Illinois Valley News

(Editor“s Note: Views and commentary, including statements made as fact, are strictly those of the letter-writers.)

Typed, double-spaced letters are considered for publication. Hand-written letters that are double-spaced and legible also can be considered. “Thank you“ submissions are not accepted as letters.

“UnChristian-like acts“
From William Schneider
Cave Junction

I ask God“s forgiveness for supporting Bush“s invasion of the Middle East.

Were it not for the kind, loving, gentle souls I know and have known, I too with all my heart would hate what America, through its deceit, theft and murder, has done to the world and its own people for the past 60+ years. Of course, I refer to that demon from Hell, Uncle Sam, the United States government.

This government is made up of individual people who can and most certainly should be held accountable for their actions. Regardless of how much money they have.

When they lie they should be fired. When they steal they should be jailed. When they murder and murder in mass they should be — well, you get the drift. Just like you and me, they should be held accountable.

What amazes me is how can a predominantly Christian country do and allow such ungodly acts on a daily basis as are done by the people through their apathy and government through intent. To throw so much crap in God“s face is very unChristian-like, bordering on demonic. How on Earth can we expect any others to respect America when America has no self-respect“

The information that has brought me to these conclusions is available to anyone. Through declassified records people can see for themselves the extent and depth of criminal acts perpetrated by the government and military from Pearl Harbor to Vietnam, 9/11 and the Middle East wars.

It“s truly gut-wrenching, heart-breaking, mind-blowing stuff, but it is truth. Truth which shows that behind that flag-waving patriotic behavior lies true ignorance, stupidity and evil.

Simon Hare core values
From Chuck Barker
Sunny Valley

This is in support of Simon Hare for Josephine County commissioner. I made this decision after listening to him at a meeting in Sunny Valley. With 11 candidates running for one political position, it is important to look at core values and consistency in upholding these values.

I had an opportunity to meet many young people during the years I was in the field of education. I have known Simon since he was the Illinois Valley student representative to the Three Rivers School District Board of Directors. He was one of three representatives, but his presentation always stood out. He was well prepared with information not only about athletics but academics.

What was normally dry and mundane, he made interesting and entertaining. He knows how to work with people in a way that can get things done. He is willing to listen and not afraid to ask about things he does not know.

These core values that he developed as a young student will help candidate Hare problem-solve issues surrounding Josephine County. Simon understands the issues of small communities like the Illinois Valley with the lack of jobs, lack of resources, and the price of energy.

Simon worked for an electrical cooperative and has some interesting ideas on producing energy, landfill solutions and ways to generate income to help our local economy. He is not looking for a Washington bailout, but solutions for local problems.

It is time for new ideas rather than reusing old ones that generate the same results.

Level of conscience
From John Bazen
Cave Junction

“We, all of us, have been born with a certain level of conscience.“ If you agree, then we must ask the believers of evolution to explain; “How did it get there““

Most certainly not by, or within views of many, man being a product of the “Survival of the Fittest Process,“ as this will not lend itself to building a conscience, guilty or otherwise, would it“

History overall, not well taught, not thought of these days, but the 100 years from 1900 to 2000, such men as Hitler, Stalin, Mao, Pol-Pot, and the “Chia-haircut guy and his father, in N. Korea, plus a few still living today, have been responsible in ending life for 250 million to 300 million souls. All were atheistic evolutionists; no surprise there, right“

Spiritual Darkness (from Satan“s toolbox and his helpers, human and otherwise) has covered Earth since Adam“s fall. There“s many a church with skepticism and infidelity in interpretation of Scripture. These “traditions“ do not gain Divine Power over time.

Sadly, all this and more was written of nearly 2,000 years ago, but if it is not studied or learned by individuals, but only taking the words of another human, being falsely taught is no problem for the Deceiver of man in this fashion. After all, not learned in His Word, that“s your choice.

Ask, in view of history, and all the Satan-led forces of men, who opposed God“s Word, burning millions of Bibles during the French Revolution“s “Age of Reason“ that removed all laws of God and men. Lasting only 3.5 years, the same time span of Christ“s earthly ministry. A connection“

Read Deuteronomy 30:19. This passage asks, “Why choose death over life““

“If ye love me, obey my commandments.“ Jesus said this in John 14:15. Read verses 1 and 14; know that He is the Word, follow Him for life — or follow men, who cannot even save themselves.,

Toler “can do the job“
From Lester Hoyle
Cave Junction

Dave Toler already had a long list of accomplishments for the people of this county before he became commissioner. That“s just one of the reasons he was voted into office — demonstrated civic leadership.

What have any of his challengers ever done for this county — other than being born here“

Once in office, Toler worked to reduce the number of county employees by 40 percent and helped leverage funds to build local business, create jobs, reopen our libraries and improve our parks and public safety. When he took office, the county was spending hundreds of thousands per year defending legal suits. Since he took office, no new significant suits have taken place.

Now the county bond rating has been upgraded from A- to A+. This has enabled the county to refinance the jail bond — saving taxpayers more than $800,000 in interest.

Now 10 challengers want Toler“s compensation package, but what do they really offer“ Talk is cheap. This is how we wound up with a completely inexperienced homemaker as commissioner who only manages to interfere with real county progress — even threatening to sue the county (in other words, herself) when she didn“t get her way.

This coming election is not a popularity contest. It“s not an ideological contest. It“s not even a partisan contest. The issue before voters is simple. Who can do the best job as fiscal manager of a $100 million budget“

Dave Toler should be re-elected, as he is the only guy in this race who“s proven time and again that he can actually do the job.

NAFTA a disasta“
From James Walmsley
Cave Junction

North American Free Trade Agreement passed by a Republican Congress and signed into law by Bill Clinton is the direct cause of our recession/depression along with the lack of an energy policy that would eliminate the necessity to import fuel from those who don“t particularly like us and allow us to be self-reliant.

NAFTA was designed to allow Big Business to move manufacturing jobs to Mexico and Canada where wages were lower and then ship goods back into the United States without paying a tariff. The theory was that capital would flow to the low-wage countries, thereby raising wages and economic standing (a kind of wealth redistribution) and when parity was achieved goods could flow freely across borders.

Unintended consequences is that the workers who held jobs that went south were no longer earning wages and paying payroll taxes. Add in an increase in gas prices, and you bring on a housing collapse unlike any before.

Now you have a government earning less because of these failed policies. What can it do“ Raise taxes, deficit spend creating inflation, increase the size of government and cut benefits while adding billions more recipients.

Yes Dorothy, we are living in the land of Oz.

There is a solution for those who want to change the course of this USS Titanic we call America. I don“t care which side of the ship you place your deck chairs on, you“re all going down because all the lifeboats have been taken by Wall Street and if we don“t change course the iceberg is dead ahead.

Blue Dog Democrat from Mississippi, Rep. Gene Taylor introduced the bill (H.R. 4759) with 27 sponsors as of this writing. The bill would force the White House to give Mexico and Canada 60-days notice that the United States is bailing out of the decade-old free trade pact and would put Americans back to work manufacturing goods in this country.

Americans have figured out that they have been had. If you“re one of them, phone your representatives and tell them to get on board with this bill. Keep the heat on. You owe it to your grandchildren. Have like-minded friends and family do the same.

Another Hare supporter
From Barbara Biencourt
Sunny Valley

I support Simon Hare for Josephine County commissioner because after listening to him at several meetings, I like his work ethics and philosophy.

And I remember Simon when he was the school district board student representative for Illinois Valley High School. He always came prepared, but infused his somewhat dry reports with humor. He engaged his diverse audience and made the audience comfortable and valued. He was a wonderful student and now is a great young adult.

Simon is a small-town boy with Washington, D.C. experience. He believes that agriculture and sustainable timber production are a big part of our heritage. Our natural resources should be valued and managed efficiently to benefit our community.

When in Washington, he worked for rural America in an energy cooperative. He worked on state and federal legislation that focused on improving the lives of rural electric cooperative consumers. His main responsibility was advocating for reliable, clean, safe, and affordable electricity for the 47 million electric cooperative consumers nationwide.

During his time there, he became familiar with issues such as state renewable portfolio standards, cap and trade, climate change and renewable energy. We need to use this experience to help our economy be self-sustainable. He has some interesting ideas on how biofuels and waste management could help our local economy.

Simon“s past employment history helped shape his character and expand his perspective on how to manage effectively. This knowledge will help lead Josephine County in the right direction.

Another Toler supporter
From David MacKechnie
Cave Junction

I have known Dave Toler for 20 years.

As far as I“m concerned, he has always been fair, honest and passionate about making things better for us all.

We are living in a time where many of us are thinking that change will cure everything that has gone wrong. I can“t see it this way.

I feel that Dave has done a great job representing the best interests of our community, and I want to see him continue.

Toler advocacy noted
From Marie Hill
Grants Pass

I enjoy reading I.V. News online from time to time. I noticed that in the March 17 issue a letter was written regarding the Rotary Duck Derby and its proceeds being shared with Illinois Valley schools for sports facility improvements. The letter indicates that Dave Toler, in his campaign for commissioner, is taking credit for this project.

It is clear to me that a large group of people were involved with this project; and it is likely that the smaller group mentioned by Fred Ball comprised the people who, as he said, did the “heavy lifting“ to get the project done.

However, I would like to provide clarification regarding Dave Toler“s involvement. In early 2006, the Grants Pass Rotary Club presidents, of which I was one, met to discuss the potential disbursement of funds from the Duck Derby. Dave attended that meeting for the sole purpose of advocating that Illinois Valley schools be included along with the other county and city schools for matching funds.

He challenged us on Rotary“s Four-Way Test: Were we being fair to all concerned“ Dave reminded us that the citizens of Illinois Valley shopped and worked on the Grants Pass side of Hay“s Hill and should not be omitted from this opportunity to receive funds. At the meeting we also discussed an interest in assisting in the efforts for Illinois Valley to form a Rotary club; which has now occurred.

I believe that this meeting and Dave“s advocacy was a pivotal point in making this project happen. There is plenty of credit to go around; particularly to those who assured that the work got done; Bill Thorp who tirelessly spearheads the Duck Derby for all Rotary clubs, the booster clubs and the people mentioned by Ball who made it happen in Illinois Valley.

There is also credit due to Dave Toler who advocated so strongly for equal access to proceeds.

Critical of Jack Brown
From Anna Stewart
Grants Pass

There was an excellent article by Scott Jorgensen in the March 17 issue of Illinois Valley News on just how incompetent and clueless Jack Brown really is.

Brown stated in his address at the Kerby Belt Bldg. that if he were elected commissioner, he would approve any variance requested by any property owner. Period.

So if you have a great view of the mountains, and your next-door neighbor wants to build a five-story building that completely blocks your view, too bad and so sad for you.

If your next door neighbor wants to put a hundred pigs on his property, that“s cool with Brown. Heck, if your neighbor wants to make extra cash by turning his property into a junkyard or trash dump, Brown thinks that“s just groovy.

And Brown has declared that he will approve every variance that people request. This is akin to a judge stating that he will convict every defendant that comes before him. By stating this he“s created a mistrial, and that criminal who may actually be guilty will now go free because the judge has prejudiced the case. Land-use decisions are a judicial process, and Brown has just announced that he will prejudice every case before him, and we the taxpayers will suffer the consequences.

On top of all this — by declaring his prejudice — if he“s elected then he“s also harmed every property owner who applies for a variance while Brown is in office, whether the application is appropriate or not. This is because the variance will be heard before the board as judges, and Brown has already declared his prejudice, thus giving the opponents to every applicant who appears before the board for the next four years the only weapon they need to beat the applicant.

So in the end, if Jack Brown is elected, then he has irrevocably hurt the very people he intended to help.

This is just another example of how the taxpayers are going to pay for a county commissioner who doesn“t have a clue how county government works.

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