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
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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
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Editor & General Manager ...............Sean Hart, editor@bmeagle.com
Reporter ...................................................Rudy Diaz, rudy@bmeagle.com
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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
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