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THE DAILY ASTORIAN • TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2018
editor@dailyastorian.com
KARI BORGEN
Publisher
JIM VAN NOSTRAND
Editor
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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
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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-
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Roosevelt in Seaside, or mail to Letters
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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