History repeats
We got what a plurality voted for, again. The irony is that not only will history repeat but that it will be more deadly this time around. Last time, it was the COVID-19 pandemic, which he mishandled his first term and which resulted in more than a million unnecessary deaths.
This time at the beginning of his second term, it will be the H5N1 bird flu. The further irony is his nomination of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as secretary of The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). RFK Jr. is a vocal proponent of raw milk and an opponent of vaccines. The H5N1 bird flu is already here and is in most dairy herds and in most of our milk supplies. If the infected milk is pasteurized (which our commercial milk now is), the virus is neutralized and no harm, no foul.
As there will be ample opportunity for the live H5N1 bird flu virus in raw milk to combine with ordinary flu virus in school children, the H5N1 flu could explode in a massive outbreak (publichealth.jhu.edu/2025/bird-flu-is-raising-red-flags-among-health-officials), just like the 1918 flu epidemic, which killed millions worldwide and hundreds of thousands in the United States.
So we got what a plurality voted for. It’s a shame that we never seem to learn from history as it repeats itself, again.
Lance S. Stryker
White Salmon
Stand with nurses
Let’s have a moment of honesty: Providence is a corporation masquerading as the charitable nonprofit that it used to be, and hospital systems, drug companies and health insurers are never going to voluntarily back away from the trough that providing medical services has become. This can only lead to higher costs, and poorer outcomes for the people health services are intended to serve.
Bought-off, lackey politicians are unlikely to help correct this downspiral. So it is up to doctors, nurses, and patients to challenge and change things. Unionized nurses at Providence have at their own expense and career peril taken on spearheading the changes that need to take place. They deserve our support.
I’m not suggesting that you put off seeking medical care, but if you can do so safely, I am suggesting that you choose a provider other than Providence, and that you tell them why you are doing so.
Things won’t get any better unless we are willing to stand with those who are trying to make things better.
Ben Seagraves
White Salmon
A positive agenda?
As promised, President Donald J. Trump was very busy in his first week after returning to the White House. Topped by his pardons and commutations for convictions resulting from the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol, many comments have been negative. In the interest of helping the president (and the rest of us), here are some thoughts on actions that might generate some positive reactions.
During the campaign, President Trump said that the pharmaceutical companies are “getting away with murder” and that he wanted to lower the cost of prescription drugs in this country. We pay the highest prices in the world for them, so there must be room and opportunity for some improvement here.
Another campaign assertion was that he wants to cap credit card interest rates at 10%. That would be very attractive to the many Americans who are paying 20-30%.
His nominee for Labor Secretary, Lori Chavez-DeRemer of Oregon, has been supportive of legislation that would protect a worker’s right to join a union and bargain for better pay, benefits and working conditions. She would benefit from a strong expression of support from him for her and for that legislation.
There must be other opportunities for actions that will be widely viewed as positive. I hope other readers have suggestions, as I expect many of us would like to see them.
Keith Mobley
Dufur
Officers now in danger
On Jan. 6, 2021, numerous Trump supporters violently assaulted police officers with bats, flag poles, chemical sprays, stolen police shields, and batons, causing traumatic brain injuries, heart attacks, spinal injuries, cracked ribs, and some deaths. More than 140 officers were injured in the attack.
Before the inauguration, Trump's pick for Attorney General, Pam Bondi, told senators in her confirmation hearing that she condemned the violent assaults on police. Vice President JD Vance told FOX News that if you committed a violent assault on a police officer, you shouldn’t be pardoned. Only Trump’s voice mattered, though, as he granted pardons not only to nonviolent offenders, but to “every defendant accused of committing crimes that day, including those convicted of brutal assaults on police officers” (Johnson, Carrie, et al, Trump Gave Pardons to Hundreds of January 6 Rioters. Here’s What They Did, NPR, Jan. 21, 2025).
Very little in the way of condemning Trump’s cavalier, “[Expletive] it, release them all” decision has come from Republican leaders. Sen. Tuberville has said that he hasn’t seen what happened to the police, though there is extensive footage of the assaults. Presidential pardons should be carefully considered on a case-by-case basis. The crime, severity, and risk to others must be addressed. With blanket pardons, Trump condones violence when done out of loyalty to him. Many Republican leaders share the blame for not taking a stand against this injustice, endangering our officers and all whom Trump deems the enemy.
April George
White Salmon
'Make America safer, stronger'
Thanks to the Columbia Gorge News for providing a forum for public opinions of all views (Your voice, Jan. 22). As we enter a new era after the election, this “conversation” is more important than ever. It was nice to see the Senate act in full agreement to appoint Sen. Marco Rubio as Secretary Of State. In his confirmation hearing, Rubio said he will look at foreign aid with three questions: “Does it make America safer? Does it make America stronger? Does it make America more prosperous?”
Recently, President Trump issued an executive order calling for a freeze on foreign aid and a stop work order for USAID, involving monies already appropriated by a vote of Congress that Sen. Rubio supported (Trump administration puts senior USAID officials on leave, NPR). Time for his three questions, and advice to the president to rescind this order that stop the transformational investments in health and poverty programs globally that protect us locally.
Willie Dickerson
Snohomish, Washington
Tears from disrespect
The word “disrespect” came from the words I’ve received:
1. Stay out of our store!
2. You cannot live here!
3. We don’t want you here!
The tears I have now are from the past; from Vietnam, family. The tears I have today come from my heart and love for family and country.
Remember: Treat others as you would love to be treated. This comes from respect to others as you would love to be treated. Love isn’t defined; hate and disrespect comes from respect towards others. No matter your race or color. My family has both color and race. I say this with pride.
Steve Cochenour
The Dalles
Keep dark skies dark
Oregon is getting quite the reputation for protecting our dark skies. We now have the largest International Dark Sky Sanctuary in the world (the 2.5-million-acre Oregon Outback in southern Oregon), three International Dark Sky Parks (Oregon Caves National Monument, Prineville Reservoir State Park, Cottonwood Canyon State Park), two International Dark Sky Communities (Sisters, Antelope), and an International Development of Distinction (Sunriver). Dark skies are good for humans, for wildlife, for larger ecosystems, and for energy costs. We have a lot to be proud of.
Here in the Gorge, we’re doing pretty well, too — satellite photos show that we’re a lot darker than the I-5 corridor or even Bend. But unfortunately, things here are getting worse, not better. Nighttime measurements show that, between 2012-2020, light pollution in the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area increased almost 33%. Yes, 33% more light pollution.
Elected and appointed officials — city, county, port — can do a lot to keep Gorge skies dark, and we’re urging them to do just that. But we average citizens can do a lot, too. Most of our homes and businesses use too many lights, and often those lights are too bright, too white, aren’t fully shielded downward, and don’t use timers or motion detectors.
We can do better. Homeowners can start by assessing their own outdoor lights at www.darksky.org/get-involved/home-lighting-assessment. Please, let’s not lose something we’ll miss when it’s gone. Let’s keep ourselves in the dark.
Mike Hendricks
Hood River
Mike McKeag
Mosier
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