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There are some hard wars being fought right now. In Senate Revenue, 17 large corporations are trying to change our corporate tax laws -- to the tune of $57 million in tax breaks. Down the hall in Hearing Room C the Senate BLED is amending SB830, an attack on public employees. The chess match has moved to endgame. The May forecast is imminent. It's the season of the back-room deals, when the four caucuses and individual members and the governor are devising their go-home strategies. Tax cuts are being traded for programs, labor issues are being traded for budgets, and our Supreme Court just dropped another grenade in the capitol with their ruling on workers' compensation. Workers' Comp Deform. The long-awaited Smothers decision was delivered at 9 a.m. May 10. The Oregon Supreme Court ruled it unconstitutional to deny legal recourse to certain workers who are refused compensation because of "exclusive remedy" provisions in workers' comp law. The next day at 3 p.m. at the beginning of our BLED committee, we had moved Senate Joint Resolution 36 to Rules. The bill would amend the Oregon Constitution to overturn the Smothers decision by placing "exclusive remedy" in Article 1 of the Oregon Constitution. Déjà vu all over again. In the last weeks of the 1999 Legislature, the Supremes dropped the Lakin decision in our laps. In one day, 63 members of the most powerful business/corporate lobby dropped a resolution to overturn the court's declaration that it was unconstitutional to limit non-economic damages. This resulted in Ballot Measure 88, which was soundly trounced at the ballot box, but cost the trial lawyers an arm and a leg. In both cases the Legislature overreached its authority to allow citizens a remedy in their courts. In both cases, the courts ruled against the Legislature. Gene Derfler and I agree to disagree on this one. He has done an excellent job as Senate president -- despite the flare-ups in the Republican caucuses in both chambers -- but his conservative views on workers' comp and public-employee rights are pretty rigid. On the one hand, I want to work like hell with him to have as good a session as we can have with a bad budget. But sometimes I wish he'd just give it a rest with some of the notions he has about labor issues. Labor Notes. On Mother's Day, Jeannie and I attended a rally for the striking AWPPW workers at Weyerhaeuser's plant in Springfield. We heard from union leaders and negotiators, Congressman DeFazio, Commissioner Sorenson, and Rep. Morrisette. I told the audience it seemed like the only time we get to see our friends is at the scene of labor disputes. Just down the road in Springfield not long ago, we were there for the Teamsters in their strike with UPS. Currently there are three major labor wars in Eugene: the pulp and paper workers' strike, the two-year pathetic saga of surface bargaining and union-busting by the Baker family at The Register-Guard, and Bi-Mart's labor violations against the Teamsters and refusal to bargain. Add to this some current angry negotiations between LCC's board and its instructors and classified workers -- the OPEU state workers are negotiating a new contract and the higher-ed OPEU workers are in the middle of a contract reopener -- things are cookin'! In all these struggles we see the same wonderful activists, the faith community and trade unionists -- the Teamos, the carpenters, the teachers, the firefighters, electricians, iron workers, laborers, painters, steelworkers, police, city workers, nurses, pipefitters, county workers, plumbers, classified school employees, state and higher ed workers -- the usual suspects. SB830. It seems that every session I've served (two in the House, two in the Senate), the Republican legislative leadership tries to hold someone's particular favorite item in the budget as a hostage for a bill that will either screw public employees, teachers, injured workers or the trial lawyers. It's like clockwork. Forget the fights over women's health care, children at risk, minority student issues. Forget electric dereg, gasoline price-gouging and prescription drug reform. Forget the fish, land use, farm workers, redistricting, environment, bestiality, inhumane monkey treatment (painful to recall), guns in schools, elk farms, Ten Commandments, 24-hour abortion notice -- at the end of the session we end up with some ugly deal, and in a split vote we agree to nail someone. Welcome to zero-sum land. SB830 is this year's example. It deals with Derfler's intent to change how independent arbitrators make their decisions. Neutral, third-party interest arbitration and binding arbitration are fundamental to labor law, both at the national NLRB level and at the state level, the Employment Relations Board. Hopefully we can avoid the attack this session as we try to put the budget together. Tony Corcoran of Cottage Grove is minority whip in the Senate and represents portions of Lane and Douglas counties in Senate District 22. He can be reached in Salem at (503) 986-1722 or e-mail corcoran.sen@state.or.us Back to Top
"The store" includes, but is not limited to, clean air, clean water, public lands, healthful working conditions, endangered species, the world's climate, the meaning of words, the oceans, public agency missions, national rights to protect ecosystems and communities, federal judgeships rooted in the public interest, and the collection of taxes from the rich and the corporately organized. Of course, Dubya is not acting alone to relieve us of these components of our world. Whether it's Bush or other takers who value money over everything else, what can we do during the next four years to help change direction? I only have hunches based on watching and learning what seems to work, but here are a few: 1. Go beyond being an information sponge; work for change. You don't need to know the latest scientific information on dioxin to work on PVC plastic phase-outs. You don't need to know every wildlife species harmed by off-road vehicle driving to promote respect for public lands. Every corporate scientist doesn't need to agree that global warming is happening before we challenge oil addiction and its pushers. Those who endlessly call for "sound science" are really calling for piles of dead bodies, and no pile will be high enough for them. The last thing the "sound science" people respect is warnings from scientific evidence. Once unnecessary harms seem possible, start working to implement better alternatives. 2. Don't whine and don't beg; change the rules. We're not going to get anywhere asking Bush or other corporate kings to deliver on some kind of compassion, but we can work to change the rules (laws and public opinion, for example) so that compassion (or fairness, or ecological sanity) is required and barriers to greed become formidable. 3. Figure out what needs to happen, and make it happen with grace, integrity and attractiveness. Just because a needed change is large doesn't mean you shouldn't go for it. On the other hand, tilting unstrategically at windmills is of marginal value, even if it feels good. If an existing organization is ambitious and organized (and there are lots of these), pitch in and make it more ambitious and organized. If you have to be the one initially gathering people together, work in such a manner that capable people will join you. 4. Work with people who have the capability and will to accomplish significant change. Capability doesn't require formal education, money or initial political power. It does require strategic thinking, motivation, clarity, accuracy and willingness to follow through for years on concrete activities (in contrast to talking about following through). 5. Work for what is wise; change always hurts somebody's profits. Don't be paralyzed by someone saying they won't make the money they had planned on making if they can't harm others or the environment. Any time change occurs, someone will not make the money they did, but there are more ways than one to make a good living. A wildlife biologist once described a flashing light system that slowed down drivers during mule deer migrations, reducing the annual highway slaughter. A local auto repair shop owner complained this hurt his business, since fewer collisions were taking place. Displaced workers programs are essential. Heating our planet's climate (or polluting, or building in a wetland, or keeping workers out of unions, or crashing into deer) to protect business as usual, is not essential. 6. Contribute to all wise change. Efforts to ensure good working conditions, for instance, should be supportive of others' environmental protection campaigns, and vice versa. Efforts to bring corporate activities under democratic control should further the work of bringing public lands under public interest control, and vice-versa. Right now, participatory democracy, ecological wisdom and care, and respectful community institutions are all at stake. We need to promote strategies for all of these in all our work. The last thing we need to do is sacrifice one for the other. And ... remember to be grateful and have fun. Mary O'Brien has worked as a public interest scientist for the past 20 years. Her new book, Making Better Environmental Decisions: An Alternative to Risk Assessment, has been published by The MIT Press. She can be reached at mob@efn.org
Back to Top Did your family have a problem with it? What was it like telling them? Did they reject you? Are they nice to your -- what is it you people call your partners -- your spouse? Oh, husband and wife, that's a cute term. You look like you could be brother and sister! You probably get that all the time. Anyway, have you ever felt discriminated against? Has anyone actually singled you out and made fun of you, or treated you differently? Did you ever wish you could take a pill and not be straight anymore? I, for one, think it's great. People should be themselves. But some people are uncomfortable with certain aspects of it. Nobody wants their kids around heterosexuals -- you know, the child molestation thing and all. Naturally we're protective. You can understand that, can't you? I'm glad you're not militant about it, not shoving it down anyone's throat the way some of them do. I know this is personal, but I don't have any other way to find these things out. We didn't touch on the straight lifestyle in college psychology class. I thought the "Deviant Behavior" chapter would have covered it. But those up-tight professors were too embarrassed, so they skipped it. If you don't mind I'd really like to ask you something. I have always wondered what it's like living in a dual-gendered household. I can't imagine it. I mean, what do you do about the toilet seat? Up? Down? I'll bet that takes some getting used to. I don't know if I could do it. And what about going out? That's got to be tough. How do you feel at parties where you're the only mixed couple there? Are your friends OK with it? Do they mind if you dance together? It must be hard always having the same partner lead. Do people stare at you? Or do you go ahead and do it anyway? That is so brave! I really admire you. A lot of places ignore mixed couples now so you can pretty much get away with it, can't you? Deep down, we're really all the same, aren't we? Hell, I don't care what you do in the privacy of your own bedroom. I don't even want to think about it. But why do some straight people have to flaunt it all the time? I'm not prejudiced, I think everyone should live and let live. Don't you? A person can't help it if they're straight, or an alcoholic or whatever. Hey, I have a heterosexual cousin in Omaha -- a lot of you are from there aren't you? I was wondering if maybe you knew her. She's single and doesn't know where to go to meet people. I'll bet you know where the straight bar is there, don't you? Gee, it must be hard trying to find a partner, or to even have the self-esteem to get out there and meet people. I never thought about that. The straight community has its own church, doesn't it? I wonder if I could come along sometime and see what you do. I think I'd be OK being around all those straight people. As long as none of them tried to make a pass at me! Ha ha, just kidding. But seriously, I've been mistaken for straight before. Once I saw a straight person I thought was very attractive. That doesn't make me straight, does it? Sally Sheklow has been a part of the Eugene community since 1972 and is a member of the WYMPROV! comedy troupe. Her column, which began at EW, also runs in several other newspapers around the country. Back to Top Whether Sacred Heart Medical Center (SHMC) moves to north Eugene, expands at its current site or moves to a location yet to be determined, our community wants and expects a hospital environment that promotes healing and helps relieve suffering. Indeed, we do heal best at home, but healing is not put on hold in our medical facilities. The healing process can begin the minute we experience an illness or injury. The environment in which we are treated and the relationships we have with the people treating us do make a difference. We can expect healing to exist even in conjunction with the surgeries, the invasive procedures, and the poking and prodding. So, as Sacred Heart and the community define this major expansion, whatever the outcome, we should not minimize the importance of PeaceHealth's efforts to create and maintain a healing environment. Remember, we don't have to accept the notion of "treatment trauma" in connection with our medical interventions. We can expect to experience a hospital as a place of compassion, tranquility, and personalized care. Carol Faller and Dan Reece
Being a war veteran I immediately thought that neither did tanks, canons, fighter jets and all the rest of the weapons they use. Then it dawned on me that it was some kind of twisted anti-gun campaign that fails at the most basic level of waving an item repeatedly in the public's face to the point of making people want to own one. Then also I was forced to face yet again that someone somewhere was being allowed special privilege to depict huge guns on the side of public, tax-supported transportation, while not allowing gun stores the same right. All the local gun stores can say to this type of twisted California political manipulation is "thanks" for the free advertising. As for the little kids: "That gun looks neat-o!" Daniel J. Moore
The SWAT(stika) overdid the situation. "Go to Hell" hats, AR-15 and M16 rifles, commies, face paint. Please. There were over 30 cops out here all night and most of the next day. They were out for the kill. Never heard a bullhorn. To me, it seems Sheriff Taylor of Mayberry could have resolved the situation; instead we got a mix of Rambo and Deputy Fife. Officer Shadwick knows in his heart he doesn't want to work around the SWAT guys anymore. Those guys can't be trusted. Trigger happy. Greg Hume
In March, James Cosner, a Native American who has been involved in activism for many years, smuggled a sledgehammer into the San Jose, Calif., city hall and attacked a statue of Columbus. His blows broke off legs, one arm and part of a scroll held by the image, and also left the face pitted. He didn't stop until three cops with guns drawn came through the front door of the building. At that point he surrendered. This public act of vandalism was clearly an expression of passion. Columbus' role in initiating the genocide against indigenous people on the American continents cannot help but enrage those who hate oppression. By charging Cosner with a hate crime, the prosecutors have turned his charge into a major felony. This should be no surprise when one considers that his attack was not simply on a statue, but on an icon used to uphold the American state mythology. This mythology must be protected from the rage of those kept down by the social order. In Oregon, the Legislature is voting on expanding hate crime legislation to include acts of environmentalist and anti-capitalist vandalism. If this bill passes it will add years to the sentence of anyone convicted of committing such an act. Hatred of the state and of the ruling class has always been illegal. The application of laws against hate crimes to acts of revolt simply makes what is implicit in the law explicit. In the struggle against state repression, we must, therefore, embrace the greatest of all crimes: freedom. Adam Keingott
M. Brooke Robertshaw
Supportive men are welcome, but please leave the mic for survivors only. They need a chance to speak. Some of them never have before. This year's march promises to be a good one. Jillian Daley
Whether or not the commission includes the most qualified possible candidates does not change the fact this country does not deserve to be making decisions on human rights. Inviting Afghanistan's Taliban onto an international women's conference commission is analogous to the U.S. judging human rights. We simply have too much work to do before being considered for such an honor. Let's start with dismantling the domestic and international drug war, respecting racial diversity and securing basic needs for all of our citizens including health care. In the meantime, perhaps the United Nations can set up an animal-rights commission so that we can be excluded from that too. Mike Meyer
On the Commission since its creation in the 1940s, the U.S. shouldn't see its ejection as an indication that "the victims of human rights abuses will no longer have a spokesman to defend their hopes for liberty and freedom," as Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Jesse Helms remarked, but rather, as an international message voicing concern about the track record of U.S. conduct in its own back yard. Now discussing withholding financial support and overdue payments to the U.N., the House may react against its symbolic blow where it counts -- in monetary politics. Yet this still does not address the issue of why there is such a high rate of human rights abuses in the U.S., one of the highest violation rates in the world (recently cited by Amnesty International as police brutality, abuse of children, prisoners, asylum-seekers and others, and the use of high-tech tools of repression and torture), and why this factor in its ejection from the Committee is not being discussed. There is an old saying that one must "clean one's own home before cleaning others.'" This is sound advice. Rachel R. Rosner
The May 1 rally included people representing unions from all over the region, from the OPEU to AFSCME, from carpenters to postal carriers to teachers, as well as ministers and members of social justice groups. Newspaper workers received a powerful message that the community cares about what happens at their daily newspaper, that our community cares about workers being treated with fairness and respect. We are glad the R-G has started writing stories about its labor issues. This indicates that the company heard community concerns expressed at the rally. We hope the company also will consider another message the community sent at the rally: Get rid of that union-busting attorney from Nashville, L. Michael Zinser, and sit down to bargain so we can reach a fair contract. The Guild remains hopeful that bargaining can move forward in a more positive manner. Our next bargaining date is May 22-23. The community support has been crucial, and we thank everyone who came to the rally or sent emails and letters of support to the publisher. Kim Gilbert, vice president
Watch your back. Your employer has an expert hit man. He carries a long knife. And he is backed up by top administrators who carry extra long knives in case he misses the first time. Keep in mind that the players here like to run the team. Be nice to them -- or else. Be prepared for a cut in pay. Be sure not to raise issues of gender equity. This really annoys the guys. It has happened before, and well, you know the result. Do not be too impressed by your winning record. Here, it does not mean too much. Winning is not as important as getting along with the guys in the department. In spite of the fact that you are coaching one of the Pac 10's better northern schools, just remember, it's only a game. Jack Radabaugh
Some 674 U.S. law professors, 14 of them teaching at the University of Oregon in Eugene, have signed such a petition, a full page ad in The New York Times. In addition, inaugural protests are now in all 50 states and 60 cities with a million hits on the web site. May 19 a "March to Restore Democracy" will take place in San Francisco and Washington, D.C. Find information at www.votermarch.org. A Eugene travel committee is to coordinate buses for San Francisco. Whether your choice for president was Bush, Gore or Nader, a massive election injustice was perpetrated in halting the vote count in Florida several days before it was necessary and well before all votes had been counted. Shall we rise up and fix this broken system? What do you want to do? Local petitions are available from attorney Charles Porter, 132 East Broadway in Eugene, 97401; 687-2111, e-mail COPORTER@aol.com Porter says that if the impeachment succeeds, Democrats in Congress will seat Gore and Lieberman and the Bush Administration will be out. Constance P. Brown
Enid Lessne
Robyne Calvert-Miles
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