A4
BAKER CITY
Opinion
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news@bakercityherald.com
Thursday, August 11, 2022 • Baker City, Oregon
EDITORIAL
Offensive flag
marred parade
T
here are better ways to express disdain for the
Biden-Harris administration than flying a flag
with the slogan “Jo & The Ho Gotta Go.”
And there are better places to do so than a parade
that honors an event which raises money to pro-
vide free medical care to children with debilitating
conditions.
This has nothing to do with the First Amendment,
to be sure.
The purveyors of the float at the end of the Shrine
parade on Saturday, Aug. 6 in downtown Baker City
had the right to display that flag. About that there is
no question. Which is as it should be — indeed, must
be.
But along with that sacred right, which is at the
heart of what we mean in America when we talk of
freedom, the people who flew that flag also had a
choice.
They chose badly.
The slogan is offensive. It’s a slur against Vice Presi-
dent Kamala Harris, one that suggests the people who
brandish it couldn’t conceive of a more substantive
criticism than a two-letter “word” that rhymes with
the president’s first name.
But it was the venue that made the flag especially
obnoxious.
The Shriners, whose efforts on behalf of children
and families are beyond reproach, didn’t deserve to
have their event sullied. Even though the Shriners nei-
ther condoned the flag nor had any responsibility for
its appearance, it was part of their parade.
It’s a pity that those who attached the flag to the float
didn’t have more respect for the Shriners, their mis-
sion and the purpose of the parade.
To reiterate, if you feel compelled to drive around
with a flag bearing a moronic slogan, well, you can,
thanks to the Bill of Rights, that concise list that con-
tinues to ennoble America after nearly two and a half
centuries.
But there’s nothing noble about marring a parade
which celebrates the best of which we are capable,
with a message that represents the very opposite.
— Jayson Jacoby, Baker City Herald editor
YOUR VIEWS
Group still battling
to stop the B2H project
July 15th we learned from the Her-
ald that Baker County Commissioner
Mark Bennett held a meeting with local
landowners potentially facing eminent
domain by Idaho Power’s plans to build
the massive 500 kV transmission line —
Boardman to Hemingway (B2H). The
line would cross five counties in eastern
Oregon (approximately 300 miles).
First, I want to commend Commis-
sioner Bennett. Since the beginning of
this B2H saga he has fought to preserve
the heritage of Baker County and the
Oregon Trail, as well as retain the in-
tegrity of the tourism destination they
have built — the National Historic Or-
egon Trail Interpretive Center. Now,
he is following through on a promise
that he and fellow BC commissioners
passed (via a resolution) long ago, that
is, if any residents of their county were
facing eminent domain that the county
would do what they could to help, in-
cluding filing an amicus (friends of the
court) brief in support of the landown-
ers. This latter has not occurred yet but
Commissioner Bennett is demonstrat-
ing his concern and leadership. Where
are the other counties’ commissioners?
Apparently, not helping their constit-
uents.
Second, I want to clarify a misstate-
ment made at this meeting. The attor-
ney that was quoted in the article was
incorrect in his statements about the
B2H and the status of the Stop B2H Co-
alition.
Be assured that the STOP B2H Co-
alition is alive, well, and still fighting
for the public: protecting our lands and
habitats, preserving our heritage. The
B2H is not a done deal! At the end of
August, Oregon’s Energy Facility Siting
Council (EFSC) will be in La Grande
to hear 30 appeals in the case. The pro-
cedural errors over the past two years,
made by an administrative law judge,
have demonstrated a bias against the
public and towards the utility and their
high-powered attorneys.
EFSC’s final decision is expected this
fall. If we do not prevail, Stop B2H in-
tends to appeal to the Oregon Supreme
Court (a judicial court).
For updates and news, go to: www.
stopb2h.org. Once we know the times
and format of the meetings on Aug 29-
31 we will post to our website and our
Facebook page.
Fuji Kreider
Secretary/treasurer, Stop B2H Coalition
La Grande
Libertarian candidate excluded
from recent debate
I am writing to thank the Oregon
Newspaper Publishers Association for
hosting the first gubernatorial debate
of 2022.
I was watching the debate you hosted,
and noticed someone was missing. Of
the multiple candidates running for
governor of Oregon, only three of them
were invited to attend. A duly elected
Libertarian candidate, R. Leon Noble,
had been excluded, and I would like to
know why.
Noble earned the nomination of the
Libertarian Party of Oregon during the
primary election held in June. Unlike
other “minor” parties, Libertarians do
not need to spend millions of dollars on
a primary campaign in order to ensure
ballot access.
Could it be that Noble was excluded
because, in this day of “pay-to-play”
politics, he has yet to raise the millions
of dollars? Betsy Johnson is still collect-
ing signatures to appear on the Novem-
ber ballot. Noble has no such hurdle to
overcome, yet he was excluded from the
debate.
Are you trying to silence candidates
who haven’t “paid their way” into the
governor’s race? Or are you concerned
that the people of Oregon might hear
a message that disturbs the status quo?
Most Oregonians can agree that nei-
ther Tina Kotek, Christine Drazan, nor
Johnson represent them. Why can’t
those disenfranchised voters hear from
a candidate who will?
For more information on the Liber-
tarian candidate for governor, please
visit his website, SetOregonFree.com.
Sharlyn Cox
Legacy media director, Set Oregon Free
Roseburg
Shriners didn’t approve
offensive flag in parade
It appears that a “Demolition Derby”
float was at the rear of the Baker City
Parade on August 6. Although the
Shrine took up a good portion of the pa-
rade units on that day, this was a civic
parade. This particular float was not at-
tached to any of the Shrine units or its
overview process.
In addition, the Demolition Derby
float was previously reviewed by the
Baker City Parade Committee prior to
its inclusion. The crew on the float ap-
parently changed their external flags
and political comments once they were
out of the staging area. This changed
display apparently caused a number of
those attending the parade to be quite
offended.
I would just like to state that the
Shrine does not support this kind of of-
fensive public statement in any parade.
In fact, this type of display is against all
Shrine policy.
So, although we had nothing to do
with this particular float, we would like
to register our strong disapproval of this
display.
Carl Robinson
Potentate, Al Kader Shriners
Beaverton
COLUMN
What are Washington and Beijing doing?
BY MICHAEL D. SWAINE
L
et’s be clear: Nancy Pelosi’s
trip to Taiwan was not a great
opportunity to show Ameri-
ca’s support for the island; it did not
chasten Beijing to exert greater re-
straint toward Taipei. To the con-
trary — countless China and foreign
policy specialists predicted it would
produce a major, likely sustained,
coercive Chinese reaction that will
deepen our current slide toward con-
flict in the Sino-U.S. relationship.
And guess what? That is exactly
what is now happening.
Pelosi’s trip to Taiwan was a stunt,
likely intended as a last hurrah be-
fore leaving office as speaker of the
House, designed to cement her leg-
acy as a tough opponent of China
and upholder of human rights.
Well, good for her. The only prob-
lem is that by traveling to Taiwan she
has given Beijing an ideal opportu-
nity to exercise a combined force sim-
ulation of an attack on each of Tai-
wan’s ports and put virtually the last
nail in the coffin of the U.S. policy
that has helped sustain peace in Asia
for decades: the One China policy.
As a direct result of Pelosi’s trip,
Beijing has created six maritime and
air closure zones circling the island,
each in a strategic location near Tai-
wan ports, etc.; started firing missiles
into those zones, some directly over
Taiwan; deployed two carrier battle
groups from the north and south to-
ward the island; shut down numer-
ous government and commercial
web sites in Taiwan and suspended
critical exports and imports to and
from Taiwan.
This makes the last major crisis
of this nature, the 1995-96 Taiwan
Strait crisis, look pretty tame in com-
parison — and more is no doubt to
come. China has vastly more capa-
bilities, and hence options, to cre-
ate pain and tension on Taiwan and
concern in Washington. And the U.S.
will not be able to successfully halt
this process, as it did last time, by
deploying two carrier battle groups
of its own to the area and deploying
harsh rhetoric.
Today, the stakes are apprecia-
bly much higher than they were in
1995-96. The Sino-U.S. relationship
is far more strained. China is now
viewed in Washington as a pow-
er-hungry state, seeking to seize
Taiwan in order to dominate Asia;
from Beijing, the U.S. is seen as
needing to defend its eroding pri-
macy in the region by keeping Tai-
wan from China. Both sides view
Taiwan in ominous strategic terms,
suggesting that neither is inclined to
make concessions or strive for mu-
tual accommodation or a clear off-
ramp. To the contrary, both seem to
think that only never-ending levels of
military deterrence and threats will
avert a conflict, with little if anything
in the way of assurances regarding
the One China policy or Beijing’s
commitment to peaceful unification.
These are not the ingredients for
a stable peace. Rising tensions could
cause Beijing to steadily increase its
pressure on Taiwan, establishing a
new status quo of constant confron-
tation and demands for concessions;
alism and regime legitimacy in Bei-
jing and the credibility of America’s
word in Washington. But neither na-
tion faces an imperative to “resolve”
the issue of Taiwan’s status at the risk
of a major conflagration that could
escalate to nuclear war. But they do
have an imperative to neutralize the
issue as much as possible as a source
of conflict.
So, rather than sleepwalk toward
conflict, Beijing and Washington
need to wake up, get a grip, find two
senior interlocutors who have some
in response, the U.S. could accept
credibility on both sides (such as
the demands now emanating from
Hank Paulsen and Henry Kissinger
Congress and elsewhere to declare
or Dai Bingguo or Cui Tiankai) and
Taiwan a non-NATO ally and de-
start discussing off-ramps, in which
ploy U.S. forces near and perhaps on both show some willingness to make
Taiwan on a more or less permanent concessions. The alternatives — a
never-ending, increasingly precar-
basis.
This is a recipe for conflict and di- ious arms race and brinkmanship,
saster. What is the ostensible purpose or a supposedly limited conflict in-
of walking further down this danger- tended to instill caution on both
ous path? Sure, Washington and Bei- sides — pose far greater risks.
Michael D. Swaine is director of the East Asia
jing both regard Taiwan to varying
Program for Quincy Institute for Responsible
degrees as a vital national security
Statecraft.
interest — linked to Chinese nation-
Today, the stakes are appreciably
much higher than they
were in 1995-96. The Sino-
U.S. relationship is far more
strained. China is now viewed in
Washington as a power-hungry
state, seeking to seize Taiwan in
order to dominate Asia
CONTACT YOUR PUBLIC OFFICIALS
President Joe Biden: The White House, 1600 Pennsylvania Ave., Washington, D.C.
20500; 202-456-1111; to send comments, go to www.whitehouse.gov.
Oregon Gov. Kate Brown: 254 State Capitol, Salem, OR 97310; 503-378-3111; www.
governor.oregon.gov.
in Council Chambers. Councilors Jason Spriet, Kerry McQuisten, Shane Alderson,
Joanna Dixon, Kenyon Damschen, Johnny Waggoner Sr. and Dean Guyer.
U.S. Sen. Jeff Merkley: D.C. office: 313 Hart Senate Office Building, U.S. Senate,
Washington, D.C., 20510; 202-224-3753; fax 202-228-3997. Portland office: One
World Trade Center, 121 S.W. Salmon St. Suite 1250, Portland, OR 97204; 503-326-
3386; fax 503-326-2900. Baker City office, 1705 Main St., Suite 504, 541-278-1129;
merkley.senate.gov.
Oregon State Treasurer Tobias Read: oregon.treasurer@ost.state.or.us; 350 Winter
St. NE, Suite 100, Salem OR 97301-3896; 503-378-4000.
Baker City administration: 541-523-6541. Jonathan Cannon, city manager; Ty
Duby, police chief; Sean Lee, fire chief; Michelle Owen, public works director.
Oregon Attorney General Ellen F. Rosenblum: Justice Building, Salem, OR 97301-
4096; 503-378-4400.
Baker County Commission: Baker County Courthouse 1995 3rd St., Baker City, OR
97814; 541-523-8200. Meets the first and third Wednesdays at 9 a.m.; Bill Harvey
(chair), Mark Bennett, Bruce Nichols.
U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden: D.C. office: 221 Dirksen Senate Office Building, Washington,
D.C., 20510; 202-224-5244; fax 202-228-2717. La Grande office: 105 Fir St., No. 210, La
Grande, OR 97850; 541-962-7691; fax, 541-963-0885; wyden.senate.gov.
U.S. Rep. Cliff Bentz (2nd District): D.C. office: 1239 Longworth House Office
Building, Washington, D.C., 20515, 202-225-6730; fax 202-225-5774. Medford office:
14 N. Central Avenue Suite 112, Medford, OR 97850; Phone: 541-776-4646; fax: 541-
779-0204; Ontario office: 2430 S.W. Fourth Ave., No. 2, Ontario, OR 97914; Phone:
541-709-2040. bentz.house.gov.
Oregon Legislature: Legislative documents and information are available online at
www.leg.state.or.us.
State Sen. Lynn Findley (R-Ontario): Salem office: 900 Court St. N.E., S-403, Salem,
OR 97301; 503-986-1730. Email: Sen.LynnFindley@oregonlegislature.gov
State Rep. Mark Owens (R-Crane): Salem office: 900 Court St. N.E., H-475, Salem,
OR 97301; 503-986-1460. Email: Rep.MarkOwens@oregonlegislature.gov
Baker City Hall: 1655 First Street, P.O. Box 650, Baker City, OR 97814; 541-523-6541;
fax 541-524-2049. City Council meets the second and fourth Tuesdays at 7 p.m.
Baker County departments: 541-523-8200. Travis Ash, sheriff; Noodle Perkins,
roadmaster; Greg Baxter, district attorney; Alice Durflinger, county treasurer; Stefanie
Kirby, county clerk; Kerry Savage, county assessor.
Baker School District: 2090 4th Street, Baker City, OR 97814; 541-524-2260; fax 541-
524-2564. Superintendent: Mark Witty. Board meets the third Tuesday of the month
at 6 p.m. Council Chambers, Baker City Hall,1655 First St.; Chris Hawkins, Andrew
Bryan, Travis Cook, Jessica Dougherty, Julie Huntington.