“Don’t go around tonight / Well, it’s bound to take your life / There’s a bad moon on the rise.” — John Fogerty

I walked toward Patriot Hall for the Feb. 22 town hall with U.S. Rep. Suzanne Bonamici and U.S. Sen. Jeff Merkley, hoping to see what Oregon’s members in Congress are doing to help deal with serious issues facing the Beaver State. The atmosphere was inauspicious from the start, what with the gray sky above, and grayer faces on the folks walking in to see the show.

Finding a comfy spot on the gym floor, I applauded when Oregon’s firefighters were recognized to start the festivities. Then, when the question-and-answer session commenced, it was obvious misinformation was the topic of the day. Not one inquiry from the public was discussed regarding the problems facing all Americans. The economy, immigration and public safety gave way to personal attacks on members of the current administration.

Pleadings from the speakers to: “get off the sofa” and “turn up the heat” produced raucous huzzahs, but in no way addressed solutions to reducing the nation’s $37 trillion deficit. Not one mention of the billions spent on people in the nation illegally, or legislation to keep citizens safe. “Debt-free” college for all students was referred to, but not the mechanism to pay for it.

“Bring back the gallows” was shouted out from the crowd as I left the building. At that point, as I walked into gusting winds and darkening skies, I knew I had heard the voices of rage and ruin.

MATT JANES

Jeffers Gardens