Letters to the Editor 08/08/2018

To the Editor:

I share Paula Surmann's concerns about climate change and the need to influence Congress. Every year, the extreme heat, weather disasters and fire disasters are getting exponentially worse across the U.S. and the world. Trying to talk to your Congressmen about this is a lot like talking to your doctor without an appointment and a four-week wait. You cannot just call them up or send them an email.

I don't want to appear cynical, but do you believe that these Congressmen actually read your emails? I have sent Walden emails in the past, requiring a response. I never heard back. I even sent emails to Wyden and Merkeley. No response, even from Democrats. I suspect that even if a Walden staffer (if he has any) read one of these emails from a progressive, that they would be "black-listed" so that future emails would not even be opened. It would likely go immediately to the "round-file."

I don't believe that any of these Congressmen can afford sufficient staff or time to go through what must be hundreds or even thousands of emails every day, particularly during these unsettling political times. They want to make a comfortable living as public servants, after all. It's not a fun job much of the time, but can be rewarding.

It's clear from the bills that Walden helped to craft that he only cares about the big oil and pharma business and his own job security, instead of the planet or his Central Oregonian constituents. I think the only tactic that will work is to vote Walden out of office, assuming that we have a reasonable opposing candidate.

It's important that our Congressmen know we are concerned, but at the same time we must individually take responsibility. After all, most people still drive (and idle) inefficient internal combustion cars and trucks more than they need to and have not even replaced all of their light bulbs with LEDs. It is not sufficient just to ask for "protections." We must individually and collectively decide to reduce CO2 and methane emissions to slow the impending Armageddon.

Steve Nugent

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To the Editor:

Just a short note to let you and Craig Rullman know his writing is appreciated by some of us out here. Very much so, in fact. I routinely read his column first every Wednesday when the paper shows up in my mailbox. And I can't help noticing it hasn't been in the paper as much lately as it seems it used to be, which makes me wonder if the self-anointed naysayers have gotten to him - he does stir up commentary!

Please tell me he's just taking more time for gardening, relaxing (which might include some recreational shooting, black rifles or whatever) and hasn't abandoned his post at the word processor! I for one look forward to his thoughts each week as a breath of fresh air and reason amid the political correctness and downright mean-spirited animosity that is too prevalent throughout our society, even the Central Oregon

society.

Jerry Wright

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To the Editor:

To our hard-working City employees: Thank you for keeping Sisters clean and beautiful. You're doing a great job.

Drew Berding