Lincoln comparison falls flat

The Bulletin has compared the current Senate GOP walkout (their second this session) to good ol’ Honest Abe denying a quorum in his day, but the comparison falls a bit flat when you consider what our currently missing Sen. Tim Knopp, R-Bend, has on his website. It’s in fact a quote from Lincoln himself: “You cannot escape the responsibility of tomorrow by evading it today.” It’s clear Knopp hasn’t really considered the meaning of these words. With regard to climate change as an issue, Knopp has offered no solutions, only pushing to kick the can down the road in an effort to try to escape responsibility for a man-made crisis. When it comes to his oath of office and privilege to serve as our senator, he’s spending his time outside of Oregon, defying legal efforts to bring him back, and evading his duties in Salem. Maybe Knopp should update his website — I think it’s clear that Lincoln would not approve of what the GOP has become or their current strategy of running away from their responsibilities. Better yet, Knopp could get back to Salem and get to work.

Melanie Kebler

Bend

Knopp escapes responsibility

On state Sen. Tim Knopp’s, R-Bend, website, he quotes Abraham Lincoln saying, “You cannot escape the responsibility of tomorrow by evading it today,” yet this is exactly what he is doing, “escaping his responsibility.” It’s time for Senator Knopp to do his job like the rest of us do and get back to work instead of acting like a child who is trying to avoid doing his chores.

Rob Cochran

Bend

No bag ban

Ask yourself the following questions: When was the last time a garbage company in Oregon, let alone the United States dumped garbage into an ocean or a river that flows into an ocean or any waterway in the state? Proponents of the ban say we have to set an example. Don’t we set an example by not dumping our garbage into an ocean? Who will be hit the hardest by a 5-cent fee on every paper or plastic bag used at checkout? Will it be the people who can afford the fee or the lowest income earners in the state? Since Oregon is not a contributor to the plastic waste in our oceans (majority are Asian countries) shouldn’t our elected officials be spending more time on solving problems in the state such as homelessness, our crumbling roads and infrastructure, mental health issues, etc?

David Kennell

Prineville

Stop Bend’s excessive growth

Bend City Council, stop the push for more Bend growth! Excessive growth, which is now occurring, is causing more infrastructure maintenance costs and resulting in significant fee and rate increase needs. This is adding to the already high cost of homeownership and lowering the level of livability quality for many. Furthermore, the city can’t financially maintain what is already in place. Nor does the existing road system adequately support current parking needs and traffic flows. Serve the current residents first, and stop the push for more tourism, expanded development and ultimately the quest for more and higher service fees. A day of reckoning will soon approach.

Reed Fitkin

Bend

Thank God for Trump

I was a Democrat, or I thought I was, for most of my life. I voted for Obama, my final Democratic mistake. I voted for Donald Trump, thank God. And now, with a booming economy, less dependence on foreign oil, recognizing Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, throwing out political correctness, reinstating morality, recognizing that we are one nation under God and having the freedom to say it without scrutiny. And one of my biggest issues with Democrats is not giving a thought about the unborn child that has no say whether they can live, laugh or pursue the same dreams any living human has the right to. To be Democrat today means to throw out morality, embrace a morally forbidden lifestyle, give all our God given rights away to government controlled socialism and encourage us to become drones of the far left agenda. And how many Dems are now saying that America was never great? Many are, because since Donald Trump was involved in making America great again. They are so far left that good to them is evil. How screwed up can being in the Democratic Party get? Thank God for Donald Trump.

Andy Uppendahl

Bend