Letters in the Editor's Mailbag.

Byline: The Register-Guard

A flawed agenda

Tom Giesen's tactics run afoul! Giesen's Sept. 10 guest column cast light on his flawed agenda and lack of scientific principles. Throughout my life, I have found that people turn to the use of insults and lies when they have nothing good to say. I often see Giesen's various opinions in the paper. I would love to know what his credentials are. He purports to know and understand forest ecosystems and how they should be properly managed, yet where did he learn this?

We hear a lot from this guy, and I am sure many listen - but why? For example, Giesen argues that private forests burn at the same rate as public forests. Absolutely false! So far this year in Oregon, fewer than 90,000 acres of private lands have burned and 980,000 acres of public lands have burned. Why? Because private owners minimize fuel loading by thinning,

In Giesen's most recent slanted article, he continually criticized Aaron Jones. Jones has been involved in the forest products industry for more than 50 years, yet Giesen does not even consider this experience. Why? Because the radical environmental organization Giesen works for would not make any money if Giesen told the truth. His radical environmental viewpoints are slanted and, frankly, wrong. In the future, he should try to broaden his horizons and respect the views of others.

WAYNE GIESY Philomath

'The drums of war'

These timely words attributed to Shakespeare won't affect President Bush, but voters may want to ponder them and pass them on: "Beware the leader who bangs the drums of war in order to whip the citizenry into a patriotic fervor, for patriotism is indeed a double-edged sword. It both emboldens the blood, just as it narrows the mind.

"And when the drums of war have reached a fever pitch and the blood boils with hate and the mind has closed, the leader will have no need in seizing the rights of the citizenry. Rather, the citizenry, infused with fear and blinded by patriotism, will offer up all of their rights unto the leader and gladly so.

"How do I know? For this is what I have done. And I am Caesar."

CHARLES O. PORTER Eugene

Needed: checks, balances

I am frightened of the possibility that the U.S. government may attack Iraq. President Bush has displayed a dictatorial bent, and the American people must be vigilant. We need to keep the executive branch in check.

To attack a regime without provocation is a horrifying act of aggression that the world would not easily forgive. It would serve only to feed the anti-American sentiments we are seeking to quell. Further, we should give credence to the words of the Arab leader who stated that an American attack on Iraq would open "the gates of Hell" in the Middle East.

The United States needs to be a more responsible member of the world community and carefully consider the effects of a possible invasion of Iraq. I fear for the stability of the Middle East if we strike Iraq, and I doubt that we have the patience, wisdom, or even might to help the Middle East regain its equilibrium after such an attack.

I yearn for a president who is more cautious about waging war. President Bush appears to me all too ready to unleash our military power on one of the world's most volatile powder kegs. Where is the wisdom in that? And who will help the world recover after the destruction he is all too ready to unleash?

I urge our representatives to Congress to do their part in the system of checks and balances and vote against a resolution to attack Iraq.

ELIZA SHER Eugene

Self-expression allowed

Good news for Nancy Iwakawa, the author of a Sept. 12 guest column on the proposed South University Historic District. After speaking to several authoritative sources, it's clear to me that she would be permitted to add a Japanese-style room to her home if the district were in place. And she wouldn't have to tear off the existing remodel should the district be enacted.

The proposed district would not prohibit self-expression as long as the size and scale of the remodel would be in keeping with the neighborhood - which hers is. In fact, she could create landscaping to match her new room. She would lose the home's historic contributing status and the financial incentives associated with it; on the other hand, she would gain peace of mind knowing that a massive concrete-block apartment complex couldn't be built next door

As to her concern about a monoculture: In the early 1900s the South University area was populated almost exclusively by Caucasians who built in the prevalent style. In other locales, historic districts reflect other ethnicities and cultures. Again, the good news for Iwakawa is that she can add her own cultural touch to local history.

MARILYN MILNE Eugene

Consider 'other side'

It may seem reasonable to us and Sens. Gordon Smith's and Ron Wyden's colleagues to return United Nations weapons inspectors to Iraq, but President Bush already called for an attack to remove Saddam Hussein, regardless. Would we permit similar inspections in the United States? Maybe "the other side" would also want to remove our U.S. Supreme Court-selected president?

Former President Dwight Eisenhower got it right when he said, "There is no way in which a country can satisfy the craving for absolute security, but it can easily bankrupt itself morally and economically in attempting to reach that goal through arms alone." It's also notable that most of those calling for more war have never been under fire, let alone been in uniform in wartime.

George Bush and his handlers want to spend money we don't have for endless war, creating more terrorists in the process. It's up to Congress to be really patriotic and simply say, "We don't have the money."

JOHN SAEMANN Eugene

Budget crisis worse

The Oregon budget crisis is really much worse than it seems at first glance. The Oregon income tax is based on the federal income tax. The U.S. Congress has just passed a large income tax reduction; this federal income tax reduction will result in lower Oregon income tax collections.

Interest rates are low. Two of the consequences of low interest rates are that many more people are purchasing homes. Interest on a home loan is one of the few income tax deductions left. This will result in lower federal and Oregon tax collections. Another consequence of low interest rates is that investment income is going to be lower than in previous years - again resulting in lower tax collections.

Also, revenues from capital gains are practically nonexistent this year.

The combination of federal tax reductions, home loan deductions, lower personal incomes resulting from lower interest rates and practically non-existent capital gains should result in lower Oregon income tax collections.

TOM BRUTON Springfield

Correction

Because of editing errors, Verna Erickson's Sept. 18 letter to the editor contained incorrect song references. The beginning of the second paragraph should have read: "Sometime prior to 1930, a big to-do was made that the school children of America had voted for the 'Star Spangled Banner' to become our national anthem. I was one of those children who voted for it - under protest. The other choice was 'America.' We were told very definitely that we could not vote for 'America' because the tune is the same as 'God Save the King.' " The letter also should have stated that the students' salute to the flag was followed "by singing 'America.' "

CAPTION(S):

The Register-Guard welcomes letters on topics of general interest. Our length limit is 250 words; all letters are subject to condensation. Mail letters to Mailbag, P.O. Box 10188, Eugene, OR 97440-2188 Fax: [phone] E-mail: [e-mail]