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VETERAN’S DAY
Special Edition
Your Carpet
Best Cleaning
Choice
November 9, 2016
O PINION
Martin
Cleaning
Service
Carpet & Upholstery
Cleaning
Residential &
Commercial Services
Minimum Service CHG.
$45.00
A small distance/travel
charge may be applied
CARPET CLEANING
2 Cleaning Areas or
more $30.00 Each Area
Pre-Spray Traffic Areas
(Includes: 1 small Hallway)
1 Cleaning Area (only)
$40.00
Includes Pre-Spray Traffic Area
(Hallway Extra)
Stairs (12-16 stairs - With
Other Services) : $25.00
Area/Oriental Rugs:
$25.00 Minimum
Area/Oriental Rugs (Wool) :
$40.00 Minimum
Heavily Soiled Area:
Additional $10.00 each area
(Requiring Extensive Pre-Spraying)
UPHOLSTERY
CLEANING
Sofa: $69.00
Loveseat: $49.00
Sectional: $109 - $139
Chair or Recliner:
$25 - $49
Throw Pillows (With
Other Services) : $5.00
ADDITIONAL
SERVICES
• Area & Oriental Rug
Cleaning
• Auto/Boat/RV Cleaning
• Deodorizing & Pet
Odor Treatment
• Spot & Stain
Removal Service
• Scotchguard Protection
• Minor Water Damage
Services
SEE CURRENT FLYER
FOR ADDITIONAL
PRICES & SERVICES
Call for Appointment
(503) 281-3949
Staying Engaged after an Exhausting Election
Eight ways to
keep moving
forward
C huCk C ollins
Throughout this
trying election sea-
son, we’ve been told
how much is at stake
with our vote. But
the success of any
democracy depends
on continuing to pay
attention long after we cast our
ballots.
So let’s pledge to strengthen
our democracy with a few resolu-
tions to focus our intentions and
keep us moving forward over the
next four years.
1. Change your media diet.
Way too much ink, airtime, and
mental real estate has been con-
sumed by the horserace reporting
on elections — it’s all about who’s
winning and losing. So unplug
from the talk shows that interview
pollsters and engage in partisan
bickering all day. Find the com-
mentators and independent media
outlets that strengthen our civic
life.
2. Turn off corporate media.
This election has been very prof-
itable for big media corporations,
by
but bad for our democracy. As
CBS chairman Les Moonves re-
marked, “Man, who would have
expected the ride we’re all having
right now? The money’s rolling in
and this is fun.”
Our differences have
been compounded by me-
dia reports that amplify the
loudest and most partisan
utterances. Election cov-
erage this year has encour-
aged us to view one another
as cartoon caricatures, not
neighbors.
3. Reject the consumer men-
tality in elections. We’re encour-
aged to view national elections
like consumers buying a car, but
presidential elections can make
most of us feel like spectators,
not participants. Election Day is a
small part of our real democracy
— think of voting as a tiny frac-
tion of your civic life.
4. Make your voice heard.
Pledge to communicate with your
elected officials all year round,
not just when they want your vote.
Call, write, email, and attend com-
munity forums. When a politician
hears from a dozen constituents
with the same concern, it matters.
A few resolutions must address
our polarized political atmosphere.
The only way to break through
this is by connecting with people
we don’t always agree with.
For instance, the liberal Califor-
nia sociologist Arlie Hochschild
spent five years interviewing
conservative Tea Party activists
in Louisiana, making friends and
asking deep questions. She urges
us all to scale the “empathy wall”
and learn each other’s stories.
Here’s a few easy ways to get
started:
5. Try a social media fast. So-
cial media is amazing, but it most-
ly serves as an echo chamber to
reinforce our existing views. It’s
not a substitute for talking to peo-
ple, asking questions, and learning
why people support certain poli-
cies.
6. Practice the art of civil
discourse. Find ways to meet oth-
ers face-to-face to engage in con-
versations, not soapbox speeches
and debates. Look at the “Living
Room Conversation” movement
that brings people together across
political divisions. Their goal is
to encourage “authentic, respect-
ful conversations” to “strengthen
relationships and advance under-
standing of the challenges, oppor-
tunities, and solutions before us.”
Finally,
other
resolutions
should focus on changing our po-
larizing election system:
7. Eliminate the wealth pri-
mary. Long before voters cast
their ballots in a primary, big
money donors have winnowed the
field and selected who will stand
for election. People all across the
political spectrum agree that we
need fundamental campaign fi-
nance reform to reduce the influ-
ence of big money, including the
repeal of Citizens United.
8. Break the two-party
duopoly. A growing number of
voters have declared indepen-
dence from the two major par-
ties. So why do we allow other
voices and perspectives to be
excluded from presidential de-
bates? Our democracy would
benefit if we had real choices
outside the two major parties, as
they do in most other countries
in the world.
The strength of our civic life
depends on what we do outside
elections. And especially after the
deeply toxic experience of 2016,
we all need to step up to protect
our real democracy from those
who profit from division.
Chuck Collins co-edits In-
equality.org at the Institute for
Policy Studies and is author of the
new book, Born on Third Base:
A One Percenter Makes the Case
for Tackling Inequality, Bringing
Wealth Home, and Committing to
the Common Good. Distributed by
OtherWords.org.