LETTERS IN THE EDITOR'S MAILBAG.

Byline: The Register-Guard

Closure a foregone conclusion 

Down with Hillside. It was "not distinctive enough" but distinctive, just as Evergreen was. Instead of making Adams and Edgewood, the co-located neighborhood schools, and all schools, distinctive and competitive, the Eugene School Board closes the better ones.

It takes a village to raise a child. Russians say it takes one madman to demolish a village. Alternative schools started with caring parents who built better schools for their children, this city and this country. This brought other caring parents to Eugene, helping enterprises like the the University of Oregon hire better workers - low wages but "great schools, outdoors, community."

The schools' demise started with a woman protesting inequity. Superintendent George Russell joined the egalitarian crusade. Any such crusade in history failed - 18th century France, 20th century Russia - but the crusaders did not know; they were cheated out of their education, too.

Instead of distinctive, challenging programs, the system provided hours of TV and "great self-esteem." We pay for this now. They spend money on evaluating schools when the results are known beforehand: not diverse enough.

At the UO, I teach the graduates of local schools. They cannot tell "there" from "their" or add fractions. Public officials close the best schools, fail to stop terrorists, invade Iraq.

No distinctive schools for anyone who cares; instead, wealthy areas with good schools, poor areas with bad schools, as elsewhere. An insurmountable socio-economic divide. Bravo!

JULIA NEMIROVSKAYA

Eugene

Many drove by injured dog

Recently, I was driving down Harlow Road when I noticed a yellow Labrador lying in the road. I thought the accident had just happened because traffic had not backed up yet. I went to help. Sadly, the owner wasn't there.

One woman said that she was also driving by and witnessed that traffic was still moving, maneuvering around the dog. Shame on the passersby who did nothing! It is sad that this world, especially our community, has so little compassion for its members, the owner and the dog.

I know many, especially those guilty, are thinking "It's just a dog." Well, to someone he's a family member, a best friend. Those who did stop are good-hearted people, and the world would be a better place with more like them and fewer of those who so cold-heartedly just drove on.

A woman lent her blanket and a man stopped traffic and took the dog to the emergency veterinary hospital. With what little help I could offer, I drove ahead to warn the hospital. Upon arrival, the dog had passed away.

Those of us who helped were upset. We understand that sometimes animals run in front of traffic. What we can't understand was the cruelty of those who passed by and did nothing. That dog was alone until a few of us stopped. I found out that there was a witness who saw the car hit the dog, drive over him and keep going. Awful!

CHRISTINE BARAJAS

Springfield

Make Congress use VA hospitals

As I sit here watching the recent discovery of how poor the medical treatment is for veterans, the next news story is of Vice President Dick Cheney and his blood clots from too much time in a plane.

Too bad someone didn't suggest that he get up and walk around to prevent the condition, but that aside, too bad he wasn't sent to Walter Reed Army Medical Center or any Veterans Affairs facility and told to get in line.

My bet is he got immediate attention in the best facility available, but if he were a wounded vet he would most probably be in the back of a mile-long line just to get an appointment.

Nothing has changed. Troops are sent into battle with inadequate gear when our leaders here in the United States drive around in fully armor-plated vehicles with unsurpassed security. Just how long does anyone think the VA situation would have gone unnoticed if not for someone blowing the whistle?

It is a sad day when the wounded troops have to beg for care, and then the response is "we will look into it." Any bets on where this system is a year from now? Pathetic at best.

Maybe the military should go on strike and then see what happens - or better yet, all members of Congress should have to get their health care from VA facilities.

JOHN H. BROWN

Eugene

Pay attention to Richardson

Is The Register-Guard sifting through syndicated columnists to find criticism of Sen. Hillary Clinton? Money is everything where the primaries are concerned, and Clinton's only real opponent in the Democrats' money race seems to be Sen. Barak Obama.

Obama is likable and photogenic, but what is there in his background to establish that he is prepared to lead the world's most powerful nation and deal with the pressing foreign policy issues that beset us?

Has the newspaper gone over to Obama, as Hollywood and George Soros have? If so, I urge the editorial board to take a closer look at Gov. Bill Richardson of New Mexico. Richardson is easily the best qualified candidate - much better qualified than anyone else who is running. He is a skilled negotiator and thoughtful leader. He performed effectively in the Clinton administration and has lifted the New Mexico economy out of the doldrums during his brief tenure as governor. He received 70 percent of the state vote when he ran for re-election.

The only thing Richardson lacks is the money to run a campaign. This contrasts with leading candidates from both parties. The best thing they have going for them is their ability to raise millions of dollars. America needs Richardson and he needs media attention to mount a successful campaign.

R. CRAIG TAYLOR

Eugene

County hasn't set priorities

Lane County needs commissioners who will step up and decide what the purposes of government are and provide those services only.

In my opinion the purpose of government is not to provide pre-birth to post-death services. If people cannot feel safe and secure in their day-to-day lives, then the feel-good services and programs are worthless.

We as individuals must live within our means. When income decreases, we make the hard decisions of what is essential and then cut extraneous items. Unfortunately, politicians and bureaucrats don't operate this way.

The county made $15.4 million more revenue on property taxes from 2005 to 2006 (difference between 2005 total property tax and the 2006 total property tax). This information was provided on the 2006 property tax information sheet. Where did the money go?

Who in their right mind goes out and spends $21 million on a new county health building when they are in a fiscal crisis? Oh, I forgot: "It has been a priority of the board for many years." Guess we should realize where the board's priorities or lack thereof do lie. It would seem that these two things would resolve the monetary problems for at least this year, but instead we get a new tax so we can keep on spending.

Lastly, for anyone who thinks that because they put the tax rate in writing means they will adhere to it, two words come to mind: Buyer beware.

PAUL GRINDE

Creswell

Slow down on Goodpasture

I'd like to invite everyone to the "Eugene Races." The race track is Goodpasture Island Road, and the best part is there's a race held there several times a day, nearly every day.

As there are numerous houses, apartments and senior living facilities in this area, it makes for a great place to race a vehicle as if this city street were an interstate highway. It's also a wonderful place to fly past stopped school buses. After all, those red flashing lights and that stop sign on the side of the school bus are just suggestions, right?

Wrong.

Picture it: a little boy drops his basketball. Out it rolls into the street; and in an instant, someone loses their child because one person is in too much of a hurry to wait for 30 seconds at that stop sign.

Now picture it being your son, grandson or a family friend.

Drivers on Goodpasture Island Road, please slow down. The posted speed limit is 40 mph. More importantly, please observe those stop signs on the school buses. As this is not a divided highway, that stop sign applies to both sides of the street.

From my office window I see at least one car every morning and at least one more every afternoon drive right past the stop signs, and twice a day, every day, I pray someone doesn't lose their child.

Isn't it worth 30 seconds of your life to save someone else's?

JULIA OZAB

Eugene

Don't lecture Dave Frohnmayer

Regarding the March 8 editorial involving the consultant's report to University of Oregon President Dave Frohnmayer:

Perhaps Frohnmayer is squeaky clean and The Register-Guard wants dirt. The editorial implies some kind of guilt. That seems unjust. Frohnmayer does not need a lecture from The Register-Guard on transparency and openness.

JIM BROWN 

Eugene

Money behind Hillside closure

The missed story about Hillside School is the dedicated educators and parents who spent more than two years addressing the "access and options" concerns of the Eugene School District.

Access and options? I argue it was budget and finance. Next time, don't waste the valuable time of teachers and parents - just do it.

TRIS O'SHAUGHNESSY

Eugene

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