County Commissioners need to provide services we pay for
I am reminded of a cartoon that I read recently that depicted a male politician shouting and holding up a sign proclaiming the need for change. The next picture was of a female politician shouting and holding up a sign proclaiming the need for change. The next picture was of a wage holder opening a pay envelope and two coins roll out. With a bewildered look the wage earner’s word was change. A true depiction of reformers implementing programs and not considering the far-reaching consequences of their “reformation.”
The radical environmentalists are a good example. Through out the previous decades they proclaimed that Oregon’s natural resources had to be placed off limits from human use and set aside for nature, for nature’s sake. No thought was given to the consequences of eliminating Oregon’s use of its resources. Oregonians are currently experiencing the results. The Federal government, tired of subsidizing Oregon’s short sightedness, is justifiably eliminating the graft (timber payments) Oregon has illisitly received for many years.
To solve the problem our over bloated County Commissioners have just recently and brilliantly discovered that Lane County is in a fiscal crisis. Their solution, reduce or eliminate taxpayer protection from criminals! Not bad enough, they advertise to the criminals the crimes they can commit and get an out of jail free pass.
Do the Commissioners expect us to quiver in fear and turn over whatever sums of money they demand? I love my family too much and we have worked too hard to allow criminals to take control of our lives. I also do not trust the Lane County Commissioners as a fiduciary accountant any more and will not grant them additional funds until they use what they have more foresightedly and frugally.
If the Lane County Commissioners cannot provide the protection taxpayers dearly pay for, a refund is in order for services not rendered. Rest assured that individual family and property protection will still exist.
Arvid Freiberg
Springfield
Springfield Beacon a pleasure
You folks have a real winner of a publication. It is such a pleasure to read all the good news of Springfield.
Everything is so interesting and well written and complete. Congratulations. I know it is an art to produce and seems to be in the hands of experts.
I’m prompted to tell you what I think is a well kept secret in Springfield, the Second Story Books store. Neatest, most complete, a knowledgeable manager. It’s there on Main Street. Take a look, it’s classy and a nice addition to town.
My Eugene address is a retirement complex but I’m really a Springfield boy.
Thanks for the Springfield Beacon … it’s a joy.
Ray Cavagnaro
Eugene
Showing posts with label Letters. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Letters. Show all posts
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
Wednesday, February 6, 2008
Letters to the Editor - Feb. 6, 2008
Keynes had the right idea about recession
On Jan. 17, 2008, the Register-Guard published an editorial by Harold Meyerson dealing with the forthcoming recession and to best deal with it.
Meyerson suggested all those books by J. Maynard Keynes be dusted off, especially the parts where Keynes suggested that to deal with a recession, a government should increase government spending and cut taxes. Keynes was very specific about the type of government spending which would be helpful such as building dams, roads and bridges which are labor intensive. This increase in employment would lead to an increase in demand for consumer goods and business would invest in capital goods and hire more workers to meet this increase in demand.
In terms of tax cuts, Keynes suggested tax cuts for the less affluent instead of the rich (as has been the policy of the Bush administration). Keynes felt that income received from such government infrastructure projects would be spent on consumer goods producing what Keynes called a multiplier effect as each person or business who received these payments will in turn use the extra or marginal income to buy more consumer goods and, therefore, produce an impact on the economy in excess of the initial tax cut or increase in government spending.
So what can we do? I would suggest contacting Congressman DeFazio who chairs the House Transportation Committee and State Representative Terry Beyer who chairs a similar committee in Salem and ask them to use their influence to spend more money repairing our bridges, a number of which are unsafe. This would help our economy and safety as well, and J. Maynard Keynes would be be pleased to be dusted off again!
G. Dennis Shine
Springfield
On Jan. 17, 2008, the Register-Guard published an editorial by Harold Meyerson dealing with the forthcoming recession and to best deal with it.
Meyerson suggested all those books by J. Maynard Keynes be dusted off, especially the parts where Keynes suggested that to deal with a recession, a government should increase government spending and cut taxes. Keynes was very specific about the type of government spending which would be helpful such as building dams, roads and bridges which are labor intensive. This increase in employment would lead to an increase in demand for consumer goods and business would invest in capital goods and hire more workers to meet this increase in demand.
In terms of tax cuts, Keynes suggested tax cuts for the less affluent instead of the rich (as has been the policy of the Bush administration). Keynes felt that income received from such government infrastructure projects would be spent on consumer goods producing what Keynes called a multiplier effect as each person or business who received these payments will in turn use the extra or marginal income to buy more consumer goods and, therefore, produce an impact on the economy in excess of the initial tax cut or increase in government spending.
So what can we do? I would suggest contacting Congressman DeFazio who chairs the House Transportation Committee and State Representative Terry Beyer who chairs a similar committee in Salem and ask them to use their influence to spend more money repairing our bridges, a number of which are unsafe. This would help our economy and safety as well, and J. Maynard Keynes would be be pleased to be dusted off again!
G. Dennis Shine
Springfield
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
Letters to the Editor - Jan. 30, 2008
Ducks do need new arena
So, George Beres thinks the the University of Oregon doesn't need a new basketball arena. As one who has season tickets for Duck basketball, I beg to differ. Below are my reasons: First of all, Mac Court was built for a totally different generation. The building was constructed in 1928. There is limited leg room and the place is not fan friendly. Secondly, there is only one men's room for three stories and getting to the rest room at halftime is a real pain. Also, no elevators are available. Last of all, Mac Court is a firetrap. If that place ever were to catch fire during a game, thousands would be killed. In order for the UO to remain competitive in the Pac 10 conference, a new arena is a must.
There is one other fact that Beres forgets about and that is the absolutely known fact that a winning athletic program brings in more students who are not athletes.
Even though I will probably be priced out of the new arena, it absolutely must be built.
Daniel Wolfe
Springfield
Springfield students have spoken! Are we listening?
During Springfield's Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration, students, once again, opened our eyes to the kind of world they want to live in and to the deficits that still surround (bankrupt) us today.
In honor of Dr. King, students submitted essays, poems, artwork and speeches. Some expressed their desire for that 'Beloved Community' which Dr. King so passionately spoke of. He gave us a joyful and elevated image to reach for. Some students shared their pain of being set apart by poverty or by racism. Some experienced the power of speaking out for themselves, for others and for the environment. A few challenged readers by including the questions: "Where are the voices?" "Who will speak out?"
After reading several essays and poems, I realized that some of the students wrote with the hope that 'someone' would hear their pleas and 'fix' things. Others wrote with more urgency for the suffering to stop.
How will our community respond to their concerns and experiences of discrimination, inequality, hunger, poverty, and their desire for a healthy environment and for peace not war?
Can we shed our party loyalties, corporate loyalties and whatever else separates us and work together to finally make Dr. King's Dream a reality? Let's unite as Springfielders, join with others who are already working on some of these issues and be prepared to help many more students and families as the economy continues its downtrend.
Please do not remain in denial or require more study, more proof, and more pain - or wait for certain winds to change - before helping to set the course that will alleviate poverty and lead to the equality and peace which Dr. King sought 40 years ago and which our children are still seeking now.
Elaine Hayes
Springfield
So, George Beres thinks the the University of Oregon doesn't need a new basketball arena. As one who has season tickets for Duck basketball, I beg to differ. Below are my reasons: First of all, Mac Court was built for a totally different generation. The building was constructed in 1928. There is limited leg room and the place is not fan friendly. Secondly, there is only one men's room for three stories and getting to the rest room at halftime is a real pain. Also, no elevators are available. Last of all, Mac Court is a firetrap. If that place ever were to catch fire during a game, thousands would be killed. In order for the UO to remain competitive in the Pac 10 conference, a new arena is a must.
There is one other fact that Beres forgets about and that is the absolutely known fact that a winning athletic program brings in more students who are not athletes.
Even though I will probably be priced out of the new arena, it absolutely must be built.
Daniel Wolfe
Springfield
Springfield students have spoken! Are we listening?
During Springfield's Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration, students, once again, opened our eyes to the kind of world they want to live in and to the deficits that still surround (bankrupt) us today.
In honor of Dr. King, students submitted essays, poems, artwork and speeches. Some expressed their desire for that 'Beloved Community' which Dr. King so passionately spoke of. He gave us a joyful and elevated image to reach for. Some students shared their pain of being set apart by poverty or by racism. Some experienced the power of speaking out for themselves, for others and for the environment. A few challenged readers by including the questions: "Where are the voices?" "Who will speak out?"
After reading several essays and poems, I realized that some of the students wrote with the hope that 'someone' would hear their pleas and 'fix' things. Others wrote with more urgency for the suffering to stop.
How will our community respond to their concerns and experiences of discrimination, inequality, hunger, poverty, and their desire for a healthy environment and for peace not war?
Can we shed our party loyalties, corporate loyalties and whatever else separates us and work together to finally make Dr. King's Dream a reality? Let's unite as Springfielders, join with others who are already working on some of these issues and be prepared to help many more students and families as the economy continues its downtrend.
Please do not remain in denial or require more study, more proof, and more pain - or wait for certain winds to change - before helping to set the course that will alleviate poverty and lead to the equality and peace which Dr. King sought 40 years ago and which our children are still seeking now.
Elaine Hayes
Springfield
Tuesday, January 8, 2008
Letters to the Editor - Jan. 9, 2008
Our country is a republic
I’ve been a very busy man. Listening to the radio for many years with thousands of commentaries about our nation and what we should be doing, with the way things are going, as a people. The people have been incrementally, slowly but surely, lulled into a sense of security that the government can do all things, if we put our trust in them.
It’s not what our founding fathers had in mind. Our trust was to be put in our Creator, (or Providence), the way He set it up in the beginning.
So as one person talking to the people, let me start addressing in this way. This country is not a democracy, as you have been told lately and for so many years. It is a republic, one nation under God, is for which it stands.
No more than ever before, the people are responsible for the character of their congress. If that body be ignorant, reckless, and corrupt, like it is now, it is because we, as a people, tolerate ignorance, recklessness, and corruption. If it be intelligent, brave, truthful and pure, it is because the people demand these high qualities to represent them in the national and state legislatures. If the next few years do not find us a great nation, do not aid in controlling the political forces.
The moral character of who we are, and how we treat our fellow man, shows up at every level of our government.
As we go, so goes the nation.
John Large
Dexter
I’ve been a very busy man. Listening to the radio for many years with thousands of commentaries about our nation and what we should be doing, with the way things are going, as a people. The people have been incrementally, slowly but surely, lulled into a sense of security that the government can do all things, if we put our trust in them.
It’s not what our founding fathers had in mind. Our trust was to be put in our Creator, (or Providence), the way He set it up in the beginning.
So as one person talking to the people, let me start addressing in this way. This country is not a democracy, as you have been told lately and for so many years. It is a republic, one nation under God, is for which it stands.
No more than ever before, the people are responsible for the character of their congress. If that body be ignorant, reckless, and corrupt, like it is now, it is because we, as a people, tolerate ignorance, recklessness, and corruption. If it be intelligent, brave, truthful and pure, it is because the people demand these high qualities to represent them in the national and state legislatures. If the next few years do not find us a great nation, do not aid in controlling the political forces.
The moral character of who we are, and how we treat our fellow man, shows up at every level of our government.
As we go, so goes the nation.
John Large
Dexter
Wednesday, December 26, 2007
Letters to the Editor - Dec. 26, 2007
America is in a deep crisis
I am proud to be an American. That sounds like a cliché, however, I am proud of America’s overall record of defending freedom and its long-standing conservative use of its power and influence. An unbiased, honest survey of American history will indicate that America has made some errors, however, the preponderance of evidence will demonstrate America’s tradition of benevolence among the nations
That being said, it is evident that America is in deep crisis. America’s current congress is corrupt, and deeply and disgracefully divided. The factions are so deep within congress that it does not even appear to be a viable organization. Has any current congressional leaders stepped forward and produced any productive legislation in the last two or three years? Is there any recent legislation that would bring about reconciliation and unity in congress?
America’s leadership is so fragmented that the government is paralyzed. The politicians do not even trust each other. Billions of dollars are wasted as one politician attempts to bring down another politician. A great deal of congress’ time is wasted on endless investigations. The only discernable pattern in congress is the continual effort to handcuff the United States on national defense, and homeland security.
Democracy at this point in time in America is not working. The citizens of the United States have an opportunity to correct this current disgraceful situation. It is extremely important that all citizens take the presidential elections seriously and study carefully the candidates’ positions, put aside biases, petty projects and keep in mind the future generations of America. Determine what we want for our children and grandchildren. Get rid of the do nothing politicians and determine that we want to continue on our path of democracy. We do not want socialism, fascism, Islamic religious rule or a myriad of other undesirable governments! The choice of president in 08 will go a long way in determining America’s future.
Arvid Freiberg
Springfield
Keep up the good work
I was glad to see that George Beres has joined the Springfield Beacon and I enjoyed his thought-provoking column, "An Independent View."
Also, I really am enjoying the 50 weeks, 50 artists series - I am impressed with the talent and variety we have in our community that I actually had no idea about before the series began.
Thanks, and keep up the good work.
Charlotte Behm
Springfield
I am proud to be an American. That sounds like a cliché, however, I am proud of America’s overall record of defending freedom and its long-standing conservative use of its power and influence. An unbiased, honest survey of American history will indicate that America has made some errors, however, the preponderance of evidence will demonstrate America’s tradition of benevolence among the nations
That being said, it is evident that America is in deep crisis. America’s current congress is corrupt, and deeply and disgracefully divided. The factions are so deep within congress that it does not even appear to be a viable organization. Has any current congressional leaders stepped forward and produced any productive legislation in the last two or three years? Is there any recent legislation that would bring about reconciliation and unity in congress?
America’s leadership is so fragmented that the government is paralyzed. The politicians do not even trust each other. Billions of dollars are wasted as one politician attempts to bring down another politician. A great deal of congress’ time is wasted on endless investigations. The only discernable pattern in congress is the continual effort to handcuff the United States on national defense, and homeland security.
Democracy at this point in time in America is not working. The citizens of the United States have an opportunity to correct this current disgraceful situation. It is extremely important that all citizens take the presidential elections seriously and study carefully the candidates’ positions, put aside biases, petty projects and keep in mind the future generations of America. Determine what we want for our children and grandchildren. Get rid of the do nothing politicians and determine that we want to continue on our path of democracy. We do not want socialism, fascism, Islamic religious rule or a myriad of other undesirable governments! The choice of president in 08 will go a long way in determining America’s future.
Arvid Freiberg
Springfield
Keep up the good work
I was glad to see that George Beres has joined the Springfield Beacon and I enjoyed his thought-provoking column, "An Independent View."
Also, I really am enjoying the 50 weeks, 50 artists series - I am impressed with the talent and variety we have in our community that I actually had no idea about before the series began.
Thanks, and keep up the good work.
Charlotte Behm
Springfield
Thursday, December 20, 2007
Letters to the Editor - Dec. 19, 2007
Wildish event a memorial treat
A Slug Queen, Newscaster, Champagne and chocolate appeared to be an odd mix but did get my curiosity going. The Springfield Chamber of Commerce promoted it as an evening with Leigh Ann Jasheway-Bryant the 2007 Eugene Slug Queen, Rick Dancer a KEZI 9 Newscaster and champagne and chocolate at the Wildish Theater located on Main Street in Springfield.
Rarely do I experience such a joyful, fun and entertaining evening to add to my memory tapes. What a valuable treasure the Wildish Theater is. A special treat was the Eugene Opera opening the evening with a sample performance.
Rick Dancer in a matter of minutes set the crowd off on an emotional roller coaster that had me going from tears to laughter and back to tears. Rick Dancer stood on the stage and shared a “risk taker” part of himself that was motivating and encouraging as he personally challenged the audience to step outside the box and their personal comfort zones.
Leigh Ann Jasheway-Bryant, “The Accidental Comic” in her lime green attire and flamingo hat wasted no time in requiring us to reach for tissues to wipe away the tears from laughing. Exchanging her flamingo hat for a Slug Queen tiara she signed books at the end of her performance.
If you missed this wonderful evening stay tuned as the Springfield Chamber of Commerce announced they will be hosting another Chamber Presents event March 12.
Thank you Northwest Community Credit Union and McKenzie River Broadcasting for sponsoring such an incredibly fun and memorable evening.
Shirley Gauthier
Springfield
Show support for Springfield
I never seem to be in the right place at the right time when you are conducting “Springfield Speaks Out” so I thought I would have my own say. The last one was if I or others planned on shopping, using the Internet this year? After speaking to six others, the resounding answer was No! We want to shop and support our local retailers and crafts persons.
The other question was what we liked about Springfield. Answer: It is such a pleasure and joy to go to the stores, gas stations, restaurants, churches and be greeted pleasantly and with a smile instead of a frown and rudeness which we receive from Eugene.
Our newspaper (Springfield Beacon), states that it is fair and impartial in reporting the news. It is about Springfield's community. And that is all true. Kudos to all the staff and a big warm thank you to the publisher and editors for your vision and your perseverance in bringing us our own paper, so that we have a choice of reading the unscrupelous rag next door or one that is truly an unbiased community paper.
They have tried to put a section of paper for Springfield, but they have failed to attract our community with their cheap tricks. You are the best and are growing and I know that you will continue to do so. Our business community is starting to take notice that not everyone reads and shops in Eugene.
Your new columnist George Beres shows that it is truly an independent view and impartial reporting that gave him the scoop, which the Oregonian and Register-Guard didn't show up because it wasn't fair or partial in their favor.
One last word or words. Come on Springfield, let's stand together & show what it means to be from Springfield, Ore. Let’s support our businesses and especially our newspaper and finally each other. Keep smiling and greeting each other with love and respect. Just look at what our schools and children are doing. You, their parents, deserve a round of applause for caring and raising them.
Bob Ashburn
Springfield
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