Letters, letters, letters

The Nugget welcomes contributions from its readers, which must include the writer's name, address and phone number. Letters to the Editor is an open forum for the community and contains unsolicited opinions not necessarily shared by the Editor. The Nugget reserves the right to edit, omit, respond or ask for a response to letters submitted to the Editor. Letters should be no longer than 300 words. Unpublished items are not acknowledged or returned. The deadline for all letters is noon Monday.

To the Editor:

You just have to laugh at the liberal media's "love affair" with John McCain, as if they really care the Republicans nominate a viable candidate. (Me thinkest I smell a Democratic Rat).

Your last two editorials endorsing McCain and the weekly "hate pieces" against G.W. Bush (by "The Queen of Mean," Ms. Ivins), shouts your lack of bi-partisanship in your reporting ethics.

Your shallow attempt to "pick" a Republican candidate to oppose "Alpha Gore" has failed, McCain has lost "Big Time" by due process (open elections ).

McCain has no Republican or Christian voting base. His candidacy is "toast," he is history. Get used to it. McCain's influence on the coming election, is zero, zip, nada.

In reply to your last editorial March 15, 2000. For over two hundred years, this Republic has had a representative form of government, it has fostered the greatest country on the face of the earth, it should not be "dumbed down" by adopting some flawed socialist scheme (such as) The Borda Count.

As to your "broken democracy" claim, the only thing broken in this nation is the rule of law by the Clinton-Gore White House. For eight years, a corrupt Justice Department, headed by Janet Reno, has covered up for these two crooks.

In this coming election, Gore will carry heavy baggage: Buddhist Monk scandal, habitually lying, tobacco ties, etc., etc.

Hopefully, these "lame ducks" will become "sitting ducks," victims of a righteous retribution, the ballot box. Were this to happen, all would win, Republicans and Democrats alike.

Ernest and Verla Swehosky

Editor's note: Dumbed down? That's how the November election appears to us, too. As far as our "liberal bias," we believe McCain was probably the most conservative of the three candidates. But Liberal and Conservative are just masks put on by the politicians of expediency. You are being used, Swehoskys.

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To the Editor:

Thanks very much for your March 15 editorial ("Our democracy is broken").

As one who has participated by voting in every election since 1948, I have finally accepted the obvious fact that this is NOT a democracy, but an oligarchy, or "government by the few." And to make matters worse, for me, my reading of history tells me that there was no intention to make it a democracy from the beginning.

People with wealth and power, it seems, are actually afraid of the rest of us. Prior to the adoption of the Constitution, the colonial powers allowed only land owners to vote. After the adoption of the Constitution many of the states held onto the rule that land ownership was necessary if one were to vote.

Slaves, anywhere in the country, could, of course, not vote -- in fact they were not even counted in the Constitutionally mandated census.

There is, thus, a plethora of information to prove that those with power would prefer to keep it, by whatever means, and that wealth and power do live together and that particular marriage is corrupt.

It is as if the gaming table we all play at was owned by the stockholders of wealth and power, and the rest of us, voters, continually play in a rigged game. We are told it is the only way to play the game because to fundamentally change it, as John McCain suggested, would create chaos. Maybe they are right. Maybe the voters can't handle it.

The only way I can think of to throw a fly into this soporific ointment is that I, and I hope others, will go ahead and write in the name of John McCain for President. This might force the mighty to find a way to say voters can no longer write in the name of a candidate. If that happens, perhaps an awakening will occur, and we could head toward a democracy at last.

In the interim, I wish the politicians, the bureaucrats, and the educators -- plus the various media -- would stop announcing to the world that we are the greatest democracy ever known. That is getting very embarrassing.

Sincerely,

Megan Sweet

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To the Editor:

The importance of replying to the U.S. Census survey is being fed to us in almost every form of media and it is difficult to argue with the benefits Deschutes County and Sisters can receive from having everyone reply.

However, there is another survey being conducted which can have just as direct of an impact on the community as the census. I am referring to a housing needs assessment survey soon to be mailed to locals in the envelopes of the Central Oregon Regional Housing Authority.

The report generated from the survey will be utilized by the Community Action Team of Sisters (CATS) and its subcommittee, Sisters Area Affordable Housing Solutions (SAAHS), to assist in identifying the number and type of rental housing needed here.

Additionally, the information will also assist CATS in leveraging dollars to construct such housing. At a recent workshop attended by at least 40 community members and business people, affordable housing for residents and the workforce was identified as an urgent need. It is hoped the City of Sisters can also use the information generated by the survey for planning purposes.

Some may recall two surveys conducted by SAAHS last summer. These surveys were flawed and not statistically valid. With the assistance of a grant from the Central Oregon Partnership of the Northwest Area Foundation, quality surveys have been developed and will soon be on their way to local residents.

However, there is a concern that some, especially renters and those considered low to moderate income, will not take the time to reply to the survey. The confidential survey can be filled out anonymously and I urge everyone who receives one to fill it out and return it as soon as possible.

Ted Viramonte

CATS Executive Director

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To the Editor:

Overhead, irregular patches of gray white clouds contrast with light blue sky. A Red-Tail Hawk scoops graceful spirals on warm drafts, his sharp vision on the hunt for food. Squaw Creek Canyon drops below my toes.

My vision blurs from the overwhelming beauty of the mid-afternoon sun, the birds playing between the pocked canyon walls and the soft afternoon breeze. Humbled, my mind flattens, expands and whirls as I gaze down the sharp V-shaped canyon to the slim blue ribbon of Squaw Creek.

The whole vista displays a magnificent grandeur. The soft sigh of the breeze in the ponderosa pines and the cries of the birds only disturb the quiet as they spin in play. The canyon provides habitat for deer, hawk, coyote, rabbit and cougar.

Houses line the north rim of the canyon. Only the depth of Squaw Creek Canyon stops a sprawl of growth; that and the condition of septic collection on each one-acre lot. My house was built in the area bordering the rim.

Several questions stick with me when I realize water is life in the Western United States.

How do we as community hold sacred the deep slit canyons water has chiseled for eons? Where do we pause and admire the power of water and preserve its wild status? When does Western society let a spectacular water-cut gorge remain natural?

My mind battles the contradiction of water as resource and water as holy. I will always weigh the needs for use and the demands for sacred. Some places are so overwhelming in beauty and peace they must be preserved beyond human needs.

Charlotte Johnson

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To the Editor:

In the March 8, edition of The Nugget, I was impressed to see a large ad in which the Deschutes United Way thanked its generous local contributors this past year. Truly, Sisters is a community blessed with very generous hearts! In an honest oversight, Sisters Ranger District was not mentioned, probably because its contributions were lumped into a bigger pot. I appreciate having the opportunity to recognize it here.

Each year the employees of the Sisters Ranger District participate in a program called the Combined Federal Campaign (CFC) which annually takes place during, and in conjunction with, the United Way Campaign efforts.

Each employee has the opportunity to earmark a portion of their earnings to go directly to the cause(s) of their choice. Many of these employees keep their contributions local, giving to causes such as Hospice, COCAAN, the Opportunity Foundation, and the many other excellent local nonprofit organizations. In addition to this, the district as a whole comes up with creative ways to raise monies that directly benefit Central Oregonians in need through the Deschutes United Way Campaign.

This past year we had several bake sales, "pay" potlucks, a barbeque lunch, fun games (which included a "District Team Leader 'Dummy' Toss", and a "Pin-the-Tie-on-the-Ranger" contest!), and our annual silent auction, which alone raised $1,508.

We make it fun -- even at the expense of our good-natured district managers! The Sisters Ranger District contributed $3,230 to the CFC Campaign this year, and over $1,800 went to the Deschutes United Way. These contributions are part of over $25,000 that employees from the Deschutes National Forest gave to support the local community through the Deschutes United Way. Also, employee participation (which is voluntary, of course) was rated highest right here in Sisters.

It takes a lot of off-hours work effort, creativity, and enthusiasm to do this year after year, while aiming to keep these activities from impacting work productivity. It's important for you to know that the employees as a whole consider themselves members of the great community of Sisters and proudly and enthusiastically contribute generously each year to support programs that can help our local neighbors and friends in need.

Thank you,

Kate Goossens

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To the Editor:

Hats off to Jody Henderson, Jill Story and the Sisters Middle School bands and choirs.

Tuesday evenings (March 14) concert was fantastic! Thanks for all your hard work.

Randy King