A4 BAKER CITY HERALD • THURSDAY, JANUARY 27, 2022
BAKER CITY
Opinion
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news@bakercityherald.com
Baker City, Oregon
EDITORIAL
‘Permanent’ mask rule not necessary
O
regon health offi cials have
a communication problem
when it comes to the current
mask “mandate” for indoor
public spaces.
(Mandate in this case de-
serves to be enclosed in quo-
tation marks given how many
people, including in Baker
County, are ignoring it despite
the potential benefi ts of masks
in slowing the spread of the
highly infectious omicron
variant.)
Th e Oregon Health Author-
ity (OHA) has proposed to
replace the temporary mandate,
which expires Feb. 8, with a
“permanent” rule.
More quotation marks.
“Permanent” is a particularly
poor adjective in this con-
text. Permanent implies, well,
permanence, which is to say,
forever. Unfortunately, perma-
nent is the word state law uses
to distinguish the type of rule
the OHA is proposing from the
temporary rule that expires Feb.
8. It’s not reasonable to believe
that OHA offi cials truly intend
to require, at least on paper,
that people are still wearing
masks in indoor public spaces
in this state in 2050, or 2070.
Th e reason for a “permanent”
rule, offi cials say, is that such
a rule doesn’t have a specifi ed
duration, unlike temporary
rules such as the current mask
mandate, which is limited to
180 days.
But here’s the thing: Al-
though OHA can’t legally ex-
tend the current temporary rule
beyond Feb. 8, the agency can
replace it with a new, slightly
diff erent, rule that’s also limited
to 180 days. Th is is not a choice
between either a “permanent”
mask rule or no rule at all aft er
Feb. 8.
Although concerns about a
decades-long mask mandate
are not logical, OHA is fueling
legitimate concern about the
duration of the indoor mask
rule by refusing to give Ore-
gonians specifi c criteria, such
as the rate of new COVID-19
infections, hospitalizations and
deaths, that would trigger the
cancellation of a “permanent”
rule. State offi cials should be
able to come up with thresholds
that would render the mask
mandate unnecessary.
Th e simplest solution,
though, is a new temporary
rule. Th at would have the
same eff ect as a permanent
rule, but with the benefi t that,
because it has a fi nite dura-
tion, it ensures that OHA
would at least have to review
the situation with the pan-
demic in a reasonable period.
Th e agency should be doing
so regardless of whether the
mask rule is permanent or
temporary. Given projections
that the omicron surge will
peak soon — if it hasn’t already
— and then recede rapidly, the
current indoor mask rule might
be unnecessary relatively soon.
— Jayson Jacoby,
Baker City Herald editor
YOUR VIEWS
The US Constitution has served our
nation well
I have read with interest the several recent
letters to the editor in the Herald regarding
“constitutional county” and “county suprem-
acy” issues. They are interesting in their ap-
proaches and in their depth of analysis of the
issue. Both sides cite the Constitution. When I
was in school (admittedly a long time ago), we
were taught to bolster our positions with fac-
tual information, speak with as much certainty
as the facts allowed, and be passionate.
The folks advocating for Baker County
United (BCU) speak with great passion. They
are, however, either not aware of the facts of
history, or choose to manipulate them for an
ideological belief. The Articles of Confedera-
tion were discarded by the Founders for very
good reasons ... namely that they did not work
and the newly formed country was failing.
Under the Articles each state made its own
laws and rules regarding taxes, tariffs, slav-
ery, etc., without the critical coordination of a
federal government. The term Balkanization
was not yet coined but they knew what they
were talking about when the Articles were dis-
carded for our current Constitution. By the
1860s, continuing “local supremacy” issues,
including whether or not slavery should con-
tinue or be left for each state to decide, re-
sulted in the most traumatic and deadly four
years of strife in our history.
We know we have a Constitution and the
commissioners have already taken an oath
to support and defend it ... BCU’s efforts are
at best redundant, and at worst play into the
hands of a small extremist fringe.
I encourage the Baker County Commission
to look at the lessons of history and reject this
latest attempt to discard our Constitution. It
has served us well for more than 200 years.
Whenever it needed to be revised, a long and
considered process was laid out and followed
to change it. That process, including the part
about the courts being the arbiters and inter-
preters of the Constitution’s intent, is what we
should be committed to ... not an extremist
and skewed view of our country.
Dave Hunsaker
Baker City
No need to create a quiet zone in
Baker City
First of all, I like trains and I like train
horns. I cannot for the life of me see what
possible benefit will be reaped by instituting
a quiet zone. I have never lived more than
1/4 mile away from the tracks and personally
have never been put out or traumatized by the
sound. Locals who like the sound and want it
to continue need to respectfully contact City
Council members and voice their opinion.
The group who are pushing for the quiet zone
have been far more vocal than those in opposi-
tion, so far. I can’t help feeling that if the quiet
zone is implemented that it will only be the be-
ginning. What’s next? Police, fire, ambulance
sirens? The noon chimes? AMBER alerts?
Has any thought been given to a partial
quiet zone where trains would not sound their
horns at night? Or lower decibel Wayside
horns triggered by a train’s approach? As for
the argument I have heard that silencing the
horns will kickstart the development of new
housing and workers will come flooding in for honor Mr. Phegley, and his foresight, by sup-
jobs, I say, Who are you kidding? The popu-
porting the plan for a Baker City quiet zone.
Beverly Calder
lation of Baker City has already increased and
Baker City
virtually every business in town is trying to
hire help. This is a situation that deserves clear,
level-headed discussion between both groups We need to speak up against
with neither flying off the handle and making government overreach
the whole thing worse for everyone.
“Render unto Caesar ...” What does that oft
Mark Alderson
Baker City quoted passage mean?
“Render therefore to Caesar the things that
Quiet zone would make Baker City
are Caesar’s; and to God, the things that are
God’s.” Christians have traditionally inter-
safer, more livable
preted the famous passage to mean that Jesus
The quiet zone is all about public safety, liv- endorsed paying taxes.
ability and self sufficiency — three stated goals
(See the lecture “Render Unto Caesar: A
of the Baker City Council.
Most Misunderstood New Testament Pas-
We know that horns are sounded at highly
sage” presented March 13, 2010, at the Lud-
hazardous decibel levels.
wig von Mises Institute. https://mises.org/
Highly hazardous.
wire/render-unto-caesar-most-misunder-
We know that horns disrupt students, work- stood-new-testament-passage)
ers, visitors and many of our citizens in their
Waking in the wee hours of the morning
homes.
a thought came to me, what if the “Render
We know that a quiet zone makes all rail-
unto Caesar” statement was really intended
road crossings within the zone SAFER than
to reminded us we are a duality? That we are
train horns alone.
a combination of the physical world and the
We know that conductors can always sound spiritual. While our spirit finds solace in the
their horn if they see any danger on the tracks. contemplation of God and our place in His
So a quiet zone makes roads and sidewalks universe, the physical requires stepping out of
safer, workplaces safer, classrooms and play-
our internal chapel to function in the crowded
grounds safer, visitor lodging and sidewalk
world our bodies occupy.
dining more enjoyable and neighborhoods
There are times where our physical courses
both safer and more livable. It will enhance
intersect. Science tells us “two objects can-
property values and therefore improve the
not occupy the same point at the same time.”
housing market.
Traffic accidents or collisions on a dance
The Baker City citizens that have been
floor illustrate the concept. But what about
working on this project with city staff for the
collisions between different belief systems, or
past three years are committed to fundraise
ideologies? Words have substance that can di-
the costs associated with this public safety
rectly impact a person. Caution is necessary,
measure. That fundraising/self-sufficiency is
nothing good comes from starting with an
dependent on the council supporting the nexts insult. This can lead to the cross-over from
steps in establishing the quiet zone.
the spiritual (words) to the physical: from an
In addition to public safety, livability and
insult to a punch in the nose. That punch is
self sufficiency, this is a tremendous economic “Rendering to Caesar” in the strongest sense
development issue.
of the concept.
Over 50 business entities — in addition to
Likewise, God did not give us our physi-
the Baker 5J School District which first voiced cal life to be subjects to oppressors or tyrants.
their support for the quiet zone in 2019 when Now, daily, we see more enslavement of the
Superintendent Witty appealed to the City
American people by public servants at all
Council for support — signed on to the quiet levels of government. It seems a Caesar com-
zone proposal to illustrate how strongly they
plex comes with the job. This continues with
support this effort.
the blessing of subversives moving into our
This isn’t controversial, it isn’t political — it community. It will stand as the new order,
is simply common sense because it will make rooted in the silence of clergy and citizenry
Baker City safer and more liveable for every- who should be speaking out loudly at every
one.
opportunity.
These employers, and the Baker City cit-
News article: “A slide presentation with an
izens behind them, believe that improved
invitation to join the QSA Club was presented
safety and greater livability will positively af- to all 4th and 5th graders at Raleigh Hills Ele-
fect their bottom line, their customer satis-
mentary School in Beaverton School District.”
faction, the working conditions for their staff, https://www.northwestobserver.com/index.
the safety of their kids and their own good
php? ArticleId=1970
night’s sleep.
The above cited article demonstrates just
Baker 5J Schools, Baker Charter School, the how far schools are willing to go to compro-
YMCA and the more than 50 local businesses mise our children without the knowledge or
(in addition to all the citizens of Baker City
consent of parents. The initials QSA report-
that signed the petition) deserve recognition, edly stand for “Queer Straight Alliance.” Those
respect, and our appreciation for “sticking
are three words that should not be introduced
their necks out” and supporting this appeal
to 10- to 12-year-old children in any school in
to council.
America. Despite the smut seen in all media
Twenty years ago, Chuck Phegley brought
forms, parents must have the final say regard-
this issue forward while serving on our City
ing their children’s exposure to adult themes in
Council. He believed in the benefits that the
the schools.
quiet zone could bring to Baker City and led a
Is everyone else as outraged as I regarding
coalition of conservative, community-minded the reported sexual perversion of our young
citizens to explore the options. I believe we
children in Oregon schools? This one topic
demands we stand up immediately and tell
the school boards it will not be tolerated in
our schools. Further, we need to have all dis-
trict attorneys address this question, “Why are
there no criminal charges filed against these
purveyors of filth in schools across our coun-
ties and state?” We are entitled to a clear and
definitive answer. There can be no excuse and
no delay in removing the perverts who are
compromising parental and church teachings
while sexualizing children, destroying their in-
nocence and attacking their understanding of
moral behavior.
If we are resolute as a community we must
be visible and heard every day if necessary.
Our failure to speak out convinces our ene-
mies that if they keep up their efforts they will
win and our children will be lost to us. It only
takes a year or two to destroy a community’s
culture. Look at what has happened with the
vax, the masks and our freedoms.
The fight is on or it is over, lost before your
eyes. God Bless America and God give us
strength.
Rick Rienks
Baker City
Idaho Power avoids the full story
on Boardman to Hemingway
The headline in the Herald of Jan. 21, 2022
—“Power Companies announce deal on B2H”
— doesn’t tell the full story. It should read:
“BPA pulls out of ownership of the B2H; en-
ters into transmission agreement.”
After 16 years of analysis the BPA (Bonne-
ville Power Administration) decided that own-
ing a portion of the B2H was not financially
viable for them. Instead, in order to serve their
customers in SE Idaho, they will give some un-
needed equipment and transmission rights in
return for lower wheeling charges (the fee to
move energy on other companies’ transmis-
sion lines).
In return Idaho Power must absorb BPA’s
share of 24%, bringing Idaho Power’s total
share from 21% to 45%, more than doubling
their cost. The public knew the BPA was with-
drawing from ownership of the B2H in 2019
when Idaho Power informed the state utility
commissions. In 2021 the Oregon Public Util-
ity Commission told Idaho Power to recal-
culate B2H’s budget to show PacifiCorp 54%
ownership and Idaho Power’s 45% ownership,
adjusted for inflation. The budget of $1.2 bil-
lion was developed in 2016. It is significantly
outdated. In Idaho Power’s most recent fil-
ing to the OPUC in December, there is still
no budget documentation. They say they will
provide a Transmission Supplement with a
detailed analysis in the first quarter of 2022.
They must still be crunching the numbers, at-
tempting to justify their ability to finance al-
most half the B2H transmission line.
Idaho Power expects us to accept that dou-
bling their financial obligations will still be the
least cost/least risk scenario for their custom-
ers. Meanwhile they continue plans to pillage
the landscape of Eastern Oregon while serving
landowners pre-condemnation papers for a
project that is still years from approval. I don’t
trust them and neither should you!
Jim Kreider
STOP B2H Coalition
La Grande