Letter: Mark Twain and Measure 70

Published 5:00 pm Thursday, October 21, 2010

Since this is the month of Mark Twain’s birthday, and because I am taking an Exploring New Concepts of Retirement Education (ENCORE) class on some of his writings, I would like to offer a few thoughts on the vote we make on Measure 70.

My ballot was in the mail yesterday, and I certainly hadn’t heard or paid attention to the ramifications of this measure. I will quote on the first paragraph of Twain’s article about the military, “The Private History of a Campaign That Failed,” as it certainly sheds some light on what we are doing to ourselves:

“You have heard from a great many people who did something in the war; is it not fair and right that you listen a moment to one who started out to do something in it, but didn’t? Thousands entered the war, got just a taste of it, and then stepped out again, permanently. These, by their very numbers, are respectable, and are therefore entitled to a sort of voice – not a loud one, but a modest one; not a boastful one, but an apologetic one. They ought not to be allowed much space among better people – people who did something – I grant you that; but they ought at least be allowed to state why they didn’t do anything, and also to explain the process by which they didn’t do anything. Surely this kind of light must have some kind of value.”

I certainly believe we need to honor and give support to the military service men and women who have fought so diligently for so long. But can we extend home loan benefits to Oregon veterans for their lifetime and increase eligibility for noncombat veterans, National Guardsmen and veterans who served after Sept. 11?

This measure has been referred to the people with very little thought as to what it would do to our country and to the children of generations to follow. There is no limit to the number of loans that can be offered or control over whether the veteran has served honorably, served in combat or did more than drain our country for their enrichment.

These loans could be defaulted or twisted by crooks in every nook and cranny in our country or around the world. And our country would be held responsible for them.

We must take the time to study the extent of these measures and the source from which they came. Very little information has been printed about this measure, and I, for one, was shocked by what its possibilities could be.

Please vote no on Measure 70.

DOROTHY SCOTT

Astoria