Letters to the Editor 10.28/2016

To the Editor:

It is not yet Halloween, but the holidays are just around the corner and that may mean holiday gift-giving. I hope when you spend your holiday dollars, that you might take a few things into consideration.

In Sisters, we are blessed with a diverse, eclectic, high-quality abundance of small businesses. These entities are one of the many things that lend Sisters its unique feel, individuality and appeal.

These small businesses employ our locals, feed families and put roofs over heads.

Yes, in summer we have a thriving tourist trade, however, when winter rolls around, things tighten up and it can be very difficult to maintain a small business in this town.

As consumers, when we spend our money on large, clearing-house websites, or at big-box stores, we are doing nothing to stimulate our local economy or to better the town in which we live.

I would like to ask that this holiday season, you walk the streets of Sisters.

Go into businesses you drive by but may have never entered. Investigate the diverse offerings our dynamic town. Purchase at least some of your gifts locally.

Who wouldn't love to receive a gift or gift certificate from one of our many retail boutiques, our local artists, restaurants, spa/beauty locations, music venues, health and fitness centers, lodging options ... the list goes on.

Please, this holiday season, consider stimulating our local economy by shopping the many local, small businesses that make Sisters such an amazing place.

Jennifer McCrystal

••••

To the Editor:

I'm writing with reference to Steve Nugent's article, "The real threat isn't about guns," which appeared in the October 19 issue of The Nugget.

Early in his somewhat rambling article, Mr. Nugent offered, "Handgun ownership is like a car license, in my view. It's not a right, it's a privilege to be earned and a serious responsibility."

While Mr. Nugent is certainly correct about ownership of a handgun being a serious responsibility, he's clearly wrong about it being a privilege rather than a right. I'd suggest that he refer to the Second Amendment to the Constitution of the United States, which reads, "A well regulated Militia being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed." (Note: Emphasis on the word "right" is mine.)

In fact, that amendment is one of 10 which, ratified on December 15, 1791, constitute The Bill of Rights (Once again, emphasis is mine.)

Bill Birnbaum

••••

To the Editor,

As of the last issue of The Nugget, I have two new heroes. First: Steve Nugent, who wrote the guest editorial simply and elegantly about the danger of Donald Trump ("The real threat isn't about guns"). People ask how could Hitler have come to power and done so much damage with the Holocaust and starting World War II. The ascension of Trump to the Republican Party candidate shows how. The Republican Party has revealed its moral bankruptcy. Don't ever talk to me about "traditional family values" again.

Sexism, racial prejudice, homophobia are no longer in vogue.

My other hero is Dan Glode who writes the column "Looking Outward." Again he eloquently expressed my sentiments that Hillary Clinton is being held to a different standard that Donald Trump. Perhaps the key different standard is that of her sex. Her shortcomings compared to Trump are the difference between a minor scrape and a total wreck. Glode writes "In short, mostly white men are clinging to power and don't want to share." Sorry guys (I am a 71-year-old, white male) we have to learn to share. That means with women, sexual minorities, and immigrants.

Ken Serkownek

•••

To the Editor:

Eric Kozowski, candidate for Deschutes County Sheriff, is a leader.

The future of Deschutes County depends on Eric Kozowski's leadership as sheriff. Leadership cannot be taught. Leadership is an intrinsic part of Kozowski's character. Leadership consists of the following qualities:

Professionalism. Professionalism is the result of Eric's life experiences. Eric Kozowski has acquired his professionalism from his military career and his success in the private sector. As Deschutes County Sheriff, Kozowski will set the tone of professionalism, hold officers accountable and put in place a team of officers that will meet high standards of discipline, organization, compassion and thoroughness.

Respect. Respect is a requisite of leadership. Eric Kozowski is a serious person who has earned the respect of his colleagues and the community he serves.

Courage. Leadership requires courage. Acting on one's convictions, by running against the incumbent sheriff, is the embodiment of personal and political courage.

Integrity. Integrity fosters trust in the sheriff's department from the community. Trust is the result of doing the right thing every time.

Eric is a serious person who will not tolerate a culture of corruption and cronyism. He will not tolerate disrespect from the sheriff's officers for the citizens of Deschutes County, authority, or their positions of responsibility. He will insist on humane treatment and respect for all Deschutes County citizens.

Eric Kozowski will take leadership in fiscal responsibility with a sensible ratio of patrol officers to administrators and a proactive approach to avoid expensive lawsuits incurred at the taxpayers' expense.

Elect Eric Kozowski for Deschutes County Sheriff.

Janet Dorgan

••••

To the Editor:

I found "Le Fin de Siècle" in the Bunkhouse Chronicle (The Nugget, October 19, page 6) unintelligible.

The writer says that he cannot in good conscience vote for Clinton or Trump, without saying why. Then he lists several major problems, which are important to him, facing our country. Now, as president, Clinton or Trump would have a chance to influence the resolution these problems. But by not voting for either, the writer is saying he doesn't care if or how they would address these problems. Moreover, by not voting for either, he pretends to take the high moral ground, which is, well, pretentious, by asserting that they are both unworthy of his vote.

This is tantamount to saying that they are equally unworthy of his vote.

The difference between Clinton and Trump, however, could not be starker. Clinton is indisputably a normal, level-headed person while Trump is a narcissistic psychopath. Clinton has years of government experience and knows how the government works. Trump does not. Clinton has put forth detailed workable policy proposals on many issues. Trump has not. As a politician Clinton has generally avoided falsehoods, while Trump is a pathological liar. The list of yawning differences between Clinton and Trump goes on.

In light of this, to believe that they are equally poor candidates for president is both ludicrous and irresponsible.

Gary Leiser

•••

To the Editor:

Hillary's announced her intentions to nominate black-robed lawyers who will rule according to social need (no reference to the Constitution). Justices who will overturn the Heller ruling and common understanding that gun ownership is a right not a privilege and other impediments to the expansion of the power of the central government. Very much like some Hitler or Mussolini. She has also proposed to unleash the battalions of leftist tort lawyers who should be able to put the firearms industry out of

business.

Hillary and her hand-picked judges might also be able to define who constitutes the terrorists; could they be Americans that Mr. Nugent refers to as the lunatic fringe, NRA members, white supremacists, Islamaphobes, xenophobes and anyone else who are on the Democrat list of Americans who will not roll over for the policies of the government party. Most certainly, these people should be

disarmed.

I am forced to agree with Mr. Nugent that the election is about choosing between democracy and authoritarian dictatorship.

Will we be led by a president who has spent his life as a successful businessman, or a ruler with a phone and a pen who has spent her life clawing her way to the top of the political pyramid.

A person who has clawed over the backs of her husband's discarded women and past the bodies of the dead men abandoned in Benghazi, all the while using her station as Secretary of State to harvest money for her foundation; compromising national secrets through irresponsible communications and lying about it.

But to quote Madam Secretary, "What difference, at this point, does it make?" now, when she is close to gaining total

power.

Larry Benson