LETTERS IN THE EDITOR'S MAILBAG.

Byline: The Register-Guard

The Register-Guard welcomes letters on topics of general interest. Our length limit is 250 words; all letters are subject to condensation. Writers are limited to one letter per calendar month. Because of the volume of mail, not all letters can be printed. Letters must be signed with the writer's full name. An address and daytime telephone number are needed for verification purposes; this information will not be published or released.

Mail letters to: Mailbag, P.O. Box 10188, Eugene, OR 97440-2188

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U.S. has a surplus of workers

The July 3 editorial in The Register-Guard, "Cancel this road show," claims that "the immigration bill approved by the House last December would leave the U.S. economy desperately short of workers in agriculture, construction, the service industry and other sectors." This is not true.

This country has a surplus of working-class people, both service and blue-collar workers, and a shortage of jobs, especially jobs that pay enough to make a living and support a family. Where there are apparent shortages of workers, that is only because employers refuse to pay a living wage, backed up by our country's official, although rarely stated, cheap labor policy.

If you doubt this surplus of workers, just ask one how long it took, after their last layoff, to find a new job. A middle-aged manufacturing worker I know tells me it took him months. Or look at the continuing massive layoffs by American corporations of tens of thousands of workers. Obviously, we're considered highly expendable.

I don't support either the House or Senate bills. The House bill is pointlessly punitive. We are not going to accomplish anything by making felons out of illegal immigrants or their helpers.

The Senate amnesty bill, on the other hand, will encourage more illegal immigration and force American workers to endure greater competition for their jobs. We would be better off this year with no bill.

LYNN PORTER

Eugene

Ems players strangely silent

We just came home from a great baseball game and fireworks display. While the Ems were exiting the field, we were right on the fence next to where they come off. I was shouting congratulations for a great game, great plays, etc. Only one player looked up, but he didn't smile, say thank you - nothing.

As we were going on the field for the fireworks, one of the players was walking with his wife or girlfriend. I approached him and said something to this effect: "Can't you guys acknowledge your fans when they are shouting compliments and saying thank you? Are you guys so smug you can't say thank you?" His response was a sheepish smile, and he didn't say one word.

I mean, this was a 12-10 win, an exciting game. There are no excuses for this kind of attitude. Is this consistent with the way they respond to praise and congratulations? The manager acted the same way. How sad.

MIKE LARSEN

DENISE LARSEN

Eugene

Voters haven't done their jobs

The next elections will be more about the core issues of immigration, the war, Social Security, campaign reform and taxes confronting these United States of America than partisan control of the Congress and the White House. The most troubling issue is the lack of performance of our elected officials.

At this moment there is chaos in the Congress over issues that bear only on re-election of the current members of both houses and partisan control of both houses. The Register-Guard July 3 editorial, "Cancel this road show," states "The House and Senate should call off their road-show charade and make an earnest effort to salvage immigration reform before the fall elections when voters will have a chance to elect a new Congress that's willing to get the job done."

The onus is clearly on us, dear voters.

We criticize members of Congress for not doing their jobs, and we have not done ours. We return them to jobs they are failing to perform and wonder why the results are still the same. All who have commented promised to pass legislation to prevent the type of behavior that brought Jack Abramoff's name into the news. Nothing has happened! Further, current members of both houses lament the need for the electorate to have a voice through campaign reform. Nothing! They did, however, vote a healthy raise for themselves.

Where else can an employee who fails to perform as expected receive a pay raise rather than be summarily discharged?

HENRY E. MASTERSON

Eugene

Coaches care about players

In response to the July 1 letter "Don't teach kids trick plays," I would like to set the record straight.

I am the head coach of the team mentioned in that letter. The "sneak" play in question is a legal play. The score was 6 to 5 and the opposing team had two outs and a person on second base when I asked my assistant coach to call a time out and gather my team in a huddle. Then the play was executed. The shortstop had the ball, not the second baseman. The play resumed and the player tagged out was found safe by the umpire, not because the play was considered sneaky but because the pitcher's foot was touching the rubber mound.

My character and that of my assistant coaches have been publicly maligned. We stand accused of being poor role models, coaching in a dishonest way and teaching children deceit and trickery. I realize this person did not like the play that was called, but it is unfortunate that she felt the need to attack the characters of several good coaches.

As a coach, I believe it is my job to teach the game of baseball in a comprehensive way with honesty, integrity and respect. My assistant coaches feel the same way. We care about our players, their parents and our fellow colleagues. We are hardworking fathers, husbands and upstanding citizens of our community. We volunteer our time for the benefit of children. We are good role models.

SHAWN REES

Springfield

Hold commanders accountable

Last month, an Army unit in Iraq sent out three soldiers in a thin-skinned vehicle without leadership or support. They were attacked, captured and murdered. It turns out those troops were from the same unit that has soldiers accused of raping and murdering members of an Iraqi family.

It is past time for some stars, eagles, oak leaves and bars to be forcibly removed from some collars.

Some of the low-ranking sad sacks from Abu Ghraib prison are serving their own hard time, but did we ever find out who their platoon, company and battalion commanders were, and what they were doing while the pictures were being taken?

Brave men and women fight in Iraq, cursed by incompetent leadership from the Oval Office to the orderly room.

JOEL EVANS

Yachats

Don't allow institutional racism 

When my daughter-in-law, who is African-American, was racially harassed by an employee of a bookstore, I attempted to seek justice for her. And when her sister tried to have a conversation with a coaching staff member of a children's sports organization and he ended it by showing her his swastika tattoo, I again attempted to seek justice for her and her son. But in both cases I ran into a stone wall.

I was referred to people who expressed outrage and assurance that this was unacceptable and would be taken care of. But after wasting a considerable amount of my time and the money of those employing these people, I was told nothing could be done about these incidents.

Now I understand institutionalized racism. These racists are embedded in our society and operate with impunity. And I understand why African-Americans who endure this as part of Living While Black do nothing about it. It would not leave them time to do anything else with their lives and would get them nowhere.

My daughter-in-law wants to move away from here. It is not a community for her. It's an environment that is at worst hostile and at best neutral.

Paolo Friere said, "In the struggle between the powerful and the powerless, those who remain neutral side with the powerful." To all those who go around smugly honoring diversity and doing nothing I want to say, "You are part of the problem."

KATHLEEN JONES

Eugene

Fireworks drive dogs crazy

Here is something I have never done - write a letter to the editor.

I moved to Eugene in January and have, for the most part, been very pleased with the city and its offerings. Right now, though, I have had about enough. It is July 2 and I have been dealing with fireworks since June 26. If it was just me, well, that would be annoying enough. However, each night is a living hell for my dogs.

As of right now, at 9:30 p.m., well before it is even dark, the dogs have been given Benadryl and are in anxiety wraps. The fireworks started tonight at 9:05. This is absolutely ridiculous. Why doesn't Eugene have ordinances forbidding fireworks, or at the very least restricted them to specific days? I have lived in places with both the above, and my canine kids and I fared much better. What will it take to get this problem resolved?

SARAH HANKINS

Eugene

LNG plan affects all boaters

I read the article on the liquified natural gas hearings (Register-Guard, July 3) but nowhere did I see any reference to one of the major objections to this whole proposal, and that is the necessity to give the operation of the lower bay and the North Spit to the federal government if this facility is built.

The Department of Homeland Security will control access to the North Spit and the movement of other vessels whenever an LNG tanker is present in the channel entrance and Lower Coos Bay. The information on how the department will accomplish this necessary security will most likely remain classified.

Coos Bay is 10th in the state in "boat use days" with over 32,000 per year. These 60 new jobs will come at an extraordinarily high price to our tourist industry with unannounced bay closures whenever an LNG tanker is present. Would you really trailer your boat to Coos Bay if you knew there was a good chance you might not be able to launch it?

Our port officials and the governor went to Japan to tour an LNG facility that is similar to this proposal, according to their press. They would have done better to tour the facility in Boston Harbor where the language and the laws are the same as in Coos Bay and where they could actually see the impacts on other harbor users.

HOLLY STAMPER

Charleston