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- Subscribe - Contact Us - Rate Card - Place an Ad Archives Revels Classifieds Real Estate Guide Weather Subscribe Contact Us December 1, 2004 Tackle the real moral issues In Election 2004, there probably were Democratic votes nixed as in Florida 2000, and voting machines that were rigged. Still, proving that over half of the 3.5 million excess votes for Bush were really Kerry's seems futile. The large voter pluralities Bush achieved in the South and Heartland appear real. Thomas Frank's book, "What's the Matter with Kansas?" provides insights why. But why should Democrats feel singled out? Their own party's apparatchiks exerted enormous energy and $70 million to keep Nader off the ballot in several states, including Oregon, busily intimidating petitioners and invalidating petition signatures. Green and other "lefty" parties met similar roadblocks elsewhere. Instead of developing an unambiguous, positive counter-vision to Bush's, the Kerry camp bullied progressives. Their remaining strategy was a timid 25-year old re-hash of moving ever rightward, letting Republicans set the agenda. Kerry trying to out-Bush Bush on the Iraqi war and on terror. Anybody, not somebody. Pshaw, Democrats don't even have Nader to blame this time. But now some Democrats urge further shunning of "liberality." So, will "moral values" mean woman-minority-gay-bashing, rather than decrying the supreme obscenity of pre-emptive war, prisoner abuse, and a scorched earth policy in occupied countries? Are jobs lost in the U.S. and exploitation of foreign workers because of "free" trade agreements not moral issues? Or that we're destroying this planet we're supposed to be stewards of? How much of this was discussed after the primaries? When will the big moral issues really be tackled? Irene Saikevych Ashland Homelessness is not all voluntary I love John Darling's commentaries and his penchant for saying things I believe but am afraid to say in public. Like his point that some of the homeless are living purposely in voluntary simplicity. There is a saintly quality to that lifestyle that cultures everywhere respect and revere. But he goes too far in his Nov. 19 piece implying by omission that Randy, our local star chess player and homeless spokesperson, somehow typifies the homeless demographic. Panhandling and camping is one kind of voluntary simplicity. There are also a number of voluntary simplicity communities in the Valley, organic farms, and such, where groups of young people are working hard and striving for self sufficiency. There are also plenty of destitute single parents with young children right here in River City who surely do not maintain their predicament voluntarily. Randy can't begin to speak for this part of the homeless population any more than John Darling can. These families probably would prefer a roof and a job over the straw bale hut and campground latrines that Randy proposes. Don Laws pointed out there are a range or reasons for homelessness. There is not a single solution for this range of conditions. We live in an era where the social safety net has been gutted by simplistic Reagan-Bush doctrines of self reliance that have abandoned millions of the disabled and the economically marginalized. Hats off to Alan DeBoer for his project providing transitional job training and affordable housing. But we also need an emergency shelter. Simple human decency demands that we not let people freeze in the gutters in Ashland, which is actually happening now. And we also need a campground because the homeless are camping in our midst anyway. A safe and clean location will improve their lot and our town. Kate Jackson sees Ashland responding differently than other communities. I hope she is right. Paul Copeland Ashland A case against censorship I thought I lived in a town that prides itself on being open-minded and forward thinking but after reading Bill Choy's article in the paper today I'm being to have doubts. I'm from a small town in rural Texas where I might expect censorship. But in Ashland, Oregon? Jennifer Margulis was generously offering to help Lincoln School raise money. The book was to be sold to grown-ups, not children. I would hope that the parents and teachers at Lincoln would be discerning enough to decide for themselves whether or not to buy the book. I plan to buy it and I hope everyone who reads about the book will too. What an embarrassment to the school and our community to be found out to be so petty and close minded. Matthew Paneitz Junior at SOU DailyTidings.com Home Page Archives | Revels | Classifieds | Real Estate Guide | Weather | Subscribe | Contact Us Copyright 2005 Ashland Daily Tidings and Ottaway Newspapers All Rights Reserved Slippers Isotoner Slippers Dsw Shoes Ceramic Piggy Banks Fanny Mae Eloans Calenders 2005 Calender 2005 Accelerate Weight Loss Programs Citibank Student Loans Acs Loan Matchmaking & Dating Scripts Adventure Travel Conference Calls - $50/Month Security Systems student loan consolidation helzberg diamonds Click Here Site Search: .:Advertisements:. RESOURCES - Mail Tribune News - ODOT Road Cams