Posted: Tuesday, October 28, 2008 12:00 am
Some letters about Dial-A-Bus were off track
In the past several weeks, we have had multiple articles for/against the Senior Center expansion. It is truly amazing to that people have the nerve to sound off about something that they have no facts on.
Did you know that the state of Oregon requires transportation for seniors and persons with disabilities be provided by the city? In most cities, this transportation is operated by the city - city employees -all paid with benefits. The coordination and contracting that is done between Dial-A-Bus and the city of Corvallis is significantly reducing costs.
The purpose of our initial move from the Senior Center based on lack of space cost us approximately $50,000 dollars and increased our operating costs by $18,000 annually.
With this proposed expansion, we will be able to return to the center again, reducing costs for all - not to mention keeping with the city's sustainability mission. Why not support a facility with these cost savings that will benefit all people?
The proposed parking lot has never been nor will it ever be a parking lot for Dial-A-Bus. Look around at the coordination between St. Marys, Benton County Health Department and Dial-A-Bus.
Whether the levy passes or not, we urge people to learn the facts about all services impacted by this proposed levy. For instance, the Dial-A-Bus fleet consists of 20 vehicles, a combination of sedans, minivans and buses, NOT 25 buses.
Linda E. Elder, Dial-A-Bus Director
No member of Congress is fit to be president
High Social Security payroll taxes have contributed to yearly Social Security trust fund surpluses until the proclaimed surplus is now in excess of $2.14 trillion.
However, Congress has elected to sacrifice Social Security on the altar of corruption by spending the entire surplus, requiring the U.S. Treasury to cover the embezzlement by issuing non-negotiable IOU bonds to the trust fund. Such irresponsible and reprehensible behavior should alert voters that no member of Congress has the integrity to be our president.
In the future, Congress must determine how to legally fund the IOU bonds when they mature. The choices are increase taxes, sell legitimate T-bonds or monetize the debt. Congress will select the easy way out and ask the Federal Reserve to crank up the printing press and create money out of thin air.
Of course, debasing the currency means the dollar becomes a peso and your Social Security check will only buy some coffee beans or, at beast, a bowl of java.
Currently the yearly program surplus is about $180 billion, and to save Social Security, the yearly surplus must be invested in precious metals so that future Social Security recipients receive something of value. Yet Congress will scream out a refusal claiming that it will doom Social Security.
What really frightens them is that we will gain control of our Social Security program and they will lose a cash cow. Any presidential candidate what proposes a Social Security tax increase will expose his motive to increase the size of the cash cow for looting by Congress.
In this future when the Social Security eagle takes off on its monthly mission, what would you rather receive in your hand; a gold coin, a worthless Federal Reserve note or an IOU? The choice is yours.
Robert A. Dahlquist, Corvallis
Repay seniors with yes vote on Senior Center
Back in 2002, I helped with the campaign to rebuild and modernize Corvallis schools. We could not have been successful without the support of Corvallis area seniors who worked for, voted for and paid for that and many other bonds and levies over the years to support Corvallis youth. I think it is long past time for us to return the favor and provide local seniors with a senior center we can be proud of that will not just meet the social needs of our older neighbors, but also vital transportation and social services though Dial-A-Bus and Senior Meals. This community has done a ton for its young people, and I have always been grateful for that. Now is a time to say thanks by voting YES on Measure 02-65.
Brian Collins, CVHS Class of 2000
Candidate misses mark with stand on forensics patients
Dick Olsen, Democratic candidate in District 15, has issued a flyer, and among his "concerns" is keeping forensics patients out of residential neighborhoods.
The mentally ill are a cause close to my heart. My daughter-in-law is under the PSRB (Psychiatric Security Review Board); the adult children of two of my friends are also mentally ill offenders; my walking partner is a PSRB client. My work with NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) brings me in close contact with the mental health community.
PSRB clients committed a crime once, when they were first stricken by psychosis. They were not, with rare exceptions, persons who had ever been in trouble with the law. Less than 2 percent of them ever will be again. Once stabilized in treatment - as all PSRB clients on Conditional Release are - they present no danger. PSRB clients, when ready, need to live in the community. Most will find their place in volunteer or paid work, and in a life made satisfying by friends and enjoyable activities. They do not belong locked away in the state hospital.
Fair housing laws, state and federal, forbid discrimination against the mentally ill. If officials try to circumvent the law, government entities may very well be sued, and they will lose and it will cost us, the taxpayers. It is irresponsible to tell the people anything else. Feeding the fear and anger of the neighborhood is not leadership! In District 15 Democrats will have to look to the other Olson - Andy Olson, for leadership!
Dianne Farrell, Corvallis
Jason Brown will serve House District 23 well
We are supporting Jason Brown for state representative in House District 23 because he is honest, approachable and sensitive to people's concerns.
Jason is a small-scale farmer, in touch with the needs of his rural district. We notice he listens respectfully to all points of view and has a knack for finding the common ground and coming up with creative solutions. He is sincere in his desire to represent everyone, regardless of party affiliation.
Jason's interest and concern for his constituents remind us of what we have seen of Congresswoman Hooley over the years. This kind of representative does not come along very often.
Jason Brown will serve us well.
Keith and Bettie Muckleston, Corvallis
Anti-union forces are aligned against Merkley
I'm really sick and tired of the ad being run by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce against Jeff Merkley, Democrat candidate for U.S. Senate.
There's no doubt why the Chamber is against Jeff: It's because they also also against the Employee Free Choice Act.
Under the Employee Free Choice Act, if a majority of workers sign a card indicating support for a labor union, the employer would have to recognize that labor union so long as it is certified by the labor relations board; labor disputes can be submitted to binding arbitration; and workers cannot be fired for labor union activities.
Obviously those wishing to maintain workplace dictatorships would be against such a law.
And that's just exactly the case when it comes to the Chamber, despite claiming leadership in a so-called "Coalition for a Democratic Workplace" there's nothing in their proposal involving workers democratically running the workplace. Obviously the Chamber expects U.S. workers to be stupid enough to believe the Chamber has any desire for democractically run workplaces. Don't fall for their phony message.
Robert G. Gourley, Corvallis