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Concerning New Year's Resolutions:  I have for years promised myself and others that I would make a greater attempts at keeping in touch, showing signs of life, and generally letting a slew of good friends know that, even though I can't or don't call or write every day - I don't Facebook - that I would keep in touch on a more personal level. 

     Over the last several years, I have made and sent New Year's cards to a number of people.  This year I upped the ante, and sent out seventy-two home made New Year's cards, and in 90% of them I added printed photographs of friend's children, events together, and other memories out of the thousands of photographs I have in my collection.  I even sent a letter to my Great-Uncle in Germany - something I have put off for years.

     It was a lot of work, but the effort has paid for itself in that I feel I have kept a promise to myself and others, and I have achieved a goal early in the year that I have put off for far too long. 

     Happy New Year, indeed!

                Bernd Minde

posted 1 year, 4 months ago
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What is the basis for  Maggie's belief that marriage is one man and one woman? Is it biblical in nature? Cultural? Traditional? What is the driving force behind this belief?

posted 1 year, 4 months ago
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His name is MIKE Lastra - not Mark!

posted 1 year, 9 months ago
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 Oregon's unique kicker law is possible one of the least understood and under explained laws ever to be ingrained into the Oregon Constitution.   

I conducted an informal survey among everyday people in my life including young as well as seasoned voters, students, parents, workers and retires.  Not one person with I spoke could explain the law correctly.

   The most common misconception went something like this:  The state makes its revenue forecast.  If the collected revenue exceeds the predicted amount by two percent, he state has to refund anything over that amount, i.e. anything over 102%.

   The truth of the matter is that oncer the predictions are exceeded by two or more percent, the state must give back not only any amount over 102%, but the entire amount over 100% of a two year forecast.  The state does NOT keep the two % overage.  It is included in the tax refund, effectively forcing an exact prediction two years out in a state with volatile tax base.  (Try this at home with your own finances!  Good Luck!)

   Oregon could refashion the law so that the state keeps the two percent overage for a rainy day fund and refunds anything over that amount.  This would offer a  sufficient savings and stability while at the same time sending the taxpayers their "feel good" check.  (Sending a physical check is a ridiculous waste of money, exclusively for show, but that's for another conversation).

     If people understood the law better, they would be more likely to amend it to better serve the needs of the state.

posted 2 years, 3 months ago
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