Letters to the Editor
Volunteer opportunities at County Bldg. in CJ
From Ann Reser
Cave Junction
For those who are members of the Greatest Generation once removed, as am I, and have found a home in this beautiful valley, our community needs their help.
We all know that the county is in a financial bind. As in past hard times when things got tough, people stepped up to the challenge whatever it was and did whatever they could to help.
We have a great
taxpayer-owned County Bldg. in town that serves a lot of people in a variety of ways. With the passing of one of our greatest public servants, Marion Clarke, the doors to this building have been closed more than opened due to the lack of volunteers.
It would be greatly appreciated if those who can find three or four hours, one or more days of the week, will stop by Tuesdays or Thursday afternoons and talk to a volunteer. The only requirements are a big smile and a sincere willingness to be of service to others.
‘Neck-deep in conspiracy’ for 9/11 attack in NYC
From William Schneider
Cave Junction
I was named after my father’s brother, who was killed Dec. 7, 1941, on the battleship USS “Arizona” in Pearl Harbor. I am familiar with our government’s involvement in allowing this attack to take place.
Some things upset me, making me very irritated, sometimes angry. Some things upset me very much, causing a churning in my gut that forces me out of my chair and causes me, in any way I can, to confront that which I believe to be wrong to such a degree.
I hate half-baked conspiracy theories, and I hate arguing moot points just to spew and entertain. During the past few years, and most recently the last few weeks, I have seen that of which I speak -- such a thing that churns my gut.
That being hours filled with volumes of evidence from so many sources: military personnel and experts in the fields of demolition, air traffic control and aviation. Plus numerous incidents of live coverage of first-responders such as firefighters, ambulance, law enforcement, etc., all claiming multiple explosions at the Twin Towers -- and the total lack of any contrary scientific or video-taped evidence debunking so-called conspiracy theories.
Without a doubt in my mind, so much evidence leads me to the conclusion that there are people in our government who are neck-deep in the most heinous conspiracy to commit -- and did commit - - on the people of the United States of America, a mass murder on 9/11.
If there were any way I could, (and feel free to assist), I would file a lawsuit demanding a criminal investigation. I am looking into how to go about it. I want Uncle Sam to prove his innocence.
Had 9/11 been treated as the crime scene it was, every D.A. in the land would be screaming for the arrest and immediate incarceration of suspects, including many people in our own government. It is very possible that George Bush knew nothing of what was coming. Poor little King. However improbable. Remember the stolen election?
Where are the indignant families of flights 93 and 77 who should be speaking out loudly against mounting evidence that there were no bodies or plane parts in either Pennsylvania or the Pentagon conducive to jet liner crashes? How can nine of the so-called hijackers be found alive and well in other parts of the world? Why was our air defense system told to stand down the morning of the hijacking?
People should investigate for themselves. With the evidence that I and several thousands of others have seen, the only way our government could get away with this horror is if we let them. And if we let them, then everyone who has served and died for this country -- including my father’s brother and your sons and daughters -- has served and died in vain. God help us all.
The truth is out there. Very soon we will see a wave across this country from all walks of life, demanding accountability and justice, as this information is made more accessible to the public. I urge anyone who is flying a U.S. flag to fly it upside-down as a signal of distress. Seriously.
I can be contacted at 592-3068.
Taking a closer look at Healthy Kids Plan
From Jim Trenary
Salem
In the debate over Oregon’s Healthy Kids Plan, many significant failures of the program are getting little attention.
Most Oregonians agree that something needs to be done to help uninsured children get good health insurance. However, the state needs to take a hard look at this plan and really study the details and funding, which are being passed over by the media and many legislators.
The plan encourages parents, who have health insurance for their kids through their employers, to switch to a state-assisted program. Many families in Oregon responsibly pay for their children’s health care and forego other luxuries.
Even at the newly reduced qualifying amount, this proposed plan would be available to families of four with household incomes of $62,000. The state should be concerned about how many people will opt out of their current plan to a free, taxpayer-subsidized plan.
The state also should be worried about how many families move to Oregon to join the plan. Yes, they do have to prove residency for six months, but the requirements are vague. And there is no prohibition of coverage for children who are not legal residents or citizens of the United States.
Finally, the plan requires funding from a cigarette and tobacco tax increase. This means that 20 percent of Oregonians, those who smoke, will be paying for the plan. Additionally, retailers such as myself will lose even more sales to Internet and other black market purchases. Our stores rely on the sales of cigarettes to make a profit, and some of the 3,000 retailers in Oregon will have to lay off employees, many of whom have benefits and health insurance.
Recent news articles have highlighted the fact that cigarette tax collections are declining. Yet the state of Oregon tosses the economic numbers aside and is pushing forward on an important piece of legislation that relies on an unstable funding source. And only half the projected revenue actually goes to the Healthy Kids Plan.
Rep. Jeff Merkley (D-District 47), who is helping to pass the plan, states in a press release that “nothing we will consider this session is more important for families than affordable, accessible health care for all Oregon’s children.” It’s true.
Consequently, Oregon legislators should study the details, get the facts on their unanswered questions and find a stable funding source. Does the state really want to force children off the plan in two years, due to lack of revenues and huge enrollment numbers?
If not, legislators need to get it right the first time when implementing this program.
‘Does the LNG Pipeline Project make sense?’
From Dean Byers
chairman, Douglas County Democrats
In November 2006, Oregonians approved Ballot Measure 39, protecting citizens against private companies using eminent domain to take their land for profit. Now Williams Gas Co. wants to do just that, proposing a huge terminal at Coos Bay and a 223-mile long, 36-inch diameter pipeline across Southwestern Oregon to take natural gas to California.
All to make money for a consortium of three companies: Williams Pacific Connector Gas Co., PG&E, and Fort Chicago Gas Co. California needs the gas; Southwestern Oregon doesn’t.
The pipeline would cross approximately 150 miles of private land from Coos Bay to south of Klamath Falls near the California border, using eminent domain to forcibly take privately owned land for the benefit of a private company.
Isn’t this exactly what Ballot Measure 39 prohibits? This is a local issue, about people’s rights to not have their lands taken away from them so “big business” can make a profit.
Another issue regards Ballot Measure 37. How could a land owner ever get fair value for developing his land with a 75-foot “scar” across it on which nothing can ever be built, even a road? The pipeline would cross five pristine rivers and hundreds of streams,
creating a 75-foot-wide clear-cut corridor.
Massive erosion, watershed damage and lowered property values would be its legacy.
Coos Bay says it needs increased energy for economic development. Why not use biodiesel from Oregon farmers and biomass from our forests to produce electricity? Or tie in to the wave energy project at OSU for which there’s already state funding?
As for jobs, we’re talking about 30 to 40 management-level jobs in North Bend, and exactly six of these would go to local people. Six jobs. There are also the construction jobs for building the terminal and the pipeline, but these will last only as long as the construction does, and again, no guarantees of how many, if any, local workers would be hired.
An old story. We need to be smarter.
During its Central Committee meeting on Jan. 25, the Democratic Party of Douglas County voted overwhelming to stand in opposition to the LNG pipeline project. We need to let our elected officials know how we feel.
