Be skeptical about warming
Regarding the climate change debacle, I would just like to remind people of the following:
1. Those scientists who supposedly all agree on global warming were convinced 30 years ago that we were heading for another ice age, that three-quarters of the world’s population would be dead from starvation and that the Earth could not sustain a human population of more than 4 billion or so. Our water resources were supposed to be tapped out by 1990. Why does anyone listen to these people?
2. Anyone — whether scientist, sage or sorcerer — who announces what may happen in the future is engaging in speculation, not science. Any time you see the word “may” or “could,” remind yourself that you could just as easily replace them with “may not” or “could not.” Ask yourself why those in the environmental movement engage in such fear-mongering. Clearly, one reason is because this is a political battleground between the balance of capitalism, socialism and Marxism that is to be exercised in this country and the rest of the world.
3. Anyone who seriously thinks humans can control or regulate global climate systems is severely overestimating our abilities, if not simply insane. Given that 36 percent of Americans think Sept. 11 was an inside job, maybe insanity is the answer.
4. Who are the true fascists? The ones who want a vigorous debate, or those who claim “the debate is over” and label skeptics as deniers?
It is sad to see so many educated men and women engaged in the suppression of knowledge and honest intellectual debate.
Scott Zeppa
Eugene
Ortiz has vision, leadership
The residents of Ward 7 in Eugene have a golden opportunity to ensure effective representation over the next four years by re-electing Councilor Andrea Ortiz.
When it comes to the qualities that matter most to me — vision, leadership, independence and timely and effective response to constituent concerns — Ortiz is unsurpassed in her service to those in Ward 7, as well as in the rest of the community. She takes the time to be well-informed on the vast number of issues that come before the council, despite the fact that she holds down a full-time job and volunteers her time elsewhere as well.
In addition to her service on the City Council, Ortiz is a former member of the Bethel School Board and has represented the council on the Eugene Police Commission and Eugene Human Rights Commission.
Ortiz brings her incredible work ethic and commitment to community to the council. If you add her experience to her hard work and dedicated service, it is apparent that she has earned the privilege of representing Ward 7. Please join me in financially supporting her campaign and in voting for Andrea Ortiz for Ward 7 city councilor.
Ron Chase
Eugene
Jail beds are city problem, too
I live in Eugene, and I don’t like dodging potholes. I also didn’t like it when someone stole my wife’s car and tried to break into my house. I would like it even less if they weren’t held accountable for their crimes and never spent a day in jail, but that is what this community is faced with.
Why are we worried about potholes? The Lane County jail released 84 inmates last month. This month the county will release over 200 more inmates from the corrections system as it closes more beds: drug dealers, thieves, burglars, robbers, assailants, sex offenders and spousal abusers. No holding them to ensure they show up for court. No accountability. No incarceration to deter them from continuing to degrade the quality of life in our neighborhoods. Just more “fun” for them, as a burglar who was finally sentenced to 100 months for only a portion of the crimes he committed recently told The Register-Guard.
With issues such as these, should our focus be on potholes or quality of life? Is it really a tough decision? We can’t afford to bury our heads in the potholes, and we can’t allow our elected officials to either.
Jail beds aren’t just a county problem. It’s a city problem too.
Stephen Davis
Eugene
Get real on gas-tax holiday
Presidential candidates Hillary Clinton and John McCain suggest waiving federal taxes on gasoline. At first glance, this sounds like a good idea — a break for the middle class.
But the gas-tax holiday would, over the course of the summer, put less than $30 in our pockets. The way things are going, the oil companies’ greed will put the price of gas much higher than that.
Just the other day, OPEC President Chakib Khelil predicted that crude oil prices soon will rise another 75 percent, to $200 a barrel. This is not peak oil or a lack of refining capacity; according to OPEC, it’s a direct result of the current crisis in the American economy. Whatever the reason, you can bet this price increase will be carried all the way to the gas pump.
Clinton and McCain suggest that we need a gas tax holiday while our nation is at war in Iraq, at least in part to secure access to oil. That war seems to get more expensive on a daily basis. Who do you think will be paying for that?
The old-style politicians don’t get it: for national security (military, economic, environmental) we should be putting some of the billions of dollars we’re burning in Iraq toward developing clean, renewable energy. Such an effort would spur American innovation, drive economic growth and reduce the need for a massive military presence overseas.
Instead, we have Clinton and McCain suggesting a gas tax holiday. It’s downright insulting to our intelligence as citizens.
Max Schwanekamp
Eugene
Ads reveal Piercy’s arrogance
As I was listening to a Kitty Piercy ad on the radio this morning, I was again reminded of how disingenuous and truly insulting those ads are.
I was born in Eugene and always have enjoyed our community’s egalitarian attitude. Imagine my surprise to hear that Piercy took government away from the “elite.” Everyone in this community should wonder who she is talking about. The only person I know to ever refer to the elite was Jim Forbes, past executive director of Looking Glass, who said people who work to curtail our growth have become the elite because they make it prohibitively expensive for many to live in our city.
She also says that she gave the government back to the people and exposed the West Eugene Parkway for the boondoggle that it was. Excuse me! A majority of voters asked the city to build the parkway — two times! Piercy was the one who scuttled what the people said they wanted. How is that returning the government to them or showing respect to people who live and vote in Eugene?
I hope others are able to see the arrogance and condescension evident in these ads. A person who says she gets many viewpoints together wouldn’t categorize some people as elite or refer to projects desired by the majority of her citizens as boondoggles.
By her own admission, this mayor is not a mayor for all of Eugene!
Gretchen Pierce
Eugene
Immigration remains unresolved
I’ve notice lately that The Register-Guard and other media have avoided the term “illegal alien” and now use the term immigrant when referring to individuals entering or in this country without legal authority.
I’ve also noticed that none of the candidates for president speaks about their stand on illegal immigration and the effect it might have on their proposed national health and education programs. That would make one assume it is not politically correct to call breaking the law illegal, and that the illegal immigration situation in this country has been resolved.
However, I am not going to assume either one. Until the law is changed regarding legal entry into this country, entering it otherwise is illegal.And the immigration situation has not been resolved and will continue to affect this country until it has been.
Furthermore, this country has failed its citizens by not addressing immigration in a timely manner, and the countries that have their citizens risking everything to come here have failed them by not providing an environment of hope and prosperity in their own country.
Arlie Anderson
Eugene
Does creator crave anonymity?
I liked the May 4 guest viewpoint by Norm Fox, “Case against intelligent design fails.” I would like to offer another point that I have never heard discussed: the possibility that the creator wants to remain anonymous.
Try to imagine yourself as the creator of this vast universe and all of the people in it. If you made it obvious that you existed, then the people would spend most of their energies trying to appease you or be afraid to do what they really want to do for fear of you and your power.
They would be praying and asking and begging for special treatment, help or wealth.
It would be a lot more fitting to remain anonymous and create the universe in such a manner (evolution) as to allow scientists to think that they have all of the answers. So life can go on with the human mind completely unrestricted.
Richard Jansen
Eugene
Piercy doesn’t sell Eugene short
I sit here on the Knickerbocker Bike Bridge that spans the sometimes-mighty Willamette River. It’s an early spring evening. The sun isn’t quite setting, but everything is aglow. The river takes a slow, meandering path west. A big grassy meadow sways in the breeze, and even Autzen Stadium seems appropriate here.
Eugene is a special place. That’s what makes the mayoral race so important. Jim Torrey and the development interests that are throwing record breaking amounts into his campaign don’t value this — not as much as they should. Their vision for Eugene is Anywhere, U.S.A., where what’s valued most is the ability to turn a quick buck.
Kitty Piercy isn’t perfect. But she understands that some things shouldn’t be put on the open market, and Eugene’s one of them.
Don’t sell Eugene short. Vote for Kitty Piercy.
John Herberg
Eugene
Copyright © 2007 — The Register-Guard, Eugene, Oregon, USA
