Letters in the Editor's Mailbag.

Byline: The Register-Guard

Measure is compassionate

Human services continue to be decreased for those who are unable to care for themselves and require help - children, the elderly, the disabled, and those with mental illnesses. Even if Measure 28 passes, more cuts to the most vulnerable will still occur.

All articles I've read give reason after reason why we need to pass Measure 28. It's true. And it's also true that the state budget problems need to be addressed, but let's not lose our humanity while we address them. Let's not pile more adversities on those least able to accommodate them. Measure 28 is compassionate, and it will prevent more unemployment.

As for managing the state budget better, I have two suggestions for starters: 1) We should stop giving multimillion dollar tax breaks to large corporations, and 2) We should change the corporate kicker tax law meant to refund excess state revenues, since there obviously is no excess anymore.

SUSAN SMITH Eugene

A state worth living in

These pages are filled with the words of writers certain that the state is wasting money. They're probably right. I can't think of a single entity, from the individual family to the federal government to international corporations, in which unnecessary expenditures couldn't be found. Do you want to be right, or do you want a state worth living in?

Even if you don't have children in school, haven't been the victim of a crime yet, have a recession-proof job with medical insurance, already have your college education and aren't trying to pay for child care with a sub-poverty level income, you will be affected by cuts in state services.

I want the people who will be in power when I'm old to be well educated. I want to know that children are properly protected from abuse and violence, because children really do learn what they live. I want to know that if I am a victim of a crime there will be a police officer available to help me. And I dream of the day when the store clerk won't be forced through poverty and lack of insurance to come to work sick and share his or her illness with me.

And finally, if you are certain that the state government is filled with lazy, incompetent employees who don't earn their salaries, please consider volunteering. You'll get a much different view from the inside.

To me, it's worth a few dollars a month to fund a state worth living in.

CAROL STILL Eugene

Will they ever learn?

On Martin Luther King Jr. Day, some of us revisited his April 1967 speech denouncing the Vietnam War. His message is relevant today:

`There is nothing, except a tragic death wish, to prevent us from reordering our priorities, so that the pursuit of peace will take precedence over the pursuit of war.'

Today Martin Luther King Jr. would substitute `terrorism' for `communism:" `Communism will never be defeated by the use of atomic bombs and nuclear weapons. We must ... seek to remove those conditions of poverty, insecurity and injustice which are the fertile soil in which the seed of communism grows.'

About America's value system: `When machines and computers, profit motives and property rights are considered more important than people, the giant triplets of racism, materialism and militarism are incapable of being conquered.' King could have been referring to our current leadership when he spoke of `those who possess power without compassion, might without morality, and strength without sight.'

Many celebrate Martin Luther King Jr., the man, without honoring his ideals. I am reminded of Malvina Reynolds, who in her song about war's futility, `Where Have All the Flowers Gone,' wrote the refrain: `When will they ever learn?'

PAUL CHASMAN Waldport

Nickeled and dimed

When we have been nickeled, dimed and dollared to death with taxes and there are no more nickels, dimes and dollars to be taxed, is that when our government will finally address the problem and come up with a non-tax solution? I think not.

STEVEN E. HUNNICUTT Eugene

LETTERS LOG

Letters received in past week: 243

Letters published: 78

What's on readers' minds: For the fifth consecutive week, the most popular Mailbag topic was Measure 28, the proposed temporary income tax surcharge that the state Legislature put on Tuesday's ballot to fill a $313 million hole in the 2001-03 budget. We received 79 letters, with 59 readers supporting the proposal and 20 opposing. We also received 13 letters on PeaceHealth's plans to relocate Sacred Heart Medical Center in Springfield. Other frequently mentioned topics included possible U.S. military action against Iraq, President Bush's economic stimulus plan, and SUVs.

- The Register-Guard

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