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This page was created in 2005 and was last updated on 12-15-09.

Steven Hill - Salem, Oregon

Take Responsibility, Representative Cameron

December 15, 2009

In his Guest Opinion column of December 15, 2009, Republican State Representative Kevin Cameron complained about DMV fee increases, proposed tax increases and state offices being closed. There is a connection there but it isn’t the one he is making. 8-years of tax giveaways by George W. Bush and more years than that of ballot measure tax giveaways here in Oregon have led this country and this state to where we are today.

Rep. Cameron also makes the point that, unlike government, businesses are not closing and are not furloughing their workers. Look around, Mr. Cameron. That is simply not true. Businesses are also down-sizing and cutting costs in order to try to stay afloat. And many businesses have gone out of business.

I’m sorry that your fees went up, Mr. Cameron and I’m sorry that the office was closed but I’m really sorry about is that the people elected a Representative who can’t seem to do anything but complain..

Tax the Workers

January 14, 2009

Senate Republicans and Governor Kulongoski agree that the way to balance Oregon’s budget is to tax the workers. Their latest brain storm is to force State workers to take unpaid vacations.

Bernard Made Off, Again

January 12, 2009

Bernard Madoff, who bilked investors out of over $50 billion in a Wall Street Ponzi scheme continues to be free on bail and continuing to hide and launder the money that he stole. Based on reports that he had been sending millions of dollars to friends and family, Federal prosecutors asked to have him returned to jail but Judge Ronald Ellis ruled that he can continue on home arrest because “dissemination of Madoff’s assets would not rise to the level of an economic harm.”

Where’s the Pork?

October 13, 2008

John McCain keeps saying that he’s against pork and that when he is president, he will veto any pork. Muslims don’t eat pork. Does this mean that McCain is a Muslim?

The United States of Stupid

September 15, 2008

In a speech in Colorado, Sarah Palin said that in order to turn the economy around, the government should get out of the way of business. How can someone who is the governor of a state and is running for vice president be so out of touch with reality? That is what the Bush administration has done for the past 8-years. They stayed out of the way as Enron and Exxon and Shearson-Lehman and all the mortgage and investment bankers have destroyed our economy. They stayed out of the way as American businesses laid-off American workers and moved those jobs overseas. CEOs and stockholders have profited while middle class workers have struggled. The only thing the government has done is to try to bail out the companies when their practices got a little too greedy and threatened to bankrupt themselves. Barack Obama is right when he says that the Republicans must think Americans are stupid.

Gas

April 15, 2008

In order to lower gas prices, John McCain has proposed suspending the gas tax for the summer. While that certainly would lower the price of gas, at least temporarily, it would also lead the country even further into disaster.

Gas taxes go to dedicated funds that are used for road maintenance and construction. McCain’s proposal would mean deferral of crucial road and bridge repairs that have to be done in warm weather. It would make our already unsafe roads even less safe.

McCain’s proposal would also layoff millions of highway construction workers and would put construction contractors out of business. This is exactly the kind of half-witted thinking that has gotten our country into such a mess. Please don’t vote for this man.

Lefty’s (2003-2007)

October 6, 2007

Lefty’s Blues Club of Salem, Oregon closed its doors tonight. During its 4-years Lefty’s had become a world class blues club, rivaling the great clubs of its big city neighbor to the north Portland. All of the great Portland blues singers and players played here --- Curtis Salgado, Linda Hornbuckle, Duffy Bishop and the late harmonica wizard, Paul Delay. Local blues stars like Mark Lemhouse, Ty Curtis and Jake Blair got their start at Lefty’s.

Plus some of the great legends of blues and soul --- Pinetop Perkins, Alvin Youngblood Hart, Rory Block and others.

The walls were decorated with pictures of the blues players who had played there as well as replicas of 78 recordings by Muddy Waters, Howlin Wolf, BB King and John Lee Hooker.

My wife and I liked to go there especially on Sundays to listen to acoustic blues by Mark Lemhouse, Terry Robb and Lloyd Jones and as a state worker I often went their for lunch, especially on Wednesdays for a slice of Buffalo chicken pizza.

It was a public house for blues lovers. Thanks to owners Karen and John Graham for four years of great music.

Comments? E-mail steve@stevehillbluesband.com