Kulongoski’s bus is a pathetic reminder of Oregon’s decline, misplaced valuesIn the 1979 movie Americathon, the nation is in such financial distress that the president has had to move out of the White House. The president, played by John Ritter, lives in a rented condo in Florida, which has pay phones and coin-operated lights. All of his aides wear Nike logos.

Gov. Ted Kulongoski’s new bus is reminiscent of that prescient movie. The motor coach is plastered with logos of the sponsoring companies. It is a gift of Associated Oregon Industries.

And now, ladies and gentlemen …….. Brought to you by Associated Oregon Industries, Intel and Monaco Coach ……… It’s the governor of Oregon, Theodore Kulongoski.

Visiting Hermiston Monday, Kulongoski said it’s great to get out among the people – as if this luxury bus made that contact possible. Kulongoski didn’t need the cosseted confines of a luxury motor home to meet the people. In fact, if the governor traveled by automobile, he would be closer to the people.

It was a mistake to sell the state airplane, and it is unwise for the governor to accept such a large gift from a trade organization with a narrow agenda.

If AOI wants to do good, it ought to publicly recognize that Oregon’s never-ending budget crisis and decade of disinvestment in higher education and secondary education is not good for business.

Like Americathon, it is a pathetic admission of our state’s decline and our misplaced values that the governor must rely on the business lobby for transportation. The governor could bring in a bundle if he wore those logos on the front of his business suit.