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October 16. 2014 2:00AM Letters to the Editor, Oct. 16 We have a right to know May's primary saw a high voter turnout because so many informed voters are passionately opposed to government-sponsored big corporations using us as guinea pigs in their GMO experiment. The MT had an article that said the Republican Party will not endorse Oregonian's "Right To Know," the campaign to label foods that have been genetically engineered... meaning that if you are a vegetarian, you don't know if that corn you're eating has pig DNA in it. We do have the right to know. Democratic Sen. Alan Bates coined the phrase, "Right to Farm, Not to Harm" to help defeat GMO crops that have invaded our naturally grown local crops. Bates knows Oregonians should have the right to know what we're eating and believes GMOs are dangerous to the birds, bees, humans and our environment. I don't believe the Dotterrer vs. Bates race will be as close this time around. Mandy Butler, Talent Roberts is fact-challenged In addition to Colleen Roberts’ severely fact-challenged interpretations of the Constitution that she claims to venerate, she toots her horn as a rural resident. Fact is her opponent Kevin Talbert is also a rural resident, one who grew up milking cows and shoveling manure (experience that, um, comes in handy dealing with an opponent’s statements). Both candidates supported the recent GMO-restriction measure; but Kevin put in hours helping lead the successful campaign to save 4-H and our other county extension programs. Colleen, in contrast, was the only person to speak before the county commission against putting that measure to a vote and letting the citizens decide. Colleen also supports a landowner who flagrantly defied water-rights rules by storing immense amounts of runoff in new ponds. Any farmer dependent on irrigation knows that fellow’s actions aren’t only against those rules, but they’re a sure way to destroy Oregon’s long-proven water-rights system. Ed Polish, Ashland Bates' approach isn't working What is it they say, insanity is when you keep doing the same thing over and over and expect to get different results? Why does Sen. Bates think throwing an additional $1 billion at a dysfunctional education system is going to change the results? It sure hasn't worked so far. Our kids score near the bottom of the national averages, our graduation rates are dismal and our graduates are not well-prepared with viable skills in a viciously competitive job market. Taxpayers are paying more and more money for the same disappointing outcome. I say it's time for new leadership and fresh ideas in education and I think as our new state senator, Dave Dotterrer will bring a whole new perspective to the problem. The current method of "throw more money at it" just isn't working. Laraine Anderson, Medford Principal should be cloned Good news for schools! Applegate and Williams schools are in for a great year with new Principal Darrell Erb, Jr. at the helm! Darrell was dean of students in Brookings a few years past, where he built a character education program in our middle school. Our school, full of 11- to 14-year-olds, became a pleasant place to be. Assemblies, in the hallways, at lunch, in the community even, kids were positive, respectful, responsible citizens. What a foundation for the "real world!" Mr. Erb, adored by the students, is not a "yes man," but his respectful, positive way of dealing with students instills those behaviors in the kids as well. i always thought it would be great if he could be cloned so he could be in more than one school making a difference, and look, Three Rivers School District has done the next best thing with Darrell leading the way in both Williams and Applegate schools. This is good news for those kids, their parents and those communities. Joi Gleason, Brookings Ex-GOP leader supports Roberts As a former chairman of the Jackson County Republican Party, I am strongly supporting Colleen Roberts for county commissioner, Position 3. I have been saddened by reports that commissioners Skundrick and Rachor have "endorsed" a liberal democrat. Apparently they simply don't understand what a socialist, progressive county commission would mean to our local citizenry — more taxes, regulations and bureaucracy. These policies are the opposite of what conservatives believe in, and will turn Jackson County into the "Multnomah" of the south. Join me in putting personal vendettas aside, and do what is best for all of us in Jackson County — vote for Colleen Roberts and Rick Dyer for county commission. Richard "Tiny" Robertson, Medford Support consensus science Most of the time gravity helps by keeping us grounded. But when we drop a glass on concrete, gravity is inconvenient. Denying gravity, doesn’t prevent the glass from shattering. Cancer is always inconvenient; denial doesn’t prevent it. The same is true for global warming and climate chaos. Unfortunately, our collective ability to address it and protect our planet for future generations is only hindered by those denying consensus science. Science operates by developing hypotheses and searching for evidence that denies them; politicians operate by developing opinions and seeking evidence that supports them. Only science leads to accurate understanding. Regrettably, politicians and political commentators seemingly think science operates as they do, so they seek only claims that support their view without ever testing their opinions. We cannot afford representatives at any governmental level who reject science and promote lies and distortions serving only fossil fuel corporations. Please vote accordingly Nov. 4. Alan Journet, Southern Oregon Climate Action Now, Jacksonville Why criticize efficiency efforts? Isn't it the job of fire chiefs and city managers to be leaders and look for better, more efficient ways to accomplish their goals? Isn't it the job of elected officials to also provide leadership and support their managers when they are working to improve service delivery? For most citizens and taxpayers, the answer to both of these questions is obviously yes. The Medford city manager and Fire District 3 chief were doing their jobs by asking their firefighters to work together and find ways to improve service. Despite assurances from city and district leaders about job security, it is understandable that some union firefighters let their personal concerns get in the way of cooperation. It's the nature of unions to protect the status quo. I can't understand why some of the Medford elected officials publicly berated the managers who wanted to explore ways to improve. What message are those politicians sending to the other department managers who want to look for better ways to deliver service? I applaud those leaders of government organizations who are trying to come up with better ways to do their jobs. The least these leaders deserve is the support of their elected officials. Joe Strahl, Gold Hill More chemicals in our food Jackson County had the foresight to ban GMOs. But most of the rest of the country is not so lucky. EPA may approve Dow Chemical’s new “Enlist Duo” herbicide within a week. “Enlist Duo” — a mixture of glyphosate (active ingredient in Monsanto’s Roundup) and the even more toxic 2,4-D (component of Agent Orange) is designed to be sprayed on Dow’s genetically engineered corn, soybeans and cotton, killing weeds but not the crops. Roundup Ready crops are already failing because they created superweeds. So imagine Roundup on overdrive. Even major news outlets are saying these crops are serious cause for concern. The Los Angeles Times recently said, “Just as the nation must stop overusing antibiotics if it hopes to slow the emergence of resistant infections, it must do the same with herbicides and genetically modified crops. The way to deal with so-called superweeds isn't by escalating the arms race against them.” Despite half a million public comments, letters from scientists and health care professionals, and a letter signed by 60 members of Congress opposing government approval, USDA recently approved Dow’s 2,4-D resistant crops. Concerned? Speak up. Tell your representatives and the president. Kristina Lefever, Ashland http://www.mailtribune.com/article/20141016/NEWS/141019776 © 2015 Copyright © 1995-2011 Crain Communications Inc. All Rights Reserved. Terms of Use Privacy Statement -->