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About The Siuslaw news. (Florence, Lane County, Or.) 1960-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 8, 2017)
4 A ❘ WEDNESDAY EDITION ❘ FEBRUARY 8, 2017 Siuslaw News P.O. Box 10 Florence, OR 97439 NED HICKSON , EDITOR ❘ 541-902-3520 ❘ EDITOR @ THESIUSLAWNEWS . COM Opinion Opposition for opposition’s sake is a big mistake As most parents will tell you, every child goes through a stage where they seem to suffer from oppositional disor- der, fervently opposing even the slightest difference of opinion as if the future of the world depended on it. Although I can’t confirm it, I’m pretty sure humanity will survive no matter who sang “Shameless” first. (Billy Joel, by the way.) Whether it’s the “terrible twos” or teens (or both, Lord help you) it’s part of a neces- sary step toward independence and establishing personal per- spective on the road to maturi- ty. However, opposition itself isn’t a sign of maturity. Opposition for sake of opposition only limits our opportunities, our perspec- tives and the kind of under- standing that helps us grow as individuals. Maturity happens with the recognition of this fundamen- tal truth. Over the last several days I’ve heard a growing rhetoric from democratic leaders in Congress about the need to “oppose everything” the Trump administration propos- es. This includes our own Oregon Senator Jeff Merkley, who told “Politico” (Jan. 30) that he would automatically “filibuster any and all Supreme Court Justice nomi- nees Trump puts forward.” It was only a year ago that Republican leadership in our nation’s capitol did something similar by refusing to consider then-President Obama’s nomi- nee, Merrick Garland, for the very same appointment. And the beat goes on. While I agree that any nom- inee seeking Congressional Perhaps more importantly, this kind of “obstructionist” mentality also runs the risk of delegitimizing future chal- lenges within our system of checks and balances when they could matter most. This isn’t the time to over- reach or grandstand simply for From the Editor’s Desk N ED H ICKSON approval should be scrutinized for their qualifications, to enter into that process with a preconceived conclusion and public promise to automatical- ly deny approval merely con- tinues the kind of partisan pol- itics that have turned the wheels of government into the rusted grind of rickety gears that Americans have lost faith in. the sake of being in opposition or playing it safe with party politics. Americans are divided because their representatives in Congress have allowed themselves to become divided simply on the merits of which side of the aisle they happen to sit on. One of the most basic tech- niques of winning a war is to divide and conquer. Without question, we are already a nation divided. Our represen- tatives in Congress must put aside their need to conquer each other and remember that the true casualties of this kind of political war are those who they are supposed to be repre- senting. Do I agree with or even sup- port all of the decisions, Executive Orders and nomi- nees the current administra- tion has put into play during the last two weeks since tak- ing office? Absolutely not. Truth be told, I haven’t found myself in support of most decisions made so far. But for every Neil Gorsuch that members of Congress fer- vently oppose purely for the sake of opposition, a Betsy DeVos is confirmed to a post without qualification thanks to divisiveness and the mindset of settling old scores. A little more than 200 years ago, our nation opposed tyran- ny in order to pursue the dream of being free. It was part of a necessary step toward independence. Our forefathers were mature enough to recognize that opposition itself wasn’t enough to secure our nation, but that it would take perspec- tive and understanding to help us grow as individuals and a people united. As we enter the early part of our nation’s own “terrible twos,” we need to remember that fundamental truth. Because unlike the stage we must deal with as parents, in this case we really do need to act as if the future of the world depended on it. Write Siuslaw News editor Ned Hickson at nhickson@thesiuslaw news.com. LETTERS O RWELLIAN FEARS BECOMING REALITY In the book “1984,” George Orwell predicted much about our information-technology con- nected world of today. In his book, Orwell even describes how the citizenry is surrounded by “Big Brother” slogans like “War is Peace,” Freedom is Slavery” and “Ignorance is Strength.” Eerily, the same slogan-based rhetoric echoes today in slogans like “America First” and “Make America Great Again.” Today’s fully wired citizen lives in a world of constant connection and Big Brother-type com- munication under the guise of the Trump administration’s “alternative facts.” In fact, Orwell envisioned a world where all truth is what one dictator decides it is; where two plus two equals five. For instance, former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright said in a recent CNN inter- view she thinks White House chief strategist Steve Bannon is “pulling the strings” in President Trump’s administration. “I think that it is a very unfortunate image L ETTERS TO THE E DITOR P OLICY The Siuslaw News welcomes letters to the editor concerning issues affect- ing the Florence area and Lane County. Emailed letters are preferred. Handwritten or typed letters must be signed. All letters should be limited to about 300 words and must include the writer’s full name, address and phone number for verification. Letters are subject to editing for length, grammar and clarity. Publication of any letter is not guaran- teed and depends on space available and the volume of letters received. Libelous and anonymous letters or poetry will not be published. All submissions become the proper- ty of Siuslaw News and will not be returned. Write to: Editor@TheSiuslawNews.com USPS# 497-660 because, clearly, Bannon is more than a strate- gic adviser. I think he’s the person pulling the strings,” Albright told CNN, referring to Bannon’s placement on the National Security Council’s Principals Committee. On Jan. 28, President Trump signed an exec- utive order that restructured the National Security Council and added Bannon. The order also demoted the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff to a position under Bannon who, prior to being named as President Trump’s Chief Strategist, ran the online news site Breitbart — well known as a racist and white supremacist platform. Albright, who served as the head of the State Department under President Bill Clinton, said Bannon’s influence is “passing strange.” “If I may say so, given his background and his approach to national security policy, his admiration for Lenin and a number of things, it troubles me a great deal having [Steve Bannon] in these all-important national security meet- ings,” Albright said. Likewise, retired Admiral Michael Mullen Big Brother, it seems, isn’t the only one watching us. By Dave Masko Florence F ASCINATING PERSPECTIVE I have been attending the latest class being presented by retired assoc. professor Joel Marks, which follows his previous Old Testament and “America at the Crossroads” classes. His latest class, which covers the New Testament, combines the Jewish heritage with the emergence of Christianity for an unusual but fascinating perspective on the life of Jesus Christ. Further information on what is becoming an increasingly timely subject is a great help . Patricia Kane Florence (Editor’s note: Classes are ongoing Thursday evenings, 6:30 to 8 p.m., at the Church of Jesus Christ LDS, at the corner of North Fork and Munsel Lake roads.) 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 said Bannon should not be on the National Security Council (NSC). Mullen, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff under former Presidents Obama and George W. Bush, and a former member of the NSC, warned that having Bannon on the coun- cil while downgrading the roles of national security officials would have a negative, parti- san influence. “Having Mr. Bannon as a voting member of the principals committee will have a negative influence on what is supposed to be candid, nonpartisan deliberation,” Mullen said. “I fear that it will have a chilling effect on delibera- tions and, potentially, diminish the authority and the prerogatives to which Senate-confirmed cabinet officials are entitled.” Meanwhile, John Bercow, Speaker of the House of Commons in England, said he is “strongly opposed” to allowing President Trump to address both houses of Parliament when he comes to the UK on a state visit later this year because of what he described as President Trump’s overt “racism and sexism.” 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
