Letters to the Editor: Space invaders, Alek Skarlatos, tax equity and spraying forests

Space invaders

Seriously, NASA? $325 million to hit an asteroid?

I used to spend a quarter to do the same in a video arcade.

I believe my 25 cents were better spent.

Sally Miller, Eugene

NASA is a waste

I have said this for 50 years, the NASA program needs to be eliminated. Why? This program wastes billions of taxpayer dollars each year.

The latest, NASA is sending a spacecraft into space and targeting an asteroid to see if the collision can alter its path.

The $325 million planetary defense test began with Dart’s launch last fall.

Another $325 million bites the dust.

John Zacharias, Eugene

When taking an endorsement condones behavior

Christine Drazan and Alek Skarlatos welcomed Trump’s support in their election bids.

How and why would they seek Trump’s – a liar, criminal and traitor — support?

Do they approve and support what he has done?

Robert Rubinstein, Eugene

A burden to individuals

Home ownership in Eugene’s older neighborhoods is changing. Modest single-family houses are now more commonly owned by corporate and investment-motivated landlords than by individual taxpayers.

Many affordable, older houses are also being torn down to make way for large apartment complexes. As a result, few if any individual owners live on site. My husband and I are the last owner-occupied property on our block.

And yet, when citizens vote to approve new tax levies for everything that is needed to improve our city and neighborhoods — for parks, bike paths, street repairs, schools and community centers — why is the burden of paying this tax not borne fairly by all? These levies are added to property taxes and private property owners carry the bulk of this burden. Spared from paying are tax-exempt corporations, loophole-protected investors and renters, and yet everybody benefits from these property tax-based necessities and amenities.

If all property owners — corporations, investors and individuals, were taxed equitably — I wonder if tax levies would be required. Probably not, but it is easier to burden individuals with a tax than to end giveaways of tax dollars to out-of-state entities whose only interest in our city is profit.

Christine L. Sundt, Eugene

Poison is poison

After more than 40 years of opposition to herbicide use on forest lands, members of the Coast Range community of Deadwood in Lane County, once again, gathered last week, to express their outrage at Roseburg Resources Company’s spraying of a logged unit just off of lower Deadwood Creek Road.

Residents, whose drinking water is sourced from the logged unit, had been in dialogue with Roseburg Resources. They urged Roseburg Resources to not spray, but left with assurances that no aerial spraying would occur. While hand-applied poisons are not broadcast as widely as aerially applied chemicals, the residents were not reassured. Poison is poison. They had asked to be notified before the spray activity would begin and were not. They woke up to workers spraying the unit. Witnesses photographed and reported that workers were not wearing proper protective gear. Community members had no time to make arrangements to leave the area or to move their livestock and were furious.

One very important task before us is stopping the physical destruction of the planet. We are morally obligated to do so. The spraying must stop. We can start by protecting the land right beneath our feet.

Michelle Holman, Deadwood

These GOP candidates hope you ignored them

It’s always interesting to see how candidates change their positions on what they don’t want to reveal.

Two candidates seem very interested in doing these things. Christine Drazen accuses Tina Kotek, Kate Brown and Betsy Johnson for all of the problems she sees in our state. Yet, Drazen was the minority leader who led Republican walkouts to make it impossible for any legislation to pass at the end of our last several legislative sessions.

As a result, much legislation never had a vote. She also has been very clear that all abortions should be outlawed, saying that no child should die from medical procedures, only natural causes. Natural causes for her must include school shootings as she opposes any gun control legislation.

Then there’s Alex Skarlatos who has made speeches for years saying Roe v. Wade should be revoked, but now claims he’s all for women’s reproductive rights. He also is not telling voters that he thinks the minimum wage should be repealed, as he stressed last election.

Both candidates must hope voters paid no attention to what they said and did in the recent past.

Hal Huestis, Eugene

What will the public vote for?

Now that COVID-19 has lost some of its "steam" with the public and the government mindset of "let's throw more money at it," the man behind the curtain has been revealed.

The problem with pending other people's money is you eventually run out. The government cashed in on the fear it was promoting and spent like "a drunken sailor." Now, it realized it can no longer sustain this level of spending without increasing taxes. People have become numb to the constant warnings, reduction of services and calls for unwarranted continuation of practices that were always suspect at best. Government tells the public that this is the " new" normal.

With the election close at hand, people have the opportunity to vote and judge the government's action and determine its effectiveness in dealing with pandemic spending and the true costs. People's votes will determine if this pandemic policy was what they wanted from their elected representatives. However, current government spending at this level cannot be sustained without increasing taxes.

So, what will the public vote for: higher government taxes, more excuses, less service and settle for the "new" normal or require accountability, return of expected levels of service and responsible spending?

Gene Enos, Eugene

A dedicated public servant

Don't be fooled by Trump loving, Republican Alek Skarlatos.

He claims he will cut prescription drug prices, but the GOP recently voted against a Democratic bill that actually cuts drug prices.

He claims he will reduce gas prices, but his party all voted against a bill to stop price gouging by oil companies.

Skarlatos is being funded by right-wing dark money from out of state. He is anti-choice, anti-environment and a dangerous radical. He doesn't represent our interests. He is being completely dishonest about his views.

Val Hoyle, endorsed by Rep. Peter DeFazio, is a dedicated public servant, with the experience needed to serve in Congress.

Irene Henjum, Springfield

The only fair elections

Is it only a fair election when your side wins?

Eunice Kjaer, Eugene

Who would you choose?

Alek Skarlatos did a brave thing. On a train in France with two other men, they attacked and overwhelmed a radical terrorist and saved many lives.

Skarlatos has no experience working in the government. He has never been on a school board, city council or had any other possible government experience. Congress is no place for on-the-job-training. He will be controlled and directed by the special interests, paid lobbyists and radical right GOP who are paying for his campaign.

Val Hoyle has been a business woman for 25 years. She has served in the Oregon Legislature for eight years during which time she developed the skills and experience required to write the legislation and regulations. Hoyle has the ability to work with people of both parties and different points of view. She is currently Oregon’s labor commissioner. All through her government service, Hoyle has produced legislation and programs that have promoted the well-being of the people of the 4th Congressional District, protecting women’s rights, protecting health care, worker’s rights, increasing the minimum wage, increasing apprenticeship programs and creating jobs.

Given the choice between a knowledgeable, experienced candidate and an inexperienced, unprepared candidate, who would you choose.

Think about it.

Richard Kuznitsky, North Bend

This article originally appeared on Register-Guard: Letters to the Editor: NASA, Alek Skarlatos' women rights, tax equity