Letters to the Editor:
Tuesday, February 17, 2009 10:57 AM PST
An open letter to the governor and our state representatives
Editor,
I’ve reviewed the “projects list” and find that most, if not all, are short-term projects that would appear to end within a year or two. I just can’t accept the concept of more long-term debt for some “quick fixes” that will, in the end, do nothing for the overall economic health of Oregon.
Debt is what got us here, and more debt is not the answer. My view below is more of an overall macro-view than an individual state view, but I believe they are interconnected. Any additional state debt just adds to the existing insurmountable debt burden, whether state or federal, that we’ve placed upon ourselves and our future generations.
The Great Depression and this crisis have to be viewed from the perspective of the run up to the crisis.
In the ’20s, debt ran rampant. People weren’t buying homes on shoe- shine salaries but were borrowing and buying stocks on margin. But, homes and cars and other things were also running up personal debt, just like in the years of the housing bubble.
The problem is that whether you have too little or too much government intervention, it won’t work because there is no “right amount.”
The problem isn’t whether government does anything or not regarding stimulus but what the condition of the consumer is. What the consumer does in an economy where normally 62 percent of GDP is from consumer spending and more recently 70 percent is where you have to look for what will happen.
The Keynesian approach is to replace the consumer with government spending. But that means you borrow in a debt-based economy like we have, and that means more interest for decades.
Since we are already past the point we can even begin to pay down debt, we are just digging the hole deeper and have been since 1968 when we first started borrowing more than we grow GDP. Now we owe $.5 trillion in interest alone. That is about 4 percent just for interest. We don’t grow our economy 4 percent even in good times, so how do we ever get ahead? And, if you use real inflation, we not only didn’t grow GDP 4 percent but have been negative for eight years now, except for only one quarter out of the whole eight years. The Government Accounting Office and others have warned Congress for years we had placed ourselves on an unsustainable course and face the loss of our standard of living. So, why are we doing this? Because we are in denial in Congress and among the voters, and I hear it daily: “We always find a way,” or “We are too big to fail,” or “The world can’t get along without us,” “They won’t let the dollar collapse,” “They have to do something.” To admit that we can fail means that we have to admit the economic and monetary principles that we have operated on for the last 95 years were wrong. It means admitting the congressmen, economists and analysts who have said Keynesian economic policy hasn’t and won’t work were right and both parties’ leaders were wrong. Well, we are going full bore ahead with Keynesian economic policy now. No holds barred. So, I guess, we will finally find out if they are right or not. Like I said before, adding to our already insurmountable debt, whether it is the state’s debt or federal debt is irresponsible. Thanks for all of your hard work.
Mike Allen
Ontario
Decision to charge
library rent is
inappropriate
Editor,
I understand the City Council has decided to charge rent to the library district for the use of the building and property that belongs to the city.
I think that decision is inappropriate. The library district was formed by citizens of Ontario who are willing to pay for the costs of operation for that district. The revenue stream was approved for the library. Those taxpayers have not approved a revenue plan for the city.
Yet these are the same taxpayers.
In my opinion, we are subverting the will of the community if we charge rent for the use of a building the taxpayers already own.
The City Council needs to get off of high center on the issue of generating revenue and make a plan that does not depend upon such tactics of charging other taxing districts for revenue they should be generating themselves.
The good people of this community who worked hard and faithfully to form the district, the majority of the voters who voted for it and the patrons who use the library should not be charged for the use of a building they already own.
Rev. James D. Mosier
Ontario
Argus should print
articles that set good examples
Editor,
Thank you for the quality of news reporting that the Argus provides. I am contacting you with a concern about the article appearing on Jan. 28 that contained pornographic and despicable information concerning humans and dogs.
Please hold to a higher level of professionalism, bearing in mind that young adults and children who are old enough to read may view articles in your newspaper.
Please consider publishing more articles that uplift moral character and set good examples.
Lisa Sanders
Fruitland
Idaho Power’s plan
affects Parma impact zone
Editor,
OK, I confess. I am addicted to modern conveniences. I love having a hot shower, watching NFL on TV and confidently flipping the light switch to illuminate the room. These conveniences are made possible by the fine, reliable services of Idaho Power, and I am grateful.
I understand the need for reliable access to power, including the new plan to construct a 500,000-volt overhead transmission line from Boardman to Hemingway (B2H). The B2H super-highway will not only serve Idahoans, but it will also transport power from Washington to Texas and all points in between.
But why does Idaho Power, a public utility, plan to construct this super-highway through the heart of Parma’s impact zone, which has been pre-planned for years? Idaho Power’s simple answer is that it’s easier and quicker to condemn private property than it is to responsibly complete the due diligence required to use a more direct route across public lands.
Idaho Power’s plan actually goes out of its way to avoid public lands, putting 88 percent of the planned route across private land and slashing through farms, like mine, that lie in the Parma impact zone. If Idaho Power has its way, both the primary plan and the alternate plan will cut across my field, a 77-acre parcel, rendering the pivot irrigation system useless.
As currently planned, the B2H super-highway would also deal a serious blow to any future development in the impact zone.
New schools, parks, commercial and residential tracts would certainly be restrained with 190-foot tall towers ravaging the land.
Notwithstanding, I am truly grateful for Idaho Power.
But I would be a lot more grateful if its planners would assume some responsibility, stay out of the Parma impact zone and redraw the B2H plan to effectively utilize public lands to every extent possible.
Brian Faulks
Caldwell
Treasure Valley
citizens welcomed Afghanistan
delegates
Editor,
We, together with the Ben Esplin family of New Plymouth, the Jay Wettstein family of Ontario, the Marlon Wilson and Richard Beck families of Nyssa and the Kurt Romans family of Vale, have just completed an experience as host families for the Afghanistan delegation to the Special Olympics. The delegation consisted of 11 athletes, a coach and the head of the delegation.
They stayed in our homes, and we took care of them for a few days before the Special Olympics games began.
This has certainly been a memorable experience, and we have come to have a much better understanding of the people of Afghanistan. We would like to extend our thanks to several who made our experience more enjoyable.
Particularly, we thank the Owyhee Produce and Froerer families who gave the delegation a wonderful tour of their new facility as well as the Cairo school chili feed folks who accommodated our guests’ Muslim dietary restrictions with special corn bread and dessert.
It is such a pleasure to live in an area where there are so many loving and helpful people.
Bob and Sandy Butler
Vale
