|
|
|
August 7, 2008 Opinions |
|
|
—Letters—
Economic Breakdown Coming Soon
To The Record-Courier:
Our Country is sliding down an increasingly slippery slope toward total economic breakdown. The really frightening thing is that the powers that be don’t seem to have any idea about what caused it or what to do about it. The major cause is shortsighted unwise actions by our own government. In our zeal to protect the environment we have been so carried away that we have regulated ourselves out of business.
Most people have forgotten or don’t know the most basic fact of life. No life can exist on this planet unless we use the Earth! Unless we harvest the produce and resources from the earth our country and most of its people will not survive. We have restricted the access and use of our land to the point that much of our basic industry has been seriously damaged. Basic industries are the foundation of any economy. Most of you have become aware of the part oil plays in our lives. Mining is even more important. No other business or industry can operate without using minerals directly or indirectly. Nothing can be made without using minerals. Timber and food production are sort of important too, one day you may find you can’t afford breakfast anymore.
Another basic fact that Americans seem to have forgotten is that All New Wealth Comes from the Earth. It is created when we harvest food, fiber and minerals from the land.
We are spending an average of $80 billion a month to buy the things we won’t let ourselves produce. More and more countries will not accept our dollars that are worth less and less every day. Judgment day is coming and there will be no economic recovery unless the laws and regulations that prevent and restrict Americans from productive work are changed or repealed.
Make sure every legislator and as many bureaucrats as possible understand this or the chances that your children will live out their natural lives with even a fraction of the benefits of civilization that you have enjoyed are very slim.
Kenneth E. Anderson
Baker City
Miners’ Jubilee Volunteers
To The Record-Courier:
HBC couldn't operate without our willing volunteers and partners! I am especially grateful for help during events such as the HBC activities during Miners’ Jubilee.
Special thanks to Marilyn Shollenberger who is always so joyfully there for us.
Marilyn, Keith, and musician friends jammed before the showing of Paint Your Wagon. We were fortunate to have access to her PA/sound equipment for the movie. Randy Johnston was projectionist for Paint Your Wagon, while Linda Nobel and Oregon Dept of Labor loaned out the computer and projector.
Donn Christy of Superior Towing is always generous with his flatbed trailer for the street dance stage. His drivers Cecil and Bill donated their time to pick up and drop off the trailer.
Rhonda Scott at Oregon Trail Motel offered Ruby Dee and band members lodging and impressed Ruby's gang no end with her hospitality.
Once again, Carolyn Kulog was chair for the Duck Races.
Special thanks to the duck hunters, duck callers, and Andrew Bryan, our announcer. Thank you to the participating merchants for selling tickets. The Duck Races were enjoyed by everyone and are a big fundraiser for HBC.
Each year we are so fortunate to have fantastic prizes to lure duck racers. Thank you to the following Prize Sponsors for this year's fabulous prizes: Hells Canyon Adventures, Roaring Springs Water Park, T&T Wildlife, Haines Steakhouse, Baker Heritage Museum & Adler House Museum, Baker City Cafe, Rejuvenate Skin Care Studio, Mad Matilda's Coffee House, Anthony Lakes Ski Area, Eastern Oregon Regional Theater, Barley Brown's Brew Pub, Oregon Trail Interpretive Center, Ron Colton Carriages, Baker County Courthouse (clock tower), Crossroads Carnegie Art Center. Prospector’s Chocolate Company and Bistro, Friends of the Sumpter Dredge, Sumpter's Scoop Steamer Restaurant, Sumpter Valley Railroad, Baker City Golf Course, Mimi’s Café in Halfway, The Last Resort Salon,
Thank you everyone. It is a joy to work with you. and always a big thank you to our Quacky Duck Lady (Mary Stiglich).
Ann Mehaffy
Program Director, Historic Baker City, Inc.
Two Sides To Every Story
To The Record-Courier:
And God said: Let there be dots, purple stripes, yellow diamonds, checkered patterns, abstracts and portraits painted up and down both sides of Main Street, after all what is good for one business owner should also be the right of everyone who owns or operates a business in Historic Downtown Baker City. Since this newspaper, Ms. Calder and her cohort are such huge proponent of dots, then you all will be elated when every business owner, graffiti artist and anyone with an axe to grind decides to paint the sidewalk in front of anybody’s establishment to his or her own liking. Anything goes here! I should buy stock in the local paint establishments.
Thousands of dollars have been spent by many to restore and preserve the historic beauty of our downtown, a place that all citizens can take great pride. It is the City staff's job to safeguard its integrity. Although the painted "dots" by themselves don't pose a significant problem, it sets a bad precedence for future such “art” projects. I am extremely disappointed that a serving Councilor did not inquire first or at least consider the ramifications of her actions prior to this absurd quandary.
Now that the deed is done, and her crew of loyal supporters has once again been summoned to bombard the paper with letters to the editor and she had cleaned the sidewalks off, I think it is time to get on with the business at hand.
Remember this dilemma was not brought on by any city staffers and I don't believe there is huge conspiracy on their part. From what I gather from numerous newspaper articles, Ms. Calder was simply asked (not cited) to remove the painted dots for reasons most downtown business persons should readily understand. Most would think that such an informed and community minded Councilor would surely recognize this, rather than simply comply...I wonder if she just enjoys stirring the pot, while the entire city gets to watch many good people getting caught up in this ridiculous tirade of Calder and Co.
Public, beware! There are multiple versions of each story and before you make a judgment on someone’s character, you should know the full history of what has been leading up to these issues. I find it hard to believe that the Baker City Herald only received letters to the editor in support of one viewpoint. Let’s remember that Steve Brocato and Jeff Petry are both raising families in this town. Can we please be more respectful?
Marna Fahrney
Baker City
Parking Task Force Seeks Input
To The Record-Courier:
I volunteered for the City Council's Parking Task Force because like most of us, I only think about parking when I can't find a spot, when someone else has parked inappropriately and is affecting me directly, or when I receive a ticket. For business owners and residents downtown, however, it is a different story, and it is my understanding that this is why our task force was created by the council.
The recommendations this task force makes to council will not be ours — they will be yours. We made much progress in our first meeting last week, but it is essential that we receive as much public input as possible. Whether or not you spend any time or money downtown, we believe many of you have ideas, and many of the recommendations we make will involve tax dollars and budgeting priorities.
I invite everyone to join us at City Hall, 1655 First St., on Wednesdays at 6:30 p.m., or, if you can't attend, please contact the task force. I can be reached at 523-3505. If you wish to remain anonymous, write to the Baker City Parking Task Force, c/o Baker City Council, City of Baker City, 1655 First St., Baker City, OR 97814.
Jason Bland
Baker City
|
|
|
