Letter to the Editor of the Curry County Reporter:

In reply to Mr. Ralph Martin's comments about my Forum article, I wish I had been in town for Representative DeFazio's Town Hall meeting though, from what I've heard, the audience was a lot more respectful of Kruse and Krieger.

What caused me to make this comment is that State Representative Kreiger started off the Town Hall meeting in Brookings by saying the Speaker of the House and President of the Senate were unethical and bemaoned "...the lack of honesty and integrity at the root of this country." He then proceeded during the majority of the next hour plus demonstrating his lack of honesty and integrity.

I agree that any new corporate taxes will be passed on to the consumer. That's what sales taxes do in the other 47 states. However, that impacts middle and upper income people more since they have more disposable income to buy more or bigger ticket items.

Regarding voting everyone out of office, it sounds like a good idea. The trouble is that it would give lobbyiest more power since they would be the new legislatures' main history book. Couple this with the Supreme Court's deicsion to remove one person, one vote and turn our democracy over to special interest groups and corporations.

I do think it's time for Kruse and Kreiger to go. Let's get some new thinking for "small counties."  After all, they have convinced their constituence to cut, cut, cut saying we don't need a stronger educational system, safer streets and highways, and better health services. My message to Salem - if budget cuts are needed, why punish the counties that voted for ways to pay for those services. Take it out of the budgets for those counties that voted against 66 and 67. After all, when is Salem going to listen. These counties clearly don't want these services. Let's stop forcing this money on them. That, in itself, will help any future deficite.

Gordon Clay
TheCitizensWhoCare.org
Brookings