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OPINION
East Oregonian
Wednesday, October 26, 2016
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 Office Manager
MIKE JENSEN
Production Manager
OUR VIEW
Umatilla school bond
a wise investment
When the issue of school bonds
state dollars for themselves, and we
come up, the general public is of two suggest they take it.
The school district has put a
minds.
Yes, we need to have adequate
$10.5 million bond on the ballot,
but that sticker shocker likely won’t
facilities to educate our kids. No, we
hit a pocketbook — the payments
don’t want to pay more taxes to get
will begin after the
them.
current bond comes
Those thoughts
It’s difficult to
off the books in 2023
are diametrically
go until 2035.
opposed. State
leave millions of and
The rate is about
funding for schools
per $1,000 in
doesn’t cover capital
dollars sitting on $3.13
assessed value.
improvements. It
It’s a longterm
hardly covers the
the table when
investment. But
day-to-day needs
there are visible in a community
of our education
Umatilla,
system, but that’s
needs in local like
which has recently
another issue.
become very active
School districts
schools.
in investing in its
are left to convince
image, it’s a smart
their local
one. The school buildings need new
constituents to fund new buildings,
roofs and HVAC systems (which will
major upgrades and other facilities.
The state has pitched in some help save operating costs), better security
(which will give parents better peace
recently, offering matching bonds
of mind) and a little room to grow at
for qualifying districts, and voters in
McNary Heights.
Milton-Freewater, Athena-Weston
Not every school bond gets an
and Echo have taken advantage.
While many vote no on new taxes as automatic thumbs up from us, and
should be considered carefully. But
a matter of principal, it’s difficult to
leave millions of dollars sitting on the the district has made great strides in
providing a quality education for its
table when there are visible needs in
students and should be able to do that
local schools.
educating in a safe and comfortable
Umatilla voters now have the
environment.
chance to get $4 million of those
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
The epidemic of worry
W
e’ve had a tutorial on
that would bring coherence and
worry this year. The
peace.
election campaign isn’t
Many affluent people use
really about policy proposals,
money to buy privacy, and so
issue solutions or even hope. It’s
cut themselves off from both the
led by two candidates who arouse
deep relationships that could give
gargantuan anxieties, fear and
them purpose and the neighborly
hatred in their opponents.
support systems that could hold
As a result, some mental
them up if things go south.
David
health therapists are reporting that
This election has also
Brooks
three-quarters of their patients are
presented members of the
Comment
mentioning significant election-
educated class with an awful
related anxiety. An American
possibility: that their pleasant
social strata may rest on unstable molten
Psychological Association study found
layers of anger, bigotry and instability.
that more than half of all Americans are
How could this guy Trump get even 40
very or somewhat stressed by this race.
percent of the votes? America may be not
Of course, there are good and bad
quite the country we thought it was.
forms of anxiety — the kind that warns
Among the less educated, anxiety
you about legitimate dangers and the kind
flows from and inflames a growing
that spirals into dark and self-destructive
sense that the structures of society are
thoughts.
built for the exploitation of people like
In his book “Worrying,” Francis
themselves. Everything is rigged; the
O’Gorman notes how quickly the good
rulers are malevolent and corrupt.
kind of anxiety can slide into the dark
It is a well-established fact that people
kind. “Worry is circular,” he writes. It
who experience social exclusion have
may start with a concrete anxiety: Did
a tendency to slide toward superstitious
I lock the back door? Is this headache a
and conspiratorial thinking. People who
stroke? “And it has a nasty habit of taking
feel exploited by, and invisible to, those
off on its own, of getting out of hand, of
at the commanding heights of society are
spawning thoughts that are related to the
not going to worry if their candidate can’t
original worry and which make it worse.”
pass a fact-check test. They just want
That’s what’s happening this year.
someone who can share their exclusion
Anxiety is coursing through American
society. It has become its own destructive and give them a better story.
character on the national stage.
Anxiety changes people. We’ve seen a
Worry alters the atmosphere of the
level of thuggery this election cycle that
mind. It shrinks your awareness of the
is without precedent in recent American
present and your ability to enjoy what’s
history. Some of the anti-Trump
around you right now. It cycles possible
demonstrators seem more interested
bad futures around in your head and forces in violence than politics. Some of the
you to live in dreadful future scenarios, 90 Trumpians are savage.
percent of which will never come true.
David French wrote a shocking
Pretty soon you are seeing the world
essay for National Review describing
through a dirty windshield. Worry dims
the appalling online abuse he suffered
every sunrise and amplifies mistrust.
because of his anti-Trump stance. His
A mounting tide of anxiety makes
anonymous assailants Photoshopped
people angrier about society and more
pictures of his daughter’s face in a
darkly pessimistic about the possibility
gas chamber and left GIFs of grisly
of changing it. Spiraling worry is the
executions on his wife’s blog.
perverted underside of rationality.
Some of the things that have made
This being modern polarized America, us vulnerable to this wave of anxiety are
worry seems to come in two flavors.
not going away — the narratives of fear,
Educated-class anxiety can often be
conspiracy and the immobilizing stress.
characterized as a feeling overabundant
America’s culture may be permanently
of options without a core of convicting
changed for the worse.
purpose. It’s worth noting that rich
But the answer to worry is the same
countries are more anxious than poorer
as the answer to fear: direct action. If the
ones. According to the World Health
next president starts enacting a slew of
Organization, 18.2 percent of Americans
actual policies, then at least we can argue
report chronic anxiety while only 3.3
about concrete plans, rather than vague
percent of Nigerians do.
apocalyptic moods.
Today, when you hear affluent people
If you’re worrying, you’re spiraling
express worry, it’s usually related to the
into your own narcissistic pool. But
fear of missing out, and the dizziness of
concrete plans and actions thrust us into
freedom. The affluent often feel besieged the daily fact of other people’s lives.
by busyness and plagued by a daily
This campaign will soon be over, and
excess of choices. At the same time, there governing, thank God, will soon return.
is a pervasive cosmic unease, the anxiety
Hakuna matata.
that they don’t quite understand the
■
meaning of life, or have not surrendered
David Brooks is a columnist for the
to some all-encompassing commitment
New York Times.
YOUR VIEWS
Outdoor school teaches
important lessons
Oregon voters have a chance to get kids out
of the techno world and into the out-of-doors,
where they can become acquainted with
the wonders of the nature. Measure 99 will
provide a week of Outdoor School for every
middle school student, giving them hands-on
science education that will build life skills
and inspire them to learn and recreate in the
outdoors. This ballot measure will not require
any new taxes, but will dedicate 4 percent of
unallocated lottery dollars to a permanent,
stable source of funding for Oregon Outdoor
School.
Twenty years ago, 85 percent of Oregon
school kids had the chance for some sort of
Outdoor School experience. Due to funding
cuts throughout the state, that number has
dwindled to 45-50 percent.
Hermiston Schools remain a success story.
Some kids in that district have never been
outside of the town. In fact, one teacher said
that she often has kids ask, “What’s in the
mountains?” Thanks to dedicated teachers,
sponsors and volunteers, these students spend
three days in the Umatilla National Forest,
observing and learning about soils, birds of
prey, water conservation, wildlife, etc. It gives
them a well-rounded education, and a chance
to experiences things that are not available in a
classroom setting. Per one student, “hands-on
experiences help you to remember ideas later.”
But, it’s not all strictly scientific field
studies — there’s archery, camping, hiking,
wading in streams, etc. What’s more, there
are kids who struggle in the classroom but
who actually shine in the outdoor learning
environment.
Fostering deep connections with the
natural environment is at the heart of Blue
Mountain Land Trust’s mission. Programs
like Oregon Outdoor School inspire the
next generation of conservationists, natural
resource scientists, hunters and recreators, and
lay the groundwork for lifelong appreciation
of all that our Blue Mountains have to offer.
We strongly support giving all Oregon middle
school students the opportunity to see science
come alive through fun, hands-on activities in
nature.
Linda Herbert, vice president and board member
Chair, education committee
Blue Mt. Land Trust
Walla Walla
Wait, what has Clinton done?
Lately we’ve been hearing a great
deal about Hillary Clinton’s many
accomplishments and high qualifications
for the presidency. Could someone point
out one or two “accomplishments” and
“qualifications”? Just one of each, perhaps?
John Kaufman
Pendleton
Job protection is paramount
Every citizen should subscribe to the
newsletter at www.numbersusa.com
This week a federal judge in Florida has
stated that visa holders “can” replace American
workers without an employer being responsible
to the American employees. Visa workers are
brought into the states to supposedly hold jobs
that American workers will not hold. This is not
true. The employer does not have to pay Social
Security taxes, Medicare taxes, or even withhold
federal and state income taxes. This is more of
the open borders that Obama and the Clintons
want. Do you really want open borders, which
allows legal discrimination against American
workers?
Your job could be next ... Trump for 2016.
Patricia Maier
Hermiston
Integrity, leadership lacking
in both candidates
George Murdock’s viewpoint on the
divisiveness of this election (East Oregonian
Sat./Sun. Oct. 22, 2016) is right on target,
including the media’s lack of competent
attention to issues rather than the sideshow of
both candidates. I agree with Mr. Murdock’s
call that it is time to wake up and choose
or expect leaders that have the qualities of
leadership balanced with a decent sense of
ethics, morality and integrity.
Statesmanship is more important than a
candidate’s sense of entitlement, pettiness
or self-interest. In my opinion, neither
presidential candidate offers the needed
leadership necessary to move America
forward to be a great nation.
Jim Kutcher
Milton-Freewater
After the fight
He left the house, slamming the door,
screeching out of the driveway, this morning’s
fight with his wife vibrating his psyche. The
miles to work gave time to ponder. It was
the first serious argument for the newlyweds.
And intense. Then, suddenly, it hit him: He
would have to go back home to her tonight.
Something had to be done.
Just so, when this bitter election fight ends,
we have to live together again. Who sends the
flowers and candy?
Don Reese
Echo
Growing Umatilla needs
top-notch schools
I am writing in support of the Umatilla
School District bond measure on the
November ballot. This bond will allow the
district to make needed improvements at
all three schools in Umatilla — McNary
Elementary, Clara Brownell Middle School
and Umatilla High School.
The city of Umatilla is located at the
confluence of the Umatilla and Columbia
rivers, and is rich in the history of Lewis and
Clark as well as the tribes of the Umatilla,
Walla Walla, and Cayuse Indians. Umatilla
is a natural transportation hub, as it is located
near the river, the railroad, and two interstate
highways. While our economic base has
primarily been agricultural in the past, we are
seeing more diversity these days due, in part,
to our proximity to transportation.
Educating students in this busy area is
the job of the Umatilla School District. Our
administration is proud of our district; our
staff is working hard, our students are learning
and our community gives us wonderful
support. The school district’s purpose is to
provide our students with a top quality public
education so that they may become successful,
contributing citizens of the future. We couldn’t
do this without the support of the Umatilla
community — from businesses to residents
to volunteers, we rely on our community’s
support for many programs and projects
throughout the year.
Now, the Umatilla community has the
opportunity to again support our school
district by voting yes for the upcoming school
bond on the November ballot. The school
district is asking for $10.5 million to fund
important capital improvements at all three
district schools. If the bond passes, the district
will receive an additional $4 million from the
state, for a total of $14.5 million. This is a
wonderful opportunity for our community to
pay $10.5 million, but receive $14.5 million
for district projects. We don’t know if or when
this chance will come up again from the state.
The proposed bond will NOT increase
taxes for Umatilla citizens; the new bonds are
estimated to continue the same tax rate of the
current bonds, just longer.
We are very thankful for the ongoing
support of the Umatilla community. I
encourage the Umatilla community to vote
YES on this school bond — to protect our
students, to protect our educational investments
and send a clear message that the Umatilla
community is dedicated to quality education.
Shelley Kennedy
Umatilla School District board member
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.
“Around our region, I hear the same stories from Oregonians
— the new health care law is simply not affordable. ... There is
a better way to fix our health care system. I support a plan that
would fix this mess with real, patient-centered reform that would
lower costs, not raise them and give consumers more control over
their health care, not less.”
— Rep. Greg Walden, on Republican health care platform, detailed at better.gop