Neutral On Knute – Enthusiastic About Tom

Gordon J. Fulks, PhD (Physics)
Tom Harrison, Republican Candidate for the US Congress in Oregon District 3

The November election, with ballots arriving in late October, involves a number of candidates and issues that could have far reaching positive consequences for our state. But if voters opt for the status quo, as they frequently do, Oregon will sink further into the abyss of corruption and incompetence. We have massive problems that are not being addressed, because the ruling Democrat Party has run out of ideas and out of other people’s money. They are governing in classic Chicago fashion with endless payoffs to pals; and with a divisive ideology that pits one group against another.

Would the Republicans do any better? That is certainly a fair question to ask. As a former Chicagoan who witnessed such a transition, I can attest to the benefits of a little fresh air. Suddenly all the corruption was gone, perhaps because the Republicans needed time to come up with their own version. But the community did very well during their reign, not very badly.

Does that mean that I will just vote for every Republican and shun every Democrat? No, I think everyone should consider the quality of the people as much as their political pedigree. But Democrats make that very difficult by always voting as a block, never considering the merits of a particular issue. The comic line from Gilbert and Sullivan, “I always voted at my party’s call, and I never thought of thinking for myself at all,” rings sadly true in Oregon.

Here are my personal thoughts on a few of the candidates and issues that are important in our area:

Governor of Oregon: Knute Buehler or Kate Brown?

Dr. Knute Buehler, Republican Candidate for Oregon Governor (Wikipedia)

This is a tough call for both Republicans and Democrats. The heavily left-leaning Oregonian newspaper appears to be in a quandary as of this writing, because the incumbent (Kate Brown) has been so lackluster. Should they jump ship and support Republican Knute who has a marginally better grasp of the issues or just stick with Kate who has no idea how to address the pressing issues facing Oregon (from PERS to Education), beyond spending more money? If she squeaks out a victory this time, she will surely be replaced when she comes up for re-election in four years, with both Democrats and Republicans finally realizing that Oregon can do better.

So it might seem that the new guy would be the best choice. Knute would be able to rally some Republicans to the Democrat Party wish list and get new taxes passed with more than the necessary super-majority. That is basically what he says he wants to do with a new Carbon Tax, believing that would solve all of our problems (climate and fiscal). And he would accomplish this with no pain, because he would make it revenue neutral. That is total nonsense, because our climate does not need fixing, and our fiscal problems will not be solved with the same tax revenue!

Unless we see many spending reforms that Democrats will never support, we will merely find ourselves stuck with a new Carbon Tax that will act like a regressive sales tax. Gas and electricity prices will skyrocket, as will the price of every other product that requires energy to farm, manufacture, or transport. That means everything.

With Knute sounding too much like the former Republican Governor of California, Arnold Schwarzenegger, we have to wonder if he would turn out to be the disastrous RINO (Republican in Name Only) that Arnold was. Of course, Knute is a little guy with a goatee, hardly the Terminator that Arnold is. And Knute presumably does not have a Salvadorian maid with whom he could father an illegitimate child. But he is headed toward the same sort of Carbon Tax that Arnold helped California enact. Arnold substantially wrecked the California Republican Party.

Can I say anything good about Knute? State Senator Alan Olsen hopes I will. He thinks Republicans should rally around Knute. Should Knute win, Republicans will suddenly have much more clout in Salem. That would break the Democrat Party stranglehold that has so stymied progress on the real issues facing Oregon. But at what price?

Knute’s campaign deputy, Jordan Conger, points out that Knute supports the Jordan Cove Liquefied Natural Gas export facility proposed for Coos Bay, Oregon. That is a very positive project that would allow the export of some of our vast reserves of natural gas to customers in the Far East who would love to clean up their environment. It might even encourage China to stop sending so much pollution from dirty coal-fired power plants across the Pacific. Their dirty air is now limiting progress on air quality in Southern California.

But Knute spoils it all by declaring that he “believes in climate change.” That says he has never taken the time to look into something that he considers important. He is smart enough to understand that climate hysteria is a political scam. And he is smart enough to figure out that “renewable energy” is fraudulent, because wind and solar require more fossil fuel for backup than would a super high efficiency gas turbine plant operating continuously. Is Knute apt to listen to those of us with technical backgrounds who understand these subjects? He has so far refused.

Finally, we have the “Lesser of Two Evils” argument that guarantees mediocrity. I would prefer to insist on quality candidates from both parties. That may sound quaint in today’s world. We surely end up with the “Evil of Two Lessers” most of the time.

I would like to vote for Knute. But he needs to give me a good solid reason.

Congressional District 3: Tom Harrison or Earl Blumenauer?

This is a far different situation, because Tom Harrison is so far superior to the entrenched Earl Blumenauer. Tom, whom I know personally, is an unlikely candidate who stepped up at the last moment to challenge Earl, when no one else would. He ran in the Republican primary as a write-in candidate and won against Earl who was so sure of himself that he thought he could pull off a nomination from both parties.

Earl has been a politician his whole life and is now retired in place, representing a district that uncritically re-elects him. That means that he does nothing for his constituents, aside from reminding them that he is a Democrat. And with the election of President Donald Trump, he simply says “Resistance” every chance he gets, never trying to finesse anything for Oregon Congressional District 3. Competent politicians are always working for their communities, whether basking in the majority or suffering in the minority.
Tom is a far different person who has never been a politician. He succeeded in the computer world, after getting an excellent education at Dartmouth College. He has a Bachelor of Arts with honor, in Mathematics, with Physics, and a Citation for Computer Science.

If Tom Harrison is elected to Congress, it will send shock waves from sea to shining sea. Gone will be the “Identity Politics” that have so harmed Oregon. We are supposed to be “One nation under God , indivisible, with liberty and justice for all,” but have become merely members of racial or ethnic or sexual groups that the incumbent exploits for his own gain. This has been the organizing principle of Oregon Democrats for over a century. Once synonymous with the Ku Klux Klan, Oregon Democrats have tried to broaden their base by appealing to every ethnic group’s hatred of every other ethic group. That is very destructive politics, still reminiscent of their KKK days.

Tom Harrison’s response to Identity Politics is simple: “I stand for the unalienable rights of all human beings equally.” That is remarkably refreshing, and courageous, and American. He has my vote.

State Senate District 26: Chuck Thomsen. Chuck Thomsen is a very good man. Need I say more?
Measure 103: “No Tax on Groceries.” YES, of course!

Measure 104: “3/5ths Majority to Raise Revenue.” YES, of course! This will keep Democrats from easily raising taxes by calling taxes something else.

Measure 105 “Repeal Sanctuary Law.” YES, of course! This will enable all law enforcement agencies to work together to address the enormous problem of illegal immigration.

Gordon J. Fulks lives in Corbett and can be reached at gordonfulks@hotmail.com. He holds a doctorate in physics from the University of Chicago’s Laboratory for Astrophysics and Space Research.

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