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January 5, 2012 Opinion |
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—EDITORIAL—
By Debby Schoeningh
Since Dec. 31, I had been trying to come up with a New Year's resolution. I pondered all of the possibilities. The usual came to mind - eat better, exercise more, complain less, write that best seller that's been taking up space in my head... None of these, however, really appealed to me, probably partly due to the fact that I have made those resolutions before and obviously didn't keep them or I wouldn't be considering them again this year.
This year I wanted to choose something meaningful that would make a difference in my life and the life of those around me.
I wanted to make a resolution to do something to benefit mankind, along the lines of Mother Teresa.
I wanted to start a movement to help end oppression like Martin Luther King Jr.
I wanted to achieve a monumental goal like Amelia Earhart or invent something like Thomas Edison that would make life easier for millions of people.
I wanted to figure out a way to get Congress to stop messing around and make some solid decisions that would help our economy.
But I soon realized I had no idea of how to attain these lofty goals or much confidence in my ability to do so. Although I did figure I would have a better chance at being the first to fly around the world strapped by bailing twine to a flock of geese than to make any headway with Congress, so I immediately dismissed that option.
Monday, Jan. 2, rolled around and I still had no resolution so I decided to put it aside and go about my business until something came to me. I did what a lot of women do when they have a difficult decision to make — I went shopping.
As I rounded a corner walking down a Baker City sidewalk I encountered an older man standing in front of a store. He had just made a purchase and was standing outside in the cold near the front door of the business. As I approached him his eyes lit up and he exclaimed, "There you are!"
After turning and noticing no one was behind me, I decided that he must have been talking to me.
I smiled and said, "You were waiting for me?"
"Yes," he said, and proceeded to tell me a little bit about himself. He said he is 85 years old and manages to live by himself. I politely listened and smiled as he told me a little about his life and his travels. He said although he had made it downtown with no problems, he didn't think he had the energy to walk back home and wondered if I would give him a ride.
My parents taught me well, and ordinarily I would never give a ride to or even engage in a lengthy conversation with a complete stranger, especially outside in the cold. But I rationalized that if this kindly acting older gentleman who was few inches shorter and a couple of pounds lighter than me turned out to be some kind of criminal, I think I could take him. Besides my husband was waiting for me in the car.
On the 10-minute ride to his house, he told us more of his life’s stories and of his interests in between giving me instructions of which streets to turn on. At one point as I was driving down 10th Street doing about 35 miles an hour he asked if it was my regular practice to drive so fast. I smiled at him in the rearview mirror and said, “I suppose so.” He said that was good because he liked it, which made me smile even more.
As I pulled into the driveway to his house, he thanked us for the ride and started to go inside. Before he reached his front door steps, he turned around, came over to my driver's side window and said, "You have the nicest smile, it's a smile that makes other people happy." And with that he turned, waved and went inside his house.
It was at that moment that I knew what my New Year's resolution would be. I don't have to set a world record, re-invent the light bulb or move to the slums of Calcutta. If that's all it takes to make someone happy, then I resolve this year to smile more often - at others, at myself and most definitely at Congress.
“A smile is the beginning of peace.” — Mother Teresa
—LETTERS—
Engine Repowering Keeps New Car Costs At Bay
To The Record-Courier:
Buying a new car might sound great in theory but in these uncertain economic times, it might not be the right investment. Other options, such as replacing your worn out engine with a rebuilt or remanufactured engine may be a much better economic decision to keep new car costs at bay.
Installing a rebuilt or remanufactured engine saves big money in the long run. For the cost of an average down payment on a new car or truck, you can repower your vehicle with a remanufactured or rebuilt engine and gain years of reliable service without monthly car payments and higher insurance rates.
With a rebuilt or remanufactured engine, a vehicle’s worn out engine, or an identical engine, is completely disassembled, cleaned, machined and rebuilt. Unlike used or junk yard engines with an unknown performance and maintenance history, remanufactured and rebuilt engines are dependable, reliable and backed by excellent warranty programs.
Before you consider a new vehicle purchase, talk with a professional automotive technician to see if a rebuilt or remanufactured engine is the right choice for you. To learn more, visit the Engine Rebuilders Council website at www.enginerebuilder.org and click on Cost Comparisons to view a chart of examples illustrating the cost difference between purchasing a new vehicle and repowering your vehicle with a remanufactured or rebuilt engine.
Ken Carter
Chairman
Engine Rebuilders Council
New Law Closes Loophole In Campaign Expense Reporting
To The Record-Courier:
A change in Oregon campaign finance law going into effect in 2012 prompts me to revisit the October 2009 attempt to recall Mayor Dorrah and Councilor Calder. (The voters rejected the recall by a vote of 2 to 1.)
It’s now two years later and the public still does not know who paid for half of the recall committee’s expenses.
How can this be, given Oregon’s sunshine law requires that campaigns disclose the names of persons who contribute more than $100?
Answer: there was a loophole in the old law. It did not require campaign committees to reveal the name of a person who paid for campaign expenses with the expectation of reimbursement. At least, not until 1) the committee makes the reimbursement or 2) the person forgives the loan.
In the case of the 2009 recall attempt, neither event has happened.
After receiving complaints, the Oregon Legislature passed a new law which eliminates the loophole by requiring that campaign committees within seven days reveal such contributions and the names of persons who make them.
The Recall Dorrah and Calder Campaign Committee used the loophole — and is still using it — to hide from the public the name of the person who paid a total of $2,707 in campaign expenses, supposedly with the expectation of reimbursement.
The Recall Dorrah and Calder Committee still has not made reimbursement nor has the donor forgiven the loan. Until one of these two events happens, the loophole allows the committee and the donor to continue to hide from the public the identity of the person who contributed half of the campaign’s finances.
Elections Division records show that the Recall Dorrah and Calder Committee has not been closed out and has a deficit of $3,536.
Elections Division records show that Jamey K. Hardy and Kathye Corn are the committee’s director and treasurer.
Why do Hardy, Corn, and the donor continue to hide the donor’s identity?
The recall is not over until the committee pays its debts and the public knows who put up the bulk of the money to finance it.
Gary Dielman
Baker City
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