On jobs, oil producers, Steve Novick, Rick Schroff, overzealous Ducks, the general election, the business tax plan and Barack Obama

Let's worry more about jobs than about 'fouling our nest'

I found the exchange between Jeff Limon (Letters, May 13, "Jobs pay for our quality of life") and Dianne Safford (Letters, May 14, "Letters misrepresented Raymond economic stand") to be very interesting. The issue is setting priorities and making choices.

To the extent that preserving/creating jobs conflicts with reducing the Corvallis carbon footprint, we have to make good choices. We all want income, which usually means having a job that pays well. We also want to live in a pleasant environment, which means that we don't foul our nest. And, up to the point where we have "enough" income, most of us want income before we are concerned about fouling our nest.

In my opinion, the loss of 300 jobs in Corvallis is a serious hit requiring that we set priorities and make good choices to try to replace those jobs.

Moreover, replacing those jobs is more important, in the short run, than reducing our carbon footprint. However, I am not optimistic that our City Council will do a good job of setting priorities, as shown by their funding of citizens' requests and parks and recreation before maintaining our streets - a subject I addressed in my May 7 letter, "Shift city spending priorities to fix cracks in the streets." (For more information, see www.peak.org/~detweij.)

John H. Detweiler

Corvallis

U of O owes all of Beaver Nation an apology

Now let's get this straight: 60-plus eighth graders, a very few of whom are wearing Oregon State University logos on their clothing, are a threat to the University of Oregon athletic department? The tour guide was a bit overzealous …Ya think?

Maybe it's time we get a little indignant about this. I'm guessing we can gain more momentum on this than the Iraq war deficit. Let's stop traffic on Interstate 5 and 99W and check ID, hats and bumper stickers and send them quacking.

The UO athletic department needs to send an apology to each and everyone of those kids, the Department of Higher Education and all the tax payers of Oregon for this disgraceful action.

Roger H. Sheldrake

Corvallis

Schroff's past, affiliations attest to his priorities

Interesting to see the large Gazette-Times ad financed by Rick Schroff's supporters, especially those signers who don't live in Ward 7. Why would those in other wards donate to influence the Ward 7 position on the City Council? Re-screen the old movie, "Follow the Money."

Rick Schroff is a Texas transplant who spent 25 years in the oil industry. His resume for the Ward 7 position states " … international supplier of oil-field drilling and production equipment."

Google the Gazette-Times archives to read Schroff's Oct. 18, 2005 "As I See It" column, titled "Drilling Off Oregon? Good," where he advocates drilling for oil off our spectacular Oregon coast.

Schroff's largest contributor is Chris Saltveit, a real estate developer who lives in Beaverton. "(Saltveit) owns a lot of property in Corvallis," said Schroff, "I assume he's very interested in what happens here."

In stark contrast to Schroff, Jeanne Raymond's participation in Corvallis' "Prosperity That Fits," and her leadership on the Sustainability Planning Committee show her commitment to the uniqueness of our community. Jeanne won't sell to the highest bidder, but will continue her work to make Corvallis a community for all, the way she's done for the past 20 years.

Ange Crawford

Corvallis

Oil producers pose bigger threat to U.S. than al-Qaida

Let me see. If, as reported recently in the Gazette-Times, the United States has stashed away oil reserves of around 701 million barrels, we are looking at an astounding $70 billion worth based at the current rate of $100 per barrel.

A sane person would think that rather than adding to our pool, we should start tapping into this reserve at, lets say, 50 million barrels a year, adding $5 billion to our (severely depleted) treasury for the next 14 years. By the time our reserve has been depleted, we hopefully have made enough progress on the alternative energy front to wean us off this cursed addiction to oil. Is it at last possible to hope that the next president and Congress will take this bold step - even over perhaps strenuous objections from our oilproducing "allies"?

Let's face it. The stranglehold of these insanely rich oil tycoons on our world simply dwarfs the combined threats posed by al-Qaida, the druglords and the weapon merchants. It is high time we stop kowtowing to the Saudis, the oil emerates and Venezuela in this post peak oil environment. The ultimate nightmare predicted by the visionary Upton Sinclair has come to pass, but it is still not too late to take decisive action.

Leo de Vogel

Corvallis

Dems should think ahead to November when voting now

I hope my fellow Democrats "keep (their) eyes on the prize!" Remember that the goal here is to win the presidency in November. After that election, who won the 2008 Democratic nomination will be but a footnote in history. The real issue is which Democrat can bring home the prize. National polls are showing that Hillary Clinton is clearly the candidate who beats (Sen. John) McCain.

Please join me in voting for Hillary Clinton. She is the candidate with the experience, skill and determination to lead our country. Most important, she can win the White House in November.

Merry Demarest

Corvallis

Business fee would hurt small businesses most

The Gazette-Times missed the point regarding the proposed business license fee. It's not a Realtor issue, it's a business issue, very likely to have more far-reaching effects than anticipated and creating an unnecessary burden on small businesses operating as independent contractors or self-employed sole proprietors like manicurists, hairdressers, landscapers, consultants, contractors, accountants. Also, vendors visiting Corvallis for farmers markets, DaVinci Days and Fall Festival operating on a slim margin may look elsewhere.

Many businesses located outside the city provide services in this community. If they have to pay a tax to do business here, how will that impact the local economy?

No other cities in the mid-valley have a business license fee. How does this impact our ability to compete for business?

My experience has been that it's the waiving of fees and taxes that stimulates business to locate, not charging them to do business here. If we are not "friendly" to business, they will not come. That means we have to have good schools, affordable housing and good transportation. This fee is going to do nothing for those issues.

When did it become reasonable for the city to impose a fee to support the enterprise of a coalition of private businesses? Prosperity is important to all of us and every community should have a plan for economic development. If it is truly a good plan, beneficial to the entire community, it should be paid for from the general fund.

Dava Behrens

Corvallis

Novick would serve us

the best in the U.S. Senate

After hearing five of the Democratic candidates for U.S. Senate in person, I am convinced that Steve Novick is the best of the pack to represent Oregonians in Washington. I base this decision on Steve's positions on key issues and his capacity to articulate those positions clearly and passionately. His personal story confirms his ability to set and achieve remarkable goals, overcoming whatever obstacles he encounters along the way. When Steve was 14 and his middle school in Cottage Grove closed down, he was able to enroll at the University of Oregon and earned his bachelor's degree at 18. He received his law degree from Harvard at 21 and is still going strong at 45.

Steve has demonstrated a remarkable ability to adapt to circumstances and succeed in a variety of endeavors, including his work with the U.S. Justice Department in the successful prosecution of the defendants in the infamous Love Canal Case. Back in Oregon, Steve has been a key player in fending off Bill Sizemore's attacks on education and health care funding.

It will not be easy to defeat Sen. Gordon Smith in the general election. Sen. Smith has the backing of the Republican establishment, strong corporate support and personal wealth to draw upon. In many ways, the contest will be one of David and Goliath. Left-hook Steve at 4-foot-10-inches is the best "David" to represent progressive Oregonians in the battle to be played out in the next six months. I think he will win.

Jim Spain

Corvallis

Obama is the right choice to assure our nation's future

I want a president who has the wisdom to govern. Experience alone does not guarantee wisdom, as shown by Cheney and Rumsfeld.

I want a candidate who is honest, not one who exaggerates experience about "being under fire." That lie will not play well in commercials against a real war hero who was a prisoner of war.

I want a candidate who not only has a detailed plan for our future (barackobama.com) but the ability to bring people together to really get things done; not four more years of fighting with one who's history is divisive and exclusive.

I want someone who has run a clean, honest campaign. Who plays by the rules, with signed commitments, not someone who uses distraction and tries to move the goalposts when the going gets tough.

And I want someone for president who talks to us like we are adults. Who doesn't try to garner votes by offering a gas tax "holiday" that does nothing to really solve the problem.

Voters have a choice: Four more years of fighting, division and pandering, or a fresh start with someone who leads with honesty, real straight talk and hope that it is not too late for us to change for the betterment of all Americans.

We have many large, intractable problems that will require us all to work together toward long-term solutions. Barack Obama has campaigned for unity, working together, and an end to politics as usual in Washington. Vote Obama!

Toni Hoyman

Philomath