VIEWPOINTS
Saturday, November 21, 2015
Quick takes
Wind, dust wreak havoc
It was absolutely zero visibility in places
out there last night. I took an alternative
route home to Pendleton from Hermiston,
and it was terrifying.
— Kate Chastain
That high of wind can reduce the visi-
bility to absolute zero feet. Meaning you’re
literally driving blind . Unless you’re one of
the few that can afford infrared view (see in
the dark) option for your vehicle .
— Glen Robertson
Celebrating quitters
Quit at least 10 years ago, now I can’t
believe I smoked for 30 before I quit. What
a huge waste of health and money.
— Cindy Haugen
Already did — 13 years ago. Best thing
I ever did for myself, and once I got serious
about quitting it was easier then I ever
thought. Haven’t fell off the wagon even
once. My pride would never allow it.
— Marcia Raines
I quit about four months ago. Can already
breathe better and I love it.
— Derrik Klimp
Snow means winter driving
Slow and easy, once the snow actually
starts to accumulate on the roadway. Leave
early so there is no rush to get to your desti-
nation. Just like in the spring and summer,
take time to smell the snow!
— Pam Peterson
One of the great lessons of the Twitter age is
that much can be summed up in just a few words.
Here are some of this week’s takes. Tweet yours
@Tim_Trainor or email editor@eastoregonian.
com, and keep them to 140 characters.
East Oregonian
Page 5A
Wind, whine and weed in Umatilla County
and without the simple rule of providing
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n Nov. 4, 2014, marijuana was
substance that is no more dangerous than
legalized in Oregon. The Oregon
alcohol, cigarettes, gambling,
Control, Regulation and Taxation of
pornography, or guns, which
Marijuana and Industrial Hemp Act is the
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result of a statewide democratic election.
we are just irresponsibly
The notion being promoted in Umatilla
propagating a vicious
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and regurgitated by everyday people that
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“we didn’t vote for it around here,” that “it’s social rules that encourage
because of the west side” is based in denial
experimentation at a young
of the results of a democratic election and
age. This is where, if we can
SUROL¿FFKDQJHLQ$PHULFDQFXOWXUH/LYLQJ change our habits, we can get
in a democracy requires compromise. That
the best long-term physical
is why we vote, and to deny the results of
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an election, by the people, devalues the
It will take time,
VLJQL¿FDQFHRIGHPRFUDF\DQGRXUSROLWLFDO because the problem is in part due to
process.
the underground secretive nature of a
Umatilla County has about 76,705
counterculture and generational bias fueled
residents, with about 57,000 over the age
by a failed drug war. Marijuana is being sold
of 18, potentially eligible to vote. There
as medicine, food, and fabric legally, and
are about 31,684 people actually registered
it’s hard to say exactly how much is sold
to vote. In that election, 19,576 people
illegally. In Oregon any household can grow
voted, 61 percent of registered voters in
four plants and an individual can possess
our county. That number, however, only
1 ounce on their person, away from home.
represents about 34 percent of adults living
Employers in our state and in our county are
here. 12,122 (62.8 percent) voted against
changing their policies about cannabis use
Measure 91 and 7,181 (37.2 percent) in
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favor. That’s a 60/40 split, against. In
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Pendleton there were two districts where
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it won. If you consider that the medical
out how to transition the results of the
marijuana community advocated against the election in our community is what leaders
initiative and some ballots were discarded
do. Under current leadership without legal
without signature, the number in our county marijuana, Umatilla County ranks 26 out
is probably closer to 50/50, or likely closer
of 36 counties in Oregon for health and 31
to state percentages of 56 percent in favor
in both health behaviors and quality of life.
and 44 percent against, or 60/40 for.
Numerous shops in our county are selling
Culturally we need to change the
paraphernalia and we border Washington
behavior of learning to smoke marijuana
state. Prohibition of cannabis is a façade
and drink during adolescence. Teaching our
and the prohibition mentality demonstrated
children about risks in the world, as best we by elected leadership and staff is a farce.
can, is all any parent can ever do. Children
Elected leaders are denying the results of a
are already surrounded by an adult world,
state election, which is obstructive to both
By TOM BAILOR
O
democracy and capitalism.
Legal or illegal, marijuana is in our local
economy. The big picture of marijuana
in U.S. economy is in the
skyward trillions of dollars.
Even illegal, it’s a top cash
crop in the United States. It’s
impossible to say and harder
yet to draw a line around
what the real economic aspect
both positive and negative
is, especially if you consider
beyond smoking and look
at results in terms history,
art, music, science and
technology. It is unknown
how many associated jobs,
or what innovations in areas of agriculture,
textile, fuel and pharmacy will emerge.
The Marijuana Prohibition Tax Act of
1937 made it illegal to tax products made
from cannabis. It wasn’t passed to keep you
from becoming a jazz musician. The act
ended the U.S. hemp industry, which was
under attack from the paper, pulp, textile,
and oil industries. A few years later during
WWII Congress had to relent, to help in the
effort to win the war because of shortages in
RLO¿EHUSXOSDQGWH[WLOHV
The Oregon Control, Regulation and
Taxation of Marijuana and Industrial Hemp
Act is an effort to move forward in our state.
It does not mean all things are perfect but it
does change the lenses through which we
are now able to look at the issue. There will
be changes in both public safety and public
health. We will see taxes, new revenue
streams, and new opportunities. To vote
it out of town just passes the buck, and
provides a legal or illegal opportunity for
someone else.
Ŷ
Tom Bailor lives in Pendleton works for
the CTUIR and teaches Tai Chi.
Wasting
energy by
ighting the
results of
democracy is
futile.
Big issues in
short session
W
Fight ISIS with cartoons
P
undits like to complain
and effective in the Middle
that there are few voices
East because we view cartoons
from the Islamic world
as trivial jokes, leading us to
that condemn terrorist attacks
miss many opportunities.
by Islamic extremists. I run a
Until recently, the U.S.
small business that distributes
State Department had
editorial cartoons from
programs that brought
around the world. With every
American cartoonists on
major attack, including the
speaking tours to the Middle
Daryl
recent attacks in Paris, I see a
East to meet their colleagues,
Cagle
chorus of cartoons from Arab
and had reciprocal programs to
Comment
countries condemning the
bring Arabic language editorial
terror. The pundits must not be
cartoonists to America. The
looking at the cartoons.
programs sought to spread common
Editorial cartoonists are typically
values to countries where persecuted
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newspapers
barred from drawing
throughout the
their own presidents.
Middle East,
These effective
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State Department
of their readers.
speaking programs
Newspapers
for editorial
remain important
cartoonists were
in everyday life in
dropped at the time
the Middle East.
of the “sequester”
Editorial cartoons
budget cuts.
grace the front pages
USAID-supported
throughout the
journalism education
Middle East. Arabic
initiatives in
language cartoonists
the Middle East
are typically
ignore and exclude
anti-American and
cartoonists.
anti-Semitic, but on
As international
issues of terrorism
respect for America
they are largely voices of reason.
has plummeted, respect for many
I often hear politicians complain
of our institutions still runs high.
about how the war with Islamic
American cartoonists are respected
extremists is a battle for hearts and
around the world, like American jazz
minds and we need to step up our
musicians and basketball players.
role in an information war that we are
Middle Eastern cartoonists are eager
losing.
to have their work appreciated by
Editorial cartoons could be a
American readers and by the star
weapon on the front lines of that
American cartoonists who they respect
battle. By now Americans should see
and emulate. The Arab cartoonists
how powerful cartoons can be; clearly push back against the press restrictions
the terrorists see this, as cartoonists
imposed by their regimes and envy
are among their primary targets. It is
America’s press freedoms.
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Every act of terror brings new
that editorial cartoons are important
recruits to the Islamic extremists
Editorial
cartoonists are
typically the
most influential
voices in
newspapers
throughout the
Middle East.
in ISIS. They seek glory, selling an
image of bravery, striking back against
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Brandishing a gun demands a kind of
respect. Fighting for religious values,
no matter how twisted, demands a
kind of respect. ISIS craves respect.
What they can’t bear is ridicule.
Islamic extremists who are widely
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many eager converts.
Cartoonists are masters of
disrespect and are a continuing threat
to the Islamic extremists. It is no
surprise that editorial cartoonists are
prime targets for terror. Along with
other websites around the world, my
own editorial cartoon site,
cagle.com, is suffering hacker attacks
that appear to originate with terrorists
and despotic regimes who fear
cartoons. Terrorists and despots have a
weakness in common: They can’t take
a joke.
America needs to wake up, deploy
and support the world’s best soldiers
in the modern information war,
American cartoonists.
President Obama recently claimed
that he is already doing most of the
things that his political opponents
demand in the war with ISIS; he called
on his critics to contribute new and
constructive ideas on what should be
done.
My recommendation is inexpensive
and powerful: bring back and greatly
expand the State Department’s
shuttered editorial cartoon programs
around the world.
Ŷ
Daryl Cagle is the editorial
cartoonist who runs the
CagleCartoons.com newspaper
syndicate, distributing editorial
cartoons to more than 850 newspapers
around the world, including the East
Oregonian. Comments to Daryl may
be sent to editor@cagle.com.
Be heard!
Comment online at eastoregonian.com or visit our Facebook and Twitter pages.
piling on regulations
ith the 2016
that harm them. I
Legislative
want to work with
Short
employers and the
Session a few
business community
months away, I want
to hear what they
to take a moment
need to help keep
and thank everyone
their businesses
who responded to
prosperous and
my “End of Session
Bill
Survey.” The survey
Hansell competitive.
Lowering taxes
was attached to
Comment
also received a large
my end-of-session
response in the
mailer and it asked
survey. A constant increase
my constituents which
in taxes harms families and
issues were most important
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to them and their families.
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The options I listed on the
During the last
survey were:
session the
education,
majority party
helping small
passed many
business,
fee increase
agriculture
bills on which
and trade,
I voted no.
lowering
This included
taxes, public
a hidden gas
safety,
tax through
and health
the low carbon
care. It also
fuels bill and
allowed for
an increase
constituents
to hunting
to share their
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thoughts on
licenses, to
these subjects,
simply name a few. We
or any other subject they
need to stop taking money
found important. I received
out of the pocketbooks of
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Oregonians. We need to get
results showed the three
state spending under control
issues most important to
and stop passing new laws
District 29 are: agriculture
that require more and more
and trade, lowering
money to implement and
taxes, and helping small
enforce.
businesses.
Because the short session
During the 2015
is only 35 days long, it is
Legislative Session, the
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Legislature passed — on
and new bills that have
strictly party line votes —
already been fully vetted.
numerous new regulations
These survey results will
harming small businesses
help shape the bills I
across the state. For
introduce during the 2017
example, the 18 majority
session. My goal is to work
members in the Senate
toward bettering the lives
passed legislation requiring
of people across Eastern
every business with six or
Oregon.
more employees to offer
Thank you for giving me
paid time off as well as a
the privilege of representing
retirement account.
These are expenses many you in the Oregon
State Senate. I take the
small businesses cannot
responsibility seriously and
afford. Small businesses are
the backbone of not only our look forward to continuing
to represent you.
local communities, but our
Please feel free to
state as a whole. I have been
told businesses have already continue to share your
priorities and contact me
started closing down and
relocating outside of Oregon. DWP\RI¿FHHPDLODW6HQ
I believe we need to help
BillHansell@state.or.us. I
the small businesses in this
look forward to hearing from
state thrive, stay in Oregon,
you.
and provide jobs in our
Ŷ
communities. We need to
Senator Bill Hansell is
help them navigate through
in his ¿rst term representing
all of the red tape and stop
Senate District 29.
We need to
stop taking
money
out of the
pocketbooks
of
Oregonians.
LETTERS POLICY
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