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Slant: Short opinion pieces and rumor-chasing notes News: News: PROTESTERS NAB WYDEN U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden visited the Eugene City Club Jan. 13 to speak about his proposed "Fair, Flat Tax Act." He got more than he expected when a half-dozen anti-war activists confronted him about his ongoing support of funding for the Iraq War.
Speaking to a full house at the Downtown Athletic Club, Wyden, a Democratic member of the Senate Finance Committee, said that his tax proposal would lower taxes for the lower and middle classes while reducing the federal deficit by about $100 billion over five years. All income, whether from wages or investment returns, would be taxed equally, and individuals would pay flat progressive tax rates of 15, 25 or 35 percent. Corporations would pay a flat rate of 35 percent and tax loopholes would be eliminated, Wyden explained. Eugene resident Betsy Steffenson, dressed in black, stepped to the microphone and asked Wyden why the federal government is cutting student loans and social services while allocating billions of dollars to the Iraq War effort. "It seems to me you're asking just the right question," Wyden replied, biting his lip. He emphasized that he was one of 23 senators who originally voted against going to war, but he also defended his votes to allocate hundreds of billions of taxpayer dollars to the war effort. He said that the U.S. has an obligation to finish what it started in Iraq, or that it will become a breeding ground for terrorists. He added that he will "never, ever vote" against funding to protect U.S. troops. Anti-war activist Peter Chabarek and six others, wearing black mourning garb, approached the podium. Chabarek handed Wyden a bouquet of white roses and a packet of photos of Iraq War casualties. The other mourners, wearing dark veils, began to weep as if at a funeral. "Senator, you are aware that the reasons for going to war have all proven to be false," Chabarek said. "Hence, our invasion of Iraq was an act of aggression … and you, sir, are an accessory to mass murder." He challenged Wyden to sign a pledge to vote against any future funding for the Iraq War. "Don't sign it!" yelled several City Club members, booing. "I have no intention of signing this," Wyden replied. City Club President Tom Lininger pulled Chabarek away from the microphone, but several other protesters remained kneeling in front of the podium, weeping softly while Wyden and City Club members returned to the subject of taxes. Chabarek stated that the action, part of the Iraq Pledge National Campaign for Nonviolent Resistance, "was intended to dramatically imprint in Sen. Wyden's heart the human tragedy of the war, and the outrage we feel about his consistent votes in favor of every appropriations bill to fund the war, despite his claim to be a 'progressive' Democrat." — Kera Abraham
QUESTIONABLE CITY SURVEY Every year the city of Eugene spends more than $10,000 on a survey of its citizens, but every year the city neglects to ask the burning questions city policy makers are struggling with. Should Eugene subsidize growth? Should the city give tax breaks to Hynix? Should the city look for alternatives to the $170 million West Eugene Parkway through rare wetlands? Should Eugene spend $150 million for a new City Hall? Are the police doing enough to reform after recent sexual abuse scandals? Should Eugene hire an independent city auditor to prevent waste? Should Eugene's riverfront be developed or protected as a park? Do you support urban renewal diverting tax money from schools and government services to build parking garages and roads downtown? Should Eugene be run by elected officials or an unelected city manager? Does city government waste money? It's not like their isn't room for such big questions. The 2005 survey included 81 questions. While missing the big questions, the survey is full of trivial or meaningless queries. For example, how is the city doing on nuisance complaints? Only 2 percent of respondents have actually applied for city land use permits, but that didn't prevent the city from asking about it's land use permitting system. The result— 48 percent don't know. The city's survey has been like this for years. Elected officials could direct staff to make the survey more meaningful but have been passive, largely leaving the political survey up to the city bureaucracy. Despite the off-the-mark questions, the survey does provide hints that the majority of citizens value the environment over the city's current policies of subsidizing sprawl and big business. Growth combined with related traffic rated as the most important problem facing Eugene. Economic development didn't make the top five list of leading concerns. Asked what they like most about Eugene, the city's small size and scenery/terrain were top answers. Forty percent said the city population is growing too fast, up from 30 percent last year. Only 8 percent think the city is growing too slowly. Fifty-four percent said it was very important for the city to engage in sustainable practices, but only 5 percent said the city was doing an excellent job at it. Twice as many people (41 percent) think the city is doing a below average job at managing growth as think the city is above average. — Alan Pittman
HOW TO GET OUT OF IRAQ The U.S. occupation of Iraq is a political and economic quandary not only for the U.S., but also for Iraq and the world. No positive resolution is in sight, so what are our options and alternatives? Community Alliance of Lane County's (CALC) Progressive Responses is sponsoring a forum titled, "Which Way Out? Beyond Iraq: Getting To The Big Picture." The event begins at 7 pm Tuesday, Jan. 24, at the United Methodist Church, 1376 Olive St. in Eugene. The discussion will be moderated by Alan Siporin, and scheduled speakers will include representatives from the offices of Rep. Peter DeFazio and Sen. Ron Wyden. "Beyond the Iraq crisis, there are three major global challenges facing us now and in the near future," according to a statement from the organizers. "Declining petroleum and natural gas, the pace of global warming and the severe inequities that exist between citizens of rich and poor nations." Forum speakers will lead discussions that will highlight alternative approaches that rely on multilateral cooperation, creative citizen involvement and enlightened leadership from elected officials to solve these problems. Discussion topics include why the Iraq occupation is bad for Iraq, bad for the U.S., and bad for the world; the benefits of complete withdrawal; broader U.S. foreign policy considerations; the effectiveness of military actions; and an overview of alternatives. For more information, call 485-1755.
SWOOSH SUCKING The UO has earned a national reputation, not for academic excellence, but for sucking up to Nike tycoon Phil Knight. ESPN.com investigative reporter Mike Fish featured how Knight "lords his money" over the UO as Exhibit A in a series last week on meddling by college boosters. UO officials have to "genuflect at his Nikes," ESPN reports, describing how UO President Dave Frohnmayer "waxes glowingly" about Knight, who has given an estimated $60 to $70 million to the athletic program, with a major chunk of a $160 million basketball arena planned. The article notes how the UO withdrew from the Worker Rights Consortium, a group critical of how Nike treats its sweatshop workers, five years ago and forced out a track coach this year, each time after Knight threatened to stop contributing. "The Swoosh cast a wide shadow over the university." ESPN describes Knight as the "godfather of Oregon Ducks athletics," paying for "glittery" facilities, and describes how university officials "coddle and fawn over their rich uncle at every turn." Every year the UO football coach and his assistants travel to Knight's home outside Portland "spending a few hours talking football and drawing up plays." Frohnmayer responded with a letter to ESPN.com that he was "offended" by the article and again spoke glowingly of Knight as a "distinguished individual." The UO president denied that Knight had any "undue influence" over the university. But Frohnmayer asked, "Is it any wonder that we would value his ideas and views?" — Alan Pittman
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