4 A
❘
WEDNESDAY EDITION
❘ SEPTEMBER 20, 2017
Siuslaw News
P.O. Box 10
Florence, OR 97439
NED HICKSON , EDITOR
❘ 541-902-3520 ❘
NHICKSON @ THESIUSLAWNEWS . COM
Opinion
USPS# 497-660
Copyright 2017 © Siuslaw News
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.
Oregon Group Publisher 541-265 8571
Publisher, ext. 318
Editor, ext. 313
Consulting Editor 831-761-7353
Email: echalhoub@register-pajaronian.com
Marketing Director, ext. 326
Office Supervisor, ext. 312
Production Supervisor
Press Manager
James Rand
Jenna Bartlett
Ned Hickson
Erik Chalhoub
Susan Gutierrez
Cathy Dietz
Ron Annis
Jeremy Gentry
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
classifiedad,sThursday 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 subscrip-
tion,$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
L ETTERS
LETTERS
A PPRECIATING OUR
C ONSTITUTION
Though we’ve had 230 years of
Constitutional rule, our understanding
of what that document truly represents,
and how it has shaped the global socie-
ty, is not really clear.
What did our founding fathers (and
mothers) mean when they crafted it? It
boils down to a simple set of basic prin-
ciples that we know as the Bill of
Rights.
The first 10 amendments are that Bill
of Rights, seen by the founders as the
primary and wholly necessary motiva-
tor of the Constitution. And of that Bill
of Rights, the first and most important
one — the one from which all others
flow — is the one which enshrines as a
right of man those freedoms and liber-
ties which allow me to write this and
you to read it.
Adams, Jefferson, Hancock, Franklin
and all the rest of the 55 signers knew
that if there was no freedom of speech,
press or religion, there could not be the
federal republic known as America.
The Articles of Confederation were
the original glue tying the states togeth-
er during and immediately after the rev-
olutionary war.
Long on states rights and very short
on central control, when it came time
for the “Continental” Congress — or
Confederate Congress as some pre-
ferred to call it — to create a real con-
stitution, much whining and complain-
ing ensued about the lack of a central or
federal goverment structure in those
articles. It became obvious something
would have to be created that would
stand up to the challenges from those
charged with crafting it.
It was agreed that a Bill of Rights
would be created as a basis for the new
Constitution. Up to then, most discus-
sion about the new government entailed
talks on the minutia of how the gover-
ment would be run; term lengths,
salaries, judgeships, legislative struc-
ture and the like.
Not until the introduction of the Bill
of Rights did the idea of a ratified
Constitution that had a separate and uni-
fying federal entity capable of control-
ling the states come to fruition.
James Madison was the primary pen,
using concepts from Thomas Paine to
the Bible, always remembering that
these rights had to address the persecu-
tion suffered at the hands of the British.
The 13 states too, had to believe that
these 10 rights would protect and liber-
ate them, ultimately deciding that stand-
ing together was better than hanging
individually.
The Constitution is a bill of rights
that stands for the rights of all, as well
as the Bill of Rights for all time.
There is a reason the first 10 amend-
ments are the Bill of Rights, and (to par-
aphrase a great local philosopher) the
pursuit of its meaning to define our-
selves must, God willing, continue.
— Barry Sommer
Florence
It is good and proper that we speak
and proclaim Constitution Week.
However, would it not be more fitting
that we learn the Constitution’s true
meaning?
I think the men and women of our
founding generation would be appalled
at what they bequeathed to this genera-
tion through the blood of patriots — and
what we have left of the Constitution to
posterity.
N O BOUNDARIES OUR
C ONSTITUTION CAN ’ T
ENCOMPASS
Ned Hickson’s editorial on the value
of our sacred Constitution “Pursuit
Begun By Forefathers Continues,”
Sept. 16) and Florence Mayor Joe
Henry’s proclamation honoring (with
the Daughters of the American
Revolution) Constitution Week from
Sept. 17-23, are essential in the growth
and health of our American republic.
However, having sung the anthem of
accomplishment to our Framers, we
must also ponder the question: “What is
the meaning and interpretation of this
230 year young document?”
Moreover, there are two major
schools of thought regarding this great-
est of all parchments of freedom. We
either interpret the 1787 “inspired text”
by its original intent, or see it as a “liv-
ing, breathing” tome changeable by
Court fiat reflecting the times in which
we live.
When we do the latter, there are no
boundries it cannot encompass, as
Thomas Jefferson has enunciated.
He also was the one who caused a
revolution of freedom in America, stat-
ing that the truth written and enumerat-
ed in the text should not be expanded
(except through the amendment
process), and should strictly be a limit-
ed interpretation in order to protect our
God-given liberties.
Sadly, in today’s schools, these con-
cepts are foreign to our young people.
In fact, the former seems more accept-
able than the latter concept of interpre-
tation stated earlier.
For instance, what does the “general
welfare” clause of the Constitution
mean?
Today’s understanding is appropria-
tions for any project for the nebulous
“public good,” which has given us,
through our irresponsible politicians,
$100 to $200 trillions of debt.
James Madison, in the unread
Federalist Papers, says that the general
welfare clause (and this was the
Supreme Court’s interpretation until
1936) is only linked to what is “enu-
merated” in the document itself — and
nothing more.
—Joel Marks
Florence
V ALUE IN LEARNING ABOUT
CONSEQUENCE
In response to the question Gail Katz
posed in her Letter (Sept 16) regarding
taxpayer-funded childcare, there are
other options right here in Florence.
The Boys and Girls Club offers
affordable care with great programs.
Their website is user friendly (www
.bgcwlc.org).
Those who are facilitating the pro-
grams sincerely care about children and
offer them opportunities to learn life
skills and participate in sports — while
having fun.
My children had paid child care until
they were old enough to gradually have
unsupervised time and learn responsi-
bilities, such as helping with chores
around the house and beginning easy
meal preparation for dinner. Taking on
age-appropriate responsibilities pre-
pares them to become responsible self-
sufficient adults.
Our obligation, as parents, is to only
have the children we can afford to raise.
Taxpayer-funded birth control is readily
available. Once we have children, it is
our duty to teach them how to be
responsible — not only by example, but
by providing them opportunities to
learn that inappropriate behavior has
consequences.
— Jacquie Beveridge
Florence
The First
Amendment
C
ongress shall make no law
respecting an establishment of
religion or prohibiting the free exer-
cise thereof; or abridging the free-
dom of speech, or of the press, or the
right of the people peaceably to
assemble, and to petition the
Government for a redress of griev-
ances.
TO THE
P OLICY
E DITOR
The Siuslaw News welcomes letters to the editor
as part of a community discussion of issues on the
local, state and national level.
Emailed letters are preferred. Handwritten or
typed letters must be signed. All letters need to
include full name, address and phone number; only
name and city will be printed. Letters should be
limited to about 300 words. Letters are subject to
editing for length, grammar and clarity. Publication
of any letter is not guaranteed and depends on
space available and the volume of letters received.
Libelous, argumentative and anonymous letters
or poetry, or letters from outside our readership
area will only be published at the discression of the
editor.
P OLITICAL /E LECTION L ETTERS :
Election-related letters must address pertinent or
timely issues of interest to our readers at-large.
Letters must 1) Not be a part of letter-writing
campaigns on behalf of (or by) candidates; 2)
Ensure any information about a candidate is accu-
rate, fair and not from second-hand knowledge or
hearsay; and 3) explain the reasons to support
candidates based on personal experience and per-
spective rather than partisanship and campaign-
style rhetoric.
Candidates themselves may not use the letters to
the editor column to outline their views and plat-
forms or to ask for votes; this constitutes paid polit-
ical advertising.
As with all letters and advertising content, the
newspaper, at the sole discretion of the publisher,
general manager and editor, reserves the right to
reject any letter that doesn’t follow the above crite-
ria.
Send letters to:
nhickson@thesiuslawnews.com
WHERE TO WRITE
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
Gov. Kate Brown
160 State Capitol
900 Court St.
Salem, Ore. 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
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
U.S. Rep. Peter DeFazio
( 4 th Dist.)
2134 Rayburn HOB
Washington, DC 20515
202-225-6416
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
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