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May 19 , 2004 - Subscribe - Contact Us - Rate Card - Place an Ad Valley&State Backpage O&E Sports Archives Classifieds Faith&Beliefs Obituaries Revels March 18, 2004 Bothered by roadside trash We, who reside along the Mt. Ashland Ski Road, would like to know if Mt. Ashland Association, it's employees or it's skiing and snowboarding public would accept the task of cleaning up all the refuse along the ski road once the snow has melted? As residents in the area, we take pride in our neighborhood and continually pick up trash along the roadside. We dread the onset of ski season and the coming of Spring for what is left behind by the unthinking, uncaring hundreds of people who pass through our neighborhood and cast from their vehicles trash and garbage of all descriptions. Not only is the discarding of trash and garbage from a vehicle unlawful, but it sheds unfavorable light on skiers and snowboarders, the primary users of this area during the winter months. This is a residential area not a public dumping ground. We realize that asking the public to take a little pride and responsibility in the area and resist that uncontrollable urge to litter the snow banks, road and parking areas with their trash is like winning the lottery without benefit of a ticket, but, nonetheless We are asking! Jack and Sandy Sutherland Michael and Susan Engelstein Jerry Shanafelt Tim and Peggy Stewart Camilla Cassity Matt and Libbi Moore Carol Klein Jim Fiore D.M. Hainer Steve Fisher Tom Beam Abe Oberlin Nancy Bringhurst Cindy Fisher Instant Runoff Voting would bring better results I am convinced that we need to implement Instant Runoff Voting (IRV) and get rid of the current archaic electoral system. IRV is preferential voting that allows people to vote their hopes rather than their fears, yet guarantees that the winning candidate always has the support of a majority of voters. This system is not only possible, it's already in use in many places around the world, including a number of cities and towns across the United States. Here's how it works: In any race where three or more candidates are competing for the same office, voters rank the candidates in order of preference. When the ballots are tabulated, if one candidate doesn't win an outright majority, the candidate with the least votes is eliminated. Then the second-choice votes of that candidate's supporters are added to the remaining candidates' totals and the ballots are tabulated again. The process repeats until one candidate wins a majority. (www.fairvote.org/irv) There is such a vast difference between Kerry and Kucinich that, as a Dennis Kucinich supporter, it is difficult for me to take the leap. Kucinich voted against the Iraq war and against the Patriot Act. He will repeal NAFTA and the WTO and the Bush tax cuts. He will sign the Kyoto treaty. He will not support missiles in space, and will support a Palestinian state as well as Israel. Kerry stands for the opposite in all cases. Then appears Nader, a most intelligent dedicated man working for the consumer and to break corporate control over our lives. His message is vital as is Kucinich's. The voters need to listen to both these hopeful visionaries who understand that we, the people, can direct the way we want to live, and that we have to step out and take risks to change the direction we are headed � war, low-paying jobs, more war, less freedom, higher costs of living, more war, hopelessness, fear, desperation. How different it would all be with IRV in place. In 2001, a bill (HR 57 in 107th Congress) was introduced in the House by Peter DeFazio (D-OR) and Jim Leach (R-IA) that would establish a well-funded commission to study various electoral reforms including Instant Runoff Voting. This bill needs to move into action so that the fearful ABB (anybody but Bush) sympton never afflicts the American voters again. Jill Iles Talent DailyTidings.com Home Page Valley&State | Backpage | O&E | Sports | Archives | Weather | Classifieds Columnists | Faith&Beliefs | Obituaries | Revels | Subscribe | Contact Us Copyright 2004 Ashland Daily Tidings and Ottaway Newspapers All Rights Reserved Site Search: .:Advertisements:. RESOURCES - Mail Tribune News - ODOT Road Cams