Citizens have right to vote on city fee

A license is a document giving a person or persons a legal right to do or own something.

For example, I would need a license to catch a fish, pick mushrooms out of the forest, or drive a car. If I did any of those things without a license, I could be arrested and fined.

The recent developments around charging businesses fees for licenses in Corvallis are misguided. The city has asked a committee to find a way to raise funds to support planned economic development. This is about raising money, not about regulation through licensing. What the committee is proposing should be more aptly called a tax, not a license fee.

If the City of Corvallis is truly interested in regulating businesses through a licensing process, don’t the citizens of Corvallis have a right to vote on such an important and historic change in the governance of this city?

Jenni Malm, Business owner, Corvallis

Bush record does not merit respect

I disagree with Jean Nelson’s Aug. 15 letter, “President finally getting respect.”

I don’t know what Jean thinks he’s getting respect for or — other than Jean — who he’s getting respect from. I don’t see any fewer bumper stickers. Bush certainly hasn’t faithfully done his job. He’s attacked the U.S. Constitution.

When Osama bin Laden’s driver was found guilty of being Osama bin Laden’s driver and sentenced to 5½ years with time served getting out in six months, the White House promptly said they will declare him an enemy combatant and hold him indefinitely.

The lies he’s told to justify the invasion of Iraq; more than 4,000 U.S. dead, 30,000 wounded and more than 1 million Iraqis dead as a result of his war in Iraq; the corruption and incompetence of his administration; no-bid contracts; mounting evidence of war crimes; policies that have recruited more terrorists than existed prior to 9/11; more than $10 billion missing; not to mention his hypocrisy and spending 25 percent of his time in office on vacation; making the U.S. a debtor nation. It would have been nice if Jean would have explained just what Jean thinks Bush is getting respect for.

Jeffery K. McGonagill, Corvallis

World engaged in Olympics of lies

The World Lying Olympics of 2008 are with us, and they are not over yet. So far the Russians, with “we are peace keepers” seem to be in the running for the gold medal.

The USA is in the race with “we had nothing to do with the war between Russia and Georgia.”

China is also in the race, with two entries “our girl’s gymnastics team is all 16 or older”and “China will allow protests during the Olympics.”

The Bush/Cheney team is back after their WMD gold win. Putin, Bush and Hu Jintao are all world-class liars and you can’t count any of them out just yet. The winner gets a gold copy of the Ten Commandants, second-place silver and third a bronze copy. No one seems to be interested in when the next World Truth Olympics will be held, but maybe that is just another lie.

David Anderer, Albany

Start drilling now for offshore oil

The best example today of power through oil is Russia. They have successfully developed their oil fields to the level where they supply most of Europe’s fuel. At the same time here in the United States we are being held hostage to adequate energy by Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid.

Now Russia is securing control of the oil pipeline that runs through Georgia though use of their military power.

As an American citizen and voter, I would like to see us lift the offshore drilling ban. Americans must access our own energy supply. Senators and Congressmen should represent our wishes. The GOP have spent two weeks demanding that they be allowed an up or down vote on drilling for oil in the U.S. The Democrats refused to allow a vote to occur. Why?

An important vote on the offshore drilling is coming by Sept. 30. Contact your representatives and let them know that we need to access our own petroleum resources.

Lou Copes, Corvallis

Be watchful of reproductive rights

I have recently become aware that Bush administration is engaged in yet another attack on women’s reproductive healthcare. This sweeping redefinition of abortion will allow certain personal agendas to filter the information women receive from their healthcare providers in such a way that women’s basic reproductive rights will be severely at stake.

Women should be empowered to make fully informed decisions about their healthcare and that can only happen when they are fully informed and not put at risk because of politics and ideology.

This situation is extremely disheartening to me as a human being and as a citizen of this country. I urge anyone to take a first and second look at these issues and remember that the United States of America should not be a place where basic rights are restricted.

Any president who conveniently forgets about our country’s important and long-standing separation between church and state must be kept in check by the people!

Sarah Harpole, Albany

Don’t spend other people’s money

Regarding Lynda Wolfenbarger’s Aug. 11 letter, “Senior Center has many deficiencies”:

There are many worth causes. Each of us has an opinion on what they are. Help for the homeless, upgrade the parks, save the whales, whatever. I love the people in Corvallis who choose to champion their cause and then tell all of us how our money should be used to accomplish it.

Bottom line: if you think something is important, go spend your money (all of it if you want), on what you believe is important. Please stop telling the rest of us that we need to spend our money on your pet projects. Thank you and all my best in using your funds in the way that you see fit.

Gary Tharp, Corvallis