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About East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 21, 2016)
Page 4A OPINION East Oregonian Wednesday, September 21, 2016 OTHER VIEWS Founded October 16, 1875 KATHRYN B. BROWN DANIEL WATTENBURGER Publisher Managing Editor JANNA HEIMGARTNER TIM TRAINOR Business Ofice Manager Opinion Page Editor OUR VIEW Measure 98 ills needed niche with dollars In contrast to the controversial question above it on the November ballot, Measure 98 will take money already collected into the general fund and require that it be spent on education. It is an attempt to solve a glaring problem in Oregon, comes with a reasonable price tag and should be supported. Measure 98 would require the state legislature fund dropout prevention programs, in an attempt to improve the country’s worst high school dropout rates. It would also support career and college readiness programs — speciically vocational and career technical education — which are proven to keep students in school, improve their standardized test scores and get them started on fulilling careers. It would increase the money spent on each Oregon high school student by $800 a year, pushing the annual total to roughly $11,800. Those dollars will come from additional revenue into the state general fund. Measure 98 doesn’t require districts offer CTE programs, but helps pay for those who do — which means it isn’t a mandate but instead a carrot to help Oregon districts appeal to a wider variety of students, including some who are in danger of dropping out. In principle, we’re against handcufing the legislature with speciic funding requirements like this. They don’t allow legislators to be lexible in the case of emergency. And lawmakers lose the power to hold programs accountable with their Sword of Damocles — loss of funding — dangling overhead. But, like the measures above and below it, the need to promise inancial support of necessary educational upgrades at the ballot box marks a failure of the legislature. We elect our representatives to spend tax dollars as a majority of voters see it, on programs that have been proven effective and an eficient use of resources. CTE programs hit those marks, but legislators time and again have been unable to ind the money. This time, voters should take the decision into their own hands and approve Measure 98. 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 Main Street Cowboys deserve praise, not criticism Recently there have been several negative articles in the East Oregonian regarding the Main Street Cowboys. This group, declining in numbers, has once again provided family entertainment on Main Street from Wednesday through Saturday during the Round-Up. It is a joy to see families sitting together watching and participating in the various entertainment. Countless hours are spent preparing for this free show, and many more hours are spent cleaning up Main Street by the “old white men who have seen their numbers decline” — quoted from the Sept. 16 East Oregonian in the “Tip of the hat; kick in the pants” — after Round-Up is over. I always walk Main Street during Round-Up and always enjoy all the unique entertainment, seeing friends, eating good food, and buying this or that. So please let’s say “thank you” to the “old white men” as they continue to provide the Greatest Free Show in the West. I’m sure this group appreciates positive suggestions that would make this show better and would probably welcome participation by new “young men.” Good job, and thank you Main Street Cowboys. Sandy Nicassio Pendleton Round-Up should offer a military discount My husband and I decided to come into town for the Pendleton Round-Up this year. We are originally from here and thought we’d show our kids how fun it all is. We were very disappointed in the fact that general admission (standing) costs the same as seats do, and being a military family we were also very unhappy with the fact that they don’t give a military discount. We came on Wednesday and on Friday. Friday was the lyover and it was supposed to be a support your troops day, but paying full admission and being military, it sure didn’t feel like the sacriices my husband and his fellow soldiers have made were being recognized. You put on a great show, but you don’t really show your appreciation. Your a town that has a military installment, you have soldiers coming and going from this town, but you don’t give them any sort of privilege for doing something you aren’t doing. Many soldiers, Pendleton soldiers, have given the ultimate sacriice, but your salute to the soldiers was a whole three minutes, if that. A standing ovation for all the families and soldiers would be a great idea, a discount for those who ight the ight for your country would also be good. It seems so anti-military for you to charge full price on support your troops day. We paid full price to stand; I just can’t get over how awful that is. Now, we did also attend the Happy Canyon show. It was a great show. Kind of wish we knew we were going to attend someone’s wedding while watching the show, but on the plus side, my husband and I got in free to the after party because we were military. So a big shout out to those who thought that up. Now if we could the Round-Up folks to show some real appreciation. You all need to take a step back, stop thinking about making a buck — because we all know the Round-Up makes more than enough — and show your support to your troops. Saying you appreciate them is one thing, but actions are louder than words. Support the troops, and don’t forget that we are the land of the free, because of our brave. Jenifer Van Wechel Roy, Wash. Support Donald Trump for president Donald Trump is not a Republican as we knew them in the past, that’s true. But he is the only one that had the guts to stand up to the political hacks that have forgotten the middle class working people of this country. He might be brash, he might say things that are not PC, but he loves this country and he is bold to say things we all think but are afraid to say. But remember that Hillary has lied to us for years. She does not take responsibility for any of her actions, like the killing of our ambassador, in Libya, the emails, stealing the furniture as the Clintons left the White House, making a mess of the Middle East, her failed reset with Putin, and of course the Clinton Foundation slush fund. She vows to continue the Obama policies, like Obamacare, that have ruined our country. She will destroy the Second Amendment. That’s why she can’t be elected. Hillary is the problem, not a solution. We have to look long term. The next president will name several new Supreme Court judges. Trump’s list of the people he would choose are great conservatives. Trump’s goals of rebuilding this country are sorely needed. If you love our country and agree that it is on the wrong course then you need to vote for Trump. I appeal to you, the voter, who feels forgotten, who feels that their votes don’t count, who feel they are no longer living the American Dream, who feel that they are worse off now than eight years ago. This is your time to stand up and vote. Too many people died to protect our freedoms, and the right of the people to vote. If you don’t vote you have no right to complain. Vote Trump and let’s make America great again. Mark F. Gomolski Hermiston city council candidate Clinton plays it safe, Trump promises change T he terrorist bombings in New screen who is entering the United States York and New Jersey, which puts all of our citizens, everyone in this injured 29, and the terrorist room, at danger. So let me state very, stabbings in Minnesota, which injured very clearly: Immigration security is nine, were nowhere near as serious national security.” as the terrorist shootings in Orlando, Trump noted that in the past decade which killed 49, and in San Bernardino, and a half, “hundreds of immigrants which killed 14. Nevertheless, the and their children from high-risk acts of accused bomber Ahmad Khan regions have been implicated in Byron Rahami, and of Dahir Adan, the stabber terrorism and terrorist-related activity in York whose rampage was ended by an the United States.” And Clinton, Trump Comment off-duty police oficer in Minnesota, continued, would substantially increase brought the issue of terrorism back to the number of refugees from high-risk the presidential campaign trail. areas being allowed into the U.S. Clinton also There was a time when terror attacks opposes ideologically vetting those entering the were thought to beneit Trump politically, country, as Trump proposes to do. because polls suggested he was seen by many “Hillary Clinton refuses to consider voters as tougher on the issue. But Trump is an applicant’s world view, and thus, their widely believed to have fumbled things badly likelihood of being recruited into the terror after Orlando last June, forfeiting some of cause at some later date, which is going to his advantage. New York, New Jersey and happen in many, many cases,” Trump said. Minnesota presented an Trump covered other unhappy opportunity to do aspects of the ight against better. terrorism in conventional For Clinton, the attacks terms — “working in were a chance to lead, to show partnership with our allies strength and steadiness after a on a military campaign to tough few weeks. utterly destroy ISIS.” But Clinton played it safe. the heart of his speech was Speaking to reporters in immigration and a bold White Plains, New York, intention, if not a detailed before setting off to a speech plan, to attack the problem of at Temple University Monday, imported terrorism. she thanked irst responders Trump is known for sharp and in essence promised attacks on his opponents, to continue the Obama and in Florida he again administration’s anti-terror accused former Secretary efforts, only a bit better. of State Clinton of creating She would start an “intelligence surge,” she the conditions that led to the rise of the Islamic said, and an “accelerated” anti-Islamic State State. But when it came to attacks, Clinton coalition air campaign — all a little more of might have outdone her opponent. “Donald what Obama is doing. Trump is being used as a recruiting sergeant After two acts of jihad committed by for the terrorists,” Clinton said in White Plains. immigrants apparently committed to Islamic “The kinds of rhetoric and language that Mr. radicalism, Clinton, as always, rejected Trump has used is giving aid and comfort to Trump’s immigration-oriented anti-terror our adversaries.” proposals. “Let us remember, there are millions Who won the safe vs. bold terror debate and millions of naturalized citizens in America in the wake of New York, New Jersey and from all over the world,” she said in White Minnesota? That’s the kind of question that Plains. “There are millions of law-abiding can’t be answered on a day-to-day basis, and peaceful Muslim-Americans. This is the kind in any event could well change by next week’s of challenge that law enforcement can be and is debate. But some Republicans felt Trump prepared to address, namely going after anyone walked away with a real edge. who would threaten the United States.” “This type of terror, which affects or The overarching theme of Clinton’s could impact anyone in the country, makes message at the news conference was continuity the Clinton and the Obama administration with the Obama administration. “I was part of response and their plans to deal with ISIS the national security team that worked with seem woefully weak, and makes real voters President Obama to develop strategies to ight feel much less safe,” the veteran Republican the terrorists,” she said. “So we’re going to stay strategist Dave Carney, who is not working on focused on what will work.” the presidential campaign, wrote in an email Clinton did not address the possibility that exchange. “Trump will reap a huge advantage: what is being done now is not working. Policy CYA speak v. Tough action & concrete In any event, that was it for Clinton’s public steps to make us safer. Trump won this statements on the issue. When Clinton arrived weekend hands down.” at Temple, for a planned speech to millennials, “Trump looked strong, while Clinton looked she began with a few seconds of thanks to irst measured and weak,” wrote Curt Anderson, responders, but then continued with the speech another veteran GOP operative not working as planned. It covered climate change and on the campaign. “Also — we overestimate LGBT rights, but said nothing about national the impact of what the candidates say in the security. wake of these things. The big issue is that any Trump, for his part, was as bold as Clinton terror attack is terrible for Clinton. It highlights was cautious. “These attacks and many her biggest weakness. Anybody remember others were made possible because of our when Hillary Clinton’s strongest asset was her extremely open immigration system, which command of foreign policy and experience fails to properly vet and screen the individuals with it? Seems like a long time ago.” and families coming into our country,” he ■ said. “Attack after attack, from 9/11 to San Byron York is chief political correspondent Bernardino, we have seen how failures to for The Washington Examiner. After two acts of jihad committed by immigrants, Clinton, as always rejected Trump’s anti-immigrant proposals. 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. Submitted letters must be signed by the author and include the city and a phone number. Send letters to 211 S.E. Byers Ave. Pendleton, OR 97801 or email editor@eastoregonian.com.
