4 A
❘
SATURDAY EDITION
❘ APRIL 16, 2016
RYAN CRONK , EDITOR
Siuslaw News
❘ 541-902-3520 ❘
Opinion
P.O. Box 10
Florence, OR 97439
VIEW FROM UPRIVER
YESTERDAY’S NEWS
Of, for and by
W ESLEY V OTH
For the Siuslaw News
––––––––––––
T
here is nothing like the blooms of the
wild iris and the return of swallows
that means it is April in this part of
Oregon. Oregon iris, also known as tough-
leaf or rainbow iris, can be found right now
along many area roadsides and woodland
edges. Its names come from being common
only in Western Oregon, its traditional use of
leaves for cordage, and the variation of petal
color from purple to cream to yellow. There
are thousands right now on the hillside by
where I like to walk along the Swisshome
end of Stagecoach Road.
The swallows I’ve seen so far are the four
varieties most common locally: barn, cliff or
bank, violet green and tree. The latter two
like nest boxes, and last year I had found
plans for making simple ones, even went so
far as to set wood aside. Now the birds are
here again. Sometimes it is as easy to do
something as talk about it, so I interrupted
EDITOR @ THESIUSLAWNEWS . COM
the writing of this paragraph to com-
plete that task, and can report that
five boxes are now put together and
up for use. I predict that by the time I
finish this column, at least one will be
claimed as a nest.
Some who read this column are no
longer able to get out to where much
of our flora and fauna can be seen, and espe-
cially like to hear about what is in bloom as
spring progresses. Natives I have seen in the
past two weeks: pacific crabapple, rhodo-
dendron, dogwood, elderberry, big-leaf
maple, trailing blackberry or dewberry with
their five pointed stars, bleeding heart,
Hooker’s and Smith’s fairy bells, miner’s
lettuce, goats beard, false Solomon seal and
the first of the columbine. Most of the trilli-
ums still in bloom have turned purple;
salmonberries are forming and it won’t be
that long before the first of those will be dis-
appearing into the mouths of those who
know real value.
I keep hearing people make comments
that makes me wonder if they understand
who the government in this country is. It is,
first and foremost, “We the People of the
United States.” It is good from time to time
to reread the preamble to our constitution
that begins with those words, and remember
why we the people united and formed that
constitution:
“In Order to form a more perfect Union,
establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility,
provide for the common defence, promote the
general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of
Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do
ordain and establish this Constitution for the
United States of America.”
There are some who say they would like to
see our country be great again. I think we
become great only if we the people use our
collective powers for the purposes laid out in
that preamble. Things like a more perfect
union, the establishment of justice, ensuring
domestic tranquility and the promotion of the
general welfare. Only if we deliver on the as
yet unfulfilled promise of “liberty and justice
for all.”
Do a better job of seeing that black lives
matter than the constitution with its counting
those lives as three fifths of a person, or sen-
tencing guidelines or profiling that manage to
focus the harshest scrutiny and treatment on
people of color. Do a better job to seeing to
voting rights than recent districting and elec-
tions have demonstrated. Certainly living
wages and health care are a huge part of the
general welfare.
Only then can we say we have — and can
be proud of — a government of the people,
by the people and for the people.
MOMENTS IN TIME
The History Channel
On April 23, 1564, English dramatist and
poet William Shakespeare is born in Stratford-
on-Avon. While it is impossible to be certain of
the exact day of his birth, church records show
that he was baptized on April 26, and it was
customary to wait three days before baptizing a
newborn.
On April 20, 1871, Congress authorizes
President Ulysses S. Grant to use military force
to suppress the Ku Klux Klan. Founded in 1865
by a group of Confederate veterans, the KKK
engaged in night terrorist raids against black
Americans and white Republicans.
On April 19, 1897, the first Boston
Marathon is held. Women were not allowed to
enter the race until 1972, but in 1966 runner
Roberta “Bobbi” Gibb hid in the bushes near
the start until the race began. In 1967, Kathrine
Switzer finished even though race officials
tried to physically remove her.
On April 21, 1918, Manfred von
Richthofen, the German flying ace known as
“The Red Baron,” is killed by Allied fire. In a
time when 20 air victories ensured a pilot leg-
endary status, von Richthofen had downed 80
enemy aircraft. He was 25 years old.
LETTERS
jumbo donations in the presiden-
tial campaign is being diluted.
But, the Kochs’ state level suc-
cesses underscore the growing
need to limit Citizen United-
enabled, big money influence in
politics that hamstrings reason-
able regulation and throws the
middle class under the bus.
Arnold Buchman
Florence
Amazing CROW
I and the residents from Spruce
Point, a prestige senior living
community, would like to say
thank you to Melanie Heard and
the kids from CROW (Children’s
Repertory of Oregon Workshops)
for their amazing performance of
“Shrek the Musical, Jr.”
There is so much talent in this
group of young people that just
talking about it gives us goose-
bumps.
Melanie and the CROW per-
formers always bring a sneak
peek of the project they are work-
ing on to our community and then
invite us to attend the rehearsal
performance. This works out
great for us as the residents feel
like CROW is performing just for
them. The programs, costumes,
backdrops and props are so pro-
fessionally done — the talent
goes way beyond the performers.
We look forward to the next
amazing performance offered to
our community.
Thank you again for all you do
for our seniors.
Annette Poston
Life Enrichment Director, Spruce
Point Assisted Living
and Memory Care
Florence
Money in politics
While on his way to the
Republican presidential nominat-
ing convention, Donald Trump
has hijacked the party from those
driving the national GOP bus. Not
mentioned, the drivers had them-
selves commandeered the party a
decade or more ago.
That was when the Koch broth-
ers and their billionaire allies set
out with Super PACs like
Americans for Prosperity and
Woodbury for
justice of peace
influencers like ALEC to reduce
government, in Grover Norquist’s
memorable metaphor, to bathtub
drowning size.
The media focusses on obscene
amounts of money compromising
presidential
elections.
Meanwhile, the Koch brothers
quietly finance the election of
like-minded candidates at the
state level, capturing 11 state leg-
islatures from Democrats in 2014
and
gaining
conservative
Republican control of 30 state
legislatures and full control of
state legislature and governorship
in 23 states. (Democrats con-
trolled 27 state legislatures in
2009, now have full control of 11
state legislatures and total control
in seven states.)
Along the way, a populist Tea
Party uprising has morphed into
the unmanageable Republican
primaries bash. But, in the mean-
time, success at the state level
provided control of the decennial
redistricting process solidifying
congressional
ascendancy
through the gerrymandering of
House seats. (In 2014, 95 percent
of House incumbents were re-
elected.)
This has resulted in a polarized
Congress that will become even
more so at least until the 2020
decennial redistricting.
Of more immediate interest to
the Koch brothers are policies
concerning the panoply of busi-
ness regulation set at the state leg-
islative level, control of which
they continue to hold. For exam-
ple, taxpayer subsidies for Koch’s
Georgia Pacific and overlooked
contamination by Koch’s Frac-
Chem fracking in Pennsylvania.
Or, the undermining of solar ener-
gy and renewable fuel standards
that threaten their extensive fossil
fuel interests in Florida, Arizona,
Kansas and Ohio.
Bottom line, Koch money-in-
politics is good for Koch
Industries.
Koch’s network of political
nonprofits, “super PACs” and
donors marching to their drum-
beat is planning to spend $750
million over the next two years
advancing their brand of conser-
vative candidates and policies.
Self-funded anomalies like
Donald Trump and crowd-funded
candidates like Bernie Sanders
might suggest the influence of
Lane County voters have an
exceptional choice for Lane
County Justice of the Peace.
Woody Woodbury is the best
candidate for the position. He
holds a Bachelor of Science
degree in communication, which
makes him highly suited for the
qualifications needed for the posi-
tion.
Woodbury’s strengths include
the ability to listen carefully and
weigh possible solutions, with the
highest of integrity.
Woodbury is owner/operator of
the Florence Grocery Outlet,
where his well-known generosity
to the community makes him
highly respected by all who know
him. He was named Volunteer of
the Year in his community for
2015.
Woodbury resides in Florence,
which is perfect since the Lane
County Justice Court, serving the
entire county, is located in
Florence, as a result of court clo-
sures
in
Oakridge
and
Springfield.
We encourage all Lane County
voters to join us in voting for
Woody Woodbury for Lane
County Justice of the Peace.
Bob and Kay King
Florence
On April 18, 1945, syndicated journalist
Ernie Pyle, America’s most popular war corre-
spondent, is killed by Japanese machine-gun
fire on the island of Ie Shima in the Pacific.
Pyle always wrote about the experiences of
enlisted men rather than the battles they partic-
ipated in.
On April 24, 1953, Winston Churchill, the
British leader who guided Great Britain and the
Allies through World War II, is knighted by
Queen Elizabeth II.
On April 22, 1978, the Blues Brothers
make their world premiere on “Saturday Night
Live.” Led by SNL cast members Dan Aykroyd
and John Belushi, the band would go on to
score three top-40 hits and a No. 1 album.
(c) 2016 King Features Synd., Inc.
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Siuslaw News and will not be returned.
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Pres. Barack Obama
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Ave. NW
Washington, D.C. 20500
Comments: 202-456-1111
Switchboard: 202-456-1414
FAX: 202-456-2461
TTY/TDD Comments: 202-456-6213
www.whitehouse.gov
Gov. Kate Brown
160 State Capitol
900 Court St.
Salem, OR 97301-4047
Governor’s Citizens’ Rep.
Message Line 503-378-4582
www.oregon.gov/gov
U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden
221 Dirksen Senate Office Bldg
Washington, DC 20510
202-224-5244
541-431-0229
www.wyden.senate.gov
FAX: 503-986-1080
Email:
Sen.ArnieRoblan@state.or.us
U.S. Sen. Jeff Merkley
313 Hart Senate Office Bldg
Washington, DC 20510
202-224-3753/FAX: 202-228-3997
541-465-6750
State Rep. Caddy McKeown
(Dist. 9)
900 Court St. NE
Salem, OR 97301
503-986-1409
Email:
rep.caddymckeown@state.or.us
U.S. Rep. Peter DeFazio (4th Dist.)
2134 Rayburn HOB
Washington, DC 20515
202-225-6416/ 800-944-9603
541-269-2609/ 541-465-6732
www.defazio.house.gov
State Sen. Arnie Roblan (Dist. 5)
900 Court St. NE - S-417
Salem, OR 97301
503-986-1705
West Lane County Commissioner
Jay Bozievich
125 E. Eighth St.
Eugene, OR 97401
541-682-4203
FAX: 541-682-4616
Email:
Jay.Bozievich@co.lane.or.us