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Insider
Baseball : Third Inning Stretch: R's cleat Hannon,
bat foul on tobacco tax. propaganda.
Viewpoint:
Rare Justice: Judi Bari case shows once again that Big Brother
can't be trusted.
Letters:
EW readers sound off.
Third
Inning Stretch
R's
cleat Hannon, bat foul on tobacco tax.
SALEM: June 20, Special Session III. The loya
jirga just got more intense. A right-wing coup occurred tonight
in the Senate Republican caucus; and Democrats finally showed up for
the fight. There's blood on the Senate floor: Republican Sen. Lenn
Hannon was removed as the chair of the Senate Budget Committee, a
forced resignation.
Now Senate President Derfler is going to let the right
wing of the Republican Senate caucus see if they can create a budget.
I don't think so: more one-time money, Arthur Anderson-funky accounting,
and program cuts (not job cuts as they call it), all gimmicry. Hannon
is a class act. He took on his Republican caucus, as I told you last
week, unwilling to sacrifice programs for seniors, disabled, and the
education continuum, in exchange for a short-term fix that devastates
us in the next biennium. There are few heroes in Salem, Lenny Hannon
is one of them.
I'm really proud of my Democratics, both in the House
and the Senate. I was mad at them last week: if I criticize in public,
I should praise them in public. I was irate because they offered an
olive branch — the votes for shifting a K-12 payment into the
next biennium — without any quid pro quo. After we offered a
second olive branch — agreeing to a clone of Measure 13 —
converting $220 million of one-time money from the Education Endowment
trust and stealing "opportunity grant" scholarships from Oregon students
(something none of our caucus agreed with) just to move a modest 55-cent
cigarette tax to a conference committee. We were betrayed; we gave
them our votes and the R's came up one short of a vote for the tobacco
increase. That blew up the building. Senate D's went nuts, the whole
caucus was angry and solidified.
Our local folks in the House Democratic caucus —
Phil Barnhard, Vicki Walker, Bob Ackerman, Terry Beyer, Al King —
have shown incredible solidarity in this fight. Hopefully, we can
get some reasonable budget measures to conference committees and get
something that Gov. Kitzhaber can agree to.
A Brief Interlude: During a break today I wandered
up into the 3rd floor Senate gallery. Noticing a familiar tanned,
balding head (no, not mine) I snuck up on our former congressman,
Jim Weaver, one of my political heroes. Like so many other visitors
to Salem recently he had only one question: "WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU
PEOPLE DOING UP HERE?" Being the delicate, circumspect, unassuming
wallflower that I am, I gently explained the current dilemma with
which our wonderful Republican colleagues were struggling. I can't
quote his response in a family newspaper; but, needless to say, he
wasn't happy.
We talked about Teddy Kulongoski and Jim's interest
in running for governor. He knew he'd be viewed as a spoiler; he said
he was "just lookin'" at the race. Yes, I love this guy, he's a role
model, but come on, Jim, do we want Kevin Mannix in there? At one
point he looked over at me with that old hard-ass glint in his eye
and said: "Teddy has to say some things before I'm comfortable." They'll
get it settled, they have a long history, both good Democrats.
Farmworker update: I got an e-mail from Lewis
& Clark law Prof. Henry Drummond last Wednesday, a former law
partner with Teddy K. Coincidentally, he's the guy the governor hired
to draft a compromise bill. "Tony, I guess in the end I failed. The
Farm Bureau has not swung over behind the bill, and I've had a lot
of … (complaints) … from PCUN and Lynn-Marie at the AFL-CIO.
So it looks like we never got enough support for the bill to even
throw it in you politicians' laps. It's a shame. We could have taken
a real step forward for the workers. It wouldn't have solved all their
problems, but it would have strengthened their hand … I fear
that another 10 or 20 years will now pass before farmworkers get the
same types of collective bargaining rights as other workers." I wrote
him back, "Professor, you did not fail; you tried to accomplish the
unattainable. Thank you for your hard work." It really isn't unattainable,
it can be done. Si se puede!
Sen. Tony Corcoran of Cottage Grove represents portions
of Lane and Douglas counties in the newly formed Senate District 4,
which now includes the UO area. He can be reached at corcoran.sen@state.or.us
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Rare
Justice
Judi
Bari case shows once again that Big Brother can't be trusted.
BY
LAUREN REGAN
I had just graduated from high school in 1990 when
the shocking news made its way to my upstate New York town that
two Earth First! activists from California had just been blown up
by their own car bomb. As weeks went by and the story developed, the
FBI told America that the two environmentalists were known "terrorists,"
according to newscast after newscast. I was an aspiring activist at
that time, and that mainstream media story had a profound impact on
my developing ideology.
The two "suspects," Judi Bari and Darryl Cherney,
claimed they had been framed by the police and FBI, who had arrived
within minutes after the bomb ripped through Bari's car and body.
Bari and Cherney adamantly stated that the real bomber was still at
large. The FBI and police refused to continue the investigation, confidently
proclaiming they had solved the crime. Would the FBI and police intentionally
malign these effective environmental and labor organizers simply to
crush the movements they were successfully fostering? Does this happen
in a country that prides itself on the strength of it's Constitution?
Our Supreme Court has long held that the First Amendment and the freedom
of speech and association are quintessential rights to be held above
all others. Certainly Americans can safely speak out against their
government over critical issues such as the environment without fear
of unlawful government reprisals.
More than a decade later, I am now a public interest
lawyer. I represent people like Judi and Darryl in environmental,
criminal, and civil rights matters. I've kept track of the federal
lawsuit filed by them alleging serious civil rights violations against
the FBI and the Oakland police, including First and Fourth Amendment
violations for false arrest, illegal searches, slanderous statements
and conspiracy. On June 11, 2002, 10 jurors participated in the complete
vindication of Cherney and the now deceased Bari. Those jurors were
witness to the testimony regarding the illegal and morally reprehensible
actions of the FBI and Oakland police. The jurors in this case unanimously
found that the FBI had intentionally violated the civil rights of
two American citizens (the FBI being the same federal agency now provided
even more latitude for abuses under Ashcroft's recent repeal of our
civil liberties).
A jury verdict of this magnitude against the secretive
FBI is incredibly rare in this country. The tactics used by the
FBI's elusive Counter Intelligence Program (COINTELPRO) were openly
exposed and proven to a jury. This is major news, especially considering
the amount of news coverage that the bombing received in 1990. Surely
those same news stations and papers want to correct the misinformation
that was provided by the government. Certainly given recent events
surrounding the FBI, the citizenry deserves to know what the truth
of the Judi Bari bombing case entails.
The mainstream media was eerily quiet on June 12th,
the day after the $4.4 million verdict was announced. The few newspapers
that covered this amazing story buried their brief articles near the
classifieds. There was little if any national news coverage.
Earth First!ers and other environmentalists are not
domestic terrorists. Terrorists act more akin to the FBI in this instance.
History has unveiled other politically motivated misconduct on behalf
of the FBI. The 1950s and the red scare saw rampant unconstitutional
behavior by the FBI, and in more recent times one must only recall
the Leonard Peltier imprisonment, as well as the deaths associated
with the Black Panther party as stark reminders of a rogue agency
out of control. We will probably never know the entire truth with
regard to the extent of the FBI's involvement with this 1990 car bombing.
The government attempted to silence two persuasive
voices that were pushing environmental awareness into the lives of
mainstream America. For 10 years, the FBI and law enforcement attempted
to build a case against Bari, Cherney and environmentalists as murderous
fanatics who should not be trusted. The recent verdict proves that
it is Big Brother that can't be trusted. Currently, with the abundance
of serious and divisive political events occurring around the map,
our right to speak openly and critically of our government also provides
us with the duty to protect our precious civil liberties and to ensure
that the powers of the government are not used unlawfully against
it's own people. The Bari verdict is a strong affirmation that the
power is still with the people.
Lauren C. Regan is a Eugene attorney.
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LIVING
WAGE
Thank goodness we have local businesses
in the Eugene-Springfield area that make an ethical business decision
to pay employees a living wage. At the same time, we have the propaganda
of lobbyists like Associated Oregon Industries assuring us that labor
costs are not variable, and that if the minimum wage were to increase
even by one penny, we'd see Oregon businesses collapse. This hasn't
been the experience of Oregon after the last minimum wage increase,
and it hasn't been the experience of cities with living wage standards
already in place.
We need to set standards as to how work is contracted
out, so that businesses compete against one another based on the quality
or efficiency of their service.
I heard President Bush recently say on television,
"too many American families do not own homes." Well, if workers were
paid living wages, they would be much more able to own homes.
Whose definition are we using when we talk about a
"healthy business environment"? A healthy business environment is
one where we have good schools, safe neighborhoods, community members
who earn enough that they are able to invest in the local economy,
and perhaps own homes.
When people earn a living wage, they don't need social
services — they spend it in the community and businesses prosper.
Let's support local businesses in Eugene that pay
a living wage, and let's support our neighbors who deserve a living
wage.
Deanna Kilger
Veneta
HELD
HOSTAGE
Our communities have been held hostage by
the very tax dollars we paid to entice large corporations to locate
in our area. At the expense of our schools, social services and city
budgets we have subsidized corporate profits. We were told that in
exchange for huge amounts of tax relief, corporations such as Sony
Disc Manufacturing and Hyundai (Hynix), would provide family wage
jobs.
In January 1994, Sony marketed jobs at a starting
wage of $10.50 to $14 with full benefits. My employment started Feb.
11, 1995, at $9.10 per hour. After seven years of near perfect work
reviews, I was fired along with 70 others and did not even come close
to qualifying for the maximum amount of unemployment weekly benefits.
Residents of Eugene are fortunate that a huge number
of Eugene taxpayers are working toward setting community standards
by setting a living wage ordinance. This ordinance would only apply
to those who work directly for the city, for companies that contract
to do at least $10,000 of work for the city, and for businesses that
receive more than $25,000 in financial assistance from the city's
taxpayers.
If Springfield would have had the protection of a
living wage ordinance, Sony would have been required to fulfill promises
they made to our community.
It is obvious that our county commissioners who recently
voted themselves a pay increase see the need for a living wage. I
would hope that they all endorse the living wage ordinance currently
scheduled for a Eugene City Council work session, Aug. 14.
Shirley Gauthier
Springfield
POMPOUS
CERTAINTY
The state of humanity is at an all-time
low. This is nothing new to most of the minds of the residents of
Eugene, who mostly claim a spiritually centered life and open mind,
and often do a pretty good job at it. Yet at the same time after someone
professes they cultivate such disciplines, I cannot find myself in
a conversation with anyone that does not include them using horrid
profanity, or talking about sexuality, bashing religions, or whatever
it is they are bent about. How is this an open mind or spiritual?
I try to share objective viewpoints of the ill-natural
ways of homosexuality, and I am the one without an open mind.
I share objective viewpoints on the need for sanctioning people who
steal from others, and commit other bad deeds that require sanction,
and I need to open my mind.
I share objective viewpoints on feminist issues and
I am called a perpetrator, and I am told again that I should open
my mind. I share objective viewpoints on the ill-nature of contraception,
and yet again I need to open my mind. It seems to me that almost everyone
in this deformed world is so "open minded and spiritual" that their
minds are closed off right at their eyes, and sealed with their own
pompous certainty of actually being "right."
Perhaps humanity could use a few lessons
like: Don't swear because you are far more intelligent than to use
the lowest common denominator of our already limiting language; teach
your kids and friends with reason not fear; don't steal (not even
from big corporations); be honest, really actually tell the truth
for once, and not your truth because like myself, you actually know
nothing for certain.
Dr. Aaron Ochsner
Eugene
LACKING
COMMODITY
Alan Pittman and Nicole Hill ("Building
Vogue" 6/6) imply that the new federal courthouse will be regarded
like the current City Hall is today. They praise Eugene's 1910 Victorian-style
city hall and question building in an "ultramodern" style.
The architectural historian Witold Ribczynski denotes
three characteristics of good architecture: firmness, commodity and
delight.
The writers praise the Victorian character of Eugene's
1910 City Hall, noting its delight. But this does not prove their
case against those who found the building "gloomy, cramped and decrepit,"
which had to do with commodity.
In a book about U.S. buildings 1940-1990, the current
Eugene City Hall was used as an example typical of its time and notable
for its circle-within-a-square design. Pittman and Hill find no delight
there and don't notice the historical reference, but those who argue
for replacement cite a lack of firmness.
The GSA promises that the new courthouse will be built
to the highest standard with superior materials. This makes a City
Hall replay unlikely.
I disagree when the authors criticize building today
in a style of today. Is there some other choice? The federal courthouse
is an opportunity being grasped.
The authors' concept of timeless building has just
a tiny bit more meaning than a space-less building. Many historic
buildings do none too well by some of our ultramodern demands, like
accessibility. And let's not forget, that Victorian-style City Hall
(historic yes, but not timeless) was "built vogue."
John Rose
Eugene
EDITOR'S NOTE: Alan Pittman did the writing on
the courthouse story and Nicole Hill did the research.
GENDER
PROFILING
Proponents of all-girl public schools, now
including the Bush administration, say gender segregation takes girls'
minds off of clothes, dating, sex, and other trivial pursuits. But
attention to the opposite sex is an ordinary part of growing up, surely
not absent in all-girl enrollees. The real difference is the low priority
the girls put on boys, compared to themselves and their work. Girls
apparently become much more insecure when they attend school with
boys who, on average, demand and receive more classroom time, behave
more aggressively and competitively, and often demean and objectify
their female peers. So, is male dominance a biological imperative
that we need to work around, or a (partly) cultural problem that segregation
is somehow supposed to solve?
I bring up the nature/nurture debate because segregationists
also emphasize differences in male and female brains. Applying fashionable
sociobiology to public policy can be dangerous, as history shows.
Not only has separate usually meant unequal, but scientists have usually
based their views of gender differences on conventional wisdom as
much as hard facts. We need to pay close attention to the science
behind these claims, not just parrot intriguing conclusions that we
hear on the news. We should also be wary of "gender profiling," of
treating a diverse group of individuals as though they all conform
to some average type. Open discussion of sexism and patriarchy, skepticism
toward scientific claims, and attention to individual differences
are key components of any gender-specific school reform.
Anna S. Barnett
Eugene
PARDON
ME, BUT ...
Pardon my ignorance. I don't read the papers.
I've never written a letter to the editor. I don't follow what happens
at City Council. I don't have a very educated opinion about community
issues. And I, probably like most of us, don't really care enough
about anything but my own day-to-day existence to speak up, or really
do something, but I must say, what's happening in west Eugene seems
dead wrong.
Eugene didn't need another department store full of
useless trash made overseas tacked on the end of an already disgusting
commercial eyesore like West 11th Avenue. And we don't need row after
row of cookie-cutter homes all packed onto plots of wetland.
Why, if we have to expand, do we not build sensibly
to form communities that have stores you can actually walk to, that
are owned and operated by local people? Why don't we build unique,
efficient, tasteful homes? Why don't we incorporate natural spaces
already existing into our communities instead of imposing our asphalt
and concrete-gated gridwork regimen? Why don't we grow away from our
dependence on autos and build some sort of easy way to hop a train
or bus and be downtown in reasonable time? Do we really like sitting
in our cars waiting? Is this freedom?
Like I said, I don't know, but it just seems dead
wrong, don't you think?
Patrick Waters
Eugene
INACCURATE
GUIDE
In regard to the Chow supplement
(6/13): I learned the hard way that Chow's listings of restaurant
quality has everything to do with politics and very little to do with
the actual quality of food, service and atmosphere
of the recommended establishment. I reached this conclusion after
three years of disappointing experiences with Chow's recommendations.
One of the worst restaurant experiences I ever had was at one of Chow's
top vote-getting restaurants.
I also notice that there are many fine establishments
that definitely do exist and are quite worthy of recognition but they
are nowhere to be found in Chow. Chow obviously serves
a purpose but it is definitely not an accurate guide to Eugene's unique
and diversified culinary culture.
Rachel Mizuta
Eugene
A
SNEAK PREVIEW?
Gandhi said "The means may be likened to
a seed, the end to a tree; and there is just the same inviolable connection
between the means and the end as there is between the seed and the
tree." We receive a "sneak preview" of the future as outlined by the
Green Anarchy collective.
Its main features seem to be intolerance (famous nonviolent
anarchist Tolstoy would probably be booted out), a willingness to
support the killing of human beings defined as "beneficiaries of capitalism"
(a rather broad category) and a willingness to intimidate nonviolent
activists.
Let us be clear. We are not talking about property
destruction, but intentional murder. GA letter-writer Jen Farey (6/6)
defends the assassination of President McKinley by an anarchist in
1901 and expresses regret only for "collateral damage" — the
injury or murder of unintended targets. Anarchist Robin Terranova
(5/30) claims to advocate anti-authoritarianism, a massive contradiction.
What action could be more authoritarian than to act as judge, jury,
and executioner for a fellow human being? Is this not the ultimate
authoritarian act?
History reveals a "revolving door" of violence. The
largest anti-capitalist "revolution" in history — the Russian
Revolution — only led to the authoritarian repression imposed
by Stalin. Those who pick up the gun have been extremely reluctant
to put it down.
The means chosen to enact social change predetermine
the result. A society ruled by the coercive force of violence is no
different than that in which we already live. This is why I support
the path of nonviolence.
Lynn Warner
Eugene
PLANNING
DISASTER
I am an 8th grade student from Jefferson
Middle School and I am writing regarding the Yucca Mountain Project.
I am strongly against this issue in which nuclear waste would be stored
in Yucca Mountain, Nevada. If this project goes forward then many
people will be at risk for sickness and possibly death. You may not
think much of this because it's in Nevada, but if it goes forward
then hundreds of truckloads and trainloads will travel through Eugene.
If nuclear waste were to travel through Eugene it
would put many lives in danger. Just a few of the risks are: the radiation
levels cannot be completely contained when traveling and when they
become stored at Yucca Mountain, the shipment trucks haven't been
properly tested for safety, and it could be an easy target for a terrorist
attack. The radiation levels can kill if you're around them long enough,
and the waste will be stored right above one of a largest water tables
in the world, and that could become radiated.
Loads by truck and train would travel though Oregon
and Eugene specifically. If a serious spill were to happen it affects
a 42-square-mile area and takes more than a year to clean up. There's
an estimated 200 spills (at least) during the whole project –
how many will be in Eugene? All I can ask you is to call the Oregon
senators and urge them to vote against the Yucca Mountain Project.
Patrick Tutt
Eugene
ASKING
FOR IT
Bravo to Sybil Fabian's letter ("Sexual
Territory" 6/13). She said exactly what I have been seething mad about
for years. I have given up on dating or trusting men my age (26) because
this kind of constant advertising beats into their heads to expect
all women to be "asking for it," no matter what! Come on! I want
to be liked and cared about because I'm a cool person, not just because
I'm cute and "fuckable."
Get a clue people! Please, I'm positive you guys/gals
can fund your paper without all the crap on the last page. This stuff
is sick and needs to be done away with. OK, I'm done puking now. Thanks
for listening.
Sandy Spoo
Eugene
SOURCE
OF THE PROBLEM
We are told growth will give us a larger
tax base to meet our social needs. Why then, are taxes going up, and
why are we being asked to pay even more every time we vote?
Why is school funding going down? And what about other
social services being cut year after year, in spite of all the growth
we are having? When companies make more money, the stockholders benefit,
and they employ more people (that's more people who have jobs who
will in turn spend money that will help others). That way we can have
more people driving, flying, dining and owning the latest and best
things. Shouldn't everyone be able to have these comforts and pleasures?
But what about the effects on global warming from
more people using fossil fuel? And what about traffic congestion and
related noise — should it just keep getting worse and worse?
What about water and energy shortages? What about declining fish populations?
What about the forests being cut faster than they grow? What about
all the other species the human race is destroying from our growth?
When do we have enough, or is it always more people
consuming more? When does it end? Doesn't it make more sense that
we take care of what we have — the people and natural resources
here — without growing bigger?
Patrick Bronson
Eugene
LEVEL
THE FIELD
Campaign finance reform must be established
to protect democratic processes in our country. The presidency of
George W. Bush clearly exemplifies of how elective office can be bought.
His administration is fraught with corruption by big business, including
the fraudulent Enron Corporation.
In Oregon we have a chance to rid government of campaign
finance abuse. Signature gatherers are working hard to collect the
requisite signatures to qualify the Campaign Finance Reform Initiative
for Oregon's November ballot. Help them by circulating or signing
a petition. All signatures must be in the hands of election officials
by July 5.
Oregon is one of six states with no limits on campaign
contributions. We can do better than "the best democracy that money
can buy." Here's our opportunity to level the playing field so money
does not determine the outcome of elections and our elected officials
do the work of the people, not big money!
For more information about Oregon's important Campaign
Finance Reform Initiative, go to
www.voters.net/mind.
Time to clean house.
Nena Lovinger
Fall Creek
SMOKIN'
COWS
Am I the only one who is disgusted that
our state thinks nicotine addicts are a big cash cow to milk to balance
a bloated budget? I find it morally reprehensible that a government
would profit from the sale of an addictive substance that is the number
one cause of death and suffering. Every pack of cigarettes sold costs
society $7 in damages. People still have the legal right to smoke
tobacco, but that does not mean that Oregonians should profit from
the sale of this addictive, deadly product. Ban the sale of tobacco
in Oregon now!
If smokers choose to buy their coffin nails from some
other state, so be it. We can have a clean conscious knowing that
we did not profit from or assist their deadly addiction.
Michael T. Hinojosa
Drain
TAX
VALUE INSTEAD
I keep hearing that the estate tax is unfair
because it is a "double tax." In fact, in most cases, it is not. For
a couple, the current estate tax exemption is $2 million, scheduled
to increase to $7 million in 2009. Most of the value subject to the
estate tax is in stock or real estate. In almost all estates subject
to tax, these investments were purchased earlier for much less and
the increase in value was never taxed. Wages, interest on bank accounts
and dividends are taxed.
However, if through perfectly legal accounting arrangements
a person or corporation is able to turn profits into capital, this
income is never taxed when passed on to heirs.
Perhaps the estate tax should be only on value, which
has never been taxed. There would be no blanket exemption, just an
exemption for the value of the estate, which has already been taxed.
It would be an accounting headache, but would be fair, defuse the
"double tax" issue, and probably subject a lot more value to the estate
tax.
Nancy Nichols
Deadwood
SMOOTH
SAILING
What a relief. Bi-Mart finally broke the
attempt of union organizing. President Marty Smith said he'd shut
down the business before he'd permit a union. Ask him.
After I injured my hand, one long time Bi-Mart co-worker
said, "You got hurt and you still work here?" Not for long.
I sent my Bi-Mart card to Teamsters Local 206 two
years ago. I don't need to shop there. I can buy useless crap at Wal-Mart
and Target — also anti-union.
Bi-Mart's PR people (how come Liz Cawood doesn't work
there, she is a B.S. queen?) portray the chain store as really cool,
community oriented, etc. But the top dogs, or head cheeses, are anti-labor
and ruthless. Don't forget greedy.
Besides, it's easy to frighten workers in Lane's crummy
economy. Employers know this. But until people
put on cleats and tighten their jock straps and stand up for all workers,
guys like Marty Smith will have smooth sailing.
Greg Hume
Creswell
LETTERS POLICY: We welcome letters on all topics and will print as
many as space allows. Please limit length to 250 words, and submissions
to once a month. E-mail to editor@eugeneweekly.com, fax to 484-4044,
or mail to 1251 Lincoln, Eugene 97401.
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