could not be retroactive. The Oregon Supreme Court has been clear. But going forward, even small changes collectively could have a significant impact on PERS’ stability. As to the legality of some proposals, only the courts can determine that; it is worth legislating those good ideas and putting them before the courts. The current pension system pits job-seeking and current public employ- ees against retirees and those close to retirements. That is insane, which is why everyone should have a stake in meaningful PERS reforms. Now that Brown no longer has to curry favor to gain re-election, she should strive to govern from the moder- ate center and represent all of Oregon, not just the urban population centers whose Democratic voters propelled her re-election. She must set well-defined, achievable goals in key areas — improving mental health care for youth and adults, length- ening the school year and boosting grad- uation rates, combating homelessness, developing affordable housing, strength- ening foster care while reducing the need for it, expanding substance-abuse treatment and fighting the opioids epi- demic, and expanding economic oppor- tunity throughout rural Oregon. Brown tends to have so many priori- ties that they become meaningless. To be an effective governor, that must change. PERS reform is the place to start. LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Kitzhaber should keep nose out of fishing business he Oct. 24 front-page headline begs for a response (“Kitzhaber re-emerges to back gillnet ban on the Columbia River,” The Daily Astorian). Disgraced former Gov. John Kitzhaber surprises me in that he would continue to try to manipulate Columbia River salmon pol- icy. True leadership brings opposing groups together, not divide them further part. In spring 1998, the then-governor visited me at my seafood plant in Astoria. We dis- cussed Columbia River salmon issues and policy. Within the discussion was gillnet fish- ing, and how it fits responsibly into sustain- able harvest for the non-sport fishing public. At the end of the meeting, we shook hands and he commented he had a much better understanding of how the fishery worked, and had no issues with its implementation. John Kitzhaber’s 2013 salmon plan to eliminate gillnetting on the Columbia River created winners and losers for his political gain at the expense of rural Oregon and the Oregon seafood consumers. I guess he lied to me. The 2018 Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife staff report concluded Kitzhaber’s plan failed miserably to enhance economics, promote the best science manage- ment practices or stabilize resource manage- ment. Oregon has not yet released its analysis of the plan to the public. At the conclusion of his second term as Oregon’s governor, he commented the state was ungovernable, admitting his lack of lead- ership. In the future, I wish the former dis- graced governor, who misused his office crim- inally with his life partner, would keep his nose out of trying to destroy the businesses and lives of hardworking fishing families and industry members. STEVE FICK Astoria T Examine the truth about evolutionary theory n 1970, when called up by my country, I fought against the Communists. How ironic that this same mentality, which subjugated a couple of billion people in Asia and Europe, would dominate much thought in America today. No, we’re not communists, yet. I’m not saying that, but we are beginning to act the way they do in many situations. For instance, the Left in this nation does our whole country a huge disservice when it silences free speech and free scientific inquiry. Students here are not allowed the privilege of examining the truth about origins. Teach- ers and students are effectively brainwashed by humanistic ideology, or threatened by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) into an inability to truly examine science, if it con- flicts with the state’s interest. Just a simple look into the fact that there are many misleading and erroneous state- ments in evolutionary theory is prohibited by those in power. Propositions like punctuated equilibrium, which opposes the neo-Darwin- ism position, irreducible complexity at the I cellular level, transitional forms, coal forma- tion, and radiometric dating methods could all, and should have, the light of truth thrown on them. But at last, to do so would remove one of the false legs the Leftist use to silence wisdom. CARL YATES Seaside Thanks to Astoria voters for supporting schools pen letter to the Astoria community: On behalf of the Astoria School District’s board, students, families and staff, I would like to thank district residents for displaying their support of our children and our schools. I am truly excited about the opportunity for growth, the future of Astoria School District, and the impact of the passing of our 2018 school bond. The trust that our voters have placed in us is tremendous. We now have the opportunity and obligation to improve the facilities that will be used to educate our students for years to come. We are excited about the impact of safety and security improvements, modern and upgraded classrooms, expanded voca- tional and technical education accessibility, and facility infrastructure improvements. As we move forward with project develop- ment, the district will work diligently to con- tinue communication on every phase of our school improvements. An independent citizen bond oversight committee will be established to oversee the use of the bond funds. It is an honor and a privilege to be a part of the Astoria School District, and to be a part of a team that comes together in support of our children, our schools and our community. Thank you again for your vote of support. CRAIG HOPPES Superintendent, Astoria School District O Average county income nowhere near $69K egarding the statement “The aver- age household income in the county is $69,000 a year, meaning the average afford- able home price is $240,000” (“Study: Variety the biggest housing need in Clatsop County,” The Daily Astorian, Oct. 31): If Bill Gates happened to be driving down U.S. Highway 101 that day, average county income might be $6 million dollars or so, for a while. Why not use the mean income for stories like this one (half above/half below the mean value). I bet it’s nowhere near $69,000 in Clatsop County. Additional gripe: “Reticent” doesn’t mean “reluctant”(“Gearhart woman chosen to help decorate the White House for Christmas,” The Daily Astorian, Oct. 31). WILLIAM BARNETT Astoria R The Golden Rule ere are three easy ways to practice the Golden Rule, which starts with self respect. The first one, I think, is super easy. While H LETTERS WELCOME Letters should be exclusive to The Daily Astorian. Letters should be fewer than 250 words and must include the writer’s name, address and phone number. You will be contacted to confirm authorship. All letters are subject to editing for space, grammar, and, on occasion, fac- tual accuracy. Only two letters per writer are allowed each month. Letters written in response to other letter writers should address the issue at hand and, rather than mentioning the driving anywhere, at any time, stop safely for that person wanting to cross the street. It really only takes a moment, most of the time. After shopping anywhere you might use a cart, and have loaded your goodies into your vehicle, put that cart into the provided spot, and don’t leave it for another to put back for you. It is not a job creator. It is a safety issue. The third does take a little effort. While walking anywhere, at any time, take the few extra steps to pick up that piece of trash you almost step over, and put it into a garbage can. These seemingly simple actions will help you have a better day for yourself. If you are not doing these sorts of things, are you not then a piece of a good society’s problems? TROY HASKELL Astoria Tone starts at the top n response to “Heaven help us” (The Daily Astorian, Oct. 26): Once again we hear from an apparent President Donald Trump supporter who points out the speck in his detractors’ eyes, while ignoring the plank in the president’s eye. The reader makes it clear he is a man I writer by name, should refer to the head- line and date the letter was published. Discourse should be civil and people should be referred to in a respectful manner. Letters in poor taste will not be printed. Send via email to editor@dailyas- torian.com, online at dailyastorian. com/submit_letters, in person at 949 Exchange St. in Astoria or 1555 North Roosevelt in Seaside, or mail to Letters to the Editor, P.O. Box 210, Astoria, OR 97103. of faith; Trump claims he is a believer, too. When I read God’s greatest commandment in Matthew 22:37-39, it says to love God with all your heart and soul, and your neighbor as yourself; Trump does neither. The reader comments on the Democrats’ disrespect for life. I don’t like abortion, but I will not make this decision for women whose circumstance I know nothing about. I know of no man who would let the government have control over his body. Words matter, and the tone starts at the top. This president has created the divisiveness around him by his own rhetoric. When the media tries to hold him accountable, they are called the enemy of the state. Trump is a modern-day demagogue. He may not be pulling the trigger or mailing the bombs, but he has emboldened those who wish to. He accepts no responsibility for his care- less words. It’s time to hold this president to integrity, truth and honor of the office, or be complicit in this ugliness. What profit is a great economy, if the country is divided by hate? PAUL FLUES II Astoria
