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The Nugget Newspaper
Sisters, Oregon
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The contents of the on-line edition of The Nugget represent a selection among the stories that appear in the weekly print edition.

Letters, letters, letters
The Nugget welcomes contributions from its readers, which must include the writer's name, address and phone number. Letters to the Editor is an open forum for the community and contains unsolicited opinions not necessarily shared by the Editor. The Nugget reserves the right to edit, omit, respond or ask for a response to letters submitted to the Editor. Letters should be no longer than 300 words. Unpublished items are not acknowledged or returned. The deadline for all letters is noon Monday.

To the Editor:

I take issue with your Opinion page report that Oregon needs tax reform in the guise of a sales tax.

Since when is adding a new tax tax reform? You claim that a sales tax would decrease income taxes, increase jobs and reduce property taxes on our homes. Wow! Nobody could possibly oppose a tax that can do all that.

The proposal is touted as being revenue neutral for Oregonians but all those folks passing through Oregon would be nicked every time they buy a postcard, and fill up their fuel tank. I'm not buying it.

A sales tax is regressive. It will further hurt those on the bottom of the income scale. It will add a burden on all businesses, especially small business. They will have another tax to collect for the government and the paperwork burden is not trivial.

Oregon will have to add more people to the state government to collect and audit the tax. With a sales tax, the bureaucrats will have another tax they can tinker with when they need more revenue, so it will be revenue neutral for about two years at the most.

I can guarantee you, it will always go up; I have never seen a sales tax go down when times are good. If we are really lucky, we will get to have different tax rates in different counties too, just like California.

Real tax "reform" would be to completely decouple the Oregon income tax from the ludicrously complex Federal tax system, set a budget, then set a progressive income tax rate to cover it.

A simple system, with a one-page tax form that you won't need a tax accountant to fill out. Less paper, less time, fewer bureaucrats needed to collect and audit our tax system. Tax simplification and fairness should be the objective, not adding another regressive tax and burdening business to collect it.

Dean Billing

Editor's reply: I agree with Mr. Billing's primary points. A sales tax is regressive and the best tax reform would result in a single-page form. I would actually prefer a flat tax, with the percentage set to reduce income taxes on the largest number of low-income Oregonians.

This, too, would be regressive (a tax that affects some poor people more than rich people) but it would be simple.

The unfortunate reality is that we are not going to get a one-page tax form, or a flat tax, or even a one-page progressive tax (taxes rich people at a higher percentage than poor people). Mr. Billing is not actually proposing tax reform. We already have the system he proposes, a progressive income tax. And people are dying and schools are closing early because the state cannot provide basic services under that system.

Because we depend so heavily on an income tax, state revenue goes through large swings whenever the economy stumbles. Some say that is good, government should contract when business is down. Except for one thing: the services government provides, such as health care, roads, police and education, are often needed the most in bad times.

Oregon has relatively high income taxes and property taxes because the state does not have another major source of income, as do Washington and California (sales tax), Alaska (oil), Nevada (gambling), etc. High income and high property taxes cause those who provide employment to move across the Columbia River. We lose jobs, we lose taxes. This is just a reality in mobile America.

Oregon does have beaches and mountains, rivers and forests, and the tourists that come from near and far to enjoy them. Why shouldn't we tap this resource with a sales tax, especially when our neighbors to the north and south do so quite willingly? Especially when doing so might actually reduce the taxes we pay on our homes, on our income?

It is true that those who do not own a home or pay income taxes would not benefit as directly from this third source of state income. However, service cutbacks of the current system probably affect them more than others. What is needed is another source of income. Our tax system needs a third leg for stability. A sales tax would benefit all who live and work in Oregon.

Eric Dolson

* * *

To the Editor:

The time has come for another renaissance of Lake Creek Lodge. In our 29 years of stewardship at Lake Creek, we have upgraded from foundations of stumps to cement, updating wiring to code, from wood heating to central gas heat. We built four cabins, re-built and renovated 13 cabins, upgraded service buildings, added a large heated pool and tennis courts. And we have extended the season from summers only to year-round operation.

Yes, we have made some changes.

As a member of the Camp Sherman community, we have tried to be good neighbors. Lake Creek, when owned by Roblay McMullin, donated the land for the fire station and the Community Hall. The bike path is partially on Lake Creek land. We have hosted various community meetings, Christmas events, swimming parties and a few Bible classes.

We are pleased that we have found a buyer who pledges to be a good neighbor and community member.

Yes, there will be some changes at Lake Creek, but Gordon (Jones) has promised to preserve Lake Creek in its most natural state and with all the community involvement to which you are accustomed.

Whether Lake Creek will again be a leader in the latest technology as in 1931 when Martin Hansen bought one of the first radios and invited Camp Sherman friends in to listen -- only time will tell!

Margaret Lumpkin, President
Lake Creek Lodge, Inc.

Editor's note:

The headline in last week's story on the proposed Lake Creek Lodge expansion led some to believe the project was "stalled." The only delay is a procedural one; the Jefferson County Planning Commission held off a decision on the project until its July 10 meeting.

* * *

To the Editor:

Testosterone plus!

I am normally not a complainer, but this one was the ultimate in testosterone testing and muscle car mania.

While relaxed and sitting in my chair along the rodeo parade route, I was astounded at the approaching Corvette club. Their tactics in making a scene -- not just once and not by just one individual -- were so embarrassing and potentially dangerous that they should have been eliminated from the parade at the beginning.

Grown men and women revving their engines and dropping their clutches, spinning their tires and screeching all the way through the parade route!

Right in front of us one narrowly missed the Corvette in front of him because of being out of control.

There were children diving for candy out in the street, granddads, moms, horses and everything live to protect at this parade site. Did these people have any insight on this? Apparently not.

What examples to set for our teenagers! Next year I, for one, will miss the parade if the Corvette club is involved.

Harv Moen

* * *

To the Editor:

I was traveling east on Highway 20 on Saturday, June 14, when I came to a nasty traffic jam.

It took me 45 minutes to travel one mile.

With a seven-year-old and a four-year- old anxious to see their cousins at a family reunion near Redmond, this delay was a true test of patience for both my wife and I. Had it been for an accident or some other uncontrollable circumstance, it would have been easier to endure.

However, this was no accident. This was the deliberate act of a small tourist trap of a town that feels that it must force people to crawl past their businesses to force them to stop and shop.

Well, let me be the first to tell you that such actions have the opposite affect on some of us weary travelers. I grew up in Central Oregon and come back often to visit. I understand what tourist traffic means to the economy.

It has been said that you catch more flies with honey. You need to sweeten the deal for passersby.

The sign about a half a mile west of town said, "Special Event, Expect Delays." A far more courteous set of signs would have said, "Alternate Route for those Passing Through" that could guide those of us with no interest in stopping to happily pass on by.

Our disposition toward the town would improve. We might even stop by when the crowds are a bit lighter to shop. Given my recent experience, don't expect me to stop any time soon.

Those responsible for organizing these "events" need to realize that Sisters is not the destination of all motorists on (U.S. -- not City of Sisters) Highway 20.

For many of us, it is often an unpleasant bottleneck. Maybe things will be better in July.

If the city leaders get the message, there might be an Alternate Route posted for the Quilt Show.

Would anyone like to wager on it?

Brian Rabe
Albany, Oregon

* * *

To the Editor:

The Sisters High School All Night Grad Party (June 6) was a huge success!

Thank you to the many contributors.

We couldn't have pulled it off without such a great senior parent committee planning, the junior parents setting up and the volunteers chaperoning.

The senior parents, Sisters community and Bend businesses supported with very generous donations of cash, gifts and food.

Ninety-eight students attended the "drug and alcohol free" party at the Sun Mountain Fun Center and had fun with unlimited activities, many prizes and food.

Leila Chiaravalle and Janet Lamoreaux

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