Eugene residents talk about Trump, student loans and climate change

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Incompetent Trump? not so fast

The COVID-19 deaths article leaves a lot to be desired on the accuracy scale. It was nothing more than a hit track about former President Donald Trump.

A glaring example is Dr. John Swartzberg’s assertion that Trump was incompetent and in over his head. Nothing could be further from the truth. Without his organizational skills, work ethic and ability to motivate people, we certainly wouldn’t have had a vaccine so soon.

For example, he invoked the Defense Production Act, had the Army Corps of Engineers turn the Javits Center into a temporary hospital, sent a hospital ship to the West Coast, and sent another to the New York Harbor. Moreover, he is largely responsible for the development of a vaccine at lightning speed.

Questions?

Raymond Moreno, Eugene

Remember energy independence?

What about our energy policy? We dipped twice into our strategic oil reserves because President Biden said it would help bring prices down.

These reserves are for emergencies. now our reserves are at their lowest in 20 years and gas prices are rising. So what do we do next? The Biden administration canceled pending oil and gas leases in Alaska and the Gulf of Mexico. The more Biden chooses to cut US energy production, the higher our gas prices go. With inflation at its highest level in 40 years, it is costing American families more to buy food and household items. Almost everything we buy has to be trucked in at some point, and diesel costs more than $2 a gallon more than it did a year ago. This is a huge factor in the high prices.

Do you remember when, a few years ago, America was energy independent? Remember this when you vote.

Jerry McCall, Eugene

Tackling the climate crisis a matter of privilege

When it comes to taking personal, positive action to help fight climate change, my wife and I are among the privileged few who can do things that not only help the climate but also save us money. .

We could afford to put solar panels on our house, which benefits us by reducing our electricity bill by more than 50%. We were able to buy an electric car, which saved us from paying over $4.50 a gallon for gas. Unfortunately, many people in our country are struggling to make ends meet and cannot afford any of the things that would help mitigate climate change or save money.

Although the EWEB offers sliding-scale incentives for things like improved insulation and windows, they are still out of reach for many low-income households. We have to find ways to make these things accessible to families who cannot afford them. This would not only help stabilize our climate, but also provide financial relief to people who really need it.

If we are to solve this existential climate crisis, we must include and support all Americans to be part of the solution!

Tom Partridge, Creswell

Kilcullen was all in

On April 22, 2011, at the age of 43, Eugene police officer Chris Kilcullen was shot and killed in the line of duty during a motor vehicle chase. He left as he lived his life: all-in.

If you were lucky enough to spend just five minutes with Chris Kilcullen, you would realize he was one of the keepers. Policing was his calling and while he probably would have done the job for free, we got what we paid for with Constable Kilcullen.

Remember him this way the next time you pass his humble “End of Watch” memorial on Hwy 126 in Springfield. And when you think of the police, try not to put them all in the same basket. Cops are human beings, flawed and subtly different, but no matter what their day job is, they’re just workers coming home or coming home.

Scott McKee, Eugene

Escaping personal responsibility

Of all the things we could learn from having a library card, we can eliminate the learning of personal responsibility and maturity. It’s a sad commentary on library management when it encourages irresponsibility in the name of maintaining an old-fashioned institution.

Robert Bodensteiner, Springfield

Still alive, still running

It is with sadness that I recently learned of the passing of Kenny Moore. It reminded me of an event Kenny and I competed in 40 years ago – the 1982 Great Hawaiian Footrace. The only way we could both compete in the same race was if there were two divisions – serious runners and adventurers.

Needless to say, I was in the second (non-competitive) category. But we all had to run 500,000 meters (312 miles) around the islands of Oahu and Maui, an average of about 15 miles a day for almost three weeks. We camped at local campgrounds overnight and received catered breakfasts and dinners as well as snacks along the way. It was an incredible unforgettable adventure and I was thrilled to be able to race in a race with such an accomplished rider as Kenny.

I was living in Los Angeles at the time, but in 1991 I moved to the fabulous running mecca of Eugene where, at 86, I am still a competitive walker and will continue to go all the way. ‘at sunset. Jane Dods, Eugene

Griner, serve the time

For those of you who follow professional women’s basketball, you know Brittany Griner and the issues she faces. She is in jail in Russia for attempting to smuggle out a marijuana product. A big NO-NO.

In this country, I don’t understand why the majority of his supporters are calling for his release and that now includes the US government.

Just because she’s a star doesn’t mean she should have any special privileges. If you or I committed the crime she did, you wouldn’t hear a word of it in the media and you would serve the 10-year prison sentence.

My verdict: She knew she was committing a crime. She committed the crime, now serving her sentence.

Jean Zacharias, Eugene

Repay your loans

With his plan to cancel student debt, Joe Biden is about to laugh at many of us.

You are a fool if, as a parent, you have deprived yourself of nice cars and nice vacations to pay for your children’s studies. Should have gone ahead and splurged.

You’re a fool if you worked during your studies. Should have slept and partied hard. Your friends who have done so will have their debt cancelled.

And, sure enough, you’re a fool if you joined the military partly to help pay school fees. A missing member? PTSD? Could have stayed home, gotten into debt and asked Joe to blow it off.

I understand the president’s position. It’s undoubtedly hard to see other young people struggling with such heavy financial burdens when your own son has run around the world raising millions just because his last name is Biden.

Bruce Mackey, Eugene

Downtown Eugene is a prison camp

It appears that many Eugene residents don’t “feel safe” going downtown unless the area is covered in mass armed law enforcement, tasers and guns. This deployment of the Eugene Police Department turns the city into a de facto prison camp where cops operate as guards over inmates whose “crime” is homelessness. It is repression.

As Eugene prepares to host the World Championship in Athletics, the current approach is reminiscent of the build-up to the 2012 Beijing Olympics, where the poor were swept away to create a bogus, comfortable place for hordes of well-to-do visitors. haves.

Unquestionably, Eugene has a humanitarian crisis requiring drastic action. Honest dwellers must lead, follow, or get out of the way.

Matthew Sproul, Bandon

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