Page 4A
OPINION
East Oregonian
Saturday, February 13, 16
OTHER VIEWS
Founded October 16, 1875
KATHRYN B. BROWN
DANIEL WATTENBURGER
Publisher
Managing Editor
JENNINE PERKINSON
TIM TRAINOR
Advertising Director
Opinion Page Editor
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MIKE FORRESTER
STEVE FORRESTER
KATHRYN B. BROWN
Pendleton
Chairman of the Board
Astoria
President
Pendleton
Secretary/Treasurer
CORY BOLLINGER
JEFF ROGERS
Aberdeen, S.D.
Director
Indianapolis, Ind.
Director
OUR VIEW
Occupational hazards
It’s over. Finally, it’s over.
After 41 days that alternated
between hand-wringing and heart-
wrenching, the occupation of the
Malheur Wildlife Refuge has ended.
Four protesters remained until
Thursday. Much of their last 1
harrowing, confusing hours in the
refuge streamed live and unedited
through the Internet. It was a
glimpse into paranoia and fear, into
anger and frustration.
We heard grievances about this
country ² a lack of jobs, a lack
of purpose, a lack of morality, a
lack of future. It was the cry of
the fearful, the pessimistic and the
proud, grabbing the bullhorn and
the moment and shouting straight
into our speakers.
Whatever it was, you had to
listen. At times it was scary ² the
threat of violence both coerced and
self-inÀicted were ever-present.
And at times it was farcical ² the
list of grievances included Hillary
Clinton, the Middle East and a lack
of marijuana.
But there is no laughing off the
underlying issue.
This has been a traumatic
e[perience for Eastern Oregon.
The days were dark to be sure. And
now that the out-of-state players
have left the ¿eld, we’re left to sift
through their message and their
actions.
For 41 days, Eastern Oregon
was a dangerous place to be. 1ot
because of the armed men and
women holed up at the refuge, and
not because of federal and state
law enforcement swarming around
them. They posed threats only to
one another and anyone who stood
between them.
But the weapons carried by both
sides isn’t what threatened us.
The danger is the seeds, already
planted and beginning to take
root, now doused with gallons of
water and a hefty heap of fertilizer.
You know the kind. The seeds of
mistrust for neighbors with the
wrong bumper sticker on their
truck. Of animosity toward “the
government” as a bogeyman instead
of an entity that can and should be
held accountable by the people.
Of blatant disregard for reasonable
discourse ² instead choosing
to cling to a single line from the
Constitution, an ugly prejudice, or a
stern glare and a wall of silence.
/ike a Àock of winter birds
taking off from Malheur Lake, the
occupiers have left. It’s up to us to
decide what their pattern in the sky
means, and which seeds we want to
tend to now that they’re gone.
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
Pendleton turnover
a time for a change
Pendleton suddenly has a major
turnover in the city’s politicians. First, I
read that Evan McKenzie was forced to
resign. The town’s city planner stiÀed
economic development in the city for
years. Read his 11-page Universal
Plan for evidence of his obsession with
bicycles and requiring businesses to
build bike shelters.
Then, Plute’s recall surfaced. I
have read letters commending Plute
for his Economics 11 editorials. He
failed to mention his strategy of getting
$5, from the city for the Temple
Hotel renovation and then not using
that money to pay a local plumber for
services rendered.
There has been a mass e[odus of
local politicians who decided to throw in
the towel after being criticized for their
ineptitude and poor decision making.
Millions have been invested in the
airport’s drone testing program. Have
Steve Chrisman tell you how much
revenue has been generated and what the
return on investment is as of February
16. The airport is an endless money
pit and now the airline service for
Pendleton has gone bankrupt.
The city council tried to solve this
dilemma by taking $65, from the
library budget and transferring that sum
to the airport budget to pay down its debt.
That action should have resulted in a recall
of all the members of the city council who
voted in favor of this strategy.
Every year, Tremper and Associates
does an audit of the city. On more than
one occasion, Tremper has warned the
city council about transferring funds yet
they continued with the practice year
after year.
The city manager has miscalculated
the costs of projects on more than one
occasion and the city then had to borrow
money from banks to complete the
project. An e[ample is the convention
center e[pansion that cost around $1
million.
The latest news is that there is now
a candidate for mayor from the Round
Up Development Corporation. Keep
in mind that this is the organization
that convinced the city to purchase 4
acres of barren land at the airport. That
land without infrastructure should have
sold for $3, an acre but the city
paid $11, an acre and a member of
that organization made a nice pro¿t at
ta[payers’ e[pense.
There is a need for a coalition
of candidates with a platform that
will include ¿scal responsibility and
transparency. Pick up an application and
make a difference.
Jerry Cronin
Pendleton
Taiwan Àaunts China
with its democracy
T
aiwan has just elected its ¿rst
Hakka, part Aborigine descent. Her
woman president, Tsai Ing-wen,
father owned a car repair business;
a calm, cerebral, almost shy,
and, at his behest, she earned a law
Western-educated lawyer. Moreover, she
degree at 1ational Taiwan University
represents the Democratic Progressive
before going abroad for a Master of
Party (DPP) standing for Taiwan’s
Law at Cornell University (198) and
independence. China, who passionately
a PhD in law at the London School
regards the island of Taiwan as a
of Economics (1984). She taught
renegade province to be integrated,
Harriet law upon return to Taiwan but was
will pressure the new president to
soon appointed to many councils and
Isom
acknowledge its “one China” concept.
commissions. She joined the DPP
Comment
But just how hard will be the question.
in 4 and has been its chairperson
Background: Chiang Kai-shek and
several times. She was defeated in her
his KMT (Kuomintang or Chinese 1ationalist
¿rst presidential bid in 1.
Party) moved to the island of Taiwan in 1949
Leadership style: Ms. Tsai is neither
after defeat by Mao Zedong’s Communist
¿ery nor confrontational. Instead she is
forces. The KMT ruled Taiwan under strict,
variously described as shy, scholarly, calm,
even oppressive, martial law until 1987. But
mellow, moderate, rational and e[hibiting a
since then, Taiwan has established a well-
certain cosmopolitan savvy in a party with a
functioning democracy with the ¿rst direct
raucous, provincial reputation. Her speeches
presidential election in 1996. The KMT has
are described as logic-driven (imagine!).
won e[cept from -8 when the DPP
1otwithstanding her quiet demeanor, she
prevailed, causing signi¿cant tensions with
has proved to be a very strong political actor,
China because of its pro- independence stance. corralling often fractious DPP party elements.
China has long kept missiles aimed at Taiwan.
Policies: Ms. Tsai’s own ¿rst priority is
KMT: Recent KMT governments have
reviving Taiwan’s economy which grew just 1
forged ever stronger economic ties with
percent last year. She advocates the creation
mainland China. Today, a large number of
of an innovation driven economy and she
Taiwanese are investing and working in China. wants increased trade beyond China with SEA,
Departing President Ma Ying-jeou even had a
Japan and the US. She urges a more open
historic hand-shake last year in Singapore with and consensus based approach to Taiwanese
Chinese President Xi Jinping. How China must politics and help for the disadvantaged such as
loath therefore the DPP’s return to power.
Aborigines. And since she can’t ignore China,
Firsts: Ms. Tsai (pronounced “sigh”), who
she has developed a comple[, subtle way
will take of¿ce on May , is the ¿rst women
of speaking about cross-Strait relations that
elected to the presidency in Taiwan (by a
allows for Àe[ibility and interpretation. She
margin of 56 percent). Additionally, she is the
has assured China and the US that the “status
¿rst female head of state in East Asia with no
quo” is the centerpiece of current DPP policy
relation to a former head of state.
USG Reaction: The USG, as protector of
DPP’s win: Taiwan’s thorny, unresolved
Taiwan, is hopeful that nothing Àares anew
political issue is whether its future lies as part
with China. A USG statement congratulated
of China or independence. This latest election
her on her win but noted America’s “profound
reÀects a growing number of youth who see
interest in the continuation of cross-Strait
themselves more as Taiwanese than Chinese.
peace and stability.”
Their very active “SunÀower Movement”
Chinese Reaction: So far Chinese of¿cial
objects to the authoritarian leanings of the
reaction has been muted, although Xinhua
KMT and worries that Taiwan’s currently weak news agency has called on her to be prudent,
economy will make it ever more dependent on saying Taiwan independence was a “poison.”
China. Ms. Tsai’s victory is likely due to her
In the ne[t few months, Beijing will be
capture of this youth demographic.
listening for any overtly pro-independence
Women: How has Taiwan put so many
stands and badgering her on its “one China”
women into politics in marked contrast to
policy. The worrisome question is just how
China" E[planations include Aborigine
threatening the assertive President Xi and his
matriarchal traditions, promotion of women’s
military hardliners will be. Ms. Tsai’s cautious,
education since Japanese colonial times,
nuanced, collaborative style may be just what
and, importantly, a series of quotas set in the
is needed in a President of Taiwan having to
legislature to ensure women’s representation.
deal with such a mega- neighbor.
Thus voters in Taiwan have become accustomed
Ŷ
to women politicians, and today’s young voters
Ambassador Harriet Isom grew up in
are said to even ¿nd women trendy.
Pendleton and has retired to the family ranch.
3UR¿OHAlmost 6 years old (but looking
She was a career diplomat serving in Asia and
e[ceptionally young), Ms. Tsai is of part
Africa from 1961 to 1996.
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.
Livin’ Bernie Sanders’ Danish dream
A
merican capitalism
It’s amazing that a
large part of the millennial
has always been
generation has rejected this
distinct from
consensus. In supporting
continental European
Bernie Sanders they are
capitalism. We’ve had more
not just supporting a guy
entrepreneurial creativity
who is mad at Wall Street.
but less security. Our system
They are supporting a guy
has favored higher living
who fundamentally wants
standards for consumers
David
while theirs has favored
Brooks to reshape the American
economic system, and thus
stability for employees and
Comment
reshape American culture
producers.
and values. As he told
For the past several
decades, the United States has had a ABC’s George Stephanopoulos, he
wants to make us more like northern
bipartisan consensus that we should
Europe.
stick to our style of capitalism and
According to The Wall Street
our style of welfare state. There has
Journal, Sanders would add $18
always been a broad consensus that
trillion to the federal budget over
a continent-size nation like ours
the ne[t 1 years. Currently, total
had to be diverse and decentralized,
government spending is about 36
with a vibrant charitable sector and
percent of GDP. Under Sanders it
a great variety of spending patterns
would rise to about 47.5 percent of
and lifestyles.
GDP, putting us comfortably in the
American values have always
European range.
been biased toward individualism,
First, Sanders would centralize
achievement and Àe[ibility and
power in Washington. If you
less toward dirigisme, order and
radically increase the amount of
economic equality.
money going to the Washington
establishment, as Sanders would,
you’re giving that establishment
greater resources to control
American life.
Second, Sanders would weaken
the ability of members of the middle
class to make choices about their
own lives. +e would raise ta[es on
the rich, but there is only so much
money you can squeeze out of such
a small group of people. European
welfare states generally rely on
a highly regressive value-added/
sales ta[ ² usually around to 5
percent.
Middle classes across Europe
bear a much higher ta[ load than the
American middle class. As Austan
Goolsbee, a former economic
adviser to President Barack Obama,
has noted, you really can’t have a
Swedish-style welfare state without
a broad high ta[ burden. That
means less spending power for most
Americans, and fewer resources to
choose one’s own lifestyle.
Third, Sanders would change the
incentive structure for the country’s
most successful people. He proposes
raising the top ta[ rate to 5 percent.
As Josh Barro noted in The Times,
when you add in state, local and
other ta[es, top earners would be
paying a combined ta[ rate over 73
percent. In high-ta[ locales like 1ew
York City and California, it would
be even more.
It’s possible that entrepreneurs,
company founders and others would
pay these rates without changing
their behavior, but I wouldn’t count
on it. When you make risk-taking
less rewarding, you get fewer
risk-takers, which is e[actly what
you see across the Atlantic. When
you raise ta[es that high, the Elon
Musks of the world ¿nd other places
to build their companies.
Fourth, Sanders would
Europeanize American public
universities. It sounds great to make
college free. In fact, it’s a hugely
e[pensive program that would
mostly bene¿t the already afÀuent.
It would create, as in Germany,
a legion of eternal students who
have little incentive to leave
school because the costs are so
low. It would give Washington
of¿cials greater control over state
universities, determining what sort
of faculty they could hire and what
sort of programs they could run. It
would threaten hundreds of private
colleges, which could no longer
compete against the completely
subsidized state system. It would
reduce the pressures universities
now feel to reform themselves
because it would cushion them with
federal largess.
The changes in the health care
system would be along the same
lines. Sanders would create a
centralized and streamlined system.
His approach would also, as in
Europe, reduce the rate of medical
progress, increase the rationing
of care, increase the wait times
for patients, induce many doctors
to retire and centralize decision-
making. He might reduce health
care costs by $6 trillion over the
ne[t decade, but his proposal to do
this gives new meaning to the word
vagueness.
Ŷ
David Brooks is a columnist for
the New York Times.