Print publication: Tuesday, Oct. 12
Taxing mileage
The argument against charging drivers for the miles they drive -- the worry that it amounts to government tracking of all its citizens -- is a valid one.
Another argument not made in The Oregonian editorial on how to fund road maintenance, "Steering around the hazard of declining gas tax revenue" (Oct. 11), is the expensive, extensive infrastructure such a plan would require. A far simpler remedy exists: Increase the gas tax we now have to take into account increasing vehicle fuel efficiency.
ALAN MEYER
Newberg
Inappropriate conversation
Regarding "Teacher gave up chance to be a role model" (Oct. 6): It was an inappropriate question by the student, because it implied a homophobic attitude. It was inappropriate response by the student teacher, because he took it as an opportunity to advance a gay agenda, gay "marriage."
Asking a teacher's age or sexual orientation or sexual activity goes beyond social courtesy. As a substitute, I have run into this question.
Being single takes guts in this day and age. It angers me that students should invade my privacy and assume by their questions that I am anything less than a lady -- yes, a lady. Human dignity is the cornerstone of social justice. Let's start living and teaching it.
ANN LACKEY
Lake Oswego
Out of the loop
In his Oct. 10 column, "2010: The year of secret money," David Sarasohn notes that Republican candidate Art Robinson has been the beneficiary of $178,000 worth of anonymous campaign advertising and quotes him as saying he is "delighted to take their help, but I have not the slightest idea who's doing it."
I marvel that Robinson has so little integrity that he cares not a whit who is financing his campaign and such limited powers of intellect that he would think that voters wouldn't care either.
CHRISSE ROCCARO
Southwest Portland
Obama falls short
I find it an abomination to see our country's CEO spending his time and energy, not to mention our tax dollars, out campaigning for fellow Democrats while supplies for the NATO forces were being cut off by Pakistan. Being stabbed in the back over and over again by Pakistan -- doesn't that bother anyone?
President Obama came into office with his agenda. He didn't listen to what the country needed. He can gloat over his passing of several bills, but what the country needs is someone who listens. Unfortunately, without private-sector experience, he will never understand.
HOLLY BROOKS
Cornelius
Learning by example
Do you wonder why our children are so cruel, lying and bullying online? Just look at our political ads for the answer. Kids are just copying the adults.
DIANE TRENHAILE
McMinnville
Public schools
The film "Waiting for Superman" is big on hype and short on facts, yet Tyler Whitmire bought into the film's distortions when she wrote about the "good education" at charter schools ("Fixing our public schools: Being supermen (and superwomen) for our kids," In My Opinion, Oct. 8).
Charter schools typically hire many non-certified teachers and have small class sizes, yet there is no concrete evidence of their universal success. Even the film mentions that "only one out of five charter schools are amazing" -- whatever "amazing" means. And how many sick, hungry or emotionally disturbed children do charter schools serve?
As a member of Stand for Children, I am not "encouraged that the movie may serve as a catalyst of change." Instead, I fear that it will lead to simplistic assumptions about the "failure" of our public schools, rather than spur society and government to address inadequate school funding and the needs of those in poverty.
ALLEN KOSHEWA
Southeast Portland
Police actions disturbing
The Oct. 9 paper reports that for almost a decade police chiefs and officials within the Portland Police Bureau, as well as city attorneys, have tolerated a "Nazi sympathizer" who has been allowed to command other cops and build his Nazi shrine ("Police say tributes to Nazis a disgrace"). Only recently has it been decided that Capt. Mark Kruger has "brought discredit and disgrace upon the Bureau and the city." I find this revelation extremely disturbing, even from a police agency with such a negative record of protecting civil rights.
However, I found two other articles more disturbing. "Cops downplayed hateful texts to son, mother says" was about the nonchalance of the Portland Police Bureau in responding to complaints of the cyber-bullying and racial harassment of a Portland student. The other told of the four Ohio teens who committed suicide after their school apparently did nothing to stop bullying after it was reported.
I would like to know if Portland Police Chief Mike Reese, Mayor Sam Adams and the police officers involved feel it is necessary for a teen to commit suicide or a school massacre before a reported incident of this nature is seriously investigated.
WILLIAM D. REINHARDT
Southeast Portland
Religious drama
The cynic in me was thrilled to see the junior Rev. Graham in the news again (PolitiFact, Oct. 8). Earlier he had, to my pleasure, resurrected the word "seed," meaning "child," restoring it to the public lexicon. This time he argues that Christianity is threatened by a WPA-scale of mosque building in America, leading to the mass conversion of Christians to this "very evil and very wicked" religion. Fortunately, the reverend says, "I understand what they are doing."
I'm entertained by the paranoid drama and especially the revival of quaint terms, such as "apostasy." Unfortunately, as an agnostic, I can't share in the paranoia, because I can't betray what I never joined.
ROBERT BRESSLER
North Portland
Why scorn success?
Why do so many Kitzhaber supporters seem to have a grudge against a candidate of means? So what if Chris Dudley's kids go to Lake Oswego schools (he lives in the district, right?) or that he donated a house to the fire department?
One letter writer went so far as to imply Dudley wasn't fit to govern because he legally donated his home for training purposes even though Oregon has a growing population of homeless. Huh?
It seems to me that Dudley has a firm hand on making wise financial decisions, both for business and family. Isn't this the type of fiscal leadership this state could use?
CECILIA CAMPA
Southwest Portland