EDITORIAL/OPINION
Kulongoski addresses concerns
'Freedom of the press'
T w e n ty-five years ago the Soviet U n io n suc
cessfully launched its first space satellite— Sput
nik. S putnik opened the way fo r instantaneous
com m unications. It also widened the com m uni
cations gap between the developed nations and
the T h ird W o rld and heightened the controversy
over the “ New In fo rm a tio n O rd e r.”
Discussions in the Movement o f N on-A ligned
N ations and U N E S C O use the term “ c u ltu ra l
im perialism ” to describe the control by m ultina
tio n a l news agencies over the news a va ila b le
w ith in the T h ird W o rld nations and about the
T hird W o rld nations.
N inety per cent o f the w o rld news dissemin
ated by the press, radio and television in A frica ,
L a tin A m e rica and A sia (n o t in clu d in g C h ina
and Japan) comes fro m New Y o rk , Lon don or
Paris.
The people o f the T h ird W o rld receive the
m ajor part o f their news screened through west
ern sources: “ They see their faces reflected from
afar in m irrors that de fo rm .” (U N ESC O D irect
o r G eneral A .M . M ’ B o w .) The people o f the
U.S. and Western Europe do not receive T h ird
W o rld re a lity. A lth o u g h T h ird W o rld nations
make up tw o -th ird s o f the w o rld ’ s p o p u la tio n
they receive little a tte n tio n fro m the news ser
vices, except fo r wars and disasters. O nly 20 per
cent o f the correspondents o f the fo u r m a jo r
w ire services are in L a tin A m erica, A fric a and
the M iddle East combined.
The United States is the strongest opponent o f
the “ New W orld In fo rm a tio n and C om m unica
tion O rder” proposed by U N ES C O . U N E S C O
asks fo r elim ination o f inequality, elim ination o f
negative aspects o f in fo rm a tio n m on o p o ly, as
sistance to underdeveloped nations, respect fo r
(Continued fro m page I column 6)
cu ltu ra l id e n tity. The U .S . interprets these de
mands as a challenge to the free enterprise sys
tem (news services are p rim a rily businesses) and
to “ freedom o f the press.” Proponents o f the
New O rder see in fo rm a tio n as a social function
— a fundam ental hum an rig h t— not m erchan
dise.
“ O u r people liv e s u b m itte d to an u n c o n
trolled invasion o f news which inculcates distant
values that threaten our national identity. Such a
fallacious concept o f freedom o f in fo rm a tio n ,
leaving absolute decision-m aking power about
the in fo rm a tio n given to people in the hands o f
tra n s n a tio n a l news enterprises can o n ly be
termed unjust. The international press only col
lects in fo rm a tio n that undermines the image o f
our peo ple .. . ignoring our struggles, our efforts
and just claims fo r a system o f international ju s
tice,” said form er Venezuelan president Carlos
Andres Perez.
In the meantime, the m onopoly on in fo rm a
tion goes on. Satellites that circle the earth trans
m it messages dire ctly in to people’ s homes and
th e ir governm ents are powerless to intercede.
S atellite s can d isco ve r m in e ra l deposits u n
know n to the natio ns in vo lve d . In te rn a tio n a l
bankers can obtain economic in form ation faster
than the governments involved. A n d transm is
sion o f in fo rm a tio n is controlled, in large part,
by a h a n d fu l o f tra n s n a tio n a l c o rp o ra tio n s —
IT T , IB M , R C A , General Electric, CBS and a
few Japanese firm s.
W hile the transnationals c o n tro l the flo w o f
in fo rm a tio n th ro u g h o u t the w o rld , the U .S .
gove rn m e n t argues a b o u t " fre e d o m o f the
press.”
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Nicaraguan cartooniat'a view of US praaa campaign: Uncla Sam -
Hara w a present proof of tha arma purchaaad by Nicaragua, w ith
which w a ahow th at tha country la turning into a menace to tha ragion.
Nicaraguan: *Turning into a what?'
Letters to the Editor
Opposes aid to ei Salvador
Curious
To the editor:
To the editor:
I am a freshman in college, who
voted for the first time in the M ay
primary.
Recently, I have taken a special
interest in the M etropolitan Service
District. What's strange, though, is
that I can’t find a single substantial
achievement (besides m aking a lot
o f people angry) that would justify
the money it ’s been spending. It is
probably obvious to most people
that M e tro is being very po o rly
managed, but what have we got to
show for it? I ’m curious.
I would like to clarify my position
on El Salvador.
Lanita Duke’s article in your pub
lication o f September 14, correctly
represented me on all issues except
El Salvador. The message which her
article gives is inaccurate: It is the
process o f placing the initiative on
the County ballot which seemed in
consistent w ith both County policy
and legal o p in io n . The C irc u it
Court has since placed the initiative
on the November 2 ballot.
I want to make clear my position
in opposition to U.S. involvement in
El Salvador. I have a strong record
o f support o f human rights, and I
deeply believe that our money does
not belong in El Salvador.
Thank you, otherwise, for a good
job o f reporting the facts.
Dennis Buchanan
County Commissioner
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have taken those positions because I
have believed they are quite simply
right. Both as a candidate and as
Governor 1 want to hear the con
cerns of blacks and other minorities.
On October 12th I w ill be meeting
with the members o f the Portland
black community at the King facil
ity and I w ill continue such gather
ings as Governor.
Governor Atiyeh has told the Ob
server he favors the new federalism
once the economy reverses and Ore
gon can a ffo rd it. What does Rea
gan 's new federalism program mean
to you? H ow w ill it a ffe ct the
state ‘s services and resources and
specifically how would it ctffect m i
norities and the disadvantaged in
Oregon?
The program that Reagan has
proposed as ‘ new federalism* has
been appropriately called a ‘ new
feudalism .’ To me it sounds very
much like a return to the ‘ states’
rights* arguments o f the past that
were used as an excuse fo r any
number o f types o f discrimination,
p a rtic u la rly against the poor and
minorities. One o f the Reagan pro
posals in the health care area would
impose an intolerable $220 m illion
burden on Oregon. I f enacted the
new federalism would undoubtedly
reduce the level o f essential govern
ment services because even with the
best efforts the state could not make
up that d e fic it in federal funds.
Those cuts would have their most
adverse impact on Oregon’s minori
ties and disadvantaged. As Govern
or I will be a strong opponent o f the
misguided new federalism effort.
Please addresss the Jollowing ed
ucational concerns often heard in
the Northeast community: low aca
demic achievement, inadequate edu
cation o f teachers in human rights,
basic skills, subject urea and content
certification standards, lack o f vo
cational career counseling and edu
cation and lack o f m onitoring the
use o f special funds?
O bviously many o f those con
cerns are matters o f local ju risd ic
tion and under the stale Department
o f Education. They are, however,
all influenced by the general level of
education funding for basic school
support provided by the state and as
Governor I w ill work to increase
(hat level o f support so (hat local
communities can increase educa-
tional q u a lity. I urge all citizens,
and particularly m inority citizens,
to be active in their local education
al systems and work to make those
systems reflect their concerns und
values.
School fin an cin g is a serious
problem in Oregon. What changes
do you propose?
The most key change that must
come about is to reverse the de
crease in the level o f basic school
support that is provided by the
state. As Governor I will appoint u
special blue ribbon citizen task force
to study the entire Oregon (ax struc
ture. That task force will be directed
to find ways to stabilize the Oregon
property tax system, while m ain
taining its responsiveness to citizens'
desires to control the level o f local
services.
Please state your position on the
racial harassment b ill passed by the
last legislature that is currently
under review by the courts.
I support the concept o f the racial
harassment bill, and strong criminal
penalties for racial harassment. As
Governor I will work with the legis
lature for a racial harassment b ill
that will pass constitutional tests if
the current statute is found to be un
constitutional.
Do you fa v o r an income lax?
How does the sales tax d iffe r fro m
the income tax in its impact on low
and moderate income people?
1 do not favor an Oregon sales
tax, and I am particularly opposed
to the recommendation of the Gov
e rn or’ s Economic Development
Task Force for the highest sales tax
on the west coast. I oppose a sales
tax because it is a regressive lax that
takes a greater portion o f low and
middle income citizens' disposable
income than it does from the rich. A
progressive income tax is preferable
because it is taxation based on abil
ity Io pay.
What is your position on the 1.5
per cent pro pe rty tax lim ita tio n
measure? What is the real effect
likely to be on state and local gov
ernment and on low and moderate
income people should b allot Mea
sure 3 pass on November 2nd?
I am completely opposed to Bal
lot Measure 3 as an ill-founded
property tax relief attempt. I have
sponsored and supported the home
owners and renters property (ax re
lief program in the legislature, and I
have voted against the cuts in it
recommended by the Oovernor. If
passed. Ballot Measure 3 would stop
economic development because
local communities would not be able
to provide the services demanded by
business und industries. It would
take away local citizens* rights to
determine the level o f local services.
As services ssould be cut, those cuts
would most dramatically impact low
and moderate income citizens.
Gov. Atiyeh has proposed rein
statement o f the death penalty in
Oregon. What is yo ur position on
this proposal and why? How can in
equities in the crim inal justice sys
tem be addressed at the state level?
I am opposed to the death pen
alty. Studies have shown that it is
not a deterrent to murder, and that
its application has been dispropor
tionate on blacks, the poor and mi
norities I have proposed an Oregon
economic development program
that will help solve the problems of
crime in oui state by getting the
economy moving again I have also
recommended a c rim in a l justice
program that focuses on swift and
certain justice I w ill continue to
strongly support the work o f public
defenders in providing legal services
to those without the means for pri
vate counsel, and I am open to any
recommendations that w ill make
our crim inal justice system more
equitable.
In conclusion, whv do you want
to be Governor o f Oregon?
le t me firs t say, that I am
running because I am concerned
about every citizen o f our state.
Oregon is not a state o f only whites
and middle class households. Our
state is made up o f many citizens
from varying racial backgrounds,
with various financial and profes
sional situations, und with varying
goals and aspirations I believe it is a
Governor's job to recognize that di
versity, and to lead Oregon to pro
vide the environment where every ci
tizen is able to develop his or her po
tential to the most I believe I have
an understanding ot that diversity,
and I w ill implement programs to
improve our economy, to enhance
our educational system, and to
better and more fairly manage slate
government. It is to do those things
for all the people o f Oregon that I
am a candidate for Governor.
Debnam seeks House seat
(Continued from page ! column 6)
would have an adverse effect on
economic development.
Observer: How would you keep in
touch with your constituents?
Debnam: I would hold a public-
fo ru m — a Town H all meeting —
twice a month during the legislative
session and once a month during the
interim to seek public opinion and
provide in fo rm a tio n . As a repre
sentative o f the district I w ill value
the in form a tion , judgements and
ideas provided by the voters. I also
pledge to keep the voters informed
—to let the community know when
hearings will be held, when bills will
be discussed—to help the public
make themselves heard in Salem.
The legislative position should be
used to build, not to dismantle; to
make positive input, and take posi
tions, not to react. We need to learn
to interact and be part o f the process
o f government; this w ill be one o f
my major roles.
I w ill invite the legislature to the
Town Hall meetings so they can re
ceive the d is tric t’ s opinions firs t
hand; 1 w ill attempt to build
bridges, form w orking relation-
whips with other legislators o f both
parties.
My phone number is listed and I
will be available.
Observer: You are running as a
Republican in a community that is
traditionally Democratic. How do
you answer those who question your
party affiliation?
Debnam: Richard Parker, who
wrote, “ Myth o f the Middle Class,”
wrote in the Oregonian recently that
the House Democratic Caucus’ plan
for the economy—“ balanced bud
get, tax breaks for business, aband-
donment o f fu ll employment as a
party p la tfo rm ” —could just as
easily have been issued by the Re
publican Party.
In many ways the Democrats are
becoming more like Republicans
and vice-versa. Neither party has
done anything for District 18. Dis
trict 18 is unique in the state—al
though it shares many characteris
tics with other communities it has a
character o f its own.
Now it is not a question o f party
a ffilia tion , but o f compassion and
belief in the human sp irit. I have
both.
1 am my own man. I w ill listen,
will ask questions, will seek advice,
will communicate with all segments
o f the community, w ill make deci
sions based on what I believe is com
munity need and my own conscience
and integrity.
Observer: How do you d iffe r
from Ed Leek, the Democratic
nominee?
Debnam: I am sensitive to the citi
zenry o f District 18, the special and
unique character o f the d istrict. I
am a “ people person” — ! enjoy
being with people.
I am w illin g to spend my time
among the people. I am w illing to
talk with all the people o f the dis
tric t-b la c k , white southeast Asian
—all. I will talk with groups that are
active in the community. I believe
Mr. Leek has a narrow viewpoint—
his ideas are his own. I have a
broader base and a greater w illing
ness to work with all people. I am
not a “ loner.”
Since race has become an issue—
this district is seen throughout the
state as a “ m in o rity ” or “ black”
d istrict I w ill address that issue
also. I helieve a black person going
to Salem from this district will have
opportunities that arc unique; I
think the House and the House lead
ership are ready for a black person
in Salem. I believe the people in Dis
trict 18 will provide the backing for
a legislator they feel is one of them
and represents them, whether they
arc black or white.
I don’t believe Mr. Leek can rep
resent the black com m unity — not
because he is white but because he
has not b u ilt, or has broken o ff,
those channels o f communication
and respect that are necessary. He
has demonstrated that although he
lives and works in the black commu
nity, and has been active to a great
degree, he does not have that under
standing o f and sensitivity to the
black citizen.
Observer: What is your own rec
ord o f involvement in the commu
nity?
Debnam: During the pas, four
years I have spent much time out o f
town in connection with my busi
ness prom otion ot music groups
including Pleasure, management
consulting and public relations. I
have kept aware of the issues, have
attended occasional meetings, bu,
have not been active.
But, I am not new to political ac
tivism While attending high school
in California, I worked in the Rum
ford Ac, (fa ir housing) campaign.
W hile attending Cleveland High
School in P ortland I was in the
NAACP and Urban League youth
groups. During the early model
cities days I worked at the Neigh
borhood Service Center and was in
volved in many o f the meetings to
draw up Model Cities Programs. I
participated in Y M C A NE youth
leadership programs while Edgar
Mitchell was director.
I was active in the BSU at Pacific
University and worked to link the
black students at the university to
the Portland community. I also was
active in the Portland Black Caucus,
chaired hy Lee Brown.
Aftci the Black Caucus disbanded
I channeled my energies into busi
ness and began doing a lot o f travel
ling. My travel, plus the fact that I
lived in North Carolina, Baltimore
and C a lifo rn ia before coming to
Portland, broadened my perspec
tives and understanding.