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- Subscribe - Contact Us - Rate Card - Place an Ad Valley&State Backpage O&E Sports Archives Classifieds Faith&Beliefs Obituaries Revels June 18, 2004 Our View Kupillas' reasoning found wanting After last week's Jackson County Board of Commissioners meeting, no one could be sure whether Sue Kupillas supported or opposed the federal Patriot Act. But we are sure that her argument against taking a stand was lacking in substance. Kupillas declined to support a resolution opposing the Patriot Act, joining fellow Commissioner Jack Walker to kill the idea. Although we disagree with that conclusion, it's certainly her right to stand up for what she believes. But in this case, that didn't appear to be her motivation. Instead, she gave a lame excuse for not supporting the motion: She said she feared the county could lose federal funding if it didn't support the act. Whoa, stop the presses! The Bush Administration is punishing local governments that don't support its policies. Except that's not true, and Kupillas never should have made the claim without first checking the facts. The proposal came from a group calling itself Citizens for Peace and Justice. Bill Mansfield, a lawyer and former Medford City Council member, headed up the effort. The group argued - correctly we think - that writers of the Patriot Act went too far in their zeal to fight terrorism and in doing so have eroded civil liberties of all residents of this country. Led by New York City, which suffered more than anyone from terrorism, 328 local counties and cities in the United States have passed resolutions opposing the act. It doesn't surprise us that Jackson County hasn't added its name to the list, especially when you consider the kinds of comments made by Walker, who suggests that standing up for civil liberties would lead to a destruction of the country's "moral fiber." Commissioner Dave Gilmour, to his credit, supported the proposal. Kupillas acknowledged problems with the Patriot Act but said she feared retribution against the county if a resolution were approved. That conclusion appears to have been constructed out of thin air. Kupillas added to her disappearing act by saying her successor could decide the issue after the November election because she didn't want "to put the (political) target back on" herself. Now that's leadership. The Patriot Act goes beyond what is needed to protect us against terrorism and jeopardizes our freedoms. The county commissioners should have recognized that and voted to oppose it. Barring that, they should have at least come up with believable arguments against doing so. 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 Click Here Site Search: .:Advertisements:. RESOURCES - Mail Tribune News - ODOT Road Cams