LETTERS TO THE EDITOR FROM AUG 1 – AUG 6

Published 12:00 am Thursday, August 11, 2005

Selling out workers

To the Editor:

Well, it seems it’s all uphill from here.

Not only were Americans sold out Wednesday night by the wishy washy Republican party with the passage of President Bush’s pet bill, CAFTA, the nefarious sequel to NAFTA, but they were sold out predictably with the help of our beloved Sen. Gordon Smith, and less predictably, by Rep. Greg Walden.

It comes as no surprise that Sen. Smith voted for it, as he has much to benefit from it, considering his big donors: Hewlett Packard, Microsoft and other big players in the electronics/telecom industries (see vote-smart.org). You know, they’re always looking for new, naive and cheap workers. Once the Malaysian, Indian and other Asian workers start demanding higher wages and benefits to assemble computers and write software programs, those same companies will need willing workers down south to keep their expenses down and profits up at the direct expense of Americans. Not only that, Smith and Smith Frozen Foods will have a heyday with agribusiness import/export extravaganzas in the future. Pass me more Chilean grapes, will you.

As past presidential hopeful and author Pat Buchanan wrote on Wednesday, "Today’s trade agreements are about reshaping the world to conform to the demands of transnational corporations that have shed their national identities and loyalties and want to shed their U.S. workers. Tired of contributing to Medicare and Social Security and having to deal with Americans who need health-care and pension benefits, they want to dump them all and hire Asians who will work for $2 an hour… They get to fire their American workersand keep their American consumers. What a deal."

Not only will we lose more American jobs, see our global trade imbalance rise to gargantuan proportions, we are also opening the floodgates for more illegal immigrants, nuke suitcase-carrying terrorists and the like.

Yeah, it’s about keeping the Republican party in office. With friends like these, who needs Democrats?

Timothy Lucas

La Grande

______________________________

Honor Cold War veterans

To the Editor:

I appreciated your July 4 Forgotten Heroes supplement. I strongly believe that the persons who served in battle during the Korean and Vietnam era deserved recognition a long time ago and it was more than good of you to give them thanks.

I would like to suggest to you another supplement for next year: forgotten heroes of the cold war. Imagine being in a missile silo maintaining an ICBM that if launched would mean the end of life on earth as we know it. The same goes for the sailors in subs carrying nuclear weapons. And don’t forget the airmen in the bombers carrying life-altering weapons. There were also tank crews on the west side of the Iron Curtain and Marines looking at their "mirror" at Gitmo in Cuba?

There were a lot of things going on during the same time period and it would be a shame to only acknowledge those who made the headlines and forget about the rest. Think about it.

Roger Eagan

Wallowa

______________________________

Good Samaritans lend hand

To the Editor:

Ty Frank, 19, of Union, son of Richard and Lynda Frank, was seriously injured early Thursday morning enroute to his job with a La Grande logging company when he dozed off and left the road near the Catherine Creek Bridge.

Ty’s mother had seen him off to work at about 3:15 a.m., then received a call from the hospital about 4:50 a.m. that Ty had been brought to the emergency room. Apparently Ty was able to crawl out of the car and was headed back to Union when good Samitarians, Larry and Shirley Ash stopped to see if something was wrong.

According to Larry, Ty said he had dozed off and three cars had passed without stopping. The ER doctor told the family that Ty being brought directly to the ER by the Ashes made a critical difference. The family is truly grateful for their assistance and willingness to get involved.

Ty suffered multiple facial fractures, contusions, lacerations and a broken left ankle. He and his mother were air-flighted to OHSU where he underwent immediate surgery to stabilize him and suture the lacerations. He had reconstructive surgery Monday.

Although quite uncomfortable, Ty is improving somewhat and is communicating through written notes. Cards or letters can be sent to Ty Frank, Trauma Neuro Surgical Unit, OHSU, 3183 Sam Jackson Park Road, Portland 97329.

LaVon Hall

Union

______________________________

Anti-everything

To the Editor:

Mr. Poole’s letter to The Observer July 26 pertaining to the column written by Bill Grigsby was correct, and I would like to say a little more.

It doesn’t take a university professor to see that most of the TV stations are very liberal.

Any eighth-grader can see it. It is just opposite of what Mr. Grigsby stated.

He showed his true colors by writing such a column. He seems to be anti-everything anti-Republican, anti-conservative, anti-middle of the road and anti-Bush. His column was mostly all propaganda, and mostly false.

His political leanings seem far to the left as are many Democrat politicians and many of the university professors nowadays.

Victor R. Posvar

La Grande

______________________________

Exciting auction action

To the Editor:

If you and your friends would like to spend time doing something fun, we would like to encourage you to attend a David Kramer Auction.

They are held every Thursday evening in Bearco Loop and on advertised Sundays. David Kramer is a 30-year veteran auctioneer. He and his wife Darlene reside in La Grande.

David and his ringmen hold an audience’s attention with their quick wit and humor. Kramer is quick to show any flaws or point out something of interest about his merchandise.

Before you know it you are waving your bid card in the air after being caught up in the excitement of the chanting bid.

David is tireless on long Sunday estate auctions. He keeps it moving so the interest does not wane. We have made life-long friendships at these auctions. One such is Beverly Mathena, who serves smiles and jokes with her delicious concession orders.

Many old-timers pitch in and help David, who has in turn helped many of us. He is a dedicated auctioneer and a true friend. For an enjoyable time be sure to attend an auction.

Jim and Phyllis Wright and others

______________________________

Recognition appreciated

To the Editor:

I want to echo Gary Koegler’s comments on the outstanding job done by The Observer staff on the Korean War and Vietnam War booklet. It is so much appreciated by those of us who served at that time, and who put up with the expletives and spitting when we chose to serve our country.

For us in the Roberts family it is especially gratifying to see the way our troops are being treated this time around. It is with deep love for this nation and the freedoms that it promises that we, as a people, will not forget that what we have is not free unless we are willing to defend it.

I pray for my fellow Americans in uniform that as the second round of Jane Fonda-ism begins, that this nation will continue to show strength and defy this anti-American behavior by those who are willing to give our country away.

Errol Roberts

La Grande

______________________________

The wonder of Hot Lake

To the Editor:

In my mind’s eye I can see the Indians walking slowly to the steaming water in the distance. They can feel the warmth of the water on their feet as they slowly enter the water. They know the healing that will happen. Sores they have will disappear. The aching bones will begin to feel better. They will soak in the warm steaming water and soon they will feel rejunivated.

In the 1920s and ’30s Hot Lake was known as the wonder of healing. If you soaked in the hot water the minerals would heal sores, and water treatments were the best healing you could find. The doctors who worked there were very privileged. They had healing at their fingertips.

It is hard for me to understand why this would be called the scariest place in the United States. If you look at the rooms and wander through it you can see where they had water in all the rooms and baths where people soaked in the healing waters. The operating room was used to help to heal.

I am so thankful someone is remodeling Hot Lake. I would hope they would rejunivate the true wonder of Hot Lake and the things that really were wonderful in its past.

This letter is to say thank you for bringing it back to the wonder that used to be such a blessing in its past.

P. Shankel

Union