LETTERS IN THE EDITOR'S MAILBAG.

Byline: The Register-Guard

Rights restrictions are shameful

My entire working career has been in service to my country, first for six years as a United States Marine and subsequently for 28 years as a Foreign Service officer.

Today I read the paper; I watched our president and I wept. Today, in the United States, it is the law that one can be incarcerated and have no right to be told the reason, can be tortured into signing any form of confession and have that confession introduced as evidence into a court of law; and be tried on the basis of evidence that you have no right to see or challenge. Ultimately, one can be convicted and sentenced with no reasonable ability to mount a defense. This can all happen regardless of innocence or guilt.

Is it likely to happen to you or me? No, probably not. The law, after all, applies to terrorists and "enemy combatants" - whatever those things are. So as long as we keep our heads down, don't raise our voices in protest, don't march in the streets or appear like one of those "enemy combatants" (whatever those things are), we probably should be OK. Let us return to our shopping, eat at the food court and watch TV. No news, please.

I am extremely proud of my service, both in the uniform of a United States Marine and as a diplomatic representative of our country. Today, I could not perform either with honor or dignity.

In those proud Marine colors, what principles, what values, what freedoms would I be fighting for? And from our embassies around the world, where is the great nation to repre- sent?

I feel shame.

ROSS NESBERG

Springfield

Say no to Measures 41 and 48

Please join your fellow citizens who care about our schools by voting no on Ballot Measures 41 and 48.

If 41 passes, the Oregon School Boards Association reports that the economic impact to Mapleton schools is estimated at a potential loss of $541,254 out of a $2.99 million general fund budget for the current 2005-07 biennium. Add the poorly crafted Measure 48, and Mapleton loses another $270,627.

For Siuslaw schools, Measure 41 takes $2.47 million, and Measure 48 removes another $1.24 million from a general fund budget of $12.77 million.

The state of Colorado recently repealed its version of 48 due to its devastating effects on its schools. Let's stop the madness before it occurs.

Vote no on 41 and 48.

MICHELLE HOLMAN

Deadwood 

EEA supports Chris Edwards 

As co-presidents of the Eugene Education Association, we represent the teachers of the Eugene and Bethel school districts.

Teacher and specialist members of the EEA interview all candidates for local legislative positions; we met with both Chris Edwards and Rep. Debi Farr. Edwards and Farr sought our recommendation for all the obvious reasons. Edwards was unanimously recommended.

During our interview and throughout his campaign, Edwards has demonstrated a grasp of the issues, most notably those concerning public education and the health and welfare of all Oregonians. In his typical energetic fashion, Edwards already has begun to seek solutions to address these complex problems.

As a parent of a 4-year-old, Edwards wants a strong public school system for his son and all Oregon students. He supports school-to-work partnerships, vocational training and mentorship programs, all programs necessary to educate Oregon's future.

Farr's record is one of support of an out-of-touch Republican platform. A claim of independence and non-partisanship are not borne out by Farr's voting record. EEA's recommendation of pro-education candidates is developed by not only interviewing the candidates but also by reviewing the voting record of incum- bents.

Students, parents and the community would be well served with Edwards serving in Salem as the House District 14 representative. We strongly urge the constituents of District 14 to elect Democrat Chris Edwards to the Oregon House of Representatives.

PAUL DUCHIN

MERRI STEELE

Co-presidents

Eugene Education Association

Eugene

Measure 42 promotes fairness

Saying that it's a bad thing to prohibit insurance companies from using our credit scores to determine our premiums amuses me.

Opponents of Measure 42 suggest that someone with a poor credit rating must surely be a poor insurance risk. That's ludicrous! Not everyone with a poor credit rating earned it by being irresponsible. Sometimes, there are life circumstances that caused it.

The death of a spouse or a wage-earning spouse being injured and unable to continue working are ways credit ratings can suffer. I believe the only thing an insurance company needs to look at in determining my car insurance premiums is my family driving record.

I support Measure 42 and believe it is the right thing to do. Only my driving record and insurance claim record should determine how much of a premium I have to pay.

JAN OFFET

Springfield

Unwanted babies face hardship

A letter appeared in this section recently with an impassioned indictment of abortion. No doubt the writers of such letters see themselves as standing by the fetus in the role of defender.

What's certain, however, is that their efforts will, if successful, help produce an unwanted child. I'm wondering if they'll also be standing by to defend the child from the abuse and neglect that is likely to await it. I think we can logically assume that unwanted children run a far greater risk of these.

Will they be standing by the young mother, who now faces 20 years of likely struggle and drudgery with greatly diminished chances of accomplishing the most daunting task life gives us, that of raising good chil- dren?

Will they be standing by when the teenager, full of pain and frustration, turns to drugs to find some peace?

Will they visit the grown-up child in prison where, logic tells us, an unwanted child is more likely to end up?

And will they be among the few to attend the lonely, far-too-early funeral? Defending a fetus can easily seem like a noble stance. I only wish that life were that simple.

JOE VALASEK

Eugene

DeFazio has sensible solutions

The first commercial I saw promoting Jim Feldkamp said he advocated change but nothing about what that change involved. Another only directed childish negativity against Rep. Peter DeFazio.

In a debate, Feldkamp's fumbling rhetoric failed to define his position on important issues, while DeFazio's detailed answers made him appear much more qualified. Feldkamp almost deceptively avoided association with the imploding Republican Party or the current administration's failing policies - such as the fiasco in Iraq, the bumbled campaign on terrorism, exploitation for profit that compromises the environment, and the disastrous proposal to privatize Social Security. Where does he stand on these issues?

Of more concern, and regardless of whether Feldkamp returned $10,000 in contributions from Tom DeLay's PAC, is that this neo-conservative faction obviously considers Feldkamp a useful tool. Feldkamp instills no confidence that he isn't just another show pony puppet of this group, let alone qualified to represent Oregon in Congress.

DeFazio has proven his commitment to people and has provided balanced solutions for protecting the environment and Oregonians' jobs. If one is trying to move a 2,000-pound elephant, even a few steps represent big change. DeFazio has accomplished this.

Equally important is how DeFazio has helped prevent detrimental changes from exploitative interest agendas. DeFazio provides both honest and sensible solutions and has done a good job.

He has my vote to continue.

JIM KROWKA

Dexter

U.S. voting system still flawed

Let me see if I have my facts cor- rect.

In 2000, the U.S. Supreme Court decided our president for us. In 2004, our president was chosen by Ohio and the electronic voting system run by the Republican state officials.

Now, six years later, after millions of dollars were spent to fix the mess, we still don't have a standard ballot or voting system. If it weren't so sad it would be laughable. We are no better off than the Third World countries that we condemn for voting corrup- tion.

It finally has happened. The American people have become so complacent and apathetic that they no longer care, and we have become no better than the nations we condemn. We have given up our freedoms and can no longer accuse the government of taking them away.

People walk miles at risk of life just to cast their votes in many places around the world, while all too many fat, lazy Americans would rather eat junk food and watch "Dancing With the Stars."

I'm just glad I'm older and won't be around in 20 years.

ROGER WILSON

Coos Bay 

Blame anyone but the killer

Under the title "Lax gun laws are to blame" (letters, Oct. 21), Ruth Lefevre goes publicly phobic about one of the most highly regulated products in the United States, using the recent death of the unarmed Mennonite schoolgirls as an excuse for venting her obviously deep-seated hatred for the National Rifle Association. Blame anyone or anything but the killer, which is only a comment upon her own personal values.

I think the thing that causes the most duress to the parents of those girls is the deep lack of religion on the part of those living outside of their counties. They weren't happy about the car the guy drove. They weren't happy about the music, radio or phone he had. They don't like the fast food burgers the guy ate.

The most distressing thing about him and his culture before he killed the faithful was his complete lack of religious morals - which reminds me of Lefevre and all the others using the girls' death to campaign with.

For shame! Have they no decency?

DANIEL J. MOORE

Springfield