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 Unpublished items are not acknowledged or returned.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:

I don't know any liberals that are against globalization that includes human justice, rights and environmental responsibility. I don't understand how you conclude "mistaking business for greed is hatred of money." Putting these assumptions in this context only serves to miss the real root cause of our economic, social and environmental problems.

The root cause is our economic system. As long as business and our government function in a system with a one dimensional market driven purpose of profit without a moral framework, the problems of world poverty, environmental breakdowns and the widening gap between the rich and poor will continue to grow.

It's not about anti-business, it's about sustainable business, growth and development.

Our economic system needs to be multi-dimensional, driven equally by economic, environmental and social capital. If the price of gas included the cost of its environmental impact, renewable energy would compete and there would be a lot more efficient less polluting vehicles on the road.

If this system put a value on compassion for humanity, the immoral profit driven globalization policies would not be the primary cause of growing world hunger and poverty. Poverty and hunger has more than tripled in Nigeria since oil was discovered there.

Globalization can work for, not against, working people and the World Bank and the IMF are at least giving this idea lip service thanks to people having to resort to flag burning and breaking a Starbucks window to get their attention.

Yes our government should be representative of the people, but with our profit driven economic system in control, campaign finance reform is irrelevant. Special interest campaign financing is a very profitable business. The networks love that political advertising revenue more than they love doing what's right for the people. The proper role of business needs to focus on more than just profit.

Joe Leonardi

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To the Editor:

As a self styled liberal, I have found much to admire in your King George editorial and a few bits in your recent jeremiad on "liberals."

But come now, "liberals" -- all those things you attribute to them? You seem to be suffering from lexical aphasia, a throwback to those days of Bush The Elder when he tried to make "liberal" as popular a term of family endearment as "halitosis."

A trip to a modest college dictionary, or better still, to Vol. IV of the esteemed Encyclopedia of Philosophy might disabuse you of the notion that liberals are the kind of tads who burn flags, shatter windows, spike trees, and -- good heavens! -- destroy Starbucks coffee parlors.

For the record, I, a bonafide liberal, have never been tempted to burn a flag, or spike a tree. Indeed, I enjoy shopping at Costco to purchase shoes and clothing made in China. In truth, I cannot pass the green and black escutcheon of a Starbucks without braking for a double espresso.

As an afterthought, I will be happy to look for those Chinese snowboards, but, tell me, WHERE am I to find that Subaru that is made in China?

Merle B. Turner

Editor's note: Actually, you can't buy a Subaru that's made in China -- or a Toyota or a Nissan. Which is precisely the point.

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To the Editor:

I am quite impressed by the editorial in this week's Nugget. I believe you are absolutely correct, and your premise cuts both ways.

Apply it to out-of-touch liberals but just as much to out-of-touch conservatives.

You and I might not agree on which tree to cut or how many trees to cut but, when we are willing to meet in the middle everyone gets to be a winner.

Lee Christensen

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To the Editor:

Excellent! Your editorial of the December 18 deserves a Pulitzer. I cannot thank you enough for providing the best editorials East of the Cascades and better than all I have read coming from the West.

This one was tops.

Megan Sweet

Camp Sherman

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To the Editor:

I can't believe the (editorial, December 4) you wrote blasting our president, and even more so, the people that wrote you in support.

One person wrote in about the media and that you were getting it right by doing what you did. How misguided! The media is so liberal it isn't even funny. It looks like that very same media has brainwashed too many people.

I bet you feel that our previous president was the best this country ever had, but Bush keeps his pants on, does not lie to a jury and does not have a wife who is scary.

Either Central Oregon is changing, or the liberals just came out of the woodwork.

Recommending that we vote yes on Measure 23 was bad enough, but this time, you have gone too far.

Richard Gray

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To the Editor:

I was very pleased to read Eric Dolson's editorial, "Beware the Power of King George."

I have been amazed to watch this present generation of Americans be so completely outwitted by the people in power.

I am astonished to observe people so anxious to wave their flags while they enthusiastically support those power abusers who are dismantling the principles upon which this nation was founded.

I disagree with so very much that our government has done and is doing, all the way from support of the violent and racist Israelis to charging us $3 to walk in our forest.

Thank you for stating the problem so eloquently.

Jim Veenker

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To the Editor:

Even if we did not agree with the opinions you expressed in your "King George" editorial of December 4, we certainly believe in your right to express such opinions and to do so publicly.

As two who do agree with you, we only hope that your strong commentary and criticism of the sometimes excessive means being used by the Bush Administration in the name of "homeland security" will be echoed publicly by others, including not only the press, but also those of our elected representatives who listen to the opinions expressed by their constituents.

Peaceful protests waged or opinions voiced by citizens when they have perceived an abuse of power by their government have long played a part in our country's history.

Thank you for raising your voice in protest and thereby serving as a spokesperson for many of your readers.

Joanne Carlson

Norma Funai

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To the Editor:

Shall prudence prevail?

The Nugget sure did put it straight and forward regarding the apparent hysteria of our "King George."

The war against terrorism is just and meaningful for all of humanity. Are the Ku Klux Klan, the Aryan group, white supremacists and other so-called groups still active in our country?

They are terrorists and should be treated accordingly.

The United Nations is an organization of 138 nations that work for peace and security and the betterment of all mankind.

It would be most prudent that "King George" shed the sense of superiority and work within the framework of the United Nations.

In my many travels to foreign countries as an engineer within the food industry, I came upon the following which I shall share with you...

"He who sows the winds, shall reap the tempest."

Karl Beuhler

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To the Editor:

My hat's off to you for your incisive editorial "Beware the Power of King George."

It takes courage to address this crucial issue so bluntly in today's political climate.

Keep up the good work.

Bill Stevens

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To the Editor:

A good friend of mine from Salem sent me a copy of your column "Beware the Power of King George."

I appreciated it. It was a well-written criticism of the current administration. I think we are going to need all the help we can get to get this country back on the right track, but it really looks like an uphill battle.

I dread reading the news anymore because of the things G.W. Bush and his cronies are doing to us.

So you have gained another fan. Please keep up the good work.

Stan Kidwell

Boise, Idaho