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- Subscribe - Contact Us - Rate Card - Place an Ad Archives Revels Classifieds Real Estate Guide Weather Subscribe Contact Us March 1, 2005 Bush plan is misdirection Commendations to you for your incisive editorial "...a matter of inattention." (Feb. 23) You are quite correct in you observation that while the public's attention is focused on Mr. Bush's bizarre plans for Social Security, a myriad of mounting fiscal and social problems have been shunted to the side, while the disaster in Iraq will soon be joined by another one in Iran. The Bush administration's plan is one of "misdirection" rather than inattention because the neocon crazies in the White House want the American people to focus on the next "threat" to the homeland. "Look out!," they shout, "Look over there! By no means look behind the curtain and notice what havoc is being wreaked on the nation by us, right here at home." Mr. Bush's plan to destroy Social Security is so weak, so obviously a fraud, so destructive in its effects, that one may infer its real purpose is to divert our attention from the other depredations being carried out domestically, as you list in your editorial. Alternatively, the Social Security scam is in earnest but it is so clearly a fraud, that Mr. Bush will need another war to divert our attention away for his design. In either case the nation is in deep yogurt. Gerald Cavanaugh Ashland Compassion for all in wreck What happened only two weeks ago was a horrible tragedy that lends itself to creating harsh judgment and hasty placing of blame. Can we really value one life over another in such a quick space of time? Two people have been swept out of our society by the unjust hand of death, and it is clear that Ashland and Medford are places generally untouched by normal routines of premature death. Yet, it seems surreal and unbelievable for so many people to be arguing so readily about blame and fault, when what we should do is show a degree of compassion towards those around us that are beset with grief. Ashland and surrounding areas are not prepared to deal with the horrible incident that has sprung up around us -anger is a natural reaction: anger at teenagers, anger at lack of supervision, anger at those around us, anger at chance itself. However, the one comfort we can find amongst all this sadness is that we ourselves have the power to regulate what we say to those around us. We can look to our families and friends for support, and I am sure that I carry the voice of all when I say that our prayers go out to the families of both that were killed on that hollow night two weeks ago. David Chambers Junior at AHS Greens badly misrepresented I'd like to respond to Damon Mancuso's "Green agenda sounds very red" (Feb. 21). Does he really believe that the American public has been duped by the "Green" agenda? If the public had truly been duped into buying the Green agenda, there would be more outrage at the corporate takeover of our government at the expense of public lands, public services, and payroll taxes. Clearly, Mr. Mancuso does not understand the "Green" agenda very well. He misrepresents the Heidelberg Appeal, which makes no mention of climate change. He then dumps the UN into the same category as the WTO, by calling them "global cabals." The WTO commits crimes against poor countries, while the UN tries to help them. He accuses Greens of "radical environmentalism." Who does he think is responsible for keeping the timber industry from reducing Oregon to stumps? Does he care nothing for conserving healthy ecosystems? Does he care nothing for outdoor activities? Can he see no value in non-development? If environmentalists seem extreme, it is only because we have been pushed into a corner by members of the federal government and Supreme Court who refuse to support measures that contradict their corporate sponsors. Subsequently, we "Greens" are left with little recourse, and if that means fighting to protect burnt stands of public lands, then we'll fight for it. He's correct on one point, however: Common sense is in short supply these days -among those in power and those who support them. Cris Kelly Ashland A matter of responsibility The temporary suspension from normal duty of a policeman trailing Kevan Thatcher-Stephens, appears to be not only unfair but unnecessary. The police were doing their duty and attempting to prevent a terrible calamity for which the teenager appears fully responsible. Law-abiding citizens will stop when signaled by a police car. Being a teenager does not justify moronic and illegal behavior, especially when it results in one's death and more tragically, the loss of life of others. It was reported in the Daily Tidings that the teenager's father had said the police were to blame for the accident. Our police have a difficult enough job to do without having attempts to shift blame on them for irresponsible and illegal behavior. It has been reported that Thatcher-Stephens' father hid the car keys, but his son always found them. Had he taken the simple expedient of keeping the keys on his own person, say in his pants pocket, his son would be alive today and an innocent person's family not be deprived of a father, husband and breadwinner. I do not know the circumstances of Mrs. Charles Bench, but feel that there are many who would like to contribute to a fund for the widow and her children. Perhaps the Daily Tidings could set this up, and Mr. Thatcher-Stephens might also contribute. John Baybrooke Ashland Eds note: Donations to the Charles Bench Memorial Fund can be made at the Rogue Federal Credit Union. 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 Women's & Men's Slippers Ceramic Piggy Banks heloc libor rate Calenders 2005 Calender 2005 Accelerate Weightloss Products Memory Foam Mattress afsa studentloans home equity loans teleconferencing W2 Forms fasa student loans Matchmaking & Dating Scripts African Safari Conference Calls - $50/Month Security Systems student loan consolidation wholesale diamonds Currancy Exchange web conferencing Online Casinos Community Click Here Site Search: .:Advertisements:. RESOURCES - Mail Tribune News - ODOT Road Cams