A4 Wednesday, March 25, 2020
HOOD RIVER NEWS | Hood River, Ore.
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OPINION
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Our Readers Write
Together
History will judge harshly
the delayed response of the
U.S. Administration to the
COVID-19 pandemic.
Squandering the benefit of
timely warnings, the admin-
istration failed to adequately
prepare, act and communi-
cate — all compounded by the
president’s aversion to learn-
ing and refusal to take respon-
sibility. The price is already
tragically high.
As broken and surreal as
political realities in our coun-
try and world are, though, the
human spirit is alive and well.
We see it a little everywhere. As
an oceanographer at a medical
university, I watch from the
safe distance afforded by mod-
ern communications, a range
of dedicated healthcare pro-
fessionals at a main hospital
prepare and act to deal with a
crisis of unparalleled national
and global impact. Their self-
less dedication — replicated
across country and world by so
many of their colleagues, too
often in daunting conditions —
is inspiring. As is inspiring the
science-based knowledge that
guides them, expanded daily
through the around-the-clock
work of biomedical research-
ers everywhere.
As a U.S. citizen, I watch
with respect as dedicated pub-
lic servants, at the Center for
Disease Control, the National
Institutes of Health, and Health
Authorities across the coun-
try, struggle to prevail, with
courage and subject matter
competence, over the hurdles
created both by the pandemic
and a dysfunctional political
context. Of their success de-
pends how we survive this
crisis. As a neighbor, I watch
with concern and admiration
owners bringing resolve and
creativity to the challenge of
keeping their small businesses
from collapsing, amidst an up-
side-down reality that threat-
ens lives and livelihoods. The
same applies to staff at public
utilities, support centers, and
educational institutions, striv-
ing to maintain normalcy in
essential services. And to em-
ployees at supermarkets and
delivery services, suddenly
placed at the front lines of an
epidemic. Of their dedication
and success, too, depends how
we survive this crisis.
We are all in this together.
People like you and me make
everyday decisions that matter
deeply. Hand hygiene, social
distancing, use of resources,
kindness and caring, staying
healthy, and voting — are all
among individual choices with
enormous collective conse-
quences. Let’s choose wisely.
Antonio Baptista
Mount Hood Parkdale
Support
eateries
While walking past the
China Gorge restaurant this
morning, I noticed the sign,
“Open for Takeout.” I texted
my wife to suggest Chinese for
dinner. I went in and picked up
a take home menu and I am
looking forward to dinner.
Many of you have a favorite
(or more) local eateries. If they
are set up for take out, deliv-
ery, or drive through, please
consider eating in with their
delicious offerings. I’m sure
it will help them weather this
economic nightmare and they
will know you are thinking of
them.
John Brennan
Hood River
Nuestra salud
People are doing wise, ra-
tional things to prepare for the
seriousness of the coronavi-
rus pandemic: Staying home
when possible, taking really
good care when they need to
be out or working, doing plain
old Good Deeds for neighbors
and others. Here are two more
things we can do:
1. We all want our health-
care professionals — front
line doctors, nurses and oth-
ers, and everyone who works
in healthcare in any role at
all — to answer their call to
duty, even when the going gets
rough. We all want them to
be there when we need them,
and to be as healthy, rested
and supported as possible. Do
you know someone working
in healthcare? Talk to them
and ask/suggest how you can
be supportive in the coming
weeks. Make and drop off
meals for them and their fam-
ily? Offer some eldercare or
childcare they would have to
be doing otherwise, of course
with the proper precautions
and supplies? (Some tips: ti-
nyurl.com/uh25xw8.) Buy and
deliver groceries? Make phone
calls, drop off bill payments,
take over their usual volunteer
stint if allowed? Walk the dog?
Please think about it. Their
work is critical to our whole
community’s health. If we can
do anything in addition to say-
ing thanks, let’s help them out.
2. If you haven’t made an
Advance Directive (and any-
one over 18 always should
have!), there’s no time like
the present. I’m not talking
exclusively about end-of-life
decisions — I mean things like
whether we want to go to the
hospital when sick, whether
we’d want a ventilator or life
support, etc. Make sure to
designate a healthcare repre-
sentative who knows what you
want when you can’t speak for
yourself (whether it’s because
of coronavirus or getting hit by
a truck). Oregon has a handy
online advance directive form
here: tinyurl.com/y4bcct3a. It
doesn’t need to be notarized.
So if you’ve been procrastinat-
ing on doing your “advance
care planning,” take this op-
portunity as a prompt to get the
job done.
A nuestra salud (“to our
health”).
Tina Castañares
Hood River (Odell)
and trade bill, why is Chuck
Thomsen the only elected state
representative or senator that
is being recalled?
I trust Sen. Thomsen that the
Cap & Trade bill will cost us
much more money.
Tom Yates
Hood River
Misguided
Sen. Chuck Thomsen’s ri-
diculous explanation (Another
Voice: “I left Salem to protect
you”) only strengthens the
case that he doesn’t belong
in the state Senate. The claim
that “special interests groups”
are backing the recall effort
against him conveniently ig-
nores the fact that it has been
special interest groups that
have underwritten the Repub-
lican walkout in the legislature
the last five years. According to
Oregonian reporter Rob Davis,
AWOL Oregon Senators have
taken $117,619 in campaign
contributions from the likes of
the Koch Brothers and other
fossil fuel interests. As Davis
reported in the Oregonian last
year, Oregon leads the nation
in per capita corporate contri-
butions to the legislature. It’s
hard to avoid the conclusion
that all that dark money has
eclipsed some of Sen. Thom-
sen’s brighter inclinations. The
hidden agenda behind putting
carbon-pricing to a popular
vote, which Thomsen deceit-
fully frames as a violation of
voter rights, is that it allows
these same fossil fuel interests
to dump millions into defeat-
ing such a referendum.
In Washington state in 2018,
$31.5 million, the bulk of it
from BP and the Koch brothers,
went into defeating i-1631, a
carbon-pricing bill. Oil money
killed a similar bill in Colorado.
Voters should remember that
rural Oregonians were exempt-
ed from the fuel tax in the latest
version of the climate bill. So
why would Thomsen contin-
ue to obstruct? The “extreme
agenda” for which Thomsen
blames Gov. Kate Brown and
the Democrats more accurate-
ly belongs to Thomsen and his
Republican deserters.
A small group of minority
party legislators, with fund-
ing from fossil fuel interests,
chooses to hold up the busi-
ness of an entire state on behalf
of those interests. Now that’s
extreme. Voters should recog-
nize his hostage-taking tactics
for what they are, and remove
him from office.
Steven Hawley
Hood River
Chuck Thomsen, you did not
protect me by leaving Salem
and hiding out in another
state. I also want you to know
that I am not a member of any
special interest group and I live
right here in Hood River Coun-
ty, not Portland, and that I did
sign the petition to recall you.
The thing you and the rest
of your Republican no shows
don’t seem to understand is
that there is a reason you
are a “Super Minority” and
the Democrats have a super
majority in Oregon (hint, the
reason is Republicans don’t
believe climate change is really
happening).
I have no doubt that, refus-
ing to believe climate change
is happening and that we all
need to do something about
it, will be the ultimate undoing
of the Republican Party. I also
have no doubt that the longer
we wait to do something about
it, the more it is going to cost
all of us in money and many
other ways.
So Chuck, you can say you
were protecting the misguided
belief of the Republican Party
that climate change isn’t hap-
pening, but you cannot say
that you were protecting me or
any of the rest of us who are in
the majority that you are pro-
tecting us.
Darrell Roberts
Mt. Hood-Parkdale
Trust Thomsen
“Thank you, Sen. Chuck
Thomsen!” Oregon citizens
deserve the opportunity to
vote on important issues like
the “Cap & Trade Bill” stuck in
the Senate. Now some people
want to recall you because you
believe the Hood River voters
should get their two cents into
this issue.
Lately, I have learned that
recalling Chuck isn’t just a
local Hood River County affair,
but it is monetarily being fur-
nished by Portland people who
want to get a Portland Demo-
crat into his seat. For example,
“Blue Oregon” has contributed
$37,000. Retired State Senator
from Portland William Shields
has given $15,000. Also, in the
pot is the American Federation
of Teachers.
Also, of all the State Repub-
lican’s that left the state to give
their constituents the right
to know and vote on the cap
Extreme
Take action
It is important to understand
why COVID-19 exists and take
appropriate action if humanity
is to ever get a grip on the cur-
rent situation and the future
situations that will most cer-
tainly occur again and perhaps
be much worse.
While the current race for a
vaccine is on and planet Earth
is currently on lock down, we
must understand the genesis
of this problem much like
a responsible patient would
want to know the cause of their
disease so they can truly erase
it from their lives instead of just
going on a lifetime course of
medicine.
The current pandemic has
all evidence pointing to ille-
gal, abusive, exploitive wildlife
markets where people buy
animals for consumption. Just
to be clear, even if they occur
in corners of the world where
it is “technically” legal it is still
a crime against our planet’s
biodiversity. The animals in
question come from all corners
of the globe and are housed
in cramped stress quarters,
are then butchered live, in
many cases, for human con-
sumption. This circumstance
is among the reasons that
viral jumps occur between the
nonhuman animal kingdom
and homo sapiens and this is
believed to be the mechanism
through which Covid-19 exists
today putting us all on extreme
alert, causing death and illness,
and shutting down society and
people’s livelihoods. It did not
have to happen.
Part of the global response
to COVID-19 must include
the abolishing of such “wet”
markets for the purpose of
protecting the biodiversity and
nonhuman sentience on our
planet. It is far overdue for
humans to protect what is left
of our biodiverse planet and all
the innocent sentient inhabi-
tants that live within it.
Nathan Smith
Hood River
Example
I think we all have to stay
aware that the problems we
will find with the behavior of
others will also be our own,
some more so even. So, I don’t
want to think I am ahead of
anyone else on this. We’re all
operating blind, largely, and
are prey to base impulses.
But I am wondering why
Hood River couldn’t become
the town that sets an example
for other towns and for our-
selves in the future. Someone
said to me once, “Oh, Hood
River. That’s where all the
traffic stops when somebody
crosses the street.”
“Yeah, that’s the place!”
Well, how else might we do
the very right thing in spite of
warring tendencies?
If we remembered that our
first survival instinct is to be
selfish and we have to fight
that … For instance, anyone
keeping a more than needed
supply of what someone else
might suffer without might find
a way to get some to those peo-
ple. Maybe the hospital needs
medical supplies like masks.
Other suggestions?
And I’m thinking of the
check the government will be
sending to me and to my busi-
ness. I think I should find a use
for it besides spending it on
myself, assuming I have what I
need. And insofar as I have any
savings from my business that
has been accumulated because
of my employees, and really,
most of it has been made that
way, I think laying off people
for lack of current business,
while I still have such savings,
is questionable.
Wouldn’t it be cool to have
Hood River, you and I, as an
example of a town that went
the extra mile to set a standard
others might consider? Maybe
we’ll be the place where peo-
ple who usually stop to help
someone in trouble still fights
back the fear, takes precautions
(and teaches them in doing
that), and interrupts our hur-
rying to wherever we feel it is
so important to get to. And let’s
encourage our governments
to spend what it takes and tax
who has extra to keep our peo-
ple safe, healthy, whole.
Bob Williams
Hood River
Misinformation
Sen. Chuck Thomsen’s
March 18 opinion piece ar-
guing against his recall was
riddled with misinformation.
He first stated that “special in-
terest groups” are backing the
recall election. In fact, it is the
“common interest” of his con-
stituents to have a senator who
will show up to do his job that
is driving this recall effort. He
said he left Salem to “protect
your right to vote on the cap-
and-trade bill,” when actually
it is the will of the majority of
Oregon voters that led them to
elect representatives and sena-
tors who would pass meaning-
ful climate legislation that was
well-crafted, evidence-based,
and years in the planning
— not a “reckless bill,” as he
put it. Thomsen claimed that
these are “downtown Portland
groups” that are seeking to
oust him, when in fact it is
people from rural areas, small
towns, and cities throughout
his district that are fed up with
his failure to show up and vote
on bills important to us all. I’m
a small woodland owner from
a rural area of Corbett, not a
“downtown Portlander.” Nor
are we “special interest groups
who stand to profit” if cap-and-
trade passes. We are citizens
who believe we all need to
step up and share the burden
of moving to a carbon-free
economy.
Thomsen stated that “av-
erage Oregonians don’t want
and can’t afford” the cap-and-
trade bill. Clearly he is out of
step with average Oregonians
See LETTERS, page A9
ANOTHER VOICE
Friends ask public to ‘give the trails a break’
By KEVIN GORMAN
Friends of the Gorge
In recent days, reports of
crowded trailheads in the Co-
lumbia River Gorge National
Scenic Area have been report-
ed by numerous news outlets
with accompanying concerns
expressed by community lead-
ers and Gorge officials.
On a beautiful day, my first
instinct is to drive to the Gorge
for a hike. But I’m not doing
that.
We all have a role to play as
responsible stewards for the
Columbia Gorge. And those
of us who live in the Port-
land-Vancouver metropolitan
area owe it to our fellow citi-
zens who live in Gorge com-
munities to give Gorge trails a
break in the coming days.
We must all support federal,
state, and local health officials
by following current social
distancing guidance. We also
must support the efforts by
Gorge officials and public land
managers to keep both Gorge
trails and their communities
safe.
This weekend, according
to numerous reports received
from Gorge residents and com-
munity leaders, a number of
trailheads and other recre-
ation sites around the Co-
lumbia River Gorge National
Scenic Area were filled with
crowds and long bathroom
lines. Crowded trailheads just
increase the burden for local
land managers responsible
for cleaning and maintain-
ing public lands throughout
the Gorge. And accidents or
falls from visitors on the trails
could put Gorge search and
rescue groups at greater risk
and increase strains on local
hospitals.
By all means, get out and
enjoy the sunshine today. But
please consider doing so with-
in the vicinity of your home.
Your community will thank
you and the Gorge will thank
you.
■
Kevin Gorman is executive
director of Friends of the Co-
lumbia Gorge, a conservation
organization with over 7,000
members dedicated to protect-
ing, preserving, and stewarding
the Gorge for future genera-
tions.
Learn more at gorgefriends.
org.