Letters to the Editor 03/01/2017

To the Editor:

As an airport supporter I am also concerned about excessive noise from the airport and I don't think the principals have adequately addressed that in a cooperative manner yet.

To that please let me introduce to the reader what the Aircraft and Pilots Association, a staunch supporter of General Aviation, has to say about that (paraphrased for space; Google, AOPA's Guide to Airport Noise and Compatible Land Use).

Many of the problems at airports today are the direct result of poor planning for compatible land uses. When trying to determine the best ways to resolve noise complaints at your airport, there are a few key issues to keep in mind. The sound you love, like the drone of a piston airplane, may be an irritant to others. Complaint about noise may really be masking fears about the safety of having an airport nearby.

It does not matter if the airport "was here first." Now that it has neighbors, their concerns must be taken seriously. Providing community members with a forum to express their concerns is important. Taking voluntary action, demonstrating goodwill, and encouraging community involvement with your airport can go a long way to creating positive relationships and reducing complaints. Sound or noise is a matter of perception.

I supported exactly those thoughts when I approached the skydiving persons last summer regarding the importance of establishing a community meeting where they could listen, but also to explain the efforts they are taking to help, and to consider inputs of noise abatement and safety from myself and other experienced aviation supporters.

I have professionally flown out of many airports with noise abatement procedures that are not only highly effective, but they convey to the non-aviation public genuine concern. I flew a jump plane out of Littleton, Colorado, and we would never have dreamed of dropping parachutists within three miles of the airport traffic area, which I maintain is extremely dangerous to the parachutist and the unknowing aircraft that is not even required to have a radio. It doesn't matter if the FAA has no regulation against it. The FAA is at odds frequently with the NTSB (and many knowledgeable pilots).

I have tried to introduce a half-dozen noise abatement suggestions to principals involved but so far unsuccessfully.

I support aviation at the Sisters Airport, but I have to also acknowledge the persons that perceive the beloved sound to my ears to nonetheless be noise to them.

Jack Addison

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To the Editor:

In response to Yvonne Suckow's letter in the February 22 edition of The Nugget: To be absolutely clear, Trump did not win the majority of votes, he won the electoral college. What's further confusing is you've written a letter that is drenched in negativity and end it by saying "This country doesn't need your negativism!"

You aren't asking those "appalled" by Trump's election to join you in this transformative victory, you're threatening them to accept it "or go live in those countries [they] love so much that support terrorism and socialism."

It's an interesting approach to unity, but if you are fully convinced that Trump will achieve all the things you mention why in the world would you be so bothered by those that don't share your opinion? Get over it and prepare yourself for greatness!

Phillip Goetzinger

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To the Editor:

This letter is in response to the February 22 letter to the editor by Yvonne Suckow. I want to remind her of two things: First, we live in a democracy. The First Amendment guarantees free speech. If we have to support a president we fundamentally disagree with, a dictatorship, not a democracy, comes to mind.

Second, the majority did NOT vote for Trump. Yes, he won the most electoral votes, but he did not win the popular vote. This is not a public mandate. Additionally, if Russian involvement to sway the election took place (potentially with the help of the Trump campaign team-so let's investigate and rule that out) it would certainly put a dark stain over his win.

Releasing his taxes would go a long way to ruling out conflicts of interest with his many overseas businesses and lay that hornets' nest to rest.

I love my country. I love it enough to work within our system of government to express my concerns and make my voice heard. Yea for America! I resent the suggestion that dissent makes me any less American than Suckow. Quite the opposite.

One thing we can agree upon, the USA doesn't need any more negativism. Name-calling and criticizing people for exercising their rights as citizens are acts of negativity. Wouldn't it be better if both conservatives and progressives treated one another with respect - agreeing to disagree at the very least - but with the intent of finding ways in which we can work together to govern for ALL the people?

Robin Lewis Kane

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To the Editor:

I was so happy to read about the informative, courteous town meeting held by our U.S. Senator Wyden last week at Sisters High School. Those of us who choose to participate in this democracy have been through a contentious and cloudy election, where we have been overwhelmed by unprecedented amounts of information, true and false. How great it was to hear directly from a hardworking public servant of Oregon, have him answer our questions, to participate in this continuing and robust national conversation.

It was then with a sinking heart that I read the letter to the editor on the next page, belittling and insulting to ostensibly half of our little town.

The truth is that only 58 percent of eligible voters went to the polls in November, we all know by now that Donald Trump was elected president, but certainly not by a majority. I think it is understandable that statistics like this can cause a little uproar. If this election motivates people to organize, communicate, even consider acts of non-violent civil disobedience, I'm for it; it is the very essence of being an American. The right to speak up for what we believe truly is the freedom we have fought and paid for with American lives for the past 200 years.

President Obama left the White House with a 57 percent approval rating from the American public (not just people who voted). The catastrophe Yvonne speaks of is real for her, but not for everyone, and certainly not for the majority of Americans.

In a small town like Sisters we have a unique opportunity to model the behavior we would like to see in Washington. I am sorry Yvonne cannot see that - rather than disparaging one another with hurtful vitriol after a tough election - we instead can choose to build meaningful connections through music, church, food, cultural events, sports, volunteering etc. When we reach out to each other we stop seeing the liberal, or right-wing, caricatures that we are bombarded with in certain media or that are referenced in her letter, we can instead build a strong supportive community, the real Sisters Country we all love.

Susanne Redfield

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To the Editor:

I concur wholeheartedly with the February 8 letter from Wendie Vermillion in regards to what seems a blatant disregard for the approximately 3.2 million women and men who participated in a world-wide march in protest of President Trump's policies.

I understand that, in general, The Nugget does not report on world or even national events (other than in editorials or commentaries); keeping closer to home in regards to events happening in Sisters, or Oregon in general. However, even given that criteria, the fact that there were marches consisting of hundreds, if not thousands, of people held in Bend, Portland, and other Oregon cities and towns, I feel that this was certainly an event worth noting in The Nugget.

President Trump has often complained about the press being biased - let us hope that this is not what is happening in The Nugget.

Michelle Tormey

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To the Editor:

I write in response to Yvonne Suckow.

Thanks for your negative - but amusing - letter to the editor. I'm going to save it for reference during the tenure of President Trump to see if he does the "amazing job" you seem to think he will. I have my doubts.

At this time, I'll point out just one item I'm sure he will not accomplish and that is: "getting this country off this reckless downhill train-ride into oblivion of trillions of dollars of debt." You see, no Republican president in recent times has reduced the national debt. In fact, all of them from Reagan on have piled up more debt than the interim Democrat presidents. As Republican Vice President Dick Cheney famously said, "Reagan proved that deficits don't matter," and Republicans have taken that to heart ever since.

As for your "love-it-or-leave-it rant," which is so reminiscent of the Cold War era, I will remind you that I have a Constitutional right to "get together and have meetings." In fact, I intend to treat President Trump no differently than President Obama was treated by Republicans for the past eight years. Talk about negativism and obstructionism.

You also might want to check your math. Trump was not "voted for by the majority of our nation." He is a minority president, which can only happen in the U.S. because of our quirky Electoral College system. Only in American, so-called democracy can the loser be the winner. I'm sure it has provided much mirth and great comfort to totalitarian regimes around the world.

Dean Billing

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To the Editor:

As members of Indivisible Sisters we feel it necessary to respond to Yvonne Suckow's February 22 letter to the Editor.

Currently at 69 members, Indivisible Sisters grows daily. We are one of over 7,000 chapters that have organized organically across the country in response to what we see as an unfit administration and a threat to our democracy and its processes. We are ordinary citizens participating out of a strong sense of civic duty. We are exercising our Constitutional right to hold this administration accountable for its actions. Most Americans did not vote for Donald Trump. He lost the popular vote by close to 3 million.

The letter references "destructive rhetoric." Ironically the most destructive rhetoric is coming from the administration and the President himself, in derisive comments about the press, the judiciary and American people who oppose the administration's repressive tactics and dangerous precedents.

The response from the American people is a disapproval rate of 56 percent - higher than any other new president.

Each day brings a new reason to be concerned. There is a documented uptick in hate crimes since the election and an empowered "nationalist" faction whose goal is supported by Trump's narrative. The "swamp" that he drained is now populated with billionaires, including a treasury secretary who increased his Wall Street fortune by foreclosing on 60,000 middle-class Americans during the housing crisis and another billionaire for education secretary who has spent her inherited money undermining public education, just to name two.

Trump inherited one of the best economies in decades, not a catastrophe. Jobless rates are 4.7 percent, down from 7.8 percent in 2009. The economy has increased 16 percent since 2009 (including adjustments for inflation).

Lastly, the letter gave those of us opposed to this administration an ultimatum. She welcomed us to join the "conservative people of this nation" and "either be American ... or go live in those countries [we love] so much that support terrorism and socialism."

BECAUSE we love our country we will stay right here and resist. We are driven not by negativism, but by a deep concern that the foundations of democracy and American principles are being compromised.

We invite our community to join in a reasonable and informed dialogue, to keep America great.

We are better together - indivisible.

Sheryl Rudolph and Heidi Fernandez

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To the Editor:

Re: February 22 Letter to the Editor by Yvonne Suckow:

Dear Ms. Suckow,

Your patriotism and support of our country is passionately evident from your letter. However, I hear disparagement in your dismissal of Ms. Surmann and the rest of us who indeed see a pattern here that we had hoped was eliminated with World War II. Those of us who saw our fathers, brothers, and other volunteers and draftees go off to fight in that war, knew that something terrible was happening that was called totalitarianism. The liberalism which was claimed to have led to the collapse of the economy was best corrected by a charismatic individual, who claimed to have the answers.

The free press had been co-opted by their government so that only what the government wanted them to know was allowed. All media was controlled by the State. We could look to Russia or North Korea as examples in today's world.

In my opinion the projection of a scapegoat, making them "other" not "us," keeps people's anger and hatred focused on a particular segment of society, or target, with dire consequences. We can read about that every day: attacks on people who are not white, or are "suspected"of being of a different religion, a direct result of the criteria set forth of "white, speaking English, and Christian," as being the only acceptable citizen.

No, what has energized our society is the fact that we woke up one morning to find that the rules of the game had changed without our permission. We elect a fellow citizen to be our president, we elect someone who will keep our constitution, by-laws, and the rule of law in place.

What we also find disconcerting is what is happening behind the scenes. We found out at the CPAC meeting exactly what the game plan is: "deconstruction of the administrative state." Words spoken by Steve Bannon, whom no one elected, yet who has been given unprecedented power as a civilian.

Protestant Pastor Niemoller (1892-1984) spoke about the cowardice of the German intellectuals who did not speak out with the rise of Hitler and the totalitarian regime he ushered in, "When they came for the Socialists, I did not speak up because I was not a Socialist. When they came for the Trade Unionists, I did not speak up because I was not a Trade Unionist. When they came for the Jews, I did not speak up because I was not a Jew. Then they came for me and there was no one left to speak for me." He spent 7 years in a Nazi concentration camp.

Speaking up is the essence of Democracy.

Phyllis Lewis

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To the Editor:

I had the privilege of attending the Sisters town hall for United States Senator Ron Wyden.

After hearing him refer to "The Oregon Way" several times, I feel it is important to remind Oregonians that our state is in the bottom five states in the national educational ranking. Our Oregon high school graduation rates are disgraceful. Furthermore, Oregonians are taxed by our state and local governments more per capita than 39 other states. Per the Bend Bulletin, one quarter of all Oregonians are on Medicaid! Our state's proposed budget has a $1.8 billion deficit. The state government is spending eight times more than it did in 1980.

I don't believe our population has increased eight times from the 1980 population to refer to the budget analysis of newly elected State Senator Dennis Linthicum from District 28 (Klamath Falls and southern Deschutes County).

The "Oregon Way" needs an overhaul.

Patti Adair

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To the Editor:

Why do we protest and resist President Trump's administration? We are exercising our First Amendment rights of free speech. Similar to the Tea Party movement which arose in 2009 to oppose President Obama, millions of people across the country who do not support President Trump have come together in communities of all sizes to share concerns and develop initiatives to oppose actions and legislation that we feel is not right for the country.

Although President Trump won the Electoral College vote, the final vote tallies show that 73,648,823 voters chose someone other than Mr. Trump - that's 54 percent of voters. That's a lot of people who did not believe he was the best choice for president. .

Many of us are alarmed by these and many other issues and actions:

His reliance on Steve Bannon as chief strategy advisor who has a history of anti-Semitism and promotion of white supremacy. His Cabinet choices who appear to want to destroy the departments and agencies that will be under their care. His refusal to release his tax returns so we can see the extent of his conflicts of interest.

We want to see an investigation of Russian interference in the election by an independent counsel or committee to determine its nature and extent. We want to make sure that if the ACA is repealed, it is replaced with a better and cheaper plan.

We want to be sure that regulation reform maintains protections important for the welfare of our earth and the people. We are concerned that his tax policy will enrich the wealthy while ignoring the middle class and hurting the poor.

We are watching the actions of our President, our senators, representatives and cabinet officials, and letting them know how we feel about their actions and plans through phone calls, emails, letters, office visits, town halls and demonstrations, if necessary. This is democracy in action.

Martha Adamson

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To the Editor:

Let me summarize Yvonne Suckow's February 22 vitriolic and condescending assessment of those of us who oppose Trump: We are children having tantrums, so immersed in self-pity we don't understand Trump "will do great things," un-American and unpatriotic, motivated by some kind of blind hatred. If we don't want to join the "majority" who back him, she suggests we go live in "those countries you love so

much."

Were it only that simple.

Whether Trump does great things or destroys our democracy will be answered in the history books of the future. Thus far, all we have are promises and signatures on a pile of edicts that are about to crash the fiscal

wall.

But Suckow's biggest mistake is saying Trump's opponents "...can be Americans..." We ARE Americans, patriotic Americans at that. The protests, or "rioting in the streets" as she calls it, follow a tradition that goes back to the tea dumped into Boston Harbor. THIS is the country we love so much. Hatred can be gotten over, put aside, ignored; love is much more powerful and incontrovertible.

Blind hatred? No. Rational animus, perhaps. I've lived in a dictatorship. The warning signs are all there. The adolescent, psychopathic narcissist in the White House would be Supreme Leader.

Unity is not achievable by bullying and snarky, playground taunts to "get over it" and "grow up." Thus far, Trump has done nothing but pander to his base and wallow in their adulation. He drives the wedge deeper. His agenda requires an enemy. 65,853,516 of us didn't vote for him, almost 3,000,000 more than did, so he casts us, his fellow Americans, as that enemy.

This is OUR country, too; we aren't going anywhere. We've only just begun.

Allyn Hardman