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About The Siuslaw news. (Florence, Lane County, Or.) 1960-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 4, 2021)
4A | WEDNESDAY EDITION | AUGUST 4, 2021 Siuslaw News P.O. Box 10 Florence, OR 97439 CHANTELLE MEYER , EDITOR | 541-902-3520 | CMEYER @ THESIUSLAWNEWS . COM Opinion The First Amendment Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion or prohibit- ing the free exercise thereof; or abridg- ing the freedom of speech, or of the press, or the right of the people peace- ably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances. “I never considered a difference of opinion in politics, in religion, in philosophy, as cause for withdrawing from a friend.” — Thomas Jefferson (1800) USPS# 497-660 LETTERS Copyright 2021 © Siuslaw News Siuslaw News (Editor’s Note: Viewpoint sub- missions on these and other topics are always welcome as part of our goal to encourage community dis- cussion and exchange of perspec- tives.) 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. Jenna Bartlett Chantelle Meyer Front Office For Advertising: ext. 318 A Different Perspective I am visiting your fair city and enjoying it immensely. Until, that is, I read a letter in your Opinion page that demands a rebuttal. Mr. Denton’s letter in the July 31 edi- tion titled “Dear Democrat” has prompted me to provide a differ- ent perspective. Human beings are unique. We are the only creature on earth that has an imagination. Our ability to imagine things — things that aren’t real — has led to the inven- tion of cars, trains, airplanes, cell phones and the internet. It has en- abled mankind to set foot on the moon and create life-saving vac- cines. But our “imagination” has also led some of us to believe things that are neither healthy nor help- ful. Consequently, most Republi- can’s believe: • White people are superior to people of color – we aren’t. This is the same propaganda Hitler used to become the chan- cellor of Germany in 1933. • Global warming is a hoax — it isn’t. It IS however the primary rea- son people from Central America are leaving their homes because they can no longer grow crops or raise livestock to feed themselves. • The COVID vaccine will change your DNA — it won’t. It WILL allow all of us to resume a “normal” life if enough people are vaccinated. • The economy will improve if billionaires get another tax break — it won’t. The richest pay the least taxes, as a percentage of income, and the poorest among us pay the most. • More guns on our streets will make them safe — it won’t. The Second Amendment as- sured each of us the privilege to own and carry a musket, not an assault rifle. • The terrorists that invaded the Capitol on Jan. 6 are patriots — they aren’t. The insurrection — prompted by then-President Trump — was exactly what it appeared: an at- tempt to overthrow the govern- ment. Rupert Murdock understood this better than anyone and through his “misinformation ma- chine” of FOX fake news, The Wall Street Journal and the New York Post has convinced half the pop- ulation of this country that only the Republican Party can save our democracy. You have lots of well-educated, but misinformed, company, Mr. Denton. I know of lawyers, engi- neers and doctors who still believe in the Republican Party. Even to- day, years after Trump stole the Republican “banner” and im- mersed himself in conspiracy the- ories, they refuse to believe they were deceived. But they were, and so were you. — Mark Riebau Nashville, Tenn. As a proud gay woman and the daughter of a Lutheran minister, I’d like to remind Marshall Den- ton, and those who thought his Letter to the Editor on Saturday, July 31, had any merit or truth, of the following two Bible verses: John 8:7: “Let he who is without sin cast the first stone” and one of my favorites, Mathew 7:1-3: “Judge not, that ye be not judged. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged; and with what measure ye mete, it shall be mea- sured to you again. And why be- holdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but considers not the beam that is in thine own eye?” Methinks Mr. Denton has very large 4x4 pressure treated beams in both his eyes. — Becky Goehring Florence Words Have Direct Impact Upon Lives Can We Call Ourselves ‘A City in Motion?’ Bruce Jarvis’s request July 19 that the Florence City Council adopt a “Stand for Freedom” res- olution to make clear that the City of Florence “will not assist our I looked at the agenda for an up- coming meeting for the economic development committee for the City of Florence. In the meeting packet, there was an item stating Publisher, ext. 318 Editor, ext. 314 541-997-3441 For Classifieds: ext. 310 DEADLINES: Wednesday Issue—General news releases, Monday noon; Classified line ads, Monday 10 a.m.; Legal Notices and Display Ads, Friday noon. Saturday Issue—General news releases, Thursday noon; Classified line ads, Thursday 10 a.m.; Legal Notices and Display Ads, Wednesday 5 p.m. NEWSPAPER SUBSCRIPTION RATES: In Lane County — 1-year, $84; 6-month , $61; 3-month subscription, $37.50; Out of Lane County — 1-year, $107; 6-month, $74; -month subscrip- tion, $50; E-Edition Online Only (Anywhere) — 1-year, $65; 6-month, $35; 3-month, $15. Ask about our senior discounts. governor or any state agency with the enforcement of any law, man- date or edict that is against the United States Constitution” is the product of a fevered mind. Jarvis referenced “widespread discord and unrest … rampant in our society today” and that “such a resolution will serve to unite our community and increase our sense of personal safety.” (The meeting is available to view at https://vimeo.com/577221568.) The “discord and unrest” so ram- pant in our country is the result of the madness of current Trumpian Republican Party policy that seeks to cement permanent autocratic, one-party minority rule that is the antithesis of one-person, one-vote democratic practice. In the same meeting, Sam Spayd, referencing climate change, de- clared that “time spent by our city council would be better utilized in dealing with the issues that are right in our face ... [that] present a definite challenge to the time our city council has for dealing with issues which will have a direct im- pact upon our lives.” The menace of climate change is not “in our face?” Does not “have a direct impact upon our lives?” What can be said about such deniers of fact, of science — these blatant, tunnel-visioned propo- nents of benefit solely for corpo- rations and self — that evades de- rision? There are principled Republi- cans who champion democracy, cherish truth, respect science, val- ue individual sacrifice and social responsibility. Step forward. —Harold Titus Florence The Beam In Thine Own Eye that there needs to be a study on the need for rental housing. I am appalled. We supposedly can’t find work- ers to fully staff our businesses, we have seniors and cancer patients living in their cars and yet we still need a study. What I hear from many of the more affluent in the community is that they like our town the way it is — “If you can’t afford to live here then move and other similar statements.” Other communities our size are working to create housing op- portunities for workers and other working class folks at a far better pace than we are. I would like to know how we can call ourselves “A City in Motion” if we are only moving for the wealthy and the tourists? — Maggie Bagon Florence Taxes Could Put Thousands Back to Work I am responding to Rory Ham- mond’s recent Letter to the Edi- tor (“Taxing the Wealthy Not the Solution,” July 28) about my “Tax the Wealthy” article on July 10. In my Letter to the Editor, I said that the wealthy should be taxed big time. Mr. Hammond stated, “Most of the wealthy people I know are the hardest working people I’ve ever met.” What I am not sure of is who he calls wealthy, or, in his mind, what is wealth. He goes on to say, “Your tax solution … is socialism at its worst.” I ask him if he is on Social Secu- rity, Obamacare or Medicare? Best socialist things we have ever done. The wealthy in my mind are those who exceed the limits of reality. Just to list a few to the 25 most wealthy that I think should be taxed at least 70% are as fol- lows, starting at the low wealth range: • Laurene Powell Job: $21 billion • Jacqueline Mars: $28 billion • Phil Knight: $39 billion • Michael Bloomberg: $60 bil- lion • Warren Buffett: $101 billion • Alice and Jim Walton: $106 billion • Bill Gates: $130 billion • Mark Zuckerberg: $134 billion • Jeff Bezos: $198 billion I am fortunate in that I do not have to live day to day wondering where the next loaf of bread will come from. Those who are more unfortunate, due to the pandemic, have lost their employment and in some cases their homes. With taxation of the wealthy and the Infrastructure Bill that the Biden administration is propos- ing, it will put thousands back to work. — Win Jolley Florence Mail subscription includes E-Edition. Website and E-Edition: TheSiuslawNews.com Siuslaw News Office: 148 Maple St./PO Box 10 Florence, OR 87439 Office Hours: Monday to Thursday: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday: 8 a.m. to noon Letters to the Editor Policy The Siuslaw News welcomes Letters to the Editor and Guest Viewpoints as part of a community discussion of issues on the local, state and national level. 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. Email letters to cmeyer@thesiuslawnews.com To be considered for publication: Letters must address pertinent or timely issues of interest to our readers at-large. In addition: • Letters reflect the opinion of the writer. The Siuslaw News cannot verify the accuracy of all statements made in letters. Authors should ensure any information is ac- curate, fair and not from second-hand knowledge or hearsay, and include sources where possible. • Letters have a suggested 300-word limit and may be edited for grammar and clarity. • Authors must sign their full name and include their street address (only city will be printed), as well as a daytime phone number and/or email address for verifi- cation. The person who signs the letter must be the ac- tual author. Siuslaw News does not accept anonymous Letters to the Editor. • Siuslaw News will not print form letters, libelous letters, business promotions or personal disputes, poet- ry, open letters, letters espousing religious views with- out reference to a current issue, or letters considered in poor taste. Letters also may not be part of letter-writing campaigns. • Writers are limited to one published letter every two weeks. To submit to the Siuslaw News: Emailed submissions are preferred. All letters need to include full name, address and phone number; only name and city will be printed. Handwritten or typed letters must be signed. The newspaper, at the sole discretion of the publish- er and editor, reserves the right to reject any letter that doesn’t follow the above criteria. WHERE TO WRITE President Joseph Biden The White House 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. NW Washington, D.C. 20500 Comments: 202-456-1111 Switchboard: 202-456-1414 TTY/TDD: 202-456-6213 www.whitehouse.gov 900 Court St. NE - S-417 Salem, OR 97301 503-986-1705 Email: Sen.DickAnderson@ oregonlegislature.gov Oregon Gov. Kate Brown State Rep. Boomer Wright (Dist. 9) State Sen. Dick Anderson (Dist. 5) 160 State Capitol 900 Court St. 900 Court St. NE Salem, Ore. 97301-4047 Salem, OR 97301 Message Line: 503-986-1409 503-378-4582 Email: Rep.BoomerWright@ www.oregon.gov/gov oregonlegislature.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 Lane County Dist. 1 Commissioner Jay Bozievich 125 E. Eighth St. Eugene, OR 97401 541-682-4203 Email: Jay.Bozievich@ co.lane.or.us 313 Hart Senate Office Bldg Washington, DC 20510 202-224-3753 | 541-465-6750 Florence City Council www.merkley.senate.gov & Mayor Joe Henry Florence City Hall, 250 U.S. Rep. Peter DeFazio Highway 101, Florence, 97439 (4th Dist.) 541-997-3437 2134 Rayburn HOB ci.florence.or.us Washington, DC 20515 Email comments to Florence 202-225-6416 City Recorder Kelli Weese at 541-269-2609 | 541-465-6732 kelli.weese@ci.florence.or.us www.defazio.house.gov