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About The Blue Mountain eagle. (John Day, Or.) 1972-current | View Entire Issue (May 9, 2018)
A4 Opinion Blue Mountain Eagle Wednesday, May 9, 2018 VOTE Self-governance in action I n the course of human history, it was not long ago when most people had very little say in the decisions by rulers that affected their livelihood. Fast forward to today, and many people who have the right to democratically choose their leaders don’t even take the time to cast a ballot. Our Founding Fathers, who fought a war to secure our freedom and the ability to govern ourselves, probably roll over in their graves when voter turnout is announced after each election. How could people waive this right to exercise their political freedom? Have they no opinions about the world around them? Would they prefer that a king take over and make their decisions for them? Given the multitude of comments on a multitude of issues online and in person throughout this county and the entire nation, a lack of opinions or a desire to divest the power to make personal decisions seems highly unlikely. Perhaps the size of the system — 327 million in the United States and counting — makes one vote seem unimportant. Perhaps people feel they can make no impact. Many people speak of our government as if it was a foreign entity controlling their lives, much the way our Founding Fathers must have felt before declaring our independence. But our government is not foreign. It was established here by our ancestors, giving us a voice in the decisions that affect us. We are our government. If we are dissatisfied with the public systems established so we could govern ourselves, it is our responsibility to engage in the processes we have established to improve them. It may be easy to be fatigued by the constant negativity that engulfs national politics, but our ballots also offer the chance to have far greater say on the local issues that have far more impact on our day-to-day lives. Through elections, we shape our communities by approving measures and selecting the people who will represent us in our government. It is our choice, collectively, if we use our voice. Now is the time to express your opinions — in a constructive way that can bring about actual changes — on the ballot. This is your chance to participate in our system of self- governance our ancestors fought for. So, please, vote. It is the American way. W HERE TO W RITE GRANT COUNTY • Grant County Courthouse — 201 S. Humbolt St., Suite 280, Canyon City 97820. Phone: 541-575-0059. Fax: 541- 575-2248. • Canyon City — P.O. Box 276, Canyon City 97820. Phone: 541-575-0509. Fax: 541-575-0515. Email: tocc1862@centu- rylink.net. • Dayville — P.O. Box 321, Dayville 97825. Phone: 541-987-2188. Fax: 541- 987-2187. Email:dville@ortelco.net • John Day — 450 E. Main St, John Day, 97845. Phone: 541-575-0028. Fax: 541- 575-1721. Email: cityjd@centurytel.net. • Long Creek — P.O. Box 489, Long Creek 97856. Phone: 541-421-3601. Fax: 541-421-3075. Email: info@cityoflong- creek.com. • Monument — P.O. Box 426, Monument 97864. Phone and fax: 541-934-2025. Email: cityofmonument@centurytel.net. • Mt. Vernon — P.O. Box 647, Mt. Vernon 97865. Phone: 541-932-4688. Fax: 541-932-4222. Email: cmtv@ortelco.net. • Prairie City — P.O. Box 370, Prairie City 97869. Phone: 541-820-3605. Fax: 820-3566. Email: pchall@ortelco.net. • Seneca — P.O. Box 208, Seneca 97873. Phone and fax: 541-542-2161. Email: senecaoregon@gmail.com. SALEM • Gov. Kate Brown, D — 254 State Capitol, Salem 97310. Phone: 503-378- 3111. Fax: 503-378-6827. Website: www. governor.state.or.us/governor.html. • Oregon Legislature — State Capitol, Salem, 97310. Phone: (503) 986-1180. Website: www. leg.state.or.us (includes Oregon Constitution and Oregon Revised Statutes). • Oregon Legislative Information — Blue Mountain EAGLE P UBLISHED EVERY W EDNESDAY BY (For updates on bills, services, capitol or messages for legislators) — 800-332-2313. • Sen. Cliff Bentz, R-Ontario – 900 Court St. NE, S-301, Salem 97301. Phone: 503-986-1730. Website: www.oregonlegis- lature.gov/Bentz. Email: Sen.CliffBentz@ oregonlegislature.gov. • Rep. Lynn Findley, R-Vale – 900 Court St. NE, H-475, Salem 97301. Phone: 503- 986-1460. Website: www.oregonlegislature. gov/findley. Email: Rep.LynnFindley@ oregonlegislature.gov. WASHINGTON, D.C. • The White House, 1600 Pennsylva- nia Ave. N.W., Washington, D.C. 20500; Phone-comments: 202-456-1111; Switch- board: 202-456-1414. • U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden, D — 516 Hart Senate Office Building, Washington D.C. 20510. Phone: 202-224-5244. Email: wayne_kinney@wyden.senate.gov Website: http://wyden.senate.gov Fax: 202-228-2717. • U.S. Sen. Jeff Merkley, D — 313 Hart Senate Office Building, Washington D.C. 20510. Phone: 202-224-3753. Email: senator@merkley.senate.gov. Fax: 202- 228-3997. Oregon offices include One World Trade Center, 121 S.W. Salmon St., Suite 1250, Portland, OR 97204; and 310 S.E. Second St., Suite 105, Pendleton, OR 97801. Phone: 503-326-3386; 541-278- 1129. Fax: 503-326-2990. • U.S. Rep. Greg Walden, R — (Second District) 1404 Longworth Building, Wash- ington D.C. 20515. Phone: 202-225-6730. No direct email because of spam. Website: www.walden.house.gov Fax: 202-225-5774. Medford office: 14 North Central, Suite 112, Medford, OR 97501. Phone: 541-776-4646. Fax: 541-779-0204. • Pending Bills: For information on bills in Congress, Phone: 202-225-1772. L ETTERS TO THE E DITOR Neahring for Congress To the Editor: I know there is support for Dem- ocratic candidates who can connect with rural voters, because I ran two strong races for state representative in north central Oregon as a “fair frugal farmer” in 2002 and 2006. I am happy to see a palliative care physician, Dr. Jenni Neahring from Bend, running in this year’s Demo- cratic congressional primary. Dr. Neahring stopped by my farm near Culver recently, and we had a good visit. She is passionate about expanding health care access, quality and affordability. The Af- fordable (Health) Care Act might not be perfect, but it has helped families in Eastern Oregon as much as any part of our state. The number of Americans with- out health care was almost cut in half from 2010 to 2016: 48 million to 28 million. States like Oregon that chose to expand Medicaid saw the percent of uninsured cut in half from 18 percent in 2013 to 9 per- cent in 2016. Despite this, Greg Walden played a leading role gutting ACA and replacing it with “Trumpcare,” which will take away insurance from millions of Americans. Dr. Jenni Neahring, on the oth- er hand, wants to help improve the Affordable Care Act that has im- proved the financial and health of so many rural Oregonians. She has my vote in the Democratic pri- mary! Jim Gilbertson Culver Larson has leadership and experience To the Editor: Gordon Larson has 22 plus years of living, working and serving county residents. Gordon was born on a dairy farm and grew up with a multi-family ranching background and over the years has developed knowledge about numerous rural is- sues in Eastern Oregon. Gordon has received education, training and experience from 27 years on the job for the Oregon State Police. His position has provided him with many attributes and options at his disposal to use in being an effective commissioner. His objectivity and ability to communicate with an indi- vidual and/or with a group, make him the right person to listen, evaluate and bring parties to the table to discuss the issues and to work on reaching a mu- tually, agreeable resolution. Gordon is aware about the divi- siveness that exists in the county, and with this understanding, he will bring about the best positive approach and direction to take in improving com- munity relationships. I value his approach and outlook towards dealing with Grant County issues. I trust in his decision-making ability and the integrity that he would bring to the commissioner position. With a work ethic developed over the years of 24-7, he has expressed an attitude for a holistic and collab- orative approach for the management of county issues that will result in success. Given Gordon’s proven leadership abilities; professionalism for the com- missioner position that he has shown from past jobs and from community service years; a common sense ap- proach in dealing with issues; and his attitude in working/serving with all individuals and groups in the public sector, I will vote for Gordon Larson for Grant County commissioner. Francis Kocis Canyon City 3 million Americans stutter To the Editor: This week is National Stuttering Awareness Week. Did you know more than 3 million Americans stut- ter? That’s more than the popula- tions of Wyoming, Vermont, Alas- ka, North Dakota and Washington, D.C. — combined. One percent of all people stut- ter, and up to 5 percent of children stutter for a time during their early developmental years. In the spirit of spreading aware- ness, the most important thing you can do for someone who stutters — or for anyone you are speaking with — is listen. Listen to what they have to say, rather than how they say it. For more information, visit stut- teringhelp.org. Jane Fraser, president The Stuttering Foundation Elect Hamsher, Palmer To the Editor: I have been an active citizen in county politics for many years working with many county com- missioners and county judges, ad- vocating for the ranching and oth- er natural resource uses on lands within Grant County to preserve our way of life. I have seen many changes, and the last decade or so the downhill trend in the ranching and logging industries is alarming. How can we fix this? We need to elect good people to represent us, people with fresh ideas and new ways of tackling problems. Men willing to listen to citizens courte- ously, and willing to roll up their sleeves and do some of the heavy lifting. Jim Hamsher has proved to be just such a person, both in his posi- tion as Prairie City mayor and also as our current county commissioner. He has the ability and knowledge to perform well as our county judge. Sam Palmer would be a great county commissioner as he has the ability to listen to concerns and ed- ucate himself on the issues before making decisions that will affect the taxpayers of this county. Two young men with a heart for this county, fresh ideas and enthu- siasm and willingness to serve the people to the best of their ability will begin to make the changes we need. This election year we have an opportunity to change the status quo and begin the return to common sense and economic stability for our community. I am voting for Jim Hamsher for Grant County judge and Sam Palm- er for Grant County commissioner. Roger McKinley Prairie City ‘I’m from Prairie City’ To the Editor: I saw with my own eyes what can be accomplished when we work together, not against each other. I appreciate every one of the city and townspeople for the help on Prairie City cleanup day. I love this town, and I’m very proud to say, “I’m from Prairie City.” Carol Purvis Prairie City Vote for Jim Hamsher To the Editor: I am writing this letter in hopes that voters will realize, if they vote for Jim Hamsher, they are voting for the people. Jim truly cares about the mem- bers of this community. He does not look down on people for what they are unable to accomplish on their own, but rather extends a hand to help. Last Friday there was a commu- nity cleanup day in Prairie City. Jim contacted me and offered to go onto my mom’s property with the city crew, volunteers and equipment and remove things that I could not haul away on my own. I felt like I had just won the lottery. My mom passed away recently. I am sim- ply overwhelmed by the work that needs to be done, and I don’t have the resources to do what needs to be done to get my childhood home back in good condition. It is also a struggle to do what needs to be done while I am grieving the loss of my mom. Jim is down to earth. He under- stands what this community needs and he is not afraid to jump in and work with the community. He does not just sit back and expect all of us to put in the effort by ourselves. I did not attend the candidate fo- rum, but I have watched the videos. Jim spoke from the heart. He was sincere and honest in everything that he said. He did not have to have a script to read from, and he looked everyone in the eye while he spoke. I urge you to vote for Jim Ham- sher for county judge. It truly is a vote for the people of this commu- nity. Danetta Lewis Prairie City L etters policy: Letters to the Editor is a forum for Blue Mountain Eagle readers to express themselves on local, state, national or world issues. Brevity is good, but longer letters will be asked to be contained to 350 words. No personal attacks; challenge the opinion, not the person. No thank-you letters. Submissions to this page become property of the Eagle. 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