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I knew it would only be a matter of time. The neo-conservative Republicans in the state House of Representatives finally got around to attacking the commissions that advocate for blacks, Hispanics, Native Americans, women and the disabled. Of course, they are using the budget crisis as an excuse. Never mind that these commissions had nothing to do with creating the budget crisis and there is virtually nothing they can do to relieve the crisis. They are the most cost-efficient services the state provides. All the commissions combined cost little more than $100,000 per year. About 90 percent of that goes right back to the state to pay for rent, phones, computers and the like. The commissions leverage more than 10 times as many resources in the form of skilled volunteers that do the vast majority of work of the commissions. The commissions were de-funded in April and have operated exclusively with volunteers ever since then. I saw a letter to the editor in The Oregonian the other day labeling these commissions as special interest advocates that are unnecessary. If you think advocating for the rule of law and equal protection under the law are special interest issues, you must not support the Constitution. These commissions are the only state institutions that have the sole purpose of making sure that the populations they represent are treated as equal citizens in this state. Of course, we could eliminate the need for them if we eliminate racism, sexism, and abuse of the disabled. The current batch of neo-conservatives doesn't seem to care about these populations because they benefit from the status quo, which includes the biases that disadvantage these populations. The neo-cons never liked these commissions anyway. I urge the governor and those legislators that believe in the rights embodied in the Constitution to build a budget that includes funding for these commissions. Charles Dalton
FARMERS SUPPORT As the Board of Directors for the Lane County Farmers' Market, we represent an association of over 175 growers and producers. We wish to state our support for FOOD for Lane County and for its many innovative programs that have made it a caring and effective hunger relief agency. We understand the economic climate has resulted in the agency cutting its payroll and budget, while scrutinizing its internal finances. Of particular concern to us is the threat to programs designed to strengthen our food system and prevent the cycle of emergency need, specifically their nutrition education classes and much-loved community gardens. As partners in the local food system, the Farmers' Market has contributed tens of thousands of pounds of fresh produce to FFLC each year to provide for the nutritional needs of low-income people in our community. We have found FFLC's staff to be incredibly dedicated, creative people, unique in their efforts to alleviate hunger, and we believe these programs are essential to their assertive education, advocacy and building of community in order to prevent hunger. The Farmers' Market is confident that FFLC will overcome its challenges and emerge stronger as a result. In the meantime, we will continue to actively support their mission by donating food, raising awareness of hunger, and encouraging everyone to take a more active role in improving our community's health. Only through working together, especially when times are tough, will we be able meet our challenges and live up to our obligations to each other. Board of Directors MENOPAUSE SALE I wanted to place a garage sale ad with the R-G and I thought "menopause sale" would catch people's eyes. I was phoned by the classified ad staff and told that "they" had talked about it and decided I should not use the word "menopause" and instead use something "cutesy" like "mid-life crisis" sale, since I had tools for sale, etc. I said, "Are you saying The Register-Guard won't let me use the word menopause?" In a small, quite voice she said, "Well … yes …" Since when is a normal phase of a woman's life considered vulgar? Linda Overstake EDITOR'S NOTE: Ms. Overstake tells us the ad did run — under the "help wanted" classification.
TIME FOR DEBATE Prior to becoming a psychologist, I taught U.S. history. Now I wonder if any of my students remember what they learned about the founding of this nation. How many Americans remember specifics about our Constitution and Bill of Rights? Debates and discussions have been important in the American
way of life. In the three years prior to radio and television, debates
happened on a local level and common people were able to participate.
During the presidency of Andrew Jackson, seventh president of the U.S.,
common people were so involved he has become known as the president
of the common people. Other presidents have traveled great distances
to debate issues. Henry Clay, a U.S. congressman from 1811 intermittently
until 1825, was known for his great debates. In state legislatures there
have been many historic Now we have new challenges and we should remember the Bill of Rights has served us well for many years. New legislation such as the USA PATRIOT Act (UPA) is too new to have been studied and debated. Yet many people react as if there is an attack on the government if questions are asked. There should be great debates in state legislatures as well as at the federal level. How many citizens have read the UPA? It is time to discuss both the Bill of Rights and the UPA. These discussions should take place immediately. I do not believe these discussions are partisan politics. Cities, counties and some states have placed the UPA on their agendas, and many cities have now developed a response to this slam-bang piece of legislation that was passed in the wake of 9/11. Hopefully, a mix of liberals and conservatives will come together to study the ramifications of the UPA. There should be a great debate in Oregon now. Charlotte Higgins-Lee
FOREST FOLLY Over the past week I was lucky enough to spend time in two of Oregon's beautiful wilderness areas. The towering ancient trees are astounding to view and stand near. Swimming in the cool, clear river water is a priceless experience. I'd love to hear that the president came to Portland to present a forest plan to save what's left of our precious old growth forests — and to possibly expand our wilderness boundaries. A plan that would protect other species would work well for me. Heck, he could even take my breath away by proposing that Mt. Hood be made a national park. Any other plan, especially one that increases logging, is pure folly. For a better, more beautiful world, Albert Kaufman TRACK BUSH BACKERS EW correctly quoted me (8/21 news brief, "Bush's Oregon Trip"). My only concern is that my writing that yelling at George Bush is a "waste of time" — extracted from a longer letter — could be misinterpreted to sound as though I'm protective of the larcenous appointed head of state. He is deserving of all the public criticism that can be thrown at him. In so doing, we have to take care not to allow those behind the scenes — who dictate what the dunderhead does — to escape detection. They are the ones who perpetuate our national folly. The same applies for some wealthy citizens (fortunately, not all of them) who prop up Bush policies by paying $2,000 each in Portland to hear him speak. We need to make note of who they are so we will be able to recognize them in our midst. They know where I stand by what I write. Were it available (maybe it is through the Elections Commission?), the list of donors — which is public record — ought to be published. It's simply a good democratic precept of putting your name where your money is. George Beres
SEEDY BUSINESS In your Morsels section under "Banana Blowout" (7/31) you report about the fungus (it's called black sigatoka) currently decimating banana yields. Some quick Googling reveals that this is due to the insurgence of this fungus into Brazil, which is the fourth largest producer of bananas. However, it was claimed that the banana "is a fruit without seeds or pollen." I know that bananas do, in fact, contain seeds and that the flower itself contains more. I Googled for "banana seeds" and got 10 pages of hits. Perhaps the real issue is that "obtaining improved banana varieties takes time because the life cycle of the tree lasts longer than a year, slowing the process of evaluations, cross-pollenations and verification." (www.tierramerica.net/2003/0223/iacentos.shtml) Just thought you'd like some feedback. Justin Gopindra Hannigan
NOT IN OUR LIFETIME When I first moved to Oregon from the Midwest, I was in awe of the size of the trees in this state. After two years here, I am still awestruck by the power and the untouched natural beauty of the forests here. That is why I do not understand how the people here can, for the most part, remain silent as the Bush administration logs off the "old growth" national forests here. This loss is a tragedy for the state of Oregon and the people of this country. These national forests are our heritage and they are being threatened with little regard for life that exists within them. Like the rainforests of South America, do we really even know what is being destroyed? This issue is more important than money; it is about our health and the health of our children. There are some groups fighting to protect these old growth forests in the courts. Cascadia Wildlands Project (www.cascwild.org)is one. Their victories have been temporary. They need more political and financial support. Forget the saving the rainforests of South America. We have our own rainforests here in Oregon that need saving. If a butterfly flapping its wings can influence world climate, what effect will logging off thousands of acres of 700 year old trees have? We don't know. But there is one thing that we do know for certain, once these forests and the environment that they support are gone, no one will be able to put them back. Not in our lifetime, if ever. Susan Stricker
CONAN THE GOVERNOR Arnold Schwarzenegger's candidacy for the governorship of the state of California is both ridiculous and an extremely dangerous precedent. In March, the Terminator went to Washington for a personal meeting with Karl Rove. It was said "politics was not discussed." Later, when this recall nonsense began in earnest, Rove was asked his opinion of a possible Schwarzenegger candidacy for governor. He said, "It would be very, very nice." Arnie has worked hard over the last 10 years to style himself a "conservative," while projecting his usual attitude of powerful arrogance. He obviously reads the script from Washington, since he has no real experience in any kind of government service. Conan the Barbarian doesn't count, I'm afraid. California has the fifth largest economy in the world, even in the shaky condition that it's in. The neocons in the Executive Branch and the corporations they service will use Schwarzenegger as a puppet politico to loot the rest of California's economy in the same fashion that Enron looted the power generating business there. The people will cheer him on at first. Then, when the state economy goes totally in the dumper, the neocons will drop him like a hot rock. The empire has no friends, only future victims. If California's economy melts down, what do you think will happen to Oregon's? It will be the same thing that's happened to every other area of the country that's been looted by our Corporatist government — real crummy jobs with long hours at low wages — if we're lucky. Quality of life? Hasta la vista, baby! Michael Anderson
GOOD GAS, BAD GAS I just returned from a business trip to California. When I crossed the border from Brookings to California, the price of gas jumped nearly 30 cents per gallon. And, of course, I had to pump my own gas. I found gas prices in San Francisco to be hovering at $2 per gallon. And I had to pump my own gas. On the return trip along I-5, the gas prices dropped 25 cents per gallon from California to Oregon. And I did not have to pump gas! Anyone still think that gas would be cheaper if we had to pump it ourselves? Anyone think the gas stations would not absorb the profit and leave us pumping our own gas at higher prices? You do? Then move to California! Pete Giberson A CLOSER READ The Lane County Bill of Rights Defense Committee honors and takes seriously Thomas Jefferson's profound observation that "the price of Freedom is eternal vigilance." Have you actually read the text of the USA PATRIOT Act (UPA)? If you have you will know why Hawaii, Alaska and Vermont and 141 cities in this country have now passed resolutions against this absurdly named sabotage of our Bill of Rights. This "act" was thrown at the representatives in Congress during a time of chaos and national panic. Those who voted on it admit that they did not actually read this entire bill. What they voted "yes" for was the misused word "Patriot" which was cleverly put in the title. When the people of Alaska, a state that has a majority of Republicans, Libertarians and Independents, actually read the UPA and discovered the degree of sabotage to our Bill of Rights, they said, "No way!" and voted it out! I have read the actual lengthy text of the UPA. I challenge anyone to rationally and honestly show how diminishing our Bill of Rights will in fact improve our collective safety, security, empowerment or democratic freedoms. "We the people" of Oregon need to reflect upon the implications of Jefferson's warning for us, here and now. Our government officials and elected representatives have sworn to uphold our state and federal constitutions. It is up to us to let them know that we want and demand that our constitutional rights, which are now at great risk, be restored. Demelza Costa
THE LONGEST DAY On Venus, a day lasts longer than a year. An astronomical quirk, to be sure. An entire orbit of Venus around the sun is completed, begun again, and completed in turn almost nine more times before a single day comes to a close. Such a day has been Sept. 11th. Days and years passed before that day in accordance with the laws of planetary motion. Until those planes struck those skyscrapers — at that moment in America, all natural laws were suspended. Though the Earth has completed almost two orbits around the sun since that day, in America it remains the 11th of September. The impact of those planes still reverberates in our national consciousness, and directs our national actions. The fear born of that day was renamed fury, and by the force of our omnipotence, we've willed the Earth not to rotate on its axis until we've exacted our vengeance. And when natural laws are suspended, anyone can make anything assume any meaning. Circular logic replaces common sense. Democracy is imposed through force. Security is pursued through aggression. Peace is deemed possible only through war. Freedom is protected through curtailing civil rights. Prosperity is bought through accumulating debt. Truth is claimed through rhetoric. Now it is time we move on. A day must not become a lifetime. The Earth must be allowed to resume its usual rotation. All natural laws must be reinstated. The omnipotence that willed a planetary standstill to suit its whims must instead be a force for good. An astronomical quirk, to be sure. Todd Huffman, M.D.
SLIME TIME NEARS The Society for the Legitimization of the Ubiquitous Gastropod invites all subjects and residents of this fair realm to the authentic SLUG Queen Competition and Coronation, to be held at 6 pm on the Friday of the Eugene Celebration, Sept. 19, at the Saturday Market Stage. The Society also invites anyone who feels called and/or qualified to become this year's SLUG Queen to contact First Lady in Waiting Kim at 686-8885. It's not too late, the application deadline is Sept. 12. Thank you so very much for your assistance in spreading the truth, and the slime. Slimily yours, Kim Still
GROWING CONCERN Economic growth results in more people consuming more resources and making more waste and pollution. Larger numbers of people, new houses, more cars and miles driven, and more items bought from stores are all part of economic growth. Economic growth is good for the economy, but is generally bad for the environment. Making cars and houses requires natural resources, and results in pollution and waste. Driving cars and flying airplanes pollutes. The trash we make in our daily lives goes back to the land as toxins. The more of us living an affluent lifestyle, the worse for the environment. Economic growth will eventually collapse in on itself if we don't learn to stop it first. There are not endless natural resources for us to exploit for our high-consumption lifestyles. The earth cannot tolerate endless waste and pollution. We cannot keep increasing the human-caused species extinction rate without it eventually resulting in our own extinction. Either we will recognize limits to our growth and stop it, or nature will do it to us in very unpleasant ways. Vital resources of water and oil will soon become limits to our growth. If we have the foresight, we could preserve for the long-term by giving up our dependence upon growth and mega-consumption, stop growing in our numbers, and living more simply and cooperatively. Expect the environment to get worse as long as we support economic growth. And before long, expect the economy to erode because the environment has become over-exploited and trashed. Patrick Bronson
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