Page 4A
East Oregonian
Tuesday, August 7, 2018
CHRISTOPHER RUSH
Publisher
KATHRYN B. BROWN
Owner
DANIEL WATTENBURGER
Managing Editor
Founded October 16, 1875
OUR VIEW
Bottles and cans by the ton
W
hile there are plenty of things
that divide Oregonians, there
are three pillars that unite us.
We speak, of course, of no sales tax,
no self-pumping at gas stations and the
Bottle Bill.
They’re so ingrained in our unique
Oregonian culture that it seems
fundamentally wrong when we’re
visiting another state and see that extra
line at the bottom of a receipt adding
to our purchase total, or pull into a gas
station and wait a beat before realizing
we’re going to have to climb out and
work the machine ourselves. Perhaps
the most egregious is when we see
friends who don’t know any better toss
a soda can into the garbage, or drive
down the highways of other states and
see aluminum, plastic and glass littered
alongside the road.
A sales tax would undoubtedly
stabilize this state’s unpredictable
economic cycles and give us a good
case for lowering the income tax
rate. Self-serve gas has proven to
be non-apocalyptic in much of rural
Oregon. But the Bottle Bill should be
enshrined as one of our state’s greatest
achievements.
Nine other states have followed in
our footsteps since 1971, creating an
incentive to recycle one-use containers
rather than pitching them in a trash can,
gutter or wildlife habitat.
As Jade McDowell reported in
this paper last week, about 1.3 billion
bottles and cans were returned in 2017.
That represents about 80 percent of the
containers that were purchased, and a
substantial increase from 2016 when the
deposit was a nickel. According to the
online Bottle Bill Resource Guide, the
return rate for non-Bottle Bill states is
about 28 percent.
Distributors, who receive the initial
deposit and pay it back at the end of the
cycle, came out ahead at $25 million in
unreturned containers. But the big win is
that the incentive of a dime did what it
was supposed to and got us back into the
habit of returning our cans and bottles.
Overall, Americans are sloppy
recyclers. We’re not alone in that trait,
but we’re bad at sorting before we drop
off and, because of the mess we leave,
Staff photo by E.J. Harris
Cubes of crushed cans stand on a pallet in the back of the BottleDrop facility in Hermiston.
much of the world’s refuse is no longer
accepted at processing centers in China.
That’s bad for the world, as material
that can be reused is instead piling up in
landfills.
Bottles and cans are unique in that
they are easily sorted, and a targeted
campaign provides a greater return on
investment than other materials.
As a bonus, the deposits have
also become an effective fundraising
mechanism for nonprofits. Last week
the Agape House in Hermiston was
able to raise thousands of dollars in
an afternoon in coordination with the
BottleDrop facility as people donated
their containers to the cause. We hope to
see more of that for area charities.
So whether you return your cans and
bottles yourself, donate them to a charity
or give them to a neighbor kid looking
to make a few bucks, the daily effect of
the bottle bill is what you don’t see —
litter and waste in our state.
YOUR VIEWS
Tribal investment being
lost when applicants are
overlooked
OTHER VIEWS
For wages, a Trump slump
P
aul Ryan tried to brag about
2.7 percent isn’t a great growth rate
the economy last week, and
for nominal wages. It was rarely so
it didn’t go so well. “Not too
slow in the entire second half of the
long ago, progressive economists
20th century, for example. These
said strong economic growth
days, though, most workers don’t
couldn’t be done anymore — that
receive their fair share of economic
a stagnant U.S. economy was the
output. An outsize share instead
‘new normal,’” Ryan tweeted.
flows to corporate profits and the
David
“And yet, our economy is growing
rich.
Leonardt
at its fastest rate since 2014.”
Second, nominal wages by
Comment
Ah, yes: the good old days of
themselves can’t buy a higher
2014, also known as the sixth year
standard of living. Prices matter,
of Barack Obama’s presidency. Ryan’s
too. When the prices of good and services
nostalgia for 2014 wasn’t even the most-
are rising faster than nominal wages,
mocked part of his tweet. His attempt to
people end up with less buying power. And
make grand claims about a single quarter
that is exactly what’s happening now.
of growth was.
Inflation has surged, mostly because
If the Trump economy were so
of higher oil prices. Events in the Middle
wonderful, why would the speaker of
East, Russia and Venezuela have reduced
the House feel the need to traffic in
the supply of oil, even as a growing global
disingenuousness? Because the Trump
economy is increasing demand. Trump has
economy isn’t actually so wonderful.
aggravated the situation by pulling out of
For most Americans, it is downright
the Iran nuclear deal, further raising oil
mediocre, and it has deteriorated
prices.
somewhat since President Donald Trump
Add it all up — faster inflation plus
took office, despite the healthy GDP and
mediocre nominal-wage growth —
unemployment statistics.
and you get a stagnation in real wages.
Hourly wages are suffering through a
Welcome to the Trump wage slump.
Trump slump, and that slump isn’t entirely
My best guess is that real wages will
Trump’s fault, by any means. But he
do modestly better over the next year,
deserves some blame for it. Worst of all,
barring another oil spike or an unexpected
he is doing virtually nothing to improve
recession. But there is no reason to think
the situation, instead enacting policies that that most Americans are on the cusp of
will ultimately hurt workers’ ability to earn truly healthy pay increases.
a decent paycheck.
They face too many obstacles:
Let’s start with the good news. The
Companies that are larger and more
unemployment rate keeps falling, and
powerful than they used to be; unions that
economic growth is solid. These headline
are weaker; and, thanks in large part to
numbers are the ones that Republicans
Trump, a federal government that keeps
emphasize (and that the media sometimes
siding against workers, be it on overtime
overhypes).
pay, work rules, health care costs, for-
As a result of the growth, nominal
profit-college scams or tax cuts.
wages — that is, the numbers people see
Right now, Trump is presiding over
in their paychecks, before taking inflation
precisely the wage growth that he
into account — are growing. Over the past deserves: zero.
year, the average hourly nominal wage has
■
risen 2.7 percent.
David Leonardt is a columnist for the
There are two problems, though. First,
New York Times
Unsigned editorials are the opinion of the
East Oregonian editorial board. Other
columns, letters and cartoons on this page
express the opinions of the authors and
not necessarily that of the East Oregonian.
June’s Confederated Umatilla Journal
rightfully recognized and congratulated
our recent graduates on their respective
individual achievement. Also, the editorial
on tribal education by Chuck Sams, CUJ
publisher, deserves a response.
Sams advises the Class of 2018:
“Become lifelong learners, we need you
so we can continue to build a brighter
future.” On its face, this is one ideal for the
purpose of education. However, too many
times ideals do not have much to do with
reality. Not too long ago, the position of
legislative coordinator, which is supervised
by Sams, was vacant and needed to
be filled. There were at least five fully
qualified CTUIR tribal member applicants
for the position. They all earned relevant
college degrees, mostly paid for by our
tribe, and each had years of experience
working in tribal government. One is even
a licensed attorney.
To make a long story short, all five
were passed over in favor of a non-Indian
who had zero tribal work experience.
I understand this successful applicant
previously served on the Pendleton City
Council. However, this experience is
unrelated to tribal government and, by
itself, should not meet the experience
qualification for the position. Comparing
city government and tribal government
is the same as comparing the proverbial
apples and oranges, it cannot effectively be
done as they are two distinct and different
forms of government.
As the immediate supervisor of the
position, Sams, of course, was on the
interview panel and his opinion carried
the most weight on who to hire. Tribal
scholarships are provided for deserving
tribal students, of any age, with the
understanding they are a sound financial
and moral investment in the future of our
tribe, and the individual as well. But where
is the return on our investments when
qualified CTUIR tribal job applicants are
not hired by the tribe?
Situations like this one also defeat, to a
large extent, the very purpose and mission
of our tribal education program, and our
long-standing self-determination goals as
well.
Bob Shippentower
Pendleton
We’re all to blame if
democracy dies
Used to be our presidents served our
citizens, not just themselves or their base.
Used to be that presidents of both parties
served as role models for our youth. Used
to be there was some degree of predict-
ability and trustworthiness in what presi-
dents said and did, not having to fact check
whatever was stated. Used to be that presi-
dents rarely shamed or name-called others.
Used to be that our presidents respected
the rule of law. Used to be that presidents
balanced the needs of our country with
our international responsibilities. Used to
be that presidents worked in partnership
with our allies to advance mutual interests.
Used to be that the world respected our
president and our country.
These “used to be’s” are traditions and
expectations we need to preserve if we
want to preserve our democracy. Current
presidential behavior runs counter to this
all, and as long as we ignore it or avoid it,
it will become the new norm. If we remain
quiet, we are just as culpable as our cur-
rent president in diminishing our rights and
democratic institutions.
Jeff Blackwood
Pendleton
We need a representative
who pays attention
I have become increasingly frustrated
with our congressman’s lack of
responsiveness to us, his constituents,
over many years, but more so over the
past nearly two years. His letters are form
letters and do not answer my questions.
His staff members upon answering my
phone calls always reply they haven’t
“discussed that” with him no matter the
subject. He seems to avoid direct contact
with us, and his staff can never tell us his
schedule.
Additionally, he has now seemed
to renege on having debates with
his opponent. He is “too busy with
government business” but had time for an
expensive fund raiser outside his district
last week.
His congressional opponent, Jamie
McLeod-Skinner, on the other hand
not only specifically answers direct
questions but actually carefully listens to
us Eastern Oregonians. That is what we
should expect and are entitled to from our
representatives. Thoughtful discourse with
a smart, experienced person without ties
to industries we don’t have here, such as
pharmaceuticals and internet providers,
has been refreshing to me, and I look
forward to a great real partnership with a
new real representative.
Please get the word out, help get
the vote out, and vote with me for
Jamie McLeod-Skinner for District 2
Representative November 6.
Sandra Haechrel
The Dalles
CONTACT YOUR REPRESENTATIVES
U.S. PRESIDENT
Donald Trump
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20500
Comments: 202-456-1111
Switchboard: 202-456-1414
www.whitehouse.gov/contact/
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
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Send letters to managing editor Daniel Wattenburger, 211 S.E. Byers Ave. Pendleton, OR 97801 or email editor@eastoregonian.com.