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About East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 14, 2015)
Page 4A OPINION East Oregonian Friday, August 14, 2015 OTHER VIEWS Founded October 16, 1875 KATHRYN B. BROWN Publisher JENNINE PERKINSON Advertising Director DANIEL WATTENBURGER Managing Editor TIM TRAINOR Opinion Page Editor OUR VIEW Tip of the hat; kick in the pants A tip of the hat to getting some use out of Pendleton’s Christian Science church, the beautiful but long-vacant building at the intersection of 0DLQ6WUHHWDQGWKH8PDWLOOD5LYHU This week, participants in the Pendleton Rock & Roll Camp — which is celebrating its 10th year — had recording classes and instrument workshops in the grand old facility that now sits mostly empty. It was great to see one of the neatest buildings in Pendleton — both for its architecture and its location — getting some use. The community and the building’s owners both have a lot to gain if that happens more often, and we hope it does. So while Rock & Roll Camp is just a WHPSRUDU\ZHHNORQJ¿OOLW¶VJUHDWWRKHDU there are plans to use the space more often. 2ZQHU5RJHU%LVQHWWVDLGKHSODQVWRUHQWLWRXWDVDQHYHQWVSDFH0D\EH those rock camp students will come back some Saturday night as a paying concert-goer or musician, injecting some after-hours life to the old church. A tip of the hat to the Pilot Rock City Council for making the shrewd decision of not wading too deep into the tangled web that is social media. A city employee was concerned about some false information about the city’s police force that appeared on a private Facebook page, and asked if staff should correct the post. After a good discussion, the council took no action. Which is the right move. If you’ve been on Facebook, Twitter or any other user-generated website, you know there’s a lot of slanted information, and quite a few outright lies. It’s tempting to play the role of moderator, but it’s a game a city cannot win. Correcting misinformation on someone else’s Facebook page is akin to intentionally eavesdropping on a party conversation, then butting in when you hear something false. At best it draws dirty looks, at worst a war of words. Instead, towns should use their own portals to the web — city websites, Facebook pages, etc. — to post clear information and answer questions. Unsigned editorials are the opinion of the East Oregonian editorial board of Publisher Kathryn Brown, Managing Editor Daniel Wattenburger, and Opinion Page Editor Tim Trainor. Other columns, letters and cartoons on this page express the opinions of the authors and not necessarily that of the East Oregonian. YOUR VIEWS Debate a ‘good circus,’ but real issues at stake Think about listening to Donald Trump for eight years! Trump is still leading in the GOP polls, and if the party doesn’t consider him seriously he may open a third party and split the Republican vote. We may not agree with his rhetoric but he deserves the respect of his colleagues in this weird pursuit of one of our nation’s most demanding positions. It is apparent some voters agree with Trump’s ideology and believe he expresses opinions on issues other presidential candidates shy away from for fear of losing votes. Trump has raised issues that need stronger support but some (on women) do get a little bizarre. If he continues to get top headlines in the news and polls we need to pay attention to his “free speech” even if we disagree with him. 7UXPS¶VFRQÀLFWZLWK0HJ\Q.HOO\ is unfortunate. I thought she was fair but I did have an underlying sense of hostility from FOX hosts. I never watch FOX so I should not judge them. I thought the debate was a good circus. I admire Carly Fiorina for her professional performance. I am puzzled by the comment Jeb %XVKDQG0UV)LRULQDPDGHDIWHUWKH debate when they both said they “had fun last night.” The whole debate should have been more professional. Persons seeking the presidency of the United States should not view the position as entertainment, although I have to admit, it recently has been a “comedy of errors.” So listen up, voters, to what these hopefuls really are saying. Dorys C. Grover Pendleton Union sabotaging Oregon’s export industry Remember when President Reagan ¿UHGDOOWKHDLUFUDIWFRQWUROOHUVZKR threatened a strike that would have FDXVHGDVKXWGRZQRIDLUWUDI¿FDQG severely impact the economy? It’s too bad we don’t have that kind of leadership today. In the midst of predominant presidential campaign news there is little printed or televised coverage about the reason for the devastating loss of ocean-going container transportation at the Port of Portland. However, for over nine months labor negotiations between WKH3DFL¿F0DULWLPH$VVRFLDWLRQDQG the International Longshoremen and Warehouse Union at the Port of Portland resulted in a deliberate work slowdown during contract bargaining. Overseas shipping companies weren’t able to load or unload containers in a timely manner. Incoming loaded vessels would sit idle for days waiting to be unloaded at the port as well as the increased wait for ships to be loaded. Consequently, the Port of Portland lost Hanjin Shipping Company that handled around 80 percent of Terminal 6’s business and the only line taking Oregon and other Northwest goods straight to their biggest overseas customers, primarily in Asia. The other major European shipper, Hapag-Loyd, also canceled Portland stops. During 2014, an estimated $21 billion of goods was exported from Oregon alone. Now Oregon shippers will pay an estimated $500-$1,000 per container to send products to Seattle or Tacoma ports that are said to be already congested. Just think of the thousands of dollars lost to the state’s economy, the unsustainable cost to producers and the resulting loss of market share due to higher priced consumer goods and slower delivery. This shipping problem is also shared by :DVKLQJWRQ,GDKRDQG0RQWDQDZKR XWLOL]HWKH&ROXPELD5LYHUDVDQHI¿FLHQW means to transport goods down river on the way to overseas markets. The West Coast ILWU workers average about $35 per hour. Add the ERQXVDQGEHQH¿WVWRWKDWZDJHLWWKHQ becomes around $44 per hour. The workers doubtless have reasons for contract deliberations including their claim of mismanagement by the port manager. Considering the blow to the economy of the entire Northwest, especially the huge agriculture sector, I wonder if those union workers consider it worth it — and are they in DPXFKEHWWHU¿QDQFLDOSRVLWLRQQRZ that they have a substantially decreased work load? It’s one thing for unions to honestly negotiate wages and conditions that have merit, but to deliberately sabotage an industry, that seems traitorous. In midst of Trump mess, GOP shines at RedState I t’s likely the Donald Trump “People ask me, every time I go to melodrama is the only news a campaign event, what do you think you’ve heard from the RedState the most important topic we face?” Gathering of conservatives in Atlanta. Huckabee said. “I think they want me But something unusual happened to limit it to one. I say that’s like asking here, and it had nothing to do with me which wing of the airplane is most Trump. important — the one on the left, or the A parade of Republican one on the right?” Huckabee explained presidential candidates marched that, for him, one wing is “the economy, Byron through — Chris Christie, Rick jobs, getting America moving again,” York 3HUU\%REE\-LQGDO0DUFR5XELR while the other is “national security, Comment &DUO\)LRULQD0LNH making sure this country is Huckabee, Ted Cruz, Jeb safe.” Bush, Scott Walker — and Who else? Bobby Jindal not one of them bombed. was a hit — funny, focused, Not one underwhelmed, with an at-times touching disappointed, or mailed emphasis on his family’s it in. Instead, the GOP immigrant story. The hopefuls were sharp, Louisiana governor’s parents ¿UHGXSDQGIRFXVHGHYHQ came to the United States as the embarrassments from India knowing virtually of the latest Trump nothing about their new controversy threatened to country and worked hard to overshadow it all. become Americans from day Why were they so one. good? Here’s a theory: “We need to insist on The candidates prepared assimilation,” Jindal told like crazy for the recent the crowd. “Immigration Cleveland debate, honing without assimilation is WKHLUDUJXPHQWV¿QGLQJ invasion. We must not let the most effective way to that happen in America.” express their positions. Carly Fiorina followed up 0RVWRIWKDWPDWHULDOZDV on her breakthrough debate never used — there was no performance with the kind of time, given the constraints speech that has been winning RIDELJ¿HOGGHEDWH supporters one-by-one for 3OXVWKH\ZHUHWHUUL¿HG the last several months. Chris of making a mistake in front of the huge Christie was entertaining and substantive, Fox News audience. But in Atlanta, with all pleasing the crowd by openly discussing the that preparation, and with more time — and rift between the Chamber of Commerce, once without the crushing pressure and nerves of a strong ally, and conservatives on issues like the debate — they let go with their newly- immigration and crony capitalism. Rick Perry polished best stuff. ZDVVWURQJDVZDV6FRWW:DONHUDVZDV0DUFR Ted Cruz staffers privately complain that Rubio. They all impressed. when he gives a knockout speech, it’s often The news was, in other words, relentlessly dismissed because Ted Cruz is expected to JRRGD¿HOGRIUHPDUNDEO\WDOHQWHGFDQGLGDWHV give a knockout speech. That’s just what he rounding into campaign shape. A group of did in Atlanta. The Texas senator focused candidates younger, more energetic, more on a theme of conservative authenticity passionate, and more focused on the future — attacking the Republican congressional WKDQWKHJHULDWULF'HPRFUDWLF¿HOG leadership in Washington — that deeply The bottom line is that the RedState resonated with the RedStaters. They rewarded gathering illustrated the degree to which him with multiple standing ovations. Trump’s antics, and the wall-to-wall media It might seem odd to say that a crowd that coverage they inevitably attract, are like could appreciate Cruz so much would also, an eclipse casting a shadow over all the just an hour and a half later, give a warm good things happening in the Republican reception to Bush. But that’s what happened SUHVLGHQWLDO¿HOG7KDW¶VQRWWRVD\ when the former Florida governor delivered Republicans should try to force Trump out of a solid, policy-packed speech that at the same the race; given the increasingly out-of-control time gave off an air of energy, passion, and feel of Trump’s campaign, the problem will liveliness. Before Bush spoke, some in the likely work itself out in coming weeks. But audience had thought about booing him. When it is to say there is a lot good happening in KH¿QLVKHGWKH\VWRRGDQGDSSODXGHG the Republican presidential campaign, and :KRHOVHVKRQH"0LNH+XFNDEHHJDYH someday Republicans will be able to see it, a good-humored speech that sent the clear clearly and without the distraction that is message that, while he still feels strongly Donald Trump. about the social issues that characterized his Ŷ 2008 campaign, this time the economy and Byron York is chief political correspondent national security are tops. for The Washington Examiner. The news was good: a field of remarkably talented candidates ... a group younger, more energetic, more passionate, and more focused on the future than the geriatric Democratic field. Merlyn Robinson Heppner Wolf pack requests new tunes $VWKHOHDGHURIWKH0DQ\VKHHS3DFN ,ZRXOGOLNHWRWKDQNWKHRI¿FLDOVRIWKH ODFW for their decision not to try to kill us. Our pack had a recent bout with tapeworms that killed little Woolsley, so we are not up to full pack strength right now. The noise box in our area is playing VRPHRI0LFKDHO-DFNVRQ¶VVRQJV:RXOG it be possible to change that to Justin Bieber? The pups seem to like him for some ungodly reason. Please keep up the good work. A Wolf, packmaster (as told to Mike Mehren, recently appointed wolf docent, Hermiston) LETTERS POLICY The East Oregonian welcomes original letters of 400 words or less on public issues and public policies for publication in the newspaper and on our website. The newspaper reserves the right to withhold letters that address concerns about individual services and products or letters that infringe on the rights of private citizens. Submitted letters must be signed by the author and include the city of residence and a daytime phone number. The phone number will not be published. Unsigned letters will not be published. Send letters to Managing Editor Daniel Wattenburger, 211 S.E. Byers Ave. Pendleton, OR 97801 or email editor@eastoregonian.com.
