LETTERS IN THE EDITOR'S MAILBAG.

Byline: The Register-Guard

Liberals destroying community

What Don Richey (letters, June 17) said about liberals is a statement of truth and insight. I say, "Hurray, Don."

There should be more people making these same statements. Liberalism is destroying this community. Liberals hide behind the concept of, "Let's just all love one another and get along," except when someone such as Richey tells a truth.

Well, I'll stand with Don Richey and his concepts. It is time for conservatives to take back the city of Eugene.

BARBARA ARMAS

Springfield

Building on a rich tradition

I am inspired by Peter Campbell's succinct letter, "A rich tradition of denial" (letters, June 25).

I'd like to continue the tradition.

President Bush: "There are weapons of mass destruction in Iraq."

President Bush: "There is a connection between Saddam Hussein and al-Qaeda."

President Bush: "Gay marriage is not a wedge issue (to divert attention from Iraq)."

SPENCER DOIDGE

Eugene

Judge Edwin Allen was special

Judge Ed Allen was indeed a giant, and the impact he had in your community and on the individuals he met will be felt for a very long time. I was one of the fortunate young lawyers who had the privilege of clerking for him right after law school (1987-88).

I knew I was in for something special, for when he called to offer me the job, the first thing I heard after I said hello wasn't that deep voice I came to know so well, but strains from the song "Gigi." How could anyone turn that down?

Over that year, part in juvenile court and part downtown, I learned much from this dedicated, funny and yes, sometimes-irascible teacher. Look at the statutes first, don't blame your secretary, come prepared to court and don't forget the human touch. Oh, and putting the Christmas tree in the playpen will keep toddlers from playing with the ornaments.

My clerkship ended as it began; with a song, as I sang a version to him of "It Was a Very Good Year." And his life, like a vintage wine, poured sweet and clear.

Thank you, Judge A.

GRETCHEN "GIGI" MERRILL

Salem

Conservatives need to step up

Not only has Don Richey struck a nerve, he's hit the nail right on the head! I am in total agreement with Richey and hope he keeps up the good work in bringing to light the truth.

To paraphrase Edmund Burke, "All that is necessary for the forces of liberalism to destroy is for enough good conservatives to do nothing."

It is an inherent tenet in liberalism to destroy that which is good.

Now is the time for all good people, and business owners, to stand up and be counted.

J.D. ARMAS

Springfield

Kerry should return his salary

John Kerry must do the right thing and return his Senate salary "which he has received illegally" to the U.S. Treasury.

Federal law requires senators and congressmen to be docked pay for the time they miss from work, just like ordinary Americans. Senator Kerry knows this, yet he continues to receive and accept his salary in violation of 2 U.S.C. s.39.

Of course, this law applies to all congressmen and senators, but Senator Kerry is worthy of special condemnation because he has the absolute worst attendance record in the Senate, and the law does not make an exception for campaign activities.

Further, a senator running for president should set an example by doing his utmost to obey the law he will, if successful, be sworn to uphold. Instead, Senator Kerry has opted to disregard the law and, effectively, steal from the very taxpayers he hopes to lead.

If Senator Kerry cannot perform his duties as senator, he should resign.

JOYCE EDWARDS

Springfield

Bush and Kerry much the same

While George Bush and John Kerry tout their differences, it's revealing to note some of their similarities.

Both are wealthy, middle-age guys with not a clue about the struggles of working-class Americans. Neither has any coherent plan to solve America's health care crisis.

Neither would take the harsh, necessary measures required to stop the tidal wave of humanity pouring illegally across our borders and coastlines, both instead supporting amnesty for illegal aliens.

Both have supported the "free trade" agreements that have cost American jobs. Neither has a workable plan to shrink the rapidly-growing trade deficit.

Neither understands the hard lessons of the 1940s, when America learned what terrible things are necessary to win wars, nor does either have the stomach to pursue such measures.

Although both talk about it, neither has a realistic plan to resolve the looming Social Security and Medicare disasters. Neither has any credible plan to seriously reduce America's dependence on foreign oil.

When you get right down to it, there isn't much difference between the two on many of the big issues. That's why my vote will be going to a third-party candidate.

As long as we keep electing Democrats and Republicans to office, nothing will change.

JERRY J. RITTER 

Springfield

Regime change begins at home

Of 535 members of Congress, only one has a child serving in Iraq. Everything about the "war on terror" points to oil and money, from Afghanistan to Libya. And more than 800 U.S. soldiers are dead. For what?

Those of us who oppose the war on all fronts support the troops absolutely, by asking that they be brought home, to no longer die needlessly.

"Fahrenheit 9/11" finally begins to tell the story, the truth of what this country has been through the last four years. I certainly support it, and I encourage everyone to see it.

Regime change begins at home. We have to stand for something, or people are going to continue to die for nothing.

Vote!

ANGELA ENGLERT

Eugene

Support medical marijuana use

Everybody I have seen bashing the idea of medical marijuana thinks that the idea behind pot is to get high. I agree that you can get high from pot. You also can get a high from tobacco and caffeine, but they aren't illegal. In fact, the biggest difference between tobacco and marijuana is 300-plus years of breeding and tradition.

Tobacco only has negative side effects; marijuana smoke is the only thing bad about marijuana. When ingested, marijuana is no more harmful than lettuce. The average American, with the average American weight, would need to smoke or eat the equivalent of about 250 joints in a few hours in order to die from a THC overdose.

I am actually willing to bet that the biggest obstacle to marijuana legalization is the tobacco people themselves.

Even if you're not a fan of marijuana, why not allow it for the people that can't get rid of their pain any other way?

CORBIN SIMPSON

Eugene

Encourage bikes, not scooters

The arguments made by several letter writers regarding the supposedly environmentally friendly nature of electric- and gas-powered scooters is better used to encourage bicycle use, since bicycles cause no air, water or noise pollution and have the added benefit of improving the physical health of riders.

Further, scooter use will not reduce automobile traffic, and therefore pollution, as the writers claim, so long as scooters are purchased in addition to the other vehicles owned by families and used largely by the young, who might otherwise ride bikes.

The greatest problem with adding scooters to the traffic mix will surely be the increased stimuli that drivers, pedestrians and bicyclists must pay attention to in order to maneuver their way safely around town. There are too many stimuli now.

Additional noise and movement will lead to more accidents and more incidents of road rage (not to mention bike path rage and sidewalk rage). And coming on the heels of the motorized scooters, I hear, are mini-motorcycles. Anything that can be invented and sold for a profit will be, unless we set limits.

I'm with Councilor Betty Taylor. Let's limit motor vehicles on bike paths to those required by the disabled, keep scooters off busy streets, and preserve sidewalks for pedestrians and bicycle lanes for bicycles.

ELLEN SPEAR

Eugene

Moore proves there's a market

Michael Moore has been accused by many of deliberately distorting the truth; however, I am able to detect only one undeniable falsehood rising out of the current controversy centered around "Fahrenheit 9/11":

The long string of phenomenally successfully efforts by this artist strongly suggests that there is indeed a rich "market for leftist thought," despite the blustering excuses made by the Limbaughs and the Larsens as to why few liberal talk shows get any air time these days.

BILL SMEE 

Springfield

Preserve river park potential

The possibility of a city park along the south bank of the Willamette River will be irreversibly lost if current plans for a westbound, multi-lane, one-way arterial between the river and the railroad tracks are implemented.

A city population that will double in 50 years, the imperative increase in urban housing density and decreased future automobile use, because of unavoidably increasing petroleum prices, will produce an increased need for open park space in the city center.

The argument that a one-way street doublet will adequately join the existing downtown district with the planned urban renewal strip appendage to the east is weak because an eastbound arterial barrier would remain. An elongated downtown pattern is not pedestrian friendly. Easy out-of-city street funding should not corrupt prudent people-friendly planning.

The existing $800,000 Agate Street railroad underpass is inadequate for use in a one-way arterial street.

Automobiles are but a small part of human activity. Current plans represent a ruthless subordination of human spiritual and creative needs and talents to automotive domination. Perhaps city planners need to include more social psychology in their planning process.

Please, ask your city councilor to support full disclosure and public discussion of this matter.

RAY WOLFE

Eugene