Your Voice: Nov. 11, 2026

Many thanks to Carina Miller, chair of the Gorge Commission, for her eloquent and moving recognition of the work of the Gorge Commission and the many staff and volunteers who do the work of protecting our beautiful Columbia Gorge for current and future generations (Columbia Gorge News, Nov. 4, 2026). We live in an exceptional environmental area, and it is sometimes much too easy to take it all for granted — I know I’m guilty of that at times. Ms. Miller’s essay reminds us of the commission’s work both behind the scenes and efforts right in front of us in keeping and protecting our Gorge.

Dana Stover

White Salmon

Letter to Trump

Dear President Trump,

Over and over again during your campaign speeches, you asked American voters to pretend that your name was on the midterm ballot. Well, they did just that. As a result, your party suffered an electoral drubbing of historic proportions. You, of course, accept no responsibility for your party’s loss, simply because you never accept responsibility for things that don’t go well. You have the moral fiber of a common garden slug.

What you don’t seem to realize, Mr. President, is that an increasing number of Americans are starting to understand what an incompetent, cruel, corrupt, uninformed, dishonest, vane, selfish, racist nincompoop you are. You reject all forms of expertise, whether they’re legal, geopolitical, military, medical, technological or scientific. Instead, you surround yourself with toadies whose only qualifications are an eagerness to kneel before you and kiss your nincompoopy feet.

You frequently describe yourself as the greatest of all American presidents. The man who was actually our greatest president, Abraham Lincoln, spoke eloquently about our government of the people, by the people, and for the people — an ideal that most Americans deeply embrace. What you’ve offered instead is a barrage of vulgar lies and an authoritarian government of Trump, by Trump, and for Trump.

As far as the majority of Americans are concerned, the sooner you disappear in the rearview mirror, the better off our country will be.

Richard Iverson

Hood River 

What now?

I am relieved the midterm elections are over, and political ads have ended. We, “the people,” have voted. The results repudiate the threats to democratic ideals and lack of attention to voters’ needs. Thanks to all voters.

Now, what comes next? What are the things that most need to change? How can governmental processes, structures and policies be improved?

We must look to a future that benefits all, not just the wealthy and powerful. We all have an obligation to enhance the lives and opportunities of everyone else. We, “the people,” need to change directions.

A first priority: identify and show common moral values and decency for all, especially from those who serve in elected/appointed positions. This must develop into universal standards of ethical behaviors; belief in, and adherence to, the rule of law; and honesty and transparency in government. Yes, “personal character” really does, and should, matter!

Second: actions and policies need to address the needs of ALL “the people.” This includes reducing costs of living, local/national/global safety and security; ending, not starting wars; strengthening our democratic foundations; immigration reform, both secure borders AND legal immigration; eliminating corruption in government; quality, available health care for everyone; effective public education for everyone; replacement of infrastructure needed for our people and economy; eliminating practices/policies destructive to our global environment; and a more fair, less complex, proportional tax system with fewer loopholes and exceptions.

In short, help people with their needs: keeping the lights on, water flowing, and roads repaired. Treat our Earth with care and responsibility. Our economic systems must become fair and just for everyone, especially the disadvantaged who need help most.

Third: develop understanding and improvements in how our government works. Recommend actions to strengthen our constitutional principles and promote a more equitable sharing of powers and responsibilities between branches of government. Consider new laws and/or constitutional amendments.

Our responsibility and obligations as citizens need to be our highest priorities, for government officials, from the richest to the poorest and everyone in between. We, “the people,” can and must make the difference.

Dale Hill

Mt. Hood-Parkdale

On the ballot

I keep reading that Trump keeps repeating that, if he were on the ballot, the Republicans would have won the election.

Trust me, Donald Trump — you were on the ballot. Every Democrat I voted for I did with you in mind. I am hopeful that this country can shut you down as soon as possible. Two more years of your corrupt incompetence is too much to endure without some kind of brake.

John Stevens

Hood River

Masking the decay

Look around our town’s streets and you will spot a quiet, unsettling pattern: century-old brick buildings patched with flat sheet metal, crumbling roads slapped with temporary asphalt, and sterile, prison-looking apartment complexes rising where human-scale neighborhoods once stood.

We are living in an era of managed decay.

While campaign season fills our news feeds with familiar faces promising reform, our physical environment tells the real story. Somewhere along the line, our institutions stopped building for permanence and human well-being, choosing instead to manage systemic collapse.

Constructing real, enduring communities requires long-term vision, traditional craft, and accountability. Managing decay, however, is far more convenient — and lucrative. It keeps administrative budgets perpetually funded, drives endless cycles of cheap composite construction, and leaves citizens trapped in high-density boxes designed more like institutions than homes.

When we allow our built environment to be stripped of spatial depth and biological warmth, the psychological toll is immediate. Monolithic walls, synthetic facades, and carceral residential grids send a continuous signal: this place isn’t built to foster living communities, but to manage populations.

Architecture is a physical mirror of a culture’s internal state. When a society loses the confidence to build with structural depth and human dignity, it defaults to cosmetic masking and spatial containment.

It is time to stop accepting perpetual patch jobs and sterile containment as progress. In our local developments, public spaces, and civic life, we must reject disposable solutions and demand true structural integrity over the profitable business of managed decay.

Doug Geary

Hood River

Heart and soul

This is an opportunity to thank our volunteers who are the heart and soul of AARP Foundation Gorge Tax Aide. Our volunteers are mostly retired individuals from a variety of backgrounds that include teachers, business owners, management, accounting, officers, administration and professional tax preparation.

So far, Gorge Tax Aide active volunteers have accumulated 245 years of meaningful and free service to our clients. Tax Aide volunteers give true, boots-on -the-ground service for older adults with low to moderate income by helping them secure much-needed tax refunds. We have 25 volunteers in our district and are currently recruiting more volunteers. There are opportunities available in Hood River, The Dalles and White Salmon. Besides counselors, we have a need for client facilitators, or “greeters,” who do not prepare taxes. Descriptions are provided below. It’s a pleasure to add to our growing ranks of Tax Aide volunteers in the Gorge. Training starts next month for the upcoming season. Please consider signing up now at aarpfoundation.org/taxaidevolunteer.

Descriptions:

Counselors prepare taxes for all taxpayers within the scope limits set by Tax-Aide and IRS certification. They assist taxpayers in identifying tax forms/documents needed to prepare returns and use IRS-certified & encrypted software to enter taxpayer data. After completion, they explain the return to the taxpayer & keep accurate records of the services provided. Counselors attend local Tax-Aide training class (in December/January) or via self-study. All counselors are required to take and pass certification tests administered through the IRS and Tax-Aide. Typically, counselors volunteer during the tax season (February through April), in addition to their training hours prior to tax season.

The client facilitator welcomes and checks in taxpayers and assists them with the necessary intake form, book appointments and have organizational duties. They meet the public positively, maintain taxpayer confidentiality, and help with questions. Tax preparation certification is not required. Volunteer hours are usually staffed during the regular tax season of February through April, with training in January.

AARP Foundation Tax-Aide reimburses volunteers for qualifying program-related expenses.

Sandra Camillucci, District 16

Gorge Tax Aide

‘Greenwashing’

On a recent visit to Hood River, it was shocking to view  the schizophrenic treatment of the natural world in Hood River County and around the Gorge.

On the one hand, visitors see stunning examples of world-class natural beauty and hear heartening reminders of the importance of protecting human health and the natural world, including growing food without toxic pesticides, the importance of clean air and water, of protecting fish and wildlife habitat, and proud discussions about beautiful nature and views.

On the other hand, we see some of the most extensive and destructive forest clear-cutting I have witnessed while traveling 30 countries. One is left with a disturbing vision of an area naturally blessed with some of the most beautiful nature in the world, but wondering why the local population tolerates rampant clear-cutting and associated spraying of toxic herbicides across their landscape.

A Google Earth view of Hood River County shows an extensive clear-cutting across almost all private and county forests outside of National Forests (which respond to a national population).

Are the “green living” messages just empty greenwashing? Is the local population too money driven, apathetic, or just confused and conditioned by timber industry propaganda to stop the horrid clear-cutting of their forests? Clear-cutting forests and spraying herbicides does not reduce forest fire danger or serve wildlife, nor enhance forest health or water quality, nor benefit any of the other Orwellian excuses used to mislead a well-intentioned public. If one looks at peer reviewed scientific reports, rather than fear-based, profit- driven, industry pseudo-science, the obvious is true — clear-cutting and spraying herbicides worsens all these forest features.

A full audit of the county timber program would likely show real profits after expenses are smaller than presented and easily funded in other ways, similar to the other 99% of counties across the country who do not chop down forests for cash.

The well-heeled population of Hood River County should consider walking their talk and changing the law to require selective logging on private lands, and halting logging of publicly owned county lands.

Chris Matera

Northampton, Massachusetts

 Editor’s Note: Columbia Gorge News reached out to Hood River County for comment; see commentary, HERE.