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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.