(Published Friday, Sept. 19, 2008)

Center isn't posting campaign signs

The Marys Peak Natural Resources Interpretive Center has received several inquiries about the campaign signs that were posted on the property we are working to purchase along Highway 20/34 on the east edge of Philomath.

We are a nonprofit organization dedicated to natural resource education and conservation. We do not endorse any political candidates. The Marys Peak Interpretive Center does not yet own the property, and has no control over granting permission to post campaign signs. We have great admiration for all individuals who choose to run for public office and serve our community, regardless of political party.

Joseph Postman, Philomath

For Marys Peak Natural Resources Interpretive Center Board of Directors

Ring that bell when riding your bicycle

I have enjoyed my reincarnation as a bicyclist this summer, two years after being hit on my bicycle at the notorious corner of Third Street and Harrison Boulevard.

I am careful, observe signs, look every which way, wear a helmet. Lately, however, it is not cars that scare me, but other cyclists. They sail up behind me without a sound (and I am partially deaf so wouldn't hear them anyway), pass without a word, and on they go.

Suppose I were distracted and simply swerved aside, as I do especially these beautiful summer days? Down we would both go.

I have a bell on my bike, and I use it to warn pedestrians and other bikers I might be passing that I am coming, or I call out "On your left!" Soon there will be more students on bikes and less room for lucky- or near-misses. Bells are cheap, fun to use, and so important. The same is often said of words. Please use both when passing on your bike.

Sarah Williams, Corvallis

Let's not forget the race for Congress

It was refreshing to see the Gazette-Times turn our focus to something other than the presidential election. While the contest between Sens. Obama and McCain has profound implications for our future, there are other races that deserve our attention here in our backyard.

The one that I am the most concerned with is the Fifth District race for the U.S. Congress between Kurt Schrader and Mike Erickson. We haven't been hearing much about this contest, and therefore we don't know much about where they stand.

Being someone very concerned with clean drinking water and preserving the natural beauty of our state, I am hopeful that these two candidates would support protections for our public lands.

Rep. Darlene Hooley was always supportive of expanding wilderness protections. Are Schrader and Erickson going to continue that legacy? I hope so.

Schrader and Erickson really haven't had to take public positions on important environmental issues. Before they do, they should know that Oregonians overwhelmingly support protecting old-growth forests (as Sen. Wyden and Rep. DeFazio are working to do).

With global warming continuing to hang like a cloud over our future, protecting our native forests is of paramount importance. These old-growth forests naturally store massive amounts of carbon dioxide that would otherwise make climate change worse. And they do it cheaply!

Again, I hope the two Fifth District candidates start talking more about these issues that matter so much to Oregon voters and folks across the country.

Randy Rasmussen, Corvallis

Democracy requires informed electorate

An antidote for political sound bites and candidate bashing is time spent becoming an informed voter. Monday's Corvallis City Club was such an event, with a capacity crowd listening to Bill Lunch, the head of Oregon State University's political science department. I'm sorry his stimulating, informative presentation was not front-page news in Tuesday's G-T.

There will be a chance to hear forums on proposed health care plans by representatives of national and state candidates on Sept. 29 and Oct. 7 at 7 p.m. at the Corvallis-Benton County Library. Watch the newspaper for details and for announcements of candidates forums and ballot-measure discussions by the Corvallis League of Women Voters. Be an informed voter.

Our democracy depends on it.

Marjorie Chilcote, Corvallis

View and questions about health care

Unarguable observations about our health-care system:

• The government already pays 60 cents on every dollar.

• The government's (taxpayer's) portion will grow, regardless of who gets elected.

• The total cost of health care is going to grow faster than inflation, if for no other reason than the pressures of technology and an aging population.

• Left unchecked, this growth will consume an ever-growing portion of our economy (currently 17 percent of GNP) and an ever-growing portion of our state and federal budgets.

• At some point, if not now, we will have to say, "the government can't afford to spend more on health care."

• We will inevitably (if not now) be faced with expectations and demands that exceed the available resources. This includes both financial resources as well as hospital facilities and physicians.

• In the mismatch between supply and demand, some people will get what they expect. Others will not.

Comments:

If done rationally and transparently, this will be called "rationing."

Doctors, clinics, hospital, insurance companies, pharmacies, drug companies and medical suppliers currently offer services in a chaotic system to maximize profits. This results in irrational rationing.

Questions:

• Will we ration rationally (based on need and effectiveness) or irrationally (as we are doing now, based on profits)?

• What responsibility does the government have to make sure the taxpayer gets the most health and the least suffering for our health care dollars?

• Will our rationing behavior reflect justice or economic status?

Paul Hochfeld, Corvallis

Domestic drilling an ineffective stopgap

Belated kudos (in G-T lingo: "Roses") to Martin R. Mulford's Aug. 19 letter, "GOP's drilling push a sop to the rich."

According to The Random House Dictionary, the word "sop" signifies something given to pacify, or simply "a bribe."

Mulford correctly explains the folly of pursuing the stopgap drilling approach to our nation's (and, in fact, the world's), energy problems. I am able to say this without reservation:

As the former senior environmental engineer for a number of years in a reputable engineering-design firm in the intermountain area, we tackled in the 1980s the county, state and federal environmental permitting of a test facility for power generation using oil-bearing shale in Colorado.

Near the conclusion of his letter, Mr. Mulford explains why our nation is where we are in our quest for viable, clean energy to propel our transportation needs. Here's a quotation from his letter: "Rampant, exploitative, predatory capitalism (as opposed to the regulated capitalism proved necessary by the Great Depression) is one of the salient problems we face, and the GOP is its champion."

I would urge any concerned citizen to read the mentioned letter and weigh its significance. I wholeheartedly concur with Mulford in his final conclusion, that such manipulation by the GOP is key to why there is a significant swing away from the GOP as we approach this election; to which I would add: "especially those who are not in the uppermost income brackets."

Ed Immergluck, Corvallis