A4
THE ASTORIAN • THuRSdAy, JANuARy 21, 2021
OPINION
editor@dailyastorian.com
KARI BORGEN
Publisher
DERRICK DePLEDGE
Editor
Founded in 1873
JEREMY FELDMAN
Circulation Manager
JOHN D. BRUIJN
Production Manager
CARL EARL
Systems Manager
OUR VIEW
A reset on climate and infrastructure
P
resident Joe Biden has
the opportunity for a reset
on climate change and
infrastructure.
On the North Coast, we are vul-
nerable to rising sea levels, land-
slides and wildfires. Our economic
survival depends on preserving
the Columbia River as a vital ship-
ping channel, improving the Port
of Astoria, strengthening our high-
ways, roads and bridges and pre-
paring for a Cascadia Subduction
Zone earthquake and tsunami.
We look to the federal gov-
ernment to have the foresight to
address climate change and the
wisdom to invest in infrastructure.
For the past four years, that fore-
sight and wisdom has been absent.
We agree with President Biden
that climate change is an existen-
tial threat. On the international
stage, we believe the United States
should recommit to the Paris cli-
mate accord and pressure other
major polluters, particularly China,
to take stronger steps to contain
greenhouse gas emissions. On
the national stage, we favor the
move away from coal as an elec-
tric power source and incentives
for the auto industry to convert to
cleaner-burning fuel and electric
vehicles.
Last year, we changed our
mind and supported cap and trade
before the Oregon Legislature as
a step forward on climate change
after opposing House Bill 2020 in
2019. While Oregon should not
wait for the federal government
to take action, we think regional
and national approaches have the
Hailey Hoffman/The Astorian
Addressing climate change and investing in infrastructure are priorities for our region.
potential to be the most successful.
Infrastructure is an essential
component of Biden’s climate
agenda. The chance for a clean
energy future and new jobs that
position the United States to com-
pete in the global economy is in
front of us.
But investments in infrastruc-
ture can happen on a separate track.
Climate change remains politically
polarizing and it will take time and
patience to reach consensus. The
bipartisan enthusiasm for an infra-
structure package has only grown
during the coronavirus pandemic.
Biden intends to unveil a “Build
Back Better Recovery Plan” in
February that could serve as an out-
line for Congress. In a speech last
week, the Democrat referred to
reviving the nation’s manufacturing
sector and significant investments
in research and development for
new technology.
Given four years where “Infra-
structure Week” became a punch-
line on Twitter, the new president
shouldn’t overpromise. A bread-
and-butter blueprint would be fine.
“It’s time to stop talking about
infrastructure and finally start
building it,” Biden said. “Millions
of good-paying jobs that put Amer-
icans to work rebuilding our roads,
bridges and ports to make them
more climate resilient, to make it
faster, cheaper and cleaner to trans-
port American-made goods across
our country and around the world.”
We hope the Biden administra-
tion works collaboratively with
Democrats and Republicans to craft
a spending plan that can reach the
states as soon as possible. State and
local governments can leverage the
federal money and upgrade crum-
bling infrastructure.
While we would place the Port
and some of our highways and
bridges at the top of the priority list
on the North Coast, we also would
like to close the broadband gap that
deprives too many rural communi-
ties of high-speed internet access.
There is a tendency after a pres-
idential election to raise expecta-
tions about what is possible. We
expect Biden to lead on climate
change, but we don’t think the
president — or any one leader —
can magically solve the problem.
We know an infrastructure pack-
age is achievable. And we do
expect Biden and a Congress con-
trolled by Democrats to deliver.
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Concerned
Shared version
A
T
mong the many abuses of power that
President Donald Trump has com-
mitted, I am concerned that he will pardon
those who will be convicted of acts related
to the insurrection that occurred in our
nation’s capital on Jan. 6.
Some suggestions for the criteria for
presidential pardons might include the
following:
• Presidents should not be allowed to
self-pardon.
• Vice presidents who assume the pres-
idency in the event of a conviction should
not be allowed to pardon their predecessor
without the consent of two-thirds majority
of both houses.
• Crimes that involve campaign finance
laws, tax evasion, insurrection and other
politically-related chicanery should not be
pardoned that were committed under that
respective president’s administration.
If any of your readers agree with these
sentiments, I encourage them to contact
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Senate Demo-
cratic leader Chuck Schumer, U.S. Sen. Ron
Wyden, U.S. Sen. Jeff Merkley and U.S.
Rep. Suzanne Bonamici to consider these
suggestions.
Pelosi and Schumer do have contact
options on their websites that allow resi-
dents not living in their jurisdictions to pro-
vide feedback regarding citizen concerns.
DUANE THOMPSON
Seaside
Criminal
s an octogenarian, I find it difficult to
wrap my brain around the “new nor-
mal” that exists for our young children and
young adults.
I was shaken to the core by the follow-
ing quote in an editorial regarding Jan. 6 by
Theunis Bates, the managing editor of The
Week magazine:
“During the Capitol siege, young staffers
for House Speaker Nancy Pelosi took cover
in a conference room, barricaded the door,
turned off the lights and hid under a table in
silence … survival tactics they had learned
growing up with active-shooter drills in
schools.”
My heart is breaking for our young peo-
ple and the terrible things that we adults are
doing to their lives, their futures and their
world. It is beyond unfair, it is criminal.
Shame, shame on us.
LARRY ALLEN
Astoria
A
o have a civil society, we must have
a shared version of facts and reality.
President Donald Trump tells the world
he won the election in a landslide. That is
not true. He lost by seven million popu-
lar votes, and he lost the Electoral College
vote 306-232.
He says the states must investigate to
find election fraud. They did. There was
none. He says the courts must look at the
evidence of election fraud. They did. There
was no evidence; that’s why the court cases
were dismissed.
Those who study tyrannical leaders
have labeled such a gambit “the big lie.”
Tyrants create a false version of reality.
By strength of personality, and playing on
fears and prejudices of the populace, they
convince their followers of events that are
not true or real.
Trumpism is built on the big lie. Sup-
porters say they are abiding by the Consti-
tution. They are not; they are subverting
it. They say they are protecting democ-
racy. They are not; they are trying to over-
throw it.
They accuse Vice President Mike Pence
and elected representatives of being trai-
tors. They are not. They acted per the Con-
stitution to certify what our nation’s secu-
rity agencies have assured the world was
a free and fair election. Followers claim to
be patriots. They are not; they are sedition-
ists mounting an insurrection.
Trumpism is anti-democratic, and
infused with racism, anti-Semitism, white
supremacy, conspiracy, violent rhetoric and
lies. It is time for Republicans to turn away
from Trumpism and rejoin civil society.
ERIC HALPERIN
Gearhart
Stand up for truth
A
n open letter to the Clatsop County
Republican Party and its Central
Committee chairmen/chairwomen and
delegates:
In light of the violent insurgence and
protests in Washington, D.C., driven by
the rhetoric and instructions spelled out
by President Donald Trump to fight, be
strong and march to the Capitol to make
your voices be heard— as he continued to
repeat unfounded claims of election fraud
— it is your civic duty and responsibility
as representatives of Clatsop County and
the Republican Party to help end this tide
of misinformation and division by directly
denouncing the lie that the 2020 presiden-
tial election was “stolen.”
Study the facts from a variety of
sources. There is no evidence presented,
despite over 50 lawsuits filed by the Trump
campaign. No judge, even those Trump
appointed, found any viable proof, which
is the very thing this country is based on.
If you do not denounce those who
refused to accept the results, you are com-
plicit in the violence that occurred and
could once again follow, even in our own
Oregon State Capitol.
Follow the lead of the growing number
of Republican leaders around the county,
stand up for truth. But not truth based on
a limited viewpoint, but based in facts and
the U.S. systems of justice, law, democracy
and decency.
Certify the election results, publicly.
Help heal the nation.
JUDITH P. NILAND
Astoria
Trump’s lie
A
dolf Hitler once said, “Tell a lie loud
enough and long enough, and people
will believe it.” President Donald Trump
has taken this advice, and for the past two
months has lied to the American people
that he won the 2020 election.
Now, he has used this lie to enrage peo-
ple into committing violence against our
nation’s Capitol, which has left citizens
dead and others injured. The truth is he
lost. There was no voter fraud or conspir-
acy, he just received fewer votes than Pres-
ident Joe Biden.
KEITH NEAL
Astoria
Party of Lincoln?
hocking, terrifying and horrific are but a
few of the adjectives that come to mind
when thinking about the attempted coup in
Washington, D.C., on Jan. 6.
A rally called by the president of the
U.S. to overthrow the legal votes of the
American people, and the certification by
all 50 states that President Joe Biden won
the election of Nov. 3, will go down as a
very low point in our history.
Only President Donald Trump could
assert that he won an election in which he
garnered seven million votes less than his
opponent. His claims have been shot down
by judges in numerous states where he lost.
Make no mistake, America’s very own
S
Adolf Hitler showed his true colors when
he incited his stormtroopers to stop the
Congress from certifying Biden’s win.
This insurrection also caused the death of
at least five people, numerous injuries and
property destruction.
Notably, the chair of the Clatsop County
Republicans was at the rally to support
Trump’s disinformation about election
results, and participate along with QAnon
supporters, neo-Nazi and white power
groups, and others who falsely believe that
Trump won the election.
Old Abe Lincoln must be rolling over
in his tomb at the thought of Trumpers and
their actions. “Patriots,” it’s time to take
down your Trump flags and support the
Constitution of the U.S.
NED HEAVENRICH
Brownsmead
Deep divide
T
he events that have taken place since
the general election have made clear a
deep divide in the country.
Not just in political associations, but the
gap in data-driven information, scientific
facts ignored, refusal to accept the rule of
law, as well as the naked grab for power by
politicians to remain in power, with com-
plete disregard for the well-being of all
citizens.
The political disregard of the Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention guide-
lines for pandemic prevention are the cause
of over 4,000 deaths per day.
The refusal to accept judgments by
numerous courts at all levels to support the
alleged vote counts are all clear indicators
of low voter information. The seditious
attacks on the Congress are extremely con-
cerning, as it indicates radical movement
based on unsupported conspiracy. Disre-
gard for veterans and current members of
the military is especially disgusting.
During the takeover of the Capitol,
police officers were killed and beaten,
including one traitor beating an officer
with an American flag.
We no longer have an honest debate
over political ideas. It’s down to threat-
ening those who disagree. We even had
a proposal on the county ballot that
attempted to usurp all federal, state and
local gun laws.
If we expect to have a free and open
society, we must have a better informed
constituency.
RICHARD McINTOSH
Astoria