Letters to the Editor 07/10/2013

To the Editor:

I would like to respond to Mr. Fisher's recent letter in The Nugget.

STA (Sisters Trails Alliance) has been working on paved trails to complement the existing mountain bike and road-biking trails since 2009. The proposed trails have been the result of public input at meetings, including the annual STA meeting, over the past two years. The proposals have been met with excited discussion and support.

From the City of Sisters, SPRD, BBR, Tollgate HOA Board, etc. have come letters of support.

As for "no horseback riding allowed," two members of the STA Advisory Board are equestrians. They design and maintain their own trails with the help of all STA members, since horses do not ride on asphalt.

The proposed trail is designed to give riders, walkers, joggers, and handicapped folks with walkers or wheelchairs the opportunity "to enjoy going through the woods" rather than along the highway.

The STA has already pledged to maintain the new trails. What other communities have experienced in wintertime when snow covers the trails is skiing and snow shoeing use. It will be up to the community of trail users to work with STA to determine if that is a viable use in winter. If not, the trails will be kept cleared.

The public comment period closed on June 2, more than a month ago.

It leaves then only the question of cost. While we all have our own opinions regarding monetary value, enough of the public has weighed in with the opinion that this money will bring a valued asset to our community and improve the quality of life.

Phyllis Lewis

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To the Editor:

Thanks to The Nugget, the Sisters area was treated to a social studies lesson on July 3 - a complete transcript of our 1776 Declaration of Independence, long overdue.

Next, let's get the Constitution!

In it we declared our independence from a tyrannical king. Fast forward to 2013! As I watched the second Bill Moyers revelation, including photos, of the nefarious and devious efforts on the part of ALEC - a phony legislative group devised, financed, and operated by big business - I first saw a similarity between us and Egypt, where the people are trying to rid themselves of a "democratically elected" president. They found themselves powerless, legislatively, and resorted to riots!

In our country we have a Congress lushly wined and dined by big business, and presented with pre-planned, preprinted legislation for them to present under their names, as their creation! This legislation is intended to stifle union activity, provide protection for themselves from lawsuits and much more. A few quotes from the 1776 "original" - I have taken the liberty of substituting 2013 Congress for the King or Prince referred to in the 1776 version:

(1) He has invested himself with the power to legislate for us in all cases; (2) He has abolished our most valuable laws and altered fundamentally the form of our government; (3) He has imposed taxes upon us without our consent (lifetime salaries after one term?); (4) a Prince (Congressman?) is thus marked by every act which may define a Tyrant.

Somehow, other than the year, 2013 other than 1776, all seems too much like a copy of the tyranny facing our ancestors - laws written by big business rather than by a Congressman (or a King). We may find ourselves like the Egyptians: unhappy with something in our government but unable to rid ourselves of it legally! Maybe if we just stopped paying our taxes; that is a form of riot, isn't it?

Russell B. Williams