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 Unpublished items are not acknowledged or returned.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.

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To the Editor:

With only six days remaining in the May 16 Oregon primary, reports suggest that many Republicans are still undecided in the race for the Secretary of State nomination.

Lynn Lundquist is the best candidate -- not only for Central Oregon, but for all of Oregon.

If the most recent session of the Oregon House of Representatives made anything clear, it's that Lynn Snodgrass' primary success was that of organizing conservative Republicans.

The session was distinguished chiefly for its unusual length, questionable results, and rampaging partisanship.

Lundquist, former House Speaker and Oregon Cattlemen's Association President, is known for his bipartisanship and consensus-building, qualities desperately needed in Salem.

The Powell Butte resident is also better equipped to look out for the interests of those living on the east side of the Cascades.

Recent years have seen the Republican Party slip under the spell of a vocal minority bent on dictating how people should live their lives. It's a curious role for a party that historically touted the importance of the individual, smaller governments, and keeping government out of people's lives.

Lundquist has been quoted as depicting this race as a battle for the soul of the Republican Party, and he may be pardoned for what is only very slight hyperbole.

The Republican's state-wide election success has plummeted in recent years, and this is largely due to the party's complete inability to nominate electable candidates who share views compatible with the majority of Oregonians.

Lynn Lundquist is not only electable, he should be elected -- not for his party leanings, but for what he can do for the state.

Lynn Snodgrass is about politics and polarization.

Lynn Lundquist is about Oregon and leadership.

It's not a hard choice.

Craig F. Eisenbeis

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To the Editor:

Measure 79 is dangerous to the future of Oregon.

It shifts power to control our state initiative to the wealthy and the corporations. It requires 50 percent more signatures for state Constitutional changes, in the name of reform.

Since most all initiatives require some paid signatures, the rich will have more control over our initiative.

The legislature put in this measure. If it passes, the public will lose power and the legislature will increase power. They hope we will go to the poll and shoot ourselves in the foot.

Vote "no" on Measure 79.

William Boyer

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To the Editor:

After reading the article about the Forest Service's new Northwest Pass, it seems evident that the USFS has been given a crash course in Orwellian Newspeak. The public are "customers" and the pass is a "product."

Perhaps the most egregious insult to our intelligence is the preposterous claim by the USFS that the public support trail fees because they're buying them.

This is like asserting that the public supports parking meters because we put money in them.

I've heard politicians as well as USFS spokespeople claim the public is clamoring to pay even more for the privilege of hiking in our own National Forests. Sure, and War is Peace, and Hate is Love.

Our National Forests and recreation areas are being sold out -- privatized to the highest bidder, or rather the bidder who gets the ear of the most influential Congressperson (and is sometimes the lowest bidder). The American tax paying public owns the National Forests.

The average hiker or packer has zero influence on the politicians in Congress who make these decisions.

The recreation industry has the real juice because they have the moola and clout to buy the votes of those in Congress willing to sell us all out.

Remember! No taxation without representation. It was a slogan coined by those guys who founded this country.

It's time to bring it back.

Rene Tihista

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To the Editor:

As a rancher and user of federal lands for livestock grazing, I understand why the Sierra Club and Wild Wilderness are opposed to the Northwest Forest Pass.

We have been paying to use the federal lands for over half a century.

These same "green" organizations are the ones that have been lobbying for years to make us pay even more to use our own lands.

Livestock users control fire fuel and leave fertilizer. We don't require parking lots, restrooms, signs, collection boxes, hand-built trails or search and rescue.

If one user is required to pay, why not all users? What goes around comes around.

Best regards,

Julian C. Smith, Carson City, Nevada

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To the Editor:

With the conclusion of the 2000 Sisters Starry Nights Concert Series, we salute all who helped make this our most successful year yet.

The event raised $60,000 in net proceeds, exceeding our goals and bringing the four year total to over $170,000 for the Sisters Schools Foundation.

These dollars take on increasing importance at a time when state funding continues to be a concern and more programs are threatened in our schools.

Because of the tremendous support Sisters Starry Nights has received, Sisters schools can still provide for vital programs, activities and equipment needs that might otherwise face cutbacks.

We extend our heartfelt appreciation to the hundreds of individuals and businesses who make this possible.

The heart of this event is the performers, who travel a long way and donate their time to help our schools.

Making them feel at home here are the participants in the Sisters Starry Nights Card program, who generously provide the artists with complimentary meals, goods and services.

Finally, it is the stellar Starry Nights Planning Committee and our hard-working volunteers--students, parents, teachers, administrators, neighbors, business people, grandparents -- whose dedication and community spirit are what it's all about.

As John Hiatt sang in his opening song:

"In time, you will move mountains...and it will come through your hands."

Sincerely,

Jeri Fouts and Susan Arends, Sisters Starry Nights Co-Chairs

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