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Letters to the Editor: We are more alone than ever "United We Stand!" Remember that one? For a brief moment, we all shared a sense of loss, of support, of mutual threat, of commitment to a safer, saner world. Unfortunately, the government in power by a most narrow and dubious margin of votes, chose to seize that moment to push a most radical and divisive social and economic agenda that has created a growing and bitter rift within our communities. And beyond our shores it has alienated traditional allies and insulted the freedom and autonomy of states on whom we depend for cheap oil and manufactured goods. A "Go it alone" policy has left our country more alone and vulnerable than at any point in the lifetime of anyone now living. I would ask my conservative friends who cast their votes for Republican candidates, is this what you meant? Can you imagine being led into a war under such circumstances? Can you imagine FDR or JFK preparing us to face the sacrifices of a war by preaching fear and promoting social divisions? I can think of no American historical parallel. The mind leaps to Germany in the 1930s for a similar situation. Please, if you were a Republican voter in 2000 or 2002 and are uncomfortable facing a world war under such negative circumstances, let your elected representatives know how you feel. Because they certainly aren't listening to anyone else. Jim Martin, Ashland Parks should live within its means In perusing the minutes of the last City Council meeting, I noticed the suggestion to raise the meals tax to pay for more open space. This was suggested after the Parks Commission asked for the ratio of funds generated by the meals tax to be changed, in order to get more of those funds, which, by the way, would result in a 15 percent increase in sewer rates. The council decided to explore the idea of increasing the tax in order to raise the money to buy more open space. Why? Do we have an open space emergency? The City Comprehensive Plan says we should have a park or something like one within walking distance of just about everyone in town, and I thought that goal was basically realized. I would like to suggest that the parks department hold off on new open space purchases until their current tax generates the cash to pay for it and not be so aggressive in their search for funding. I guess I think like a regular consumer. I want a new car, but I can't afford it right now. I have a car, it runs great, looks good, and I treat it well. The maintenance costs on the vehicle are all I need to pay, because the car is paid for. I still want a new car though, so I'm socking away a few bucks here and there, and after a time, I'll have enough to purchase it. I'll just need to be satisfied with the car I have now, realize how fortunate I am to even have a car, and live within my means. Perhaps the parks department could do the same. Cameron Hanson, Ashland Guest forum: Pines owner has a chance to be a hero By Suzi Aufderheide Ashland Wednesday, just after the article came out in The Daily Tidings saying that the owner of the Lower Pines, Greg Adams, did not know when the tenants would be evicted they - the tenants of the Lower Pines - were served with eviction papers. I wonder if you are aware of how much more productive it is for business people to take into consideration the value and strength of the Golden Rule. When dealing with the tenants and trailer owners at the Lower Pines Trailer Park in Ashland, a little respect and human kindness goes a long way. These people are just barely making it. These are tenants and homeowners who have been attacked lately as if responsible alone for the destructive economy of these latter days. "All things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them �" This ancient principle can be found in most religious and sacred writings worldwide. So why ignore it at this very difficult time of humanity? Why do to others what you would rather not be done to you? What can be lost by treating neighbors (though sight unseen) with honor and respect? Would face be lost? No, stature would be gained in the community. Would dollars be lost? Perhaps, but the good reputation gained is something that is priceless. Adams will never be able to buy again a good name after this deal goes through no matter how much he spends. The public never forgets a raw deal. Bad business effects business from that day forward. Greg Adams could make himself a local hero by doing the right thing and either selling the property to the RVCDC (Rogue Valley Community Development Corporation) who has plans in the works that would build 17 affordable housing units in the City of Ashland, and/or at least make the people whole by paying decent moving costs. Ask anyone and they will tell you that Ashland desperately needs low-cost housing. Therefore, the present owners stand only to gain by doing the right thing by honoring and respecting the present tenants of the Lower Pines and by selling the land to the RVCDC so that Ashland can have the affordable housing it so desperately needs. Everybody wins, especially Adams. War cannot be the only solution By Rick Browne Ashland I have a few thoughts and questions for those who see war as the only solution. First, it is extremely frightening to see members of my community choose the Bush doctrine of "labeling" those of us who see a different way of dealing with Saddam as "pro-Saddam," "anti-American," or "unpatriotic," and then blaming us for the divisiveness. The anti-populist Bush Administration is the guilty party in dividing this nation by refusing to listen to more than 50 percent of us. Why are the administration and its supporters afraid of the democratic ideal of an open and honest debate on the best course of action? What is wrong with looking at viable alternatives that will not kill innocent civilians, annihilate their country, endanger our troops, or direct more hatred toward U.S. citizens? If Saddam really has the chemical/biological weapons that Bush says he has, then explain to me the rationale of putting 250,000 American soldiers within range of said weapons? Follow that with an unprecedented first strike as an aggressor nation and we give Saddam the one excuse he needs to actually use these weapons. Explain to me how a policy that has the U.S. acting unilaterally against a sovereign nation in which we will drop more bombs on Baghdad in the first 48 hours than were dropped in all of the first Gulf War (killing how many civilians in the hopes that we'll get our man?) will do anything except create more hatred? Bin Laden must be delighted to have Bush do his bidding, riling up anger in the Arab world by proving what an aggressive bully the U.S is, and how easily we too resort to violence to solve our problems. The actions about to be taken are a far cry from the moral and compassionate examples the U.S. should be setting as the world's superpower. Saddam is a cornered man: no-fly zones, constant satellite surveillance, and inspector's keeping him on the run, he is already neutralized. Continuing this is the less expensive route in monetary terms, but much more importantly it also doesn't treat non-American lives as worthless, nor does it serve as an al-Qaida recruitment vehicle. The facts indicate a much stronger danger from North Korea with their scary rhetoric and actual WOMD; thankfully we are attempting to solve this problem peacefully. This, despite the fact that North Korea is a nation with proven nuclear weapons, the proven capability to deliver said weapons, and a leader crazy enough that he has threatened to use them. I still have yet to hear anyone explain why we're dealing with North Korea so differently than Iraq. It is either because of what they do have - WOMD (in which case the lesson learned by every rogue nation throughout the world is to develop nukes to avoid preemptive strikes), or it is because of what they don't have - OIL! 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