Letters to the Editor for Sept. 11, 2009

Councilors disappoint

To the editor:

I have great difficulty understanding how three people, trusted to be representatives of the community, can campaign against representative government. We elect councilors to do their best representing the constituents who are responsible for input. In all likelihood no one will agree with every decision the majority of the council makes. However, our system of governance has been established to allow replacing them at routine elections on an ongoing basis.

This recall appears to be a power struggle by three councilors who couldn’t tolerate losing a vote. In the case of the city manager’s firing, a majority of four councilors acted in a manner consistent with the city’s processes and the community’s well-being. They were supporting the rights of citizens to be treated respectfully while presenting their concerns. The citizens have every right in the democratic process to have their voices heard without being cursed or thrown out of a public meeting or the office of a public official.

It is clear to me that the three councilors are demanding compliance to their way of thinking or they will “sue,” become antagonistic or recall their opposition in order to gain complete (and undemocratic) control.

How very, very disappointing.

Bea Jean Haskell

Baker City

Merkley’s dilemma

To the editor:

The Senator set the decorum such that each speaker could deliver a message without interruption. A handout high-pointed healthcare items. Senator Merkley dutifully presented the Administration’s ideas of how it wished the ultimate program to operate. Several citizens individually opined their dissatisfaction with government control, and each statement was followed by universal applause. The people went further with an understanding that the program’s costs were too high and that the services were too low.

The people are totally dissatisfied with the universal range of areas the government wishes to control. They are alarmed at the number and very poor quality of tsars Mr. Obama selected to help him lead this country. They wish very strongly that Senator Merkley displays these sentiments as forcefully as he can.

I congratulate Senator Merkley on the difficulty in trying to soften the Administration’s behavior. At the outset he asked his constituents’ thoughts. He got them, very clearly delivered in big AAA/American so he wouldn’t have to punch “1” to understand.

John Duke

Baker City