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Letters to the Editor: Get rid of the Bush regime Voters in 2004 can "shock and [further dumbfound]" Bush by providing true grist for these post-election headlines: "Bush loses � again. The American people reclaim their country and rights." Similar uplifting headlines will pervade the media if the following groups turn out to vote against the little dictator: (1) the millions of people who voted for the actual winner of the 2000 election: Gore; (2) those who voted for Bush but are disenchanted with him for reasons too numerous to mention; (3) previously indifferent citizens now agitated enough to exercise their voting right; and (4) all of the anti-war protesters eligible to vote, many of whom help comprise the above groups. Barring the Supreme Court's unlawful intervention and GOP thuggery and misdeeds at the polls, Americans can free themselves from the tyranny and reckless policies of the Bush regime. Only then can we begin the long, arduous task of repairing the damage this country has suffered under connivers disguised as patriots. And only then can we cement fractured relationships with former allies. Marie Arvette Phoenix *** A few hours can go a long way Reading headlines about the state of education in Oregon today leaves us all discouraged. What can one person do for kids in the face of a shrinking school year? Junior Achievement is a volunteer program that makes the most of every school day by reaching out to 4 million K-12 students nationwide each year. Studies show that students who have participated in Junior Achievement consistently test higher and their critical thinking skills improve. Volunteers are business people like myself who enjoy being classroom guests for one hour once a week. Junior Achievement prepares an interactive lesson plan for us and we are able to flavor it with our own business experience. I always feel great after my time in the classroom and I feel like I am personally making an impact. In December I received thank you notes from the students in my 7th Grade pre-algebra class at McLoughlin Middle School. I felt warmed by each of them, but one left a lasting impression on me. One of my students said, "Thank you Mr. Buckner. I learned a lot of real life uses for math. I also liked being able to go home and tell my parents what I learned." I challenge my fellow business community members to volunteer with Junior Achievement. You can do something to improve education in Oregon today by donating just a few hours out of your work week. Michael Buckner Financial adviser Waddell & Reed Ashland Junior Achievement is a program that is part of ACCESS. To get involved contact Jim Hamm, program administrator, at 774-4303. *** Kids are the casualty of our budget battle I write in response to Randy Miltier's letter of 3/14/03 which I can only read to be in support of a sales tax. What a great way to broaden Oregon's tax base and involve others than just property owners. Property taxes could perhaps be lowered, and we could always cut our own taxes by buying less stuff. Did you know that the Oregon Constitution actually requires the Legislature to provide for raising money (levying a tax) to pay current state expenses? (Article 9 Sections 2,6). I hope Mr. Miltier has a chance to see the School Report Card, which evaluates the academic excellence of students in Ashland, a community that holds education as a high value and demonstrates it by paying for it. In these tough times what has Mr. Miltier had to learn to live without? Medications? Meals? Work? Two weeks of education? A beloved school and its vital community? I hope he will write again and share. I am also anxious to hear about his first-hand experience of waste at the state level. As far as I concerned, we get an awful lot for our tax dollars and I don't know why people think we shouldn't have to pay for it: police and fire protection, the court system, the Legislature, streets, highways, parks, wildlands, health care for the needy, prisons (why do so many of our youth end up there?), and of course at the bottom of the list, education. Maybe it's at the bottom because children don't get to vote. The school funding crisis is itself an insult to our youth. The message is too clear as to where our children rate in our economy. I am so sad that the teachers who already give more that most to society are now funding the deficit with their paychecks. Good teachers make all the difference in a child life; in a family life; in a community life. Of course I'm all for cutting waste, as Mr. Miltier suggests, it's just that kids are what gets wasted when voters believe a lie, and people refuse to pay for what matters. I wonder if Mr. Miltier voted for the education president, Mr. Bush. Talk about waste and budget problems; but since 32 people in the Bush administration came directly from the military industrial complex (not to mention their oil interests), I see there are plenty of reasons for Mr. Bush to promote a war. Maybe war is what we could all learn to live without. I still hope we can. By Paula Anema Sohl Ashland LINKS: DAILY TIDINGS: Main | News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Opinion | Columnists | AP News | Subscribe | Archives | Weather | Classifieds | Contact Us | Privacy REVELS: Main | Calendar | Dining | Movies | T.V. OTHER: Road Cams Copyright 2003 Ashland Daily Tidings 541.482.3456. 1661 Siskiyou Blvd., Ashland, OR 97520. Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. - Advertisers -