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OPINION
East Oregonian
Thursday, April 21, 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
Ode to PGG
Pendleton Grain Growers, an
of last week’s release.
Eastern Oregon institution since
But we can mark this moment in
1930, may not last another month.
history.
It will be an ignoble end to a
If PGG is to be no more, it marks
co-op that helped build Umatilla
a tremendous loss for the region —
County farmers into some of
and for Pendleton in particular.
the world’s most productive and
Over much of the last century,
prosperous.
hundreds of
It’s also an
Pendletonians used
indictment of poor
the co-op to rise
The longer
management,
up in the ranks
the co-op is in of business and
dishonest or at
the very least
politics. Pendleton
business, the
incompetent
Grain Growers
¿nancial appraisals
more money it could always be
and a failure to
counted on to
is losing.
adapt to a changing
support good causes
world. Pendleton
in the area. They
Grain Growers
were a cultural
refused to confront its problems until touchstone and a sense of pride for
it was too late. And now it is.
the area’s farming community.
PGG’s 1,079 voting members will
It’s clear that pride in PGG has
have the ¿nal say about what will
been eroding for decades. Last
happen to the co-op on May 2. At
harvest season, farmers made it
least two-thirds of all votes will be
known that they had lost faith in
required to dissolve the organization the co-op, unloading and selling a
and start divvying up the assets. If
majority of their grain elsewhere.
the members do not vote to dissolve,
The agriculture industry is
the co-op would likely still fold and
changing rapidly — it’s among the
members would be less likely to
last to become mostly mechanized.
recoup their equity, according to a
The future farm will look vastly
letter from PGG.
different than Old MacDonald’s.
Costs are too high, revenue is too There will be drones and laptops
low. The longer PGG is in business,
and soil sensors, but not as many
the more money it is losing.
laborers.
The East Oregonian continues
The collapse of PGG is a
to dig into the reasons for PGG’s
reminder that looking forward,
precipitous collapse. We are not
not looking back, is the only way
ready to publish them yet, but have
to keep your feet in an always-
been working for months in advance changing world.
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
Liquor laws don’t need mixing
The Oregonian
E
ver notice how some bad ideas
refuse to die?
Take, for example, the initiative
being bandied about again by the large
grocery retailers to grab some of the
state’s lucrative market in alcoholic
spirits.
We wrote back in December 2013
that this is a bad idea. Consider what
happened with the liquor industry in
Washington state when it let large
grocers into the business in 2011. Since
opening liquor sales to large grocers
there, prices have gone up, while
availability of variety and the number of
independent sales outlets have shrunk.
All that would probably be ¿ne in any
other economic scenario. But Oregon
makes a lot of tax dollars from the state
controlled industry.
For the latest biennium, liquor sales
topped $1 billion for the ¿rst time ever.
The result was more than $435 million
in tax revenue to be divvied between the
state and local governments, and toward
mental health and addiction treatment
services.
The latest initiative wants to eliminate
the state’s role in liquor distribution and
turn the industry private. Then, the idea
is that state lawmakers would simply
establish a new liquor tax to replace the
revenue lost when the state is out of the
business.
But there’s no guarantee that would
happen.
There’s also no guarantee that prices
wouldn’t rise precipitously once the
market shakes out the smaller operators,
just as what happened up north.
And perhaps the biggest concern
for the consumer (besides the prices
increases) and small spirits producer
is loss of shelf space. Oregon’s rich
diversity in small craft brewers and
distillers survive because the state-
operated system makes sure they have
equal access to shelf space. But large
retailers survive on volume and what
sells best. That means there’s a high
likelihood that your favorite small batch
brewer or distiller may get crowded off
the shelf.
Fact is that the current system is
working. Liquor prices are consistent
throughout the state; revenues continue
to grow and help us all; and small,
private distributors are free to grow their
businesses as they see ¿t.
If you don’t believe that, visit the
Beverage Barn in Bandon on U.S.
Highway 101. Proof enough that
Oregon’s liquor industry is doing ¿ne
just as it is.
No way to elect a president
W
lines between us. The online behavior
ith Donald Trump’s and
of the Bernie Bros is a great example,
Hillary Clinton’s victories
but it’s hardly the only one.
in New York, we’re one
Additionally, the precise unfolding
furious contest closer to the end of this
of the Republican and Democratic races
spectacle. But we’ve known for a while
this time around, along with complaints
now where we’re headed, and it isn’t
from the candidates themselves, has
anyplace good.
exposed the undemocratic quirks and
American voters are displeased with
mess of the process: the peculiarity of
the candidates they’ve been given.
Frank
caucuses; the seduction of delegates
They’re disengaged from the process
Bruni
and superdelegates; closed versus
that winnows the ¿eld.
Comment
open primaries; states that are winner-
And that process disregards the
take-all as opposed to states that are
political center, erodes common ground
winner-take-most; the possibility of a brokered
and leaves us with a government that can’t
convention at which an interloper could be
build the necessary consensus for, let alone
crowned.
implement, sensible action in
To prevail, a candidate
regard to taxes, to infrastructure, to
doesn’t even have to persuade
immigration, to guns, to just about
an especially large share of the
anything.
electorate, given how splintered
Make America great again?
and detached voters are. In an
We need to start by making it
important commentary published
functional.
in The Hill on Monday, the
This election has certainly been
Democratic pollster and strategist
extraordinary for its characters,
Mark Penn extrapolated from
but it’s equally remarkable for its
Trump’s and Clinton’s vote tallies to note that,
context, one of profound, paralyzing sourness.
in his estimation, “We now have a system in
A poll released by NBC News and The
which it takes just 10 million votes out of 321
Wall Street Journal on Sunday showed that 68
million people to seize one of the two coveted
percent of American voters couldn’t imagine
nominations.”
themselves casting a vote in the general
“The result,” he wrote, “is a democracy that
election for Trump, while 61 percent said the
is veering off course, increasingly reÀecting
same about Ted Cruz and 58 percent about
the will of powerful activist groups and the
Clinton.
political extremes.” Would-be nominees
A much, much higher percentage of voters
needn’t worry much about the roughly 40
viewed each of these three unfavorably than
percent of Americans who at least technically
favorably. “Unpopularity Contest” was the
consider themselves independents — a group
headline on the story on the NBC News
that’s grown over the last decade — or the 60
website, which rightly asked how well any
percent who say that a third political party is
president of such polarizing effect would be
needed.
able to govern.
No, these candidates “can just double down
We’ve had such presidents (and candidates)
on elements of their base,” Penn observed.
before. And pessimism isn’t new.
“Rather than bring the country together, they
But there have been developments and
demonize their opponents to hype turnout
differences in 2016 that may well be making
among select groups, targeted by race, religion
the situation worse.
or ethnicity.”
The media, for one. This election isn’t
Penn suggested several smart reforms to
being covered so much as marketed, by news
increase voters’ participation and sense of
organizations whose desperation for eyeballs
investment, including the abolition of caucuses
has turned many of them into drama queens.
and a rotation of the order in which states
Each new poll is a major scoop. There are
vote, so that Iowa, New Hampshire and South
countdown clocks for events as humdrum as
Carolina don’t always get such outsize sway.
candidate town halls. Debates are teased with
I wish we could also ¿nd a way to shorten
ominous soundtracks and photographs better
these presidential campaigns signi¿cantly, so
be¿tting prize¿ghts.
that they’re not such a soul-draining, throat-
When you treat a campaign as if it were an
ravaging turnoff to almost anyone who’s not an
athletic competition, you turn it into more of
epic narcissist or mired in politics to the point
a blood sport than it already is. And when you
of no return.
breathlessly promote it the way you would a
Then maybe we’d look up one of these
hit TV show’s season ¿nale, it becomes just
years and be choosing among the greater of
another piece of theater. Neither approach
encourages sober-minded engagement.
goods, not the lesser of evils, and the victor
Nor does the manner in which so many
would be left, physically and ideologically,
voters use the Internet in general and social
with a voice that still carries.
media in particular, to curate and wallow in
Ŷ
echo chambers that amplify their prejudices,
Frank Bruni has been an Op-Ed columnist
exacerbate their tribalism and widen the fault
for The New York Times since June 2011.
We need
to make
America
functional.
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.
YOUR VIEWS
Vote Lindsay for
Morrow County judge
Morrow County deserves a
judge that has energy, vision, and
passion. The candidate needs
experience in working with our
local businesses, communities,
families and schools.
Most importantly, the person
needs to share our values. Melissa
Lindsay embodies all of these
traits, and that is why my wife
Sherri and I could not be prouder
to support her for Morrow County
Judge.
Melissa was born and raised
in Morrow County. She is a
woman of hard work and strong
values. With over 25 years of
¿nance, banking and private sector
experience, she understands what
it means to operate a business. She
and her family can often be seen
volunteering and promoting our
county throughout the region at
various events.
However, Melissa’s passion is
only outperformed by her energy.
She has a “can-do” attitude and
works to bring partners together to
¿nd solutions. Whether you live in
Boardman, Heppner, Ione, Irrigon,
Lexington or outside of town, I can
guarantee you that Melissa will put
all of her energy into serving you
and your family.
Please join my family, along
with citizens, business leaders, and
elected of¿cials across the county,
in voting Melissa Lindsay for
Morrow County Judge.
Rep. Greg Smith
Heppner
Marks best choice left
in Ward 1 council race
This letter is in reference to the
May election for the Pendleton
City Council Ward 1 seat and my
support of Becky Marks in that
race.
You will see three names on
the ballot; however only two
are running for the seat. Renee
Caubisons decided to not continue
to pursue the seat for personal
reasons. She would have been an
excellent choice; however, with the
incumbent Beck Marks in the race,
she has earned my respect to serve
another term.
Becky is always prepared for
meetings and willing to share her
thoughts in order to move the city
forward. Her constituency is one
that needs to be represented and
Becky does that well.
Please vote Becky Marks for
Ward 1 in the Pendleton City
Council race.
Phillip W. Houk, mayor
Pendleton
Primmer a good choice
for Pendleton council
I have known Dale Primmer
for 16 years. As sheriff and in past
positions, I’ve worked with Dale
in my law enforcement duties
going back nearly two decades.
I know him to be committed,
honest, ethical and hard-working
in his efforts. I’ve also known
him to have the ability to get
along well with a broad section of
personalities.
Dale and his family are long-
term Eastern Oregon residents and
are committed to the success of
the city of Pendleton and Umatilla
County. I know that Dale brings
a temperament and skill set that
Pendleton would bene¿t from.
Please join me in supporting
Dale Primmer for Pendleton City
Council Ward 3.
Terry L. Rowan,
Umatilla County Sheriff
Pendleton
Fairley will make good
addition to city council
Please join me in voting for
Scott Fairley for Pendleton City
Council, Ward 2.
For four years I worked with
Scott on the Pendleton Planning
Commission and saw ¿rst-hand
his ability to build consensus and
bring positive change to our city.
Included among his strengths is his
role as the Greater Eastern Oregon
Regional Solutions Coordinator
representing Umatilla and six other
Eastern Oregon counties to address
local and regional concerns. In
this role, Scott is responsible for
covering a wide range of regional
economic development interests
important to Pendleton.
An example of his effectiveness
was Scott’s role to bring together
local and legislative stakeholders
to secure over $1 million in state
funding to demolish the buildings
of the former Eastern Oregon
Training and Blue Mountain
Recovery Centers, which had
been abandoned by the state, and
transferring the property to the city
for industrial and housing needs.
I urge your vote for positive,
creative leadership. Vote Scott
Fairley for Pendleton City Council.
Chuck Wood
Pendleton
Dig deep to understand
city budgets
Mr. Kishpaugh is correct in
his condemnation of the oligarchs
playing hide the money so they can
do what they want, but he is wrong
in relying on the oligarchs to tell
him where the money is.
For instance, the city budget
running this year (2015-16)
shows budgeted wage increases
of $50,000 in ¿nance (to fund a
$6,000 increase), and $50,000
in engineering (to fund a $6,000
increase), among other padding,
and permanent increases in
employees of one in police and
three in ¿re departments for the
same city population. The city
central services (read overall
administration) spends almost $3.5
million (total property taxes are
$5.1 million).
If you want to ¿nd where the
city money is, you must follow
David Brooks’ admonition:
“Dogged work is the prerequisite
to success.”
Bob Ehmann, Pendleton