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DEAN DEBATE Blair Bobier (12/24) leaves the impression that Howard Dean is almost as much of a sneaky warmonger as is the Bush. It's more than that and it is the truth. That's why I'm voting in the primary for Dennis Kucinich, a true peacemaker/man of compassion. But it is also the truth that Dean agrees with most of us EW readers that the Bush Iraq war was a big mistake and that Bush's presidency has caused great harm to the U.S. and to the world. To hold one's nose and vote for Dean in November may be the only rational option decent people in the U.S. will have because of the U.S. electoral system train wreck caused by greed/corruption. What we really need is a miracle to make Kucinich surge past Dean in the polls. Can money and effort buy electoral happiness? Possibly not because it is another Bush bullshit new year. Bob Saxton, Eugene
NEW AND IMPROVED As we begin 2004, it occurs to me that we seek to reinvent a new and improved version of ourselves. Losing weight and quitting smoking are on an ever-expanding list. I would ask that we all srive to be better people and remember that what we expect and demand from others is no less meaningful than what we do. When you drive by those who are walking, be mindful that they are not an inconvenience, but are your brothers and sisters who want the same things you want. When you see a bus loading a disabled person, don't be impatient because you might be delayed three to five minutes. We are all part of the same family. Those of our society who are challenged need our compassion — not our disdain. To those who extend your heart, thank you many times squared. Measure 30 is a damning response to the needs of our most vulnerable citizens. We must get past the notion that we've done all that we can do. Social services are for all and even though you may be secure, many are not. Talk to those who have head injuries with additional mental and physical challenges or others recieving assistance; I expect they would give all they "have" to be "normal." We must not let our fear and neglect compound their plight. Apparently most of our taxpayers are not familar with "pay me now or pay me later." To those who feel that they are being held hostage by the request, I ask, "Shouldn't the services that will be cut be availble to YOU if and when they are needed?" I urge all to vote with your hearts instead of your wallets. This is a new year and we all need to be new and improved. George G. Brooks, Eugene
FREE SPEECH After risking my trusty squeezebox's delicate health with the Anti-20303 carolers in the rain for an hour on Christmas Eve, I took the liberty and a break from tradition with an original piece entitled "Imagine" (loosely based on John Lennon's song of the same name). Many carolers enthusiastically joined in on the choruses before returning to the originally planned Christmas/holiday carols. If you want to call that "factionalizing" go right ahead, but I call it free speech, which was what this was all about. And by the way, the so-called factionalizing took place on the Wayne Morse Free Speech Plaza, not the Federal Plaza, as reported. Sing on, people! And thanks to all who came out in defense of our constitutionally guaranteed right of Freedom of Assembly. Queen Accordionna, 2000 S.L.U.G. Queen
BAD BOY BOZIEVICH By distinguishing himself as being "the first LCC board member in memory to publicly oppose funding support of LCC," Jay Bozievich has also distinguished himself as being perhaps the first principled board member. Only people of principle oppose an onerous law that benefits them or their special interest at the cost of others. Thank you, Jay, for standing up for the principle of responsible and accountable government, which must live within its means, like the rest of us! It's rare to read about an elected official who stands for more than just robbing the taxpayers to pay off his or her favorite special interest. Good work, Jay! Frank Plaisted, Eugene
GONE FOR GOOD One thing that has not been discussed in the controversy over ball fields vs. natural areas in our city parks (cover story, 12/24) is that once a natural area is eliminated, it is gone for good. I am a professional ecologist and have never seen a natural area fully restored, even after millions of dollars have been spent to do so. In contrast, any flat area can be converted into a ball field. Maybe the city should look for some vacant land to convert into ball fields. Randy Webb, Eugene
CONTRABAND CONTROL The puritanical current that runs so deep in "mainstream America" certainly perpetuates the marginalization of hippies and others who smoke marijuana, but to the interests that back both sides of most elections, the issue is control. The repeal of alcohol prohibition dealt a severe blow to the "rule of law" by exposing the very existence of bad laws and the effectiveness of civil disobedience in their dissolution. Government intransigence was only overcome by juries refusing to convict alcohol defendants until Congress finally took the hint and relented. Reeling from the blow, the establishment began to require of jurors an oath to uphold the law, bad or good, thus depriving posterity of a formidable weapon against tyranny. So now, when the rare marijuana defendant threatened with incarceration refuses the plea bargain extortion and stipulates, or admits, possession, the court essentially directs, or orders, the jury to return a guilty verdict. And it complies. Anyone still naive enough to consider someone else's drug use a moral issue might wish to explore the implications of Jesus's moderate alcohol consumption, and his failure to proscribe the use of other drugs. You love your paper tigers and scapegoats, though, so when America is bankrupt (which will happen before I admit its authority over what I do to me) and can no longer even afford interest on the debt, blame anyone but yourself when we have to trade national sovereignty for an IMF/World Bank bailout. Pete Raiteri, Eugene
TAXING POOCH In response to Pet Wars (12/24) and Pet Peeve (12/31), I have been working to solve the homeless pet problem for most of the 56 years I have been on this planet. To see people so petty that they are unwilling to spend $2-$5 per year to help solve the pet overpopulation problem in Lane County is saddening. Ann Jensen seems to be worried about privacy and money. I guess she is unaware that if you wanted to you could go down to LCARA (Lane County Animal Regulation Authority) right now and have access to anyone's name that bought a license for their dog — it's public information. So don't worry too much about your vet selling you out. The report that she is so worried about has to do with breeders and people who deal with animals on a commercial level. Could Ann be a breeder, by any chance? Hopefully she is an "ethical and responsible breeder" who really cares about what happens to the animals she brings into this world. Annie Kayner is worried about "taxation without representation." Annie, the county commissioners are your representation! Annie also worries about "scroungy ill bred dogs" and "mangy animals." Does not being one of these so-called "purebred, papered" dogs sentence you to death? And last, Annie says, "Before I pay another unfair and unwanted tax to support the saving of mangy animals that nobody really cares about, I will have my purebred, papered, neutered dog put down!" Annie, there has not been a first tax, let alone "another" for animals. And yes, people really do care about these animals. How sad for your poor overbred purebred dog that he should have to end up with a guardian that cares more about $6 a year than his undying devotion and unconditional love. Molly Sargent, Pleasant Hill
INDIFFERENT COMMISH? Each month I have a day-long treatment for my type of cancer. I have learned to fill the seven-hour procedure by watching the county commissioner's meetings. I found these meetings most informative, since human services are impacted with the outcome of these proceedings. The impressions of participation by Commissioners Sorenson, Dwyer and Hampton have been very positive, but the two remaining commissioners regarding an attitude of indifference and lack of attention paid to those citizens who have taken their time and energy to present their views. Are the Commissioners Green and Morrison only concerned with the contributors to their campaign coffer? Arnie Gottleib, Cottage Grove
UNCOVERED The cover of your Dec. 31 issue was hysterical. I laughed my hat off. Therin Corvington, Eugene
BETTER CARE I was surprised to read the letter to the editor from Ann Jensen (12/24). The unfortunate reality is that due to mankind's habit of welcoming animals when they are "cute" and discarding them when they become a responsibility, we have more and more animals that are not properly fed and sheltered, nor spayed or neutered traveling backyards every day. With this new law, we as humans will be required to accept some responsibility for the animals that we keep, provide them with better care, and make sure that they or their offspring will not become victims of this county's current 24-hour euthanasia policy. All of our pets, whether dog, cat, ferret, or otherwise, are creatures of Mother Earth. They deserve proper food, water, protection from disease, and veterinary care. They tend to be more loving than most of the people that I encounter on the street these days. Can you tell me why they do not deserve the care and consideration that we expect ourselves? Amber Dean, Eugene
UNBOUNDED COMPASSION This latest terror alert is a fire drill with live ammunition, designed to distract us from the very real mounting public awareness of our unelected regime's lies, misdeeds, blunders, and real motives. The neo-f***er, conservative (oops, almost said the "F" word, free pass to the Global Gulag) Bush administration is facing more heat from the Supreme Court, moderate Republicans (yes, Martha, there is such a thing!) and just plain Joes like you and me to domestic economic and security issues, and mounting opposition from the rest of the world toward our openly oppressive "strip-mine-the-world" imperial policy. The solution: No problem! We'll show those disloyal pinkos — let's have an alert! And just for good measure, let's throw in some media echo-chamber stories about air travel and shoulder-fired anti-aircraft missiles at Christmas, when millions of people travel! And fingerprint those (maybe terrorist) foreign journalists on short visas! Plant the seed of terror in people's minds and it will grow...talk is cheaper than Al-Qaeda in this Field of Nightmare. And, incidentally, provide job security to Tom Ridge and his millions of trained (?) employees. And turn the (former) U.S. into a monolithic police state. But, hey, they'll count to three before they shoot. How compassionate can a conservative get? Michael Anderson, Oakridge
FIELDS OF DREAMS George Beres (1/8) couldn't be more wrong about the multi-sport fields built at the four Eugene high schools. This community continues to have far fewer playing fields than it should. My daughter played soccer at South and the availability of the new artificial turf fields was a godsend for her and many young athletes in Eugene. Thousands of young people use those facilities and by playing right at the schools they build school spirit, too. Beres says that the kids should play football at Autzen. Playing a high school football game at Autzen with 1,000 fans tucked in a 50,000 seat stadium may be cost-effective from Beres' perspective, but it short-changes the young people in our community. It is penny wise and pound foolish. I have noticed that Beres seems to relish writing anti-UO letters to the local media. I suspect the opportunity to criticize the UO was too much for him to resist and he dragged the high school fields in as the segue. Whatever. My hat is off to the voters in this community who showed that they care about the kids. Randy Kolb, Eugene LETTERS POLICY: We print as many letters as space allows. Please limit length to 250 words and submissions to once a month. All letters are subject to editing for length and clarity, and must include address and phone number. E-mail to editor@eugeneweekly.com, fax to 484-4044, or mail to 1251 Lincoln, Eugene 97401.
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