Letters to the Editor - Nov. 9, 2012

Scott Gibson,
Should people/parties compromise their principles to obtain more votes/power. Or, should principles have a higher quality? Republicans could vote against all immigration reform and pick up maximum Hispanic votes. Does that work for you?

It is interesting how many Democrats desire that the Republican Party change.

Mr Gibson,
Please stop the divisive rhetoric. Seriously, just give it a rest. Your guy won. What more do you want? You don't need to spike the football in the face of the republicans. You're a better man than that. Be gracious in victory and show some class.

Mr.Gibson,you are a self admitted democratic 1% er,when are you going to open your free clinic for the welfare entitled and illegal components that you so lust after for votes?Take those 2 equations out of the political picture and the democratic party would implode.

Kona, Mack and seeker59 - so well said. His ongoing opinions are one reason I'll never go to him as a doctor.
This is a sad time for this country and the Monday morning quarterbacking is exhausting. Someone said that the reason we can't get good people to run for office is because they don't want themselves and their families drug the mud. I commend Romney and Ryan for their battle. We need to regroup, pick ourselves up and figure out how we're going to make it through four more years.

WorkingforaLiving,

I would not endorse your thoughts. I have no problem with the difference of opinion, I just don't subscribe to it. I certainly wouldn't let the difference of opinion get in the way of professional services.

I do agree that there is a need for most (perhaps all) politicians to make a better effort to pick it up a notch in representing the best for our citizens. Thank you for your comments.

Nice catch by all!

A 'representative' politician? That species went extinct long ago!

A little research will show that most members of Congress (and the federal government in general) are not in D.C. to represent their constituents -- and a large percentage will eventually emerge as members of another elite group -- the 1%ers.

For example, our own Senator Wyden has done quite well financially -- his position is his cash flow, not his paycheck -- and his primary residence is in -- New York? I kinda' like the guy, but shouldn't our so-called 'representative' at least live among us when possible?

To pretend, as some do, that only the 'other party' will be screwing the public at every turn is ignoring half of the abuse! Wake up!

I've bought a Christmas tree from him before (Lions club, I think). Nicest guy you would ever meet. Just seemed like a good 'ol small town guy.
I was very surprised to see these angry, divisive political rants start showing up in the paper. Would never have guessed it.
Kona, I respectfully disagree. I wouldn't go see him as a doctor. Not to try punish him in any way. Heck everyone is entitled to their own politics. What would stop me is the feeling that his political beliefs seem, in my opinion, to include disdain and disrespect for those who differ from him. That would make me very uncomfortable being his patient.

Mack,
Fair enough .... I'll have to think about that. It is certainly in a person's interest not to work with someone they feel "uncomfortable", especially as a patient. I still appreciate a difference of opinion if it is well thought. I have trouble with forceful opinions that have a very shallow base.

"That would make me very uncomfortable being his patient."

The idea of discussing political persuasions with an attending physician has never entered my mind, but, to each their own, I suppose.

What's even more interesting, Kona, is how many Republicans want the Republican party to change.

Yes, it will always be that way for both the Republican Party and the Democratic Party. It just depends on which party has the momentary momentum.

"Momentum"... There can't be a 'Perfect Union' if momentum plays a role.

"That would make me very uncomfortable being his patient."

The idea of discussing political persuasions with an attending physician has never entered my mind, but, to each their own, I suppose.
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Like a lot of other things, it happens. Doesn't make me uncomfortable. I like knowing where a couple of my docs stand on social AND political issues. I am proud when they take a stand and/or speak out. Informed peaceful discussions are great.

E.H.Sorensen

"Informed peaceful discussions are great."

Yes, yes they are.

Thanks everyone for your responses. If my writing has come off as angry, I apologize. I know I have been a bit snarky at times, but most of the time I intend my positions to be thoughtful, in spite of their opinionated character.

As for opening a free clinic, my policy for years has been that I will see any patient referred to me regardless of ability to pay. If they cannot pay, I will see them for free, regardless of status as immigrant or native-born. I cannot see all patients in need of care, but since I get most patients by referral, I have made it a policy to deny service to no one referred to me.

I plead guilty to Monday morning quarterbacking, not intending to spike the football, but to give my own opinion on what would help us regain the type of Republican party I knew growing up when I voted for Gerald Ford. If Republicans feel that the current trends in the party fit their values, by all means vote accordingly. Demographics suggest that will not be a winning approach, but I understand the importance of standing on one's principles. I would like to see a more adaptable party such as we saw under Reagan, Bush Sr, Ford, and yes, even Nixon. But those days may be gone. I leave it to Republicans to choose.

There are voices in the Republican Party saying much the same as what I said in my letter. I do not see them as being divisive, and I do not intend to inflame partisan passions. But I do think Republicans are in a more difficult position than Democrats right now, and I will be interested to see what course they chart. Compromise is not a dirty word, and giving some ground will not turn Republicans into Democrats. I think it's time for some give and take.

The pendulum swings. It was only 8 years ago when many people were wondering if the Democratic Party had a chance. Republican President and control of both houses of Congress, the Governors of most states and control of most states senates and houses. The Republican Party was very successful. Demographics have changed, however.

It will be difficult in the future as rapidly expanding minority races vote their pocket books and spurn immigration controls. Notice President Obama did not follow through on his pledges to enhance immigration policy. Smart move on his part. Politicians do what they need to do for votes.

Thanks for your post Scott. I think somewhere I have read that "a soft answer turneth away wrath..." Your ability to accept our criticism and respond with a "soft answer" has turned away my wrath and makes me feel a little embarrassed about the edgy tone of my posts on this thread.
I consider myself a very conservative Republican and it truly broke my heart to see President Obama win another term. It wouldn't have mattered what someone wrote on the Wednesday morning after the election, my wounds were smarting such that about anything would have offended me.
Although we don't agree on everything I most definitely agree with you that some compromise and a spirit of working together between our two parties would be a very good thing.

Hey Mack: No problem, no offense taken. I've been edgy myself at times. I remember how I felt in 2004 when Bush won a second term. Tough to swallow. I think most everyone is willing to look for common ground as long as their view is heard and respected. That is why an open give and take is so important, and I salute the News Register for allowing it on the pages and web site. Most of the time we find that we can get along pretty well. One of my favorite patients is a gun-toting self-proclaimed redneck who is to the right of Dick Cheney, but we always have a good laugh and get along fine when he comes in. It sometimes surprises me how well everyone is society gets along by and large.

I hope the second Obama term goes well for us all and your fears are not realized. But, as I say, time will tell.

P.S. A soft answer turneth away wrath. Proverbs 15:1 That Solomon was a smart guy. Horrible philanderer, but a smart guy.

Scott,

As a school board member, what is your take on PERS? Have you followed it for the last couple of decades? Any opinion? There is another current NewsRegister article about it now.

I am convinced that significant changes are necessary in PERS or it will create unsustainable financial constraints on school districts and municipalities. At the recent Oregon School Boards Assn meeting in Portland, I heard some ideas the OSBA is looking at to suggest to the legislature. Unfortunately, they do not yet have legal opinions on how likely their ideas will hold up in the courts. Nor could they tell me to what degree these changes would bend the cost curve over time. Both of these are vital factors. So, sadly, I have few specifics to suggest. Some of the ideas I've heard seem very prudent, but they may be spitting in the ocean.

I think it is time for the legislature to be more serious on this. I have to admit to being discouraged because we may be in a legal bind. But, unless what I have been told is inaccurate, I am convinced that the economics are so dire that changes will have to be made. So I am open to advocating for significant reform. But first I need the people doing the research to provide me with better data than I have been given so far. I was disappointed that at the OSBA meeting they could not even provide a graph of where the costs of PERS was going in the next few years.

No News Register article until I have more facts and reliable figures to support proposals for a solution. Plus, the ideas floating around will need to be tested by legal minds to see if they can navigate safely through the courts, which is very uncertain at present. The increase in PERS this year will cost the McMinnville School District about $2 million. This is a roadblock in the way of bringing down our inflated class sizes. Our current and growing obligations to retirees is a burden on our teachers and hampers our ability to give our kids the best we can provide.

No agreements that men enter into last forever. When one takes into consideration 'Lifetime' guarantee's it doesn't take much education to understand the unsustainable fallacy in the concept.

Should some promise's not be broken, PERS will go the way of the twinkie. I could be wrong, but I doubt it.

Unionization of government employees is a relatively new concept, actually only two generations old, and should be viewed as a failed experiment, in my opinion.

Michael Tubbs Sr.
Grand Ronde, Oregon

PERS does appear to be on an unsustainable trajectory unless it is modified in some way. Fortunately, Oregon's public sector retirement plan is the fourth strongest in the nation, so it may be salvageable with politically achievable fixes. I look forward to finding out what the analysis shows.

I want to thank you for your suggestions for the Republican Party. As you have suggested that we change our values or compromise… that’s unreasonable, coming from a registered democrat. As a conservative republican, I vote for people that share three general platforms.
Constitutionally Limited Government
Fiscal Responsible
Free Market Principles
You, being a doctor should open your business for free, to the general public, and set the example of what good will is. However, at this time, your still a good capitalist 1%er, part of Mitt Romney's 53% that pay taxes.
The Democrats only did one thing better, then the Republicans this go around. This should have been a vote based on principles and direction of the country. Do we want to be a socialist state, like many European countries who are unable to operate without loans from Germany? Or, do we want to be like America?
What the Obama campaign and National Democrat Committee did, was they elevated Obama… from an average politician, to something of popularity, attractiveness, a symbol of the in-crowd for younger voters.

Proof: Ask the average registered Democrat, why they are a democrat. There answer, is always something opposite of the Democrat Party platform. While the Democrats supply money to and receive money from Planned Parenthood, who encourages young women to seek out abortions (as young as 15). You can call that a lie, but you can also go to www.FEC.gov, and track campaign contributions.

Sure, they'll say it's the rich people's fault, because people are great at parroting things they have heard. Let's analyze that using the Federal Budget.
The Federal Government receives around $4 Trillion in all tax revenues. The rich paying the majority of that.
Yet, our Federal Government has made promises to spend $5.4 Trillion.

Dr. Gibson, if our government is promising to spend more, then what we have; whose fault is that? This will only take us into further debt.
You being in the medical field. The Affordable Care Act will cause even more massive debt, because… medical expenses, medical care, can not be budgeted from a government perspective.

Ask the Department of Justice how much medical expenditure has cost us over the past 10 years. The numbers are not the same, because treatment is never the same.

As for the Latino Community, the Democrats can continue to lie about our party platform. While your party of choice has decided to market itself to peoples race and gender… instead of the person.
I'm part of a group, who literally do not care about peoples race. Our message is to the individual… White, Black, Hispanic, Asian, man, women, young, middle age, or senior. If you want your own economical freedom.
If you are perfectly capable of making adult decisions, without government interjection.
If you know what is best for your family.
If you believe the governments job is to protect you, not harm you (physically, financially). Then we are the party for you.

I have a right to life, liberty and pursuit of happiness, but there is no guarantee of equal results.

Mr. Scyoc: I respect your very strongly held views, although I do not espouse them. If you are suggesting that all Democrats must provide whatever goods and services they produce for free, I must disagree. I am a capitalist, but I believe in regulations and government oversight. I provide services for free to those who cannot pay. This has always been my policy. But for those who can pay, I charge reasonable rates. And I still make very good money. There is no contradiction between being a Democrat and being a capitalist.

As for the remainder of your argument, Republicans are welcome to continue trying to convince Americans they have the right vision. I expect it will be an uphill climb.

Oh, by the way, right now I am required by a law signed by President Reagan to provide services for free to people with serious illness regardless of whether I get paid for it. You say the ACA will cause more debt. Well, right now I am providing free care by government mandate, increasing my debt to income ratio. Does such a mandate fit within your definition of Free Market Principles?

Sometimes it takes a vampire to kill a vampire. And if there's anything wonderful about lawyers creating laws, it's that new ones can always be created and acted upon, so as to quash old ones that have failed to serve the public's best interest.

Laws laws laws... More laws that make me free...