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About The Siuslaw news. (Florence, Lane County, Or.) 1960-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 25, 2017)
4 A ❘ WEDNESDAY EDITION ❘ JANUARY 25, 2017 Siuslaw News P.O. Box 10 Florence, OR 97439 NED HICKSON , EDITOR ❘ 541-902-3520 ❘ EDITOR @ THESIUSLAWNEWS . COM Opinion In the light of a thousand good deeds O that lead us into lively dialogue which drives a healthy democ- racy. No, on this occasion I did not march to protest any politi- cal agenda. I marched because I am con- cerned about the potential loss of critical values I believe we must all embrace in order to live together successfully and respectfully in a civil society. A year ago, I started a non- profit organization called Students for a Better World. Its purpose is to support, recog- nize and reward children and teens who find creative new ways to make the world better, healthier and safer. n the chilly, windy and wet Florence morning of Jan. 21, I joined hundreds of my fellow coastal citizens and millions of others worldwide for a march through the streets. I did so not so much in protest of the Trump administration’s policies as in support of the values I believe we can — and should — share: respect, kindness, hon- esty, justice and equality. Admittedly, there is much with which I disagree about the policies of President Trump, from environmental protection to health care and immigration to global citizenship. But those are the political differences GUEST VIEWPOINT B Y R OBERT O RR D UNES C ITY C OUNCILOR In so doing, we wish to instill in youth the importance of giving to others, with the hope that children will learn to make kindness and compassion priorities throughout their lives. We formed Students for a Better World well in advance of any indication as to which candidate might become our next president, but I now find that the mission of our organi- zation has taken on vital new importance. On Jan. 21, we saw the makings of a revolution as mil- lions of people around the world gathered peacefully and with remarkable restraint to speak out on behalf of justice and equality for those who do not always receive it. It is a revolution that we desperately need throughout this country and around the world in answer to unfortunate attitudes and behaviors that could quickly become the norm in our society in light of a president whose words and actions often defy basic tenets of decency and respectfulness. It is a revolution that, if suc- cessful, will allow us all to turn away from dishonesty and disrespect, and move even fur- ther in the direction of a kinder, gentler, more peaceful world. We are blessed to live in these coastal communities where volunteering is a way of life and friendliness can be found in nearly every daily interaction. Let us not forget the impor- tance of those actions when we witness contrary approaches by our leaders. Practice kindness: help a friend in need; greet a store clerk with a smile; open a door for a stranger; be honest in your personal and business dealings; honor and respect the many differences among us; give generously of your time, energy and earnings to the charity of your choice; and do your part to ensure that the darkness of injustice and disre- spect is forever washed away by the light of a thousand good deeds. LETTERS W ON ’ T BE FOOLED It seems that many people in our country think their “rights” include the government pro- viding for their every need from cradle to grave. That kind thinking is a slow progression from republic to democracy and, eventually, social- ism. The media is included in this progression toward a one-world government. Nowadays, we need two incomes to “get by” and children are being raised by the system, which decides what they eat, learn and don’t learn. Children are immunized at the time they’re born yet they seem to be having more health issues in terms of things like leukemia and diabetes — because big pharmaceutical is big business. We now have a President who has taken the scrutiny of the whole world to bring back jobs USPS# 497-660 to this country and put the USA first — made in America, by Americans. I won’t be fooled by a system that has become a political regime. Instead, I will sup- port President Donald Trump and his efforts to make America great again. Guthrie Wilson Florence C ORPORATE I NQUIRING MINDS I’d like to see an article regarding the full explanation of our national debt. I, as a retired senior citizen living in Florence, find that myself, my wife and those acquainted with us really have no idea about the National Debt. I constantly read about Trump, Clinton and their associated parties, but nothing to do with the real facts of our debt. Who loans us the money? What if we, the USA, fail to make payments in a timely manner to whomever? How can our Congress so easily extend that National Debt Limit year after year? I’m not looking for a political answer favor- ing either side, just an honest answer. Inquiring minds would like to know. Thomas Nieland Florence Copyright 2017 © Siuslaw News Publisher, ext. 327 General Manager, ext. 318 Editor, ext. 313 Marketing Director, ext. 326 Office Supervisor, ext. 312 Production Supervisor Press Manager DEADLINES: Wednesday Issue—General news, Monday noon; Budgets, four days prior to publication; Regular classified ads, Monday 1 p.m.; Display ads, Monday noon; Boxed and display classified ads, Friday 5 p.m. Saturday Issue—General news, Thursday noon; Budgets, two days prior to publication; Regular classified ads, Thursday 1 p.m.; Display ads, Thursday noon; Boxed and display classified ads, Wednesday 5 p.m. Soundings, Tuesday 5 p.m. NEWSPAPER SUBSCRIPTION RATES: In Lane County — 1-year subscription, $71; 10-weeks subscription, $18; Out of Lane County — 1-year subscription, $94; 10-weeks subscription, $24; Out of State — 1-year subscription, $120; Out of United States — 1-year subscription, $200; E-Edition Online Only (Anywhere) — 1-year subscription, $65. Mail subscription includes E-Edition. Website and E-Edition: www.TheSiuslawNews.com WHERE TO WRITE Published every Wednesday and Saturday at 148 Maple St. in Florence, Lane County, Oregon. A member of the National Newspaper Association and Oregon Newspaper Publishers Association. Periodicals postage paid at Florence, Ore. Postmaster, send address changes to: Siuslaw News, P.O. Box 10, Florence, OR 97439; phone 541-997-3441; fax 541-997-7979. All press releases may be sent to PressReleases@TheSiuslawNews.com. John Bartlett Jenna Bartlett Ned Hickson Susan Gutierrez Cathy Dietz Ron Annis Jeremy Gentry POWER Welcome to the Corporate States of America, where I feel we are witnessing the culmination of corporate power where “old money” governs not for the benefit of the common good but for its own bottom line. Welcome to the privatization of everything that can further enrich the wealthy at the cost of everyone else. If we allow it to happen, we may soon be say- ing goodbye to the protections offered by gov- erment standards, as well as programs like Medicare, social security, the Veterans Administration, public education, healthcare, environmental regulations for clean air and water, not to mentions laws guaranteeing racial justice, equality and even Freedom of the Press. That’s unless we insist on a fair, sustainable country with equal justice for all by holding our elected and appointed officials accountable. We can and must. Julie MacFarlaine Florence Pres. Donald Trump 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 202-224-5244 541-431-0229 www.wyden.senate.gov U.S. Sen. Jeff Merkley 313 Hart Senate Office Bldg Washington, DC 20510 202-224-3753/FAX: 202-228-3997 541-465-6750 www.merkley.senate.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. Rep. Peter DeFazio (4th Dist.) 2134 Rayburn HOB Washington, DC 20515 202-225-6416 541-269-2609/ 541-465-6732 www.defazio.house.gov U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden 221 Dirksen Senate Office Bldg Washington, DC 20510 State Sen. Arnie Roblan (Dist. 5) 900 Court St. NE - S-417 Salem, OR 97301 503-986-1705 FAX: 503-986-1080 Email: Sen.ArnieRoblan@state.or.us State Rep. Caddy McKeown (Dist. 9) 900 Court St. NE Salem, OR 97301 503-986-1409 Email: rep.caddymckeown@state.or.us 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
