Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 25, 2016)
Page 4A OPINION East Oregonian Thursday, February 25, 2016 OTHER VIEWS Founded October 16, 1875 KATHRYN B. BROWN DANIEL WATTENBURGER Publisher Managing Editor JENNINE PERKINSON TIM TRAINOR Advertising Director Opinion Page Editor OUR VIEW Roundabout way to a decision In Hermiston, city government is transportation plan would have going in circles about roundabouts. added “or a roundabout” to the In Pendleton, they had their own FXUUHQWUHFRPPHQGDWLRQIRUWUDI¿F colorful debate on Main Street signals to eventually be installed at statues. multiple spots along Nothing Highway 395. like some local It may not sound Instead of just infrastructure and like a lot — just complaining, transportation three little words — issues to get the vox the feedback was many went the but populi to rise a few strong enough that decibels. those words may be required step And that increase stricken from the further to put in civic discussion plan, crashing any sure bubbled over their name and possible roundabout in Hermiston sites. concerns on the at those earlier this week, Whether or not though much of that is a good thing record. the response to a is kind of beside proposal to amend the point. The the city’s transportation plan was people of Hermiston felt strongly one-sided. Message boards were about an issue, told their elected lighting up with takedowns of representatives about how they felt, roundabouts, the European-created and those representatives took that intersection invention. There to heart. were a few defenders, but the vast The decision is now the Oregon majority wanted them nowhere near Department of Transportation’s, and Hermiston’s busy highway that is they will not make it without having KHDY\RQWUXFNWUDI¿F local voices ringing in their ears. To their credit, instead of just So, in a roundabout way, we get complaining about the issue, many back to the point: If you have an went the required step further to opinion about something, make sure put their name and concerns on the the people making the decisions record, set some time aside to attend know it, not just the people on your a city council meeting, and have Facebook feed or within shouting their voices heard. distance. Your voice can make a Nearly a half dozen people spoke difference, and can make your town out against an amendment to the a more straightforward place. 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. OTHER VIEWS Minimum wage increase ZLOOEHQH¿W2UHJRQZRUNHUV The (Coos Bay) World $VZH¿UVWGLVFXVVHGODVWPRQWK we think any adjustment to Oregon’s minimum wage should be made by the people we elect to make law. That happened this week as the House approved the Senate’s bill and it now moves to Gov. Kate Brown’s desk. There has been the expected gnashing of teeth over the issue, mostly by special interest groups representing businesses that pay wages. The subject was raised here earlier this week when state economist Guy Tauer spoke to the Bay Area Chamber of Commerce. He was asked what he predicted the impact would be on rural communities like ours. Mr. Tauer’s educated response was that it’s anyone’s guess. “It’s almost like this grand experiment that we’re all kind of guinea pigs ...” We like Mr. Tauer because he always speaks English, not economist-ese. If the answer is a fuzzy unknown, we need to hear that — in plain English. What he made clear was that a wage increase impacts a lot of moving parts in any economy. Yes, it increases costs on businesses, and those businesses KDYHWR¿JXUHRXWZKHWKHUDQGKRZWR absorb those costs, pass them along to customers or hire fewer employees. But a wage increase also puts more money in the hands of employees, who then spend more on goods and services. A wage increase at the bottom of the scale could also have what he called a “trickle-up” effect, by putting pressure to increase wages in the tiers above the minimum. As we said — lots RIPRYLQJSDUWVWKDWUHTXLUH¿QHVVHDQG thoughtful action. We believe that some kind of wage increase was inevitable. So, we applaud the legislature’s action to pass the tiered minimum wage structure that recognizes the differences between urban and rural economies. The initiatives that may still appear on the November ballot will ask voters to approve the same minimum wage increase for everyone across the state. That, in our opinion, would go too far. Oregon will be national trailblazers in creating a tiered system, as stated in an Associated Press story earlier this week. With the alternative, we will simply be at the mercy of majority votes out of the I-5 corridor, and we can imagine what those voters will do to us. Oregon will be trailblazers in creating a tiered minimum wage. Why Trump voters accept the good with the bad W ALTERBORO, South crowd. Carolina — In a recent The Trump who took the stage — it interview with Donald ZDVGHFNHGRXWZLWKFDPRXÀDJH Trump, Fox News’ Greta van Susteren cloth and bales of hay — spoke as if posed a simple question from a he might have heard the advice. In a viewer: “Why don’t you act more stump speech cut down to about half presidential?” an hour because of a tight schedule, “I will be changing very rapidly,” Trump said everything he normally answered Trump, fresh from his says, but he appeared to have dialed Byron smashing victory in the New back the intensity just a little. At the York Hampshire primary. “I’m very capable end, some people wished he had Comment of changing to anything I want to spoken longer, which rarely happens when Trump delivers his usual change to.” one-hour-plus performance. In South Carolina, where he won another Here’s a theory. Trump’s supporters believe important primary contest, Trump drew the United States is at such a precarious point remarkable crowds; when a group called in its history that they want to elect a leader Lowcountry Sportsmen for Trump held an who will take an entirely different approach event for him early Wednesday evening at a to government, not just from Barack Obama remote and sprawling hunting area known as Dove Field, about an hour outside Charleston, but also from the Bushes who monopolized Republican presidential politics for more than 2,500 people turned out to see him, many a generation. driving an hour or more to a place that looked They’re willing to put up a little like the middle of with some excess because nowhere. Trump seems to be the only Nearly everyone I talked to man who might truly be able had decided to vote for Trump. to break out of the old mold. Some had already voted. They Yes, they would like to see ZHUHGH¿QLWHO\RQERDUG6WLOO him polish things up a little. DIWHUKLVVRPHWLPHVÀDLOLQJ But even in his roughest state, performance in last Saturday’s he’s worth it, given what’s at contentious Republican debate stake. in Greenville, many, like van — Drake Donahue, On the other hand, Trump’s Susteren’s viewer, would like to see Trump act just a little South Carolina GOP voter manner has prevented him from taking advantage of more presidential. the huge opportunity that Take, for example, Larry South Carolina presents to expand his base of and Sherri Hoover, two newly retired State support. When a candidate does something 'HSDUWPHQWRI¿FLDOVZKROLYHLQ5LGJH¿HOG When I asked why they chose Trump over the like win the New Hampshire primary by 20 points, people who aren’t his supporters take other candidates, Larry said, “I feel like he another look at him. That moment is a chance tells the truth. He just tells it like it is.” Sherri to draw in new voters. After New Hampshire, agreed. Trump had that chance — big time — and the I noted that some critics thought Trump best opportunity for him to bring in those new went a little over the top at the debate. What voters was the Greenville debate. He didn’t do did they think? it. It was another missed opportunity, like the “I agreed with the premises of what he debate he skipped in Des Moines. said, but he probably didn’t need to say One way to see that is not at Trump rallies, everything he said, to be honest with you,” but at other candidates’ events, where there Larry answered. “I thought that was a little bit much,” Sherri are South Carolinians who have seriously considered supporting Trump but are now added, mentioning Trump’s comments about *HRUJH:%XVK³%XWKHKDVQR¿OWHU+HWHOOV leaning elsewhere. “Trump says what’s in my heart,” said one it like it is. That’s what we like about him.” voter at a Ted Cruz event in Columbia last ³,¶PORRNLQJIRUDOHDGHUD¿JKWHUDQGD Tuesday. But after the debate, the man said, winner,” said Bernie Bell, a retired Chamber “My head says no.” Off the record, casual RI&RPPHUFHRI¿FLDOIURP&KDUOHVWRQ talks with other Republican voters around “Here’s what I thought about the debate: South Carolina suggest that he is not alone. Trump was getting shot at from everywhere. They appreciate Trump and are glad someone I didn’t agree with him on the part about is saying what he is saying about immigration George W. Bush, but I can understand why and other issues — but they just can’t bring Trump did that. I’d like for him to be more themselves to support him. presidential, I’d like for him to talk more Back at Dove Field, though, voters were about the issues. But when you’re getting shot willing to take the bad with the good in the at from everywhere, you’ve got to respond.” hope that Trump will bring real change to “I wish he would be a little more southern American politics. in his genteel manner,” Kathy Randall, a “That’s Trump,” said Tim Fensch, of lawyer from Summerville who said she’s Walterboro. “He’s like everybody I’ve ever likely to vote for Trump, said with a smile. met from New York City. They’re all like that. “He needs some gentility, for sure — a They get in your face, they’re blunt, if you big dose,” added Randall’s friend Hugh come at them, they double down on you. I Merriman, an oncologist, who also intends to mean, that’s him.” vote for Trump. “What is there to gain from “I want to make a statement,” said Charles bashing the Bushes? Jeb’s done, I think. I Perkins Dubee II, of Savannah, Georgia. “I GRQ¶WVHHWKHEHQH¿WLQWKDW´ like what he has to say.” Even Trump’s host and introducer, Ellie “I think we need a stick of dynamite in Thomas, a Mount Pleasant CPA who’s with Washington,” said Drake Donahue, of Goose Lowcountry Sportsmen for Trump, took note Creek. “I think he’s it.” of Trump’s habit of taking things to the limit, Ŷ and then a little beyond. “We say, ‘You know, Byron York is chief political correspondent I don’t know that I would have said that, for The Washington Examiner. but I’m sure glad he did,’” Thomas told the “I think we need a stick of dynamite in Washington.” YOUR VIEWS Oregon politicians should support medical marijuana 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. Send letters to 211 S.E. Byers Ave. Pendleton, OR 97801 or email editor@eastoregonian.com. Marijuana (cannabis) is a medicine. Edibles, tinctures, creams and oils are potent medicines and should be recommended by a physician who understands their properties and side effects. Allowing a person to get anything they want at a dispensary is the same as allowing them to go to a pharmacy and get medicine without seeing a doctor or a pharmacist. Our bodies, just like the cannabis plant, make cannabinoids (major ingredients) and we have receptors for them everywhere including the brain, blood system, liver, lungs, ovaries, kidneys, etc. The cannabinoids in marijuana are very therapeutic. Getting high is a side effect of cannabis. Historically it was used by the plant to protect itself from animals that liked to eat its leaves but would go to sleep when intoxicated. Most of my patients do not like to get high and have learned to adjust the dose so that the psychoactive effects are minimal. They use marijuana because of its remarkable medicinal properties (research-based — pain, nausea, appetite, seizures, anxiety, depression, Alzheimer’s DX, neuropathies, PTSD, cancer). Like all medicines marijuana can be dangerous for patients who have not been educated in its appropriate use and have not seen a physician. Politicians have a moral and legal obligation to protect the citizens of Oregon. Please use your God-given privilege of serving others to promote what is right and honorable. Keep medical marijuana as a separate entity and do not legalize the purchase of edibles, tinctures, creams, and oils without a doctor’s recommendation. Do not cater to those who think that money is more important than human lives. Also, please save our small farmers. Judy Emanuel Ashland
