A4 OPINION Blue Mountain Eagle Wednesday, February 26, 2020 Legislation threatens any last shred of goodwill A s predicted, Demo- crats in the Oregon Legislature quickly led their climate change bill out onto center stage as soon as the 2020 Legisla- ture convened earlier this month, reigniting a conten- tious debate over carbon emissions that stymied much of the 2019 session. As predicted, Republican senators boycotted the Leg- islature on Monday in pro- test, denying a quorum and preventing any action on cap-and-trade legislation. Senate Republican spokes- woman Kate Gillem said they may return once they are assured the bill will be referred to Oregon voters. The idea behind the Dem- ocrats’ effort — to slash the state’s carbon emissions and help reverse climate change — is commendable. Yet, the carbon emissions effort always suffered from a lack of perspective, not sci- ence. The truth is the larg- est carbon producers in the world don’t exist in Oregon or even here in the United States, but overseas in places like China. Oregon’s carbon foot- print is tiny when compared to other nations, so the obvi- ous question has always been, what gains, or ben- efits would such an Ore- gon emission limit deliver to the nation and the world? The answer is none. Making statements about a hot point issue is fine, even admira- ble, but we believe this leg- islation will have an extraor- dinarily adverse impact that far outweighs the tiny reduc- tion in total global carbon emissions it would create. Even with the concessions made to soften the effects of the legislation on rural industries and communities, it carries the very real poten- tial of expanding the chasm between urban and rural Oregon interests. It could, in fact, create an unbridgeable divide with long-term con- sequences. The legislation, regardless of its noble ori- gins, will further divide our state, not unify it. A better plan would be to fully embrace our exist- ing robust hydroelectric — the original clean energy — infrastructure on the Snake and Columbia rivers. Added to that should be a more in-depth effort to plant more trees than any other state in the union and for politicians on both sides of the politi- cal fence to work together to find a universally accepted solution to the climate chal- lenge that a clear majority of our state can get behind. Our fear is this legisla- tion will leave a legacy of bitterness and create a bro- ken alliance between vot- ers and those they elected. If the current Democratic car- bon emission legislation is as good an idea as adver- tised, then put it before the voters of the state, as Repub- lican legislators have sug- gested. A vote to enact this legislation on purely partisan lines, though, could destroy any last shred of goodwill and make Oregon’s politi- cal landscape radioactive for decades to come. We believe Democratic and Republican lawmakers want to do the right thing. To do the right thing means shelving this piece of legis- lation, and then focusing on the art of the possible instead of the impossible. WHERE TO WRITE 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@ centurylink.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@ cityoflongcreek.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: governor.state.or.us/governor.html. • Oregon Legislature — State Capitol, Salem, 97310. Phone: (503) 986-1180. Website: leg.state.or.us (includes Oregon Constitution and Oregon Revised Statutes). • Oregon Legislative Information — (For updates on bills, services, capitol or messages for legislators) — 800- 332-2313. Blue Mountain EAGLE Published every Wednesday by FARMER’S FATE 29 with 11 years experience Y ou get up one day, young As the sun sank hour drive home. and vibrant, feed the ani- on the funeral of We’d only been home min- utes when two girlfriends came mals, sit down for break- my 39th year, my strolling up the sidewalk. fast, drink a cup of coffee — dad and sisters “We’re kidnapping you!” they then boom, you’re middle age, arrived unexpect- edly with games announced. just like that. At least that’s how and a Lego cake Before I could even say good- I felt when I awoke on my birth- Brianna bye to my sisters, they had hus- day. I suddenly found myself 10 my sister had Walker tled me out of the house and into years older than I was on this made. I protested day last year. The 11th anni- that it wasn’t tech- their car. Off to the coffee shop. nically my birthday, but it didn’t It was early evening, and I had versary of my 29th birthday — stop me from eating my favorite to smile — the day was nearly or, as my husband insisted on flavor of frosting. Things were repeating, “my 40th.” over, and by now it was too late starting to wind down when my I suppose no one feels like for any party my husband may sisters suddenly declared their they are getting older, until have tried to host. intentions to kidnap me for the something stabs you with Our conversation drifted uncomfortable growing pains — night. from old-age to my new sewing Soon, I had clothes and toi- jarring you with the realization machine, which supposedly can letries thrown together, and I that, while you still have a full even embroider thin wood. kissed my boys before scur- deck, you’re shuffling slower. My girlfriend jumped at this, rying away into the night. It One of those moments hap- “Would you have time to swing pened last year as I was driving was nearly midnight when we by my house? I just bought a a college student to an appoint- arrived at the hotel. First, we wooden basket, and I’d love to ment. I was telling have our last name her a story about a “THAT’S THE TROUBLE WITH US. embroidered on it!” couple of girls. I have a one- WE NUMBER EVERYTHING. TAKE track mind when “How old were they?” she asked. to crafts, WOMEN, FOR EXAMPLE. I THINK it and comes “I don’t the entire way know exactly,” I to her house, I was THEY DESERVE TO HAVE MORE answered, “around envisioning swirls THAN 12 YEARS BETWEEN THE my age.” and leaves in coor- dinating colors “Oh, you mean AGES OF 28 AND 40.” around her name. women,” she —James Thurber, 1960 It wasn’t until we exclaimed. pulled around the I sat in silence corner of her house for a moment. ordered pizza. Then we spent the — and I saw all the farm-plated Women? I gulped hard, and next several hours pretending vehicles — that I knew I’d been could almost feel chin wattle we were 20 again and actually had. growth in that age-increasing enjoyed staying up late for no Forty black balloons greeted moment. reason. We put on pajamas and me inside the door — along with Months passed, and Satur- day night found us with another face masks, and played board friends and family, and more col- group of college students. Music games. We stifled our yawns and lege students (to remind me just how old 40 is.) A giant green was the evening’s topic. They tried to subtly wipe our watery cake, made to look like a hay field were really jazzed about the eyes. It had been years since I filled with rows of swathed hay “classic music” they had been have seen that side of midnight and a tractor and baler, sat promi- listening to. purely for pleasure — no hay to nently in the kitchen. “The stuff is old, but it’s actu- bale, or produce to deliver — ally pretty cool!” one of the I looked around the faces just simply because we wanted guys said. of my loved ones as the can- to. dles were lit. I made a wish and “What kind of stuff are you The day of my birthday blew out all 40 candles (I’m sure listening to?” I ask, imagin- dawned bright and much too ing some of my favorite singers it was more like spitting on the early. We sat in a glassed nook from the ‘60s and ‘70s. cake by the time I got down to overlooking the river and cele- brated the first day of my fourth “Oh, it’s really, really old the last three). stuff,” another kid says. “All the decade. The day passed in a As the last candle fizzled, I whirlwind of sisterly fun: coffee, realized the secret of staying way back to 2000! Like Britney pedicures and an escape room. It young is to forgive quickly, kiss Spears!” How thankful I am that grow- was one of those days that was slowly, laugh uncontrollably, ing wrinkles doesn’t hurt — so good, I was heavy hearted avoid college students and never because in that moment I’m when my sister declared the fun buy more than one box of birth- day candles! pretty sure I added half a dozen. was over as she still had a five- LETTERS TO THE EDITOR ‘Shooting the Breeze’ a great addition to the Eagle To the Editor: I’ve been wanting to com- ment for some time on the addi- tion of the column “Shooting the vationist and reloader for the bet- ter part of 60 years, I find every- thing that has been printed in this column since its inception to be accurate, valid, interesting and well done. Thanks to you and the contrib- uting writers for adding it to our weekly reading! Jerry Russell Kimberly 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. The Eagle reserves the right to edit letters for length and for content. Letters must be original and signed by the writer. Anonymous letters will not be printed. Writers should include a telephone number so they can be reached for questions. We must limit all contributors to one letter per person per month. Deadline is 5 p.m. Friday. Send letters to editor@bmeagle.com, or Blue Mountain Eagle, 195 N. Canyon Blvd., John Day, OR 97845; or fax to 541-575-1244. Grant County’s Weekly Newspaper Publisher............ ......................................Chris Rush, crush@eomediagroup.com Editor & General Manager ...............Sean Hart, editor@bmeagle.com Reporter ...................................................Rudy Diaz, rudy@bmeagle.com Reporter ...................................................... Steven Mitchell, steven@bmeagle.com Sports ........................................................sports@bmeagle.com Marketing Rep .......................................Kim Kell, ads@bmeagle.com Administrative Assistant ..................Christy Smith, office@bmeagle.com Office Assistant .....................................Alixandra Hand, office@bmeagle.com MEMBER OREGON NEWSPAPER PUBLISHERS ASSOCIATION Breeze” by Dale Valade (most of the time), Rod Carpenter and Marc LeQuieu. This is a great addition to our local newspaper. Being such a rural, agricultural and wild- life-rich county, the subject mat- ter is always something that most all of us can relate too in some manner. Myself being a hunter, conser- Online: MyEagleNews.com 1 YEAR SUBSCRIPTION RATES (including online access) Grant County .........................................$45 Everywhere else in U.S. .......................$57 Outside Continental U.S. ....................$60 Subscriptions must be paid prior to delivery Periodicals Postage Paid at John Day and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER send address changes to: Blue Mountain Eagle 195 N. Canyon Blvd. John Day, OR 97845-1187 USPS 226-340 Phone: 541-575-0710 Copyright © 2020 Blue Mountain Eagle All rights reserved. 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