Page 4A
OPINION
East Oregonian
Thursday, October 6, 2016
OTHER VIEWS
Founded October 16, 1875
KATHRYN B. BROWN
Publisher
DANIEL WATTENBURGER
Managing Editor
TIM TRAINOR
Opinion Page Editor
MARISSA WILLIAMS
Regional Advertising Director
MARCY ROSENBERG
Circulation Manager
JANNA HEIMGARTNER
Business Ofice Manager
MIKE JENSEN
Production Manager
OUR VIEW
We’re not
clowning around
All clowns are creepy, everybody force and when many Americans
knows that.
are connected to an online web of
But we’re a newspaper — not a
people they don’t really know or
Stephen King novel — and we’re
care about. It’s an age when the old
not going to write about made-up
“telephone game” can be magniied
things that give people the heebie-
to a worldwide audience, and when
jeebies.
the context of photos and videos can
And we’re not the only media
be morphed and hidden.
company who has come to its senses
Media companies, lailing to
— if belatedly — about perpetuating keep up with the times, try to report
this hoax.
on these “memes of
Mark Hanrahan, a
the moment” that
KREM 2 television
lash through the
We’re a
anchor in Spokane,
social media sphere.
newspaper, Last month it was
posted an opinion piece
this week titled: “Let’s
the Frog,” a
not a Stephen “Pepe
stop giving clowns
sad-eyed poorly drawn
so much attention.”
that media
King novel. cartoon
Hanrahan said the
organizations now
outlet “will only report
wrongly label as racist.
on credible ‘creepy clown’ threats
This month it’s these dumb clowns.
that are being actively investigated.” And in trying to report about what
We’ll do the same.
people are seeing on their Facebook
Because this is clearly a media
or Instagram page, respectable
and social media-driven hoax
media organizations lend credence to
that has been blown wildly out of
what is not a newsworthy fad.
proportion.
Police departments in Hermiston
Reports of clowns have popped
and Pendleton lent their own kind
up in dozens of states, and
of credence to the issue too, posting
“journalists” have dutifully reported with their tongue-in-cheek on
on each supposed sighting and thus
Facebook, or allocating resources
helped spawn the next one.
to deal with completely illogical
The only fact that really matters,
rumors that “creepy clowns” were
however: There have been many
going to terrorize schools. Now
more people charged with passing
those departments will have to
false reports to police about clowns
deal with the fallout, as the scanner
than clowns have been charged
crackles with more “sightings.”
with crimes, or been the victim of a
We’re not going to play the game
crime. Quite simply: The reports are and perpetuate the myth.
untrue, the rumors are untrue, the
Sure, it’s possible that someone
threats are unfounded.
dressed as a clown could commit
Untruths presented as facts is
a heinous crime, or even a
the problem of the moment — this
misdemeanor. If that happens, we’ll
age when valuable internet clicks
report it. But we’re not going to
are earned by shocking and
cause panic for no reason, and we’re
entertaining an online audience,
not going to promote a sort of mass
when viral marketing is a powerful
hysteria.
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
Disguised sales tax
would harm Oregon
The Yamhill Valley News-Register
W
hat’s the good of working to
increase graduation rates, only
to send newly minted alumni out
into a job market devastated by Measure
97? Why invest in expanded services to
seniors, only to force them into paying
more at the gas stations, grocery stores and
pharmacies under this disguised sales tax?
And how can we promise $3
billion a biennium in new revenue
would be spent on “public early
childhood and K-12 education, health
care, and services for senior citizens,”
as the measure’s union sponsors
claim, when it would actually feed a
general fund Oregon politicians can
allocate any way they wish?
These are questions voters must
consider when making their decision
on 97, easily this election’s most
contentious ballot measure. For the
sake of Oregon, we are conident that
would persuade them to join us in
voting no.
The deceptively titled Oregon
Business Tax Increase Initiative,
created and inanced by organized
labor, would exact a 2.5 percent tax on
C corporation gross sales exceeding
$25 million. Yes, sales, not income,
thus serving to punish two elements
of the economy disproportionately
— consumers and high-volume,
low-margin retailers, such as grocery
stores.
Backers claim the tax would be
largely limited to greedy out-of-state
corporate goliaths, whose CEOs are
capable of jetting off to exclusive
island retreats any time they wish.
In fact, it would also hit homegrown
retailers like Wilco and Bi-Mart, who
aren’t capable of simply brushing it
off, as Walmart might.
What’s more, manufacturers,
distributors and retailers would
each build the increase into their
price structure and pass it on to the
maximum extent possible. Given the
multiplier effect, the consumer would
end up bearing a big portion of the
burden in the end.
A report released in May by the
nonpartisan Legislative Revenue
Ofice estimated Measure 97 would
cost the average Oregonian $600 a
year, or $2,400 a year for a family of
four. It estimated public-sector job
gains at 18,000, dwarfed by private-
sector job losses predicted at 38,000.
A counter study, commissioned by
Measure 97 supporters, estimates a
loss of 17,000 private-sector jobs and
gain of 30,000 public-sector jobs. But
even that scenario has a downside,
as it would further stress a public
employee retirement system already
facing a $22 billion shortfall.
The timing for a record-breaking,
tradition-defying sales tax couldn’t
be worse, as Oregon has enjoyed two
straight years of strong economic
growth. It is inally approaching a full
recovery from the Great Recession,
and Measure 97 would toss a grenade
into that.
If enacted, Measure 97 would
surely dominate the upcoming
Legislative session. Petitions for relief
and pleas for funding would trigger
endless debate. There are too many
pressing needs in our state for our
elected oficials to get bogged down
in such a political quagmire.
We have no quarrel with the
premise that corporate America is
getting a free ride in Oregon, and that
needs to end. Putting the best face
on it, perhaps the current proposal
could serve as a framework for a
better-conceived measure to address
that inequity.
Enacting an Oregon sales tax
promises to create a lot more harm
and havoc than good.
Ominous signs for Trump
in post-debate poll
A new Fox News national poll
in the four-way race and a signiicant
suggests Donald Trump suffered real
change in the two-way. It’s not clear
damage in his irst debate with Hillary
which is more meaningful.
Clinton — not just losing the debate,
But other numbers are clearly
but sliding in some key measures of
ominous for Trump.
voter conidence in his ability to serve
Before the debate, Trump had a 51
as president.
percent to 44 percent lead when Fox
Compared to the same poll’s results
asked likely voters who would best
before the debate, Clinton’s standing
handle the economy. After the debate,
Byron
improved relative to Trump’s in three
Trump’s lead was down to 49 percent
York
to 47 percent — a seven-point lead cut
important areas: which candidate
Comment
to a two-point lead.
would best handle the economy,
Before the debate, Fox found 59
which candidate has the temperament
percent of likely voters said Clinton had the
to serve as president and which candidate is
temperament to serve as president; after the
honest and trustworthy.
debate, the number went
First, the overall
to 67 percent. Trump’s
numbers. In the poll,
temperament number
conducted last Tuesday,
stayed nearly the same, 38
Wednesday, and Thursday,
percent before the debate to
58 percent of likely voters
37 percent after. Clinton’s
said Clinton won the debate,
21-point pre-debate lead
versus just 19 percent who
on the question became a
said Trump won, 11 percent
30-point post-debate lead.
who said it was a tie, and 12
Before the debate, 39
percent who said they didn’t
percent of Fox respondents
know. That’s three times as
said Trump is honest and
many voters who thought
trustworthy. After the debate, that number fell
Clinton won as thought Trump won.
to 31 percent. Clinton’s honest and trustworthy
Democrats, by a 91 percent to 4 percent
rating remained virtually the same: 34 percent
margin, thought Clinton was the victor.
before the debate versus 35 percent after the
Republicans, by a 35 percent to 26 percent
debate. That’s a nine-point net change. Before
margin, thought Trump won. (Nineteen
the debate, more likely voters saw Trump as
percent of Republicans thought it was a tie.)
Among independents, Clinton won by a 46-22 honest and trustworthy than saw Clinton as
honest and trustworthy. Post-debate, it’s the
margin.
other way around.
So voters think Clinton won, which is the
The debate didn’t change likely voters’
same result as other polls in recent days. But
views on Clinton’s email problem or Trump’s
the larger question is what effect, if any, the
tax returns.
debate had on the overall course of the race.
There have been a lot of polls,
In the horse race, Fox found Clinton
leading Trump among likely voters 43 percent methodologically sound and otherwise, since
to 40 percent in a four-way contest, with Gary Monday’s presidential debate. But it takes a
while for the effect of a debate to percolate
Johnson at eight percent and Jill Stein at four
through the electorate. Voters who watched the
percent. In the last Fox poll, taken September
debate think about what they’ve seen, discuss
11-14, Clinton led Trump by 41 percent to 40
it with family and friends, and watch and read
percent in the four-day race, with Johnson at
news coverage. Voters who didn’t watch form
eight percent and Stein and three percent.
The Fox pollsters found more change in the opinions from coverage and word of mouth. It
all takes a few days.
head-to-head race among likely voters, with
Now the irst real effects of the debate are
Clinton now leading Trump 49 percent to 44
percent. In the pre-debate Fox poll, Trump led becoming clear. And they are not good news
for Donald Trump.
Clinton 46 percent to 45 percent — so that’s
■
a six-point net change before and after the
Byron York is chief political correspondent
debate.
for The Washington Examiner.
So there has been an insigniicant change
Trump suffered
real damage in
his irst debate
with Hillary
Clinton.
YOUR VIEWS
Eastern Oregon delegate
proud to support Clinton
As a longtime supporter of Hillary Clinton,
I was honored to represent Eastern Oregon as
a Hillary delegate at the Democratic National
Convention in Denver in 2008.
I feel just as strongly now, in supporting her,
as I did then. She is the right person at the right
time to serve as our president and commander
in chief.
Having known her for so long, I know she
has the intelligence, experience and wisdom to
serve as president. Likewise, I know that she is
an ethical person who knows wrong from right,
and she will make wise decisions based on her
strong Christian faith.
Unfortunately, the Republican Party has put
forth a candidate who is completely unqualiied
and without the temperament or demeanor
to serve as our president. As a retired teacher
and principal, I questions how we could ever
put forth Donald Trump as a role model to our
children, should he be elected president. The
childish name-calling he has shown for the last
year and a half would be an embarrassment for
the American people. Students in any school
at which I was principal would be sent to the
ofice for disciplining were they to call people
names in the way he does.
Hillary Clinton is the candidate who has the
intelligence, background and integrity to serve
as our president from the day she is elected.
Don’t embarrass our country! Elect Hillary
Clinton our president.
Jack Lorts, vice chair, Wheeler County Democrats
former mayor
retired Superintendent of Schools
Fossil
Chicago’s hellish conditions
an American tragedy
As has so often been the case over the past
100 to 120 years, Americans these days are
hearing a great many homicide-related horror
stories from the savage streets of Chicago.
The metropolis that in days long ago gave us
the 1886 “Haymarket Riots” and Al Capone’s
gruesome “St. Valentine’s Day Massacre”
in 1929 is managing to shock the rest of the
world in 2016 with what seems like a virtually
limitless spate of youth gang killings. Perhaps,
rather than “Windy City,” the place ought
to be nicknamed “Bloody City.” Even as
Los Angeles and New York City manage to
keep their levels of deadly violence in check,
Chicago keeps getting worse.
Associated Press reporter Don Babwin is
perfectly right to term what is taking place
in mid-America’s largest metropolis the
“Chicago slaughter.” Ninety-one people were
slain there in August alone, and thus far in
2016 more people have been murdered in
Chicago than in Los Angeles and New York
City combined. For all practical purposes, sad
it is to say, violent crime in Chicago is out of
control and stands as a major public health
emergency.
It is dificult to escape the conclusion that
the city of Chicago’s “powers that be” have
simply given up trying to bring the situation
under control. They’ve washed their hands
of it, one suspects, and have effectively
consigned certain neighborhoods to the sort
of earthly “perdition” they’ve largely brought
on themselves. It is extremely hard to see at
this juncture what measures would halt the
massacre. It has taken on a grim life of its
own. Chicago’s homicide problem is akin to
warfare.
Chicago has always had a huge amount of
potential, but this potential has been stunted
by the city’s propensity for violence and social
chaos. Public safety concerns act as a drag on
the Chicago economy.
Chicago could be an earthly paradise. It
has plenty of material resources. Instead, in
many of its neighborhoods, conditions are
downright hellish.
Frank W. Goheen
Vancouver, Wash.
LETTERS POLICY
The East Oregonian welcomes original letters of 400 words or less on public issues
and public policies for publication. Submitted letters must be signed by the author and
include the city of residence and a daytime phone number. Send letters to 211 S.E. Byers
Ave. Pendleton, OR 97801 or email editor@eastoregonian.com.