4 A
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WEDNESDAY EDITION
❘ NOVEMBER 1, 2017
Siuslaw News
P.O. Box 10
Florence, OR 97439
NED HICKSON , EDITOR
Opinion
Mueller investigation is about
more than Trump and Clinton
Even as the first layers are
revealed from what will
undoubtedly be an endless
peeling back of Robert
Mueller’s investigative onion,
it seems clear that both the
Clinton and Trump camps will
be left standing among its pun-
gent aroma.
As I said months ago,
regardless of how you feel
about our current president, his
election and subsequent con-
troversies — while polarizing
many Americans — has also
forced us to engage with our
government and its policies
more than we have since the
1960s and 70s.
And that’s a good thing.
In that same way, I also
believe that the indictments
Mueller handed down Monday
are just the beginning of what I
hope will force us to take a
hard look at just how ineffec-
tive and corrupt our political
system has become — regard-
less of which side of the aisle
you’re from — because of its
dependency on campaign
funding from special interests.
In the 2004 general election,
95 percent of House races and
While legislators and their
staff are prohibited by law
from making fundraising calls
from their offices, both
Democrats and Republicans
can utilize party-owned call
centers within two blocks of
From the Editor’s Desk
N ED H ICKSON
91 percent of Senate races
were won by candidates who
spent the most on their cam-
paigns.
This has only become more
prevalent since 2010, when the
Supreme Court’s “Citizens
United” decision began allow-
ing unlimited spending by cor-
porations, unions and individu-
als in elections — spawning
Super PACS (Political Action
Committees) that routinely
raise millions of dollars for
candidates by holding events
hosted by special interests,
lobbyists and others hoping to
benefit from influencing future
legislation.
Capitol Hill. This was docu-
mented in a “60 Minutes”
report last April, when Florida
Rep. David Jolly exposed “call
centers” in the back rooms of
his own party’s headquarters
where legislators and staff can
make “cold calls” utilizing a
script aimed at persuading
individuals to donate.
According to Jolly, the goal
is to procure $18,000 a day.
“These are essentially sweat
shop phone booths that com-
promise the dignity of the
office,” Jolly said in his inter-
view.
Sure, he was a Republican,
but without question
Democrats utilize the same
banking operations that have
become another cog in an out-
of-control political machine.
While issues of collusion,
manipulation, money launder-
ing, false statements and con-
spiracy are being leveled, they
are merely symptoms of a
political plaque that has been
building in the arteries of our
government for decades —
and now threatens the very
heartbeat of our democracy.
Mueller’s
investigation
could prove to be one of the
most important in our nation’s
history, revealing a diagnosis
of what we need to know
rather than what we want to
know.
Only then can we begin to
address the kinds of reforms
needed to assure that the heart
of our political system beats
for its people rather than its
pocketbook .
Write Siuslaw News editor
Ned Hickson at nhickson@the
siuslawnews.com or P.O. Box
10, Florence, Ore. 97439.
I am sitting in our apartment on the
bayfront, looking at an old photo of “the
gazebo lot” — as Brian Cole refered to
it in his Letter to the Editor ((Oct. 25) —
taken in the early 1970s.
In a word, a wasteland, strewn with
litter, trash and metal parts that appear to
be orphans from discarded refrigerators
and stoves. Only brave souls ventured
out beyond these impediments to
glimpse th water.
Yes, a park normally has trees, bush-
es and, occasionally, a handsome-built
gazebo. No, I don’t think our “gazebo
lot” can accurately be called “a jungle.”
And yes, from the brick-lined plaza
one can view the bay and gazebo. The
Old Town Park Committee’s volunteers
trim the top growth of the plaza’s shrubs
on a regular basis to assure the view will
not be obstructed.
However, we do admit you probably
can’t see the Siuslaw estuary from a
fast-moving sports car traveling along
Bay Street.
—R.W. Hogeland
Old Town Florence
L EARNING HOW TO PLAY
THE INSURANCE GAME
About two years ago I had fallen on
my left knee and then fell once again
about six months later. I asked to have
an MRI knowing that an X-ray does not
really show anything.
An MRI was scheduled so I went to
my local orthopedic surgeon to schedule
the procedure, only to be informed that
my insurance had denied the MRI.
Now after almost a year and a half, I
have no strength in my left knee. I
returned to my primary doctor last week
for my bi-yearly checkup and mentioned
my knee problem.
This is where learning to play the
game comes in.
I was told I may have been rejected
initially because of the hospital charge,
even though I have Medicare and sup-
plemental coverage. Hospitals charge
anywhere from $1,600 to $2,600 for my
procedure. However, if I went to an
imaging center it would cost about $600
and my insurance would cover it. I
called Oregon Imaging Center in
Eugene for an appointment and was told
that everything would be covered. My
doctor also said that individuals without
insurance can go to an imaging center in
Albany and, if they pay cash, can get an
MRI for $500.
I guess with healthcare you need to
know what questions to ask in order to
play the game.
—Win Jolley
Florence
MORE PEOPLE NEEDED
IN FEC SEATS
The Florence Events Center auditori-
um filled with happy sounds Sunday,
Oct. 29. Thirteen talented musicians,
instrumental and vocal, known collec-
tively as the Emerald City (Eugene) Jazz
Kings, kept their audience entertained
with familiar tunes such as “Button Up
Your Overcoat,” “Look for the Silver
Lining,” “Bye, Bye Blackbird” and oth-
ers.
Most of the songs were produced by
B. G. “Buddy” DeSylva, working with a
NHICKSON @ THESIUSLAWNEWS . COM
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cise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of
the press, or the right of the people peaceably to
assemble, and to petition the Government for a
redress of grievances.
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TO THE
P OLICY
E DITOR
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LETTERS
G AZEBO P ARK FAR FROM
BEING A ‘ JUNGLE ’
❘ 541-902-3520 ❘
variety of other composers. They were
written between 1921 and 1939; most
were featured in Broadway musical
shows or movies.
The musicians seemed to be having as
much fun as their audience; one of the
performers said so on stage.
The only down side was that there
were too many empty seats in the audi-
torium. If you enjoy hearing songs that
have stood the test of time, played live
with enthusiasm and expertise, you
would like the Jazz Kings. They will be
in Florence three more times this sea-
son: December 13, at 7:30 p.m. for a
Christmas show; Feb. 11, 2018, at 2
p.m.; and May 6, at 2 p.m.
The February show will be songs
made famous by Bing Crosby; the May
offering will be songs requested from
fans by Feb. 11 in-person, by mail, or by
internet
at
www.the
shedd.org/YouAskedForIt Songs.
Hope to see more of you at the con-
certs.
— Shirley Nelson
Florence
T HANKS FOR THE
SCARES , CROW
To all of the CROW kids and grown-
ups, thanks so much for scaring the
socks off of me in your haunted house.
That took care of my heart check-up for
another year.
Also, thanks to Alex Grady for his
filmmaker’s talents in producing that
excellent introduction to terror.
CROW rocks!
—Lisa Readel
Florence
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