Lessons from Trump

Donald Trump offers two lessons for Americans, especially for those seeking a “strong leader.”

First, Trump realizes that our political establishment badly underestimated the fear and anger of millions who see their incomes and careers slipping away. These hard-working Americans rightfully demand change and real help from our gridlocked government.

America has plenty of need for laid-off workers: rebuilding infrastructure, green-energy enterprises, help for schools and much more. The challenge is to create realistic paths forward for these skilled Americans. Trump’s answer is to blame minorities for our problems while offering no realistic solutions.

A second lesson from Trump is that some of us feel more comfortable in a society like the post-WWII era, his “Great Again.” Back then, the U.S. and our allies had destroyed three evil empires. Industry hummed, incomes rose and veterans earned GI Bill opportunities.

Back then, older white males ruled government and business, most women stayed meekly in kitchens, LGBTs cowered in closets and blacks and Latinos fearfully stayed “in their place” of servitude.

Much more ominous are the thousand hate groups that the FBI monitors. Trump feeds the fear, paranoia, hate and violence of the KKK, Neo-Nazis, militias and other white supremacist groups who yearn for a dictator who will somehow return us to the “great” days of white male supremacy. God help us if we allow him to succeed!

Allan Smyth

Prineville

Be fair to Rose Kenny

After reading The Bulletin’s article in Friday’s paper about the upcoming Oregon Medical Board hearing for Dr. Rose Kenny, I feel compelled to respond. As a 65-year-old professional woman and a graduate of the University of Oregon School of Journalism, I have always been a great advocate of the media and their obligation to inform the public. However, as is often the case, the problem of reporting the “news” is presenting a balanced picture.

I have been a patient of Kenny for 15 years. I have found her to always be professional and caring in the management of my health care plan. She has taken the time to educate me, make me aware of the latest trends in medicine and stressed the importance of nutrition in maintaining good health. As I have sat in her waiting room, many times longer than I would have wished, I have noted the diversity of men, women, children, ethnicities and backgrounds of the patients that comprise Kenny’s practice. It is like no other that I have experienced before. Her friendly and energetic manner is evident as she passes through the hallway reassuring each client that he or she is important and the focus of her attention.

I hope the Oregon Medical Board will take into consideration the positive influence and excellent care this dedicated physician has given to so many patients over the years. And I hope The Bulletin will put an equally large headline and article in the paper when she is exonerated of all charges.

Constance Hensley-Jones

Redmond

City needs to connect27th and Empire

The Aug. 3 article in The Bulletin about two new housing project proposals presented to the board of the Bend Park & Recreation District includes a 64-unit apartment complex to be built at the intersection of 27th Street and Butler Market Road. Surely if this goes through, we definitely are going to need the city to search through its coffers and come up with the money to extend 27th Street to Empire Avenue. A 64-unit apartment complex, the additions from the Trinity Lutheran Church and School, and the affordable housing units that are to be built just east of the Trinity Lutheran project mean that the intersection at 27th and Butler Market Road will soon become a bottleneck nightmare. Surely the city that put the 27th-to-Empire connection on the back burner in 2005 can now see the need for this to be done before these additions add a more severe problem to that intersection. Come on city of Bend, the traffic backups have started, people are fuming, and the road rage is building.

Clarissa Jurgensen

Bend