Op Ed: 'Econ 101' Corrupted
By Corporate Design
Kills Demo-Dreams

"Wealth-Creation" Demands Continuing "Worker/Capital" Cooperation For Competitive Success.

(EUGENE, Ore.) - Here we make no pretense to more than natural understandings of "the dismal science" of economics. There are, however, some few "natural facts" from which common-sense can deduce the most-damaging situations also highly visible to many others; then checkable vs multitudinous Internet resources.

Start with this single inevitable, inescapable natural fact: "Private property depends on the rule of law."

Without that rule of law, nobody can achieve the excess-beyond-natural/need from which cometh "the capital for cooperative application" (read "investment") --from which all wealth doth necessarily flow, in this 21st Century.

Salem-News.com is a sincere group of experienced, award-winning journalists who banded together to bring better coverage to Oregon's capitol city and outlying areas. Over time Salem-News gained national and global appeal through our affiliation with Google News and other sources, and we continue to generate some of the most relevent information through our local, national and worldwide coverage.

We are asking for the support of our readers and visitors to help us keep Salem-News.com in operation.  By all calculations, there is not a more visited news source in America that is 100% independently owned and operated, and it is important for this group, established in July 2004, to continue. Please help by visiting our PayPal link in the right column and donating what you can. We sincerely appreciate your help!

* We proudly announce the Premiere of Glen Bledsoe's Brand New Comic Strip: Benny & Sid's Your Public Service Announcement, formerly 'Nota Bene' beginning this week, only on Salem-News.com (Congratulations Glen for the 100th Nota Bene!)

For information on recent changes at Salem-News.com, visit: Oregon Internet News Organization Revises Format; Announces Changes

Celebrating the Independence Holiday as National Prisoners

Americans are good people but we have been led astray. The answers are not found in the ideologies of the far right or the far left for that matter, they are found in the center.

(SALEM, Ore.) - In the land of the free, it is curious that we are now locked into our own country for the first time in history. Immigration paranoia has led the Bush administration to placing passport requirements on the entry of Canada and Mexico. How free do you feel?

I lived on the Mexican border for two years while working as a photojournalist/reporter for the Yuma, Arizona NBC station. We visited Mexico constantly then and learned amazing things about our neighbors to the south. I earned awards from the Associated Press for stories I shot in Mexico, but today that would not be possible if I did not have passport.

War Coverage Tim King in Afghanistan

Ask Dr. Leveque Only on Salem-News.com

Depression in U.S. is Looming: What are People Going to Do?

What would John Steinbeck think?

(SALEM, Ore.) - It seems fair to state that even years into the war in Iraq, most of us figured we would get through this difficult national period. It wasn't the case for those who lost loved ones in the fighting overseas, but it still looked like the majority of American families might be able at least eventually, see the dawning of a new, better, and more peaceful era.

But now the ground is shaking beneath our very feet, and a natural disaster is not causing it, at least not all of it. A man-made disaster fueled by greed among our richest citizens has caused it, and that greed comes in the form of war, oil, oppression, and monetary insecurity.

Salem Restaurant Dining Critic!

Salem's Cartoon Strip Only on Salem-News.com

Long, Hard Job Ahead for Wildland Firefighters in California

National Guard forces are working with firefighters in an effort to bring the hundreds of early season fires to a close in this dry state.

(SACRAMENTO, Calif.) - Dry and hot weather conditions across central and northern California are increasing the difficulty for firefighters. They continue to battle hundreds of wildfires sparked by dry lightning and thunderstorms two weeks ago. So far, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection reports hundreds of fires have been contained, but hundreds of other fires continue to burn and they now threaten a number of communities.

Accuweather.com forecasters report that the fire in Santa Barbara County is threatening as many as 200 homes in Goleta. Farther to the north, the Big Sur fire has scorched more than 60,000 acres, and it is only 3 percent contained at this point. Among the communities and homes threatened by the wildfires, is the historic town of Big Sur and the town of Lucia. The Associated Press reports that authorities ordered the remaining residents of the communities to leave after the out-of-control wildfire jumped a fire line and threatened more homes Wednesday.

Iraqi Criminals Receive Chance to Start New Lives

"I ask that when you begin to build your new life, establish it on the new Iraqi laws," - Salem Bedin, Jisr Diyala city council leader

(BAGHDAD, Iraq) - A number of Iraqi citizens were released from the Jisr Diyala JSS, following a reconciliation ceremony, June 25th. The JSS are the patrol bases where U.S. soldiers, Iraqi police, and Iraqi army units operate from within the neighborhoods in Baghdad.

U.S. officials say the ceremony, which is held once a month, is a chance for the former detainees to reunite with their families and celebrate returning to their villages.

Eighteen men were detained after being found guilty of criminal acts in this instance. U.S. officials report that the reintegration process offers these citizens the chance to make amends for the mistakes of their past and start fresh.

Medical Marijuana Questions Answered by Salem-News.com's Dr. Phil Leveque (VIDEO)

This is the 21st installment of Salem-News.com's special video series on medical marijuana.

(SALEM. Ore.) - In our latest medical marijuana question and answer video, Dr. Phil Leveque and Bonnie King go over a number of questions sent to us by our viewers about the legal ins and outs of medical marijuana in Oregon as well as other states.

This is the 21st edition of this special series; and it is the only service of this type available in the world. Dr. Phil Leveque is a physician, toxicologist and pharmacologist, and his experience with this subject is almost unrivaled.

Anyone with questions about what is legal and what is not legal in regard to medical marijuana, is encouraged to write to us at the email address listed below. We will do our best to answer your questions through a video segment, or through email.

Iran Doesn't Have Illegal Nukes; but Israel Has Hundreds

If speculation and rumors add up, George W Bush could be planning an attack on another innocent nation of people.

(SALEM, Ore.) - The investigative journalist who revealed both the My Lai Massacre in Vietnam and Abu Ghraib military torture scandal in Iraq, Seymour Hersh, says his sources have revealed that the United States is very close to staging an attack against Iran. He told NPR that Congress' is already funding covert military operations, information that will be part of the upcoming issue of The New Yorker.

For his part, Bush dismissed the idea that his administration is planning to attack Iran as "wild speculation". His pattern of grave military errors up until now however, is certainly no reassurance that he isn't lying.

Even though former President Jimmy Carter revealed to the world that Israel has hundreds of armed nuclear weapons pointed at targets around the world illegally, our cowboy president George "W" Bush is still injecting lie after lie into the news media about Iran's nuclear program.

Salem-News.com Announces New Online Oregon Comic Strip

Salem-News.com artist Glen Bledsoe, AKA "Leonardo", releases new original comic strip, celebrates 100 editions of 'Nota Bene'.

(SALEM, Ore.) - Just at the crest of its popularity Salem-News.com's ever-popular comic strip Nota Bene by Leonard ceases following it's one-hundredth issue.

The creator of Nota Bene, Leonardo of Salem, AKA Glen Bledsoe, has been busy generating the completely unique Oregon cartoon strip since the first edition was published on Salem-News.com August 6th, 2006. Poignant and politically relevant, the series utilizes movie frames highly customized through Glen's unique touch. The new series, Benny and Sid`s Your Public Service Announcements, is more unique; the artwork in the new series is entirely created by Glen from scratch.

Few people seem to enjoy their professional careers more than Glen and Karen Bledsoe. When Glen joined Salem-News.com he was working as a university professor. Today he is lending his skills toward an even more important set; elementary school students.

Benny and Sid`s #1 Your Public Service Announcements

Salem-News.com premiers the new comic strip series Benny & Sid's Your Public Service Announcements (#1) and retires Nota Bene

(Salem) - Just at the crest of its popularity Salem-News.com's ever-popular comic strip Nota Bene by Leonard ceases following it's one-hundredth issue.
To find out more about the how and why of this historic event, please read the following interview with the creator of Nota Bene, Leonardo of Salem.

Lake Forest California Boy Abducted After His Mother Was Shot

The suspect vehicle that police are on the lookout for is a red Porsche with California license number 4BWU827, or possibly a white Chevy Suburban with California license number 5LTC712. Both vehicles appear to belong to the shooting and abduction suspect.

(LAKE FOREST, Calif.) - The California Highway Patrol issued an Amber Alert late Wednesday after a nine-year old Lake Forest boy was abducted and his mother was shot in Lake Forest on Wednesday night.

Police report that Ryan Ramos is a Hispanic male. No further description is available. The photo shows Ryan as a boy with dark hair and a slender build.

The suspect in both the shooting and the boy's abduction, is the boy's estranged father, 43-year old Lonnie Ramos. He is described as a Hispanic male who is six foot three inches tall and weighs approximately 180 pounds.

Family Of Robbery Suspect Blames Retired Marine for Fatal Shooting

'If you want to kick a tiger in the ass, you'd better have a plan for dealing with his teeth.' - comment about this story on Topix.com

(PLANTATION, Fla.) - A Florida newspaper reported that John Lovell had just finished dinner at about 11:15 PM that night in June 2007, when the two men armed with guns quickly entered a Subway shop and demanded cash.

It seems like it could have ended there, but instead the men turned to Lovell and demanded his money, and then according to Police, tried to force him into a bathroom. The retired Marine apparently feigned dropping his wallet, and instead of picking it up, brandished a 9mm handgun and brought the robbery to a swift close.

Marine Death Camp: Camp Lejeune Trichlorethylene - the Culprit

Phillip Leveque has spent his life as a Combat Infantryman, Physician, Toxicologist and Pharmacologist. He is an expert in medical marijuana treatment.

(MOLALLA, Ore.) - Very few people including those who lived on the Marine Corp's Camp Lejeune facility knew or know that it is a toxic (lethal) waste dump.

Thousands of similar stories have a couple of things in common: one is Camp Lejeune, another is contact with a substance known commonly as TCE that is used to clean aircraft parts, it is a degreasing agent, and a real killer as it turns out. The Camp Lejeune story could just be the tip of the iceberg unfortunately.

Op Ed: 'The Band Plays On'
But Do We Hear The Real Music?

Democracy dies without citizen attention and action.

(EUGENE, Ore.) - "...And the band played on"... That familiar phrase --from “the Titanic-disaster when the band played while the ship sank”-- very precisely pronounces our current status re patriotism true to American principles, on July 4th 2008 --well into the 21st Century.

We hear the music --meant to reassure us-- and we seek out any possible lifeboat, as the ship sinks; with similar results for far too many passengers.

We are very chary about DOING what proves up our real and true devotion to the nation AND its Founding Principles: Making sure the ship does NOT sink --and that our captain knows an iceberg when it towers over us.

Fighting Back Against the Costly Methods Used by Police (VIDEO)

New technology from one Oregon company aids drivers against photo red light cameras and speed traps.

(PORTLAND, Ore.) - A war of emerging technologies has been fought on our nation's highways for years. After police began using radar guns to catch speed limit violators, companies answered the call by offering radar detectors and "Fuzz Busters." New radar bands and types are greeted by new and improved devices that utilize new ways to warn drivers and keep them from that inevitable, expensive ticket written on the side of the road.

Police used to always drive marked police vehicles, today they drive non marked cars for traffic enforcement in many cases, blurring the lines between real police and potential police impersonators. Police used to have to keep their vehicle's lights on when parked on the side of the road at night. Today all over Oregon, police sit hidden in the dark waiting for potential violators.

Fires Flare as Smoke Spreads From California Wildfires to Oregon and Nevada

The National Weather Service reports that wildland fire activity was reported with six new large fires nationally, but California remains the most active state with 27 large fires and 409,046 acres burned.

(SALEM, Ore.) - The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection reports that over 1,450 fires in California have scorched more than 416,200 acres as of early this morning. AccuWeather.com forecasters say smoky conditions will continue to affect central and northern California as well as western Nevada and southern Oregon.

Red Bluff, California, Reno, Nevada and Medford, Oregon, all reported lowered visibility due to the smoke being spread by a south-southwest steering flow on Monday. The smoke will continue to cause poor air quality and poor breathing conditions, even for healthy adults, through the week.

Marijuana Vs. Migraines: Modern Medical Miracle

Phillip Leveque has spent his life as a Combat Infantryman, Physician, Toxicologist and Pharmacologist. He is an expert in medical marijuana treatment.

(MOLALLA, Ore.) - Migraine headaches are possibly one of the most misunderstood maladies of man. The Merck Manual states “The cause is unknown and the pathophysiology (mechanism) is not fully understood.” Except that it has something to do with brain blood vessel dilation/constriction; nobody seems to know what is going on here. If I’m wrong about this I’m sure I will hear plenty.

To save myself professional embarrassment, I checked the Merck Manual. One would think some mad scientist produced the highly diverse pot pourri of drugs which have been used to alleviate these severe and paralyzing headaches, with nausea and vomiting, which affect some 10 million people in the U.S.

Parental Rights Organizations Across the Nation Will Encroach on U.S. Capitol for Civil Rights Event

A similar event is being held in Salem, Oregon on July 26th.

(OAKLAND COUNTY, Mich.) - Children’s and Parent’s Rights organizations from across the nation are scheduled to encroach on Washington DC this August 15th & 16th at the Upper Senate Park. They say they are doing it because government policies do not reflect what is truly best for children and good parents.

Organizer Larry Holland says the event is bringing the major issues facing parents to the legislators’ doorsteps, their backyards, and their offices.

Letter to Editor Addresses Environmental Concerns Among Students

Changing light bulbs, driving less, and using energy efficient appliances are steps in the right direction.

(SALEM, Ore.) - I am a local student who is concerned about global warming and its potential devastating impacts. More and more science is showing us that human action is causing climate change and we must act now to protect our future. The latest report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change tells us that by acting now, the worst impacts of global warming can still be avoided.

As the Earth’s largest polluter, the U.S. has an obligation to reduce the amount of global warming emissions we dump into the atmosphere. It is our responsibility to preserve a sustainable way of life and secure a livable future for many generations to come. Our children and grandchildren do not deserve to inherit environmental despair that threatens their livelihood because of our negligence.

Heat, Fires and Storms in the Forecast for California (VIDEO)

Several daily temperature records were broken Sunday in the Northwest, in Oregon new all time highs were set in The Dalles, Pendleton and Redmond, Oregon.

(SACRAMENTO, Calif.) - Weather forecasters say a disturbance pushing through the Northwest will break the heat in the north, but will also allow thunderstorms to form into Tuesday. Meanwhile, remaining heat to the south over much of California will continue to fuel fires and the smoke given off, Accuweather.com weather experts reported.

An influx of Pacific air from an approaching disturbance brought relief from the heat Monday to coastal areas from northern California to Washington state, while the the Intermountain West remained hot.

Plains States Will See Returning Storms (VIDEO)

Storms moving into the northern Plains late Tuesday will reach the flood-weary Midwest by Wednesday.

(OMAHA, Neb.) - Forecasters at Accuweather.com, say high pressure building in the Midwest region out of the West Tuesday, will bring a blast of heat to the northern Plains. They predict temperatures through Tuesday to be in the 90s across the Intermountain West and the northern Plains.

As that heat gives way late Tuesday to a cold front droping out of Canada's Prairie Provinces, a quick-hitting, dynamic storm system will follow the front onto the northern Plains. By Wednesday, storms will move into the upper Mississippi Valley, Accuweather experts say.

Benefits of New G.I. Bill Announced in Oregon Today

President Bush opposed the improvement in veteran education opportunities until recently.

(SALEM, Ore.) - Oregon Department of Veterans’ Affairs Director Jim Willis announced today the signing of the new GI Bill for Oregon veterans. The bill significantly expands education benefits for veterans and was praised by Governor Ted Kulongoski.

“In Oregon, we’ve done a lot to help our veterans with education benefits,” the Governor said. “This new GI Bill keeps the faith with those who serve our country and will make an invaluable investment in our future.” The new GI Bill has been likened to that of the GI Bill offered to World War II veterans in that it provides for nearly all the costs of attending school.

Oregon Woman Survives Black Bear Attack

Because of the recent increase of bear and human encounters, fish and wildlife officials remind residents to not feed bears or any other wildlife.

(SANDY, Ore.) - State Police officials say a Sandy-area woman received non-life threatening injuries late Sunday night when she encountered a black bear at her home. Rick Hargrave with the Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife, says around 11:00 PM Sunday, the 58-year old woman who lives about five miles northeast of Sandy, heard noises coming from her back porch.

"Upon investigating the noises she opened her rear door and found the bear feeding on sunflower seeds stored in an aluminum garbage can." Hargrave says the bear swiped at her, injuring her on the arm, foot and thigh. The bear then ran off.

Today is the Centenial Anniversary of Russia's Tunguska Explosion

Scientists believe the blast was about 1000 times as powerful as the bomb dropped on Hiroshima, Japan and about one third the power of the Tsar Bomba, the largest nuclear weapon ever detonated.

(SALEM, Ore.) - June 30th 2008 is the Centennial anniversary of an event that rocked the very soul of Russia, known as the Tunguska Event, or Tunguska explosion. Historic accounts describe it as a massive explosion that happened near the Podkamennaya or Lower Stony Tunguska River, in an area now known as Krasnoyarsk Krai of Russia. It happened June 30th, 1908 around 7:14 AM.

That is when Tungus natives and others living in the hills northwest of Russia's Lake Baikal reported seeing a column of bluish light, that they described as being almost as bright as the Sun, moving across the sky.

Search for Missing Teen in Sandy River Unsuccessful

Clackamas County Sheriff's Office Search & Rescue Winding Down Search Efforts Along Sandy River

(CLACKAMAS, Ore.) - The Clackamas County Sheriff's Office, Search & Rescue mission on the Sandy River attempting to locate a missing Sandy teenager who is presumed drowned, was concluded late Sunday afternoon. Detective Jim Strovink with the Clackamas Sheriff's Office, says all efforts to locate Patrick Monteith have failed.

He says eight ground searchers from Pacific Northwest Search and Rescue volunteered their time and expertise Sunday and continuing the ground search along the banks of the Sandy River.

California Wildfires Lead to Presidential Declaration for Federal Aid

Smoke has been sent downwind from the fires, resulting in hazardous breathing conditions for California residents. Parts of Oregon and Nevada will also be impacted.

(SALEM, Ore.) - The President issued a declaration today ordering federal aid to supplement state and local firefighting efforts in response to wildfires. AccuWeather.com Meteorologist Kristina Baker, says California's Department of Forestry and Fire Protection reported early Sunday that over 1,400 fires have ignited across the state since last weekend's devastating lightning storm.

"The fires have charred over 356,000 acres and destroyed 29 residences. The number of homes that remain threatened stands at over 7,500. Firefighters are desperately trying to contain the 29 large blazes across the state that could destroy these residences."

'Truly-Open Election'
Challenges Our Nation
As Never Possible Before

"Liberal" vs "Conservative" truths at stake, demand honest, open, inevitable comparisons.

(EUGENE, Ore.) - "A pox on both those failed parties!" may well turn out to be the famous-theme of this 2008 voter-choice struggle. "Failed choices" from both Democratic and GOP sides have dominated the past 50 years, forcing us all into permanent campaign-posture confrontation; precluding progress to what millions keep SAYING they want and, now MUST HAVE, as the 21st Century arrives.

That’s the open-for-action situation confronting the voters in this ostensibly once-democracy, in 2008. It rests firmly on the highly apparent failures of both "liberal" and "conservative" traditions once thought to be essential guiding beacons for the American nation.

Cartoon Strip: Nota Bene by Leonardo No. 100 - Breakdown

This is the one hundredth installment of the Salem-News.com original series "Nota Bene by Leonardo" by Salem cartoonist Glen Bledsoe.

(Salem) - We are all pressed to our limits. The challenges of life in the 21st century are greater than any of us imagined.

After nearly eight years of a politics of division we are ready to tear one another's throats out and dance in the carnage. What else could possibly go wrong? Could the next stress be the straw which breaks the camel's back? Join me with this one-hundredth issue of Nota Bene and learn what it means to be really afraid. Prepare yourself for the breakdown of our world as we have known it.

Why Did the FBI Let Roxanna M. Brown Die?

A famous American journalist and art curator is unexpectedly arrested and dies without medical treatment in FBI custody. Her brother, a playwright, distinguished Vietnam Vet and military education specialist, wants answers.

(SEATTLE, Wash.) - The world is a place of many senseless tragedies; and sometimes the tangled web of life leaves no answers for loved ones who have to survive the needless death of a family member.

As a battle hardened Vietnam Vet, Fred Leo Brown is no stranger to grief. But his sister's death in a jail cell at Sea Tac in Seattle in the custody of U.S. federal agents, he tells me, is almost too much to bear.

'REEFER MADNESS' Killed My Sister

Years of misinformation about marijuana have created a cruel ignorance that in this case, led to a woman's death.

(SALEM, Ore.) - My sister was buried yesterday. Patricia Agnes died of Liver Cancer at 62. God, rest her soul. She never drank, smoked and ate a healthy diet. She had a medical marijuana permit but she never smoked marijuana in her life.

She believed the 'Reefer Madness' Lie that Cannabis was a drug like meth or heroin. Why else would it be a crime to use it? The doctors and everyone did their best but ….. It’s the Cannabinoids, Stoopid.

Former Marine Testifies Over Deadly Contaminated Water at Camp Lejeune

Former Marine and other witnesses tell subcommittee that communities were left vulnerable to toxic chemicals.

(SALEM, Ore.) - It is hard to find a sadder story or a more determined Marine than Jerome M. Ensminger of Richlands, North Carolina. He lost his daughter Janey to cancer after a long struggle in the 1980's. At the time they could not figure out what caused it.

A decade later Jerry, who never went a day without thinking of Janey, was watching the evening news and learned that the Marine Corps and Navy had been caught up in a scandal over TCE (Trichloroethylene) poisoning at Camp Lejeune. It was a problem that in the end, would be too large to sweep under the rug, even though the government has tried.

Salem Electric Car Dealership Will Provide Batteries for New Neil Young Project

Neil Young makes another Lithium Ion battery purchase and Larry Dye says he is ready to talk to investors.

(SALEM, Ore.) - With the price of gasoline edging toward five dollars a gallon, it makes sense that more people than ever are interested in making the switch to an alternative energy car.

For the three-year old Salem dealership, Electric Wheels Inc., it seems that almost every day brings a new development of one kind or another. One of the more recent is an order from Rock Star Neil Young for his second set of Lithium Ion batteries from Electric Wheels owner Larry Dye.

Op Ed: OUR Constitution:
Defend it TODAY
OR Lose It Tomorrow

Bush sabotage sets precedent For imperial Presidency to replace the rule of law.

(EUGENE, Ore.) - OUR Constitution and its accompanying Bill of Rights is the organizing foundation-structure on which all else has been built in this nation ever since 1776. Countless pages of our history proclaim, without question, that immutable truth for any freedom and for ALL rights: “USE It or LOSE IT!”

Did you know that “precedent set by Presidential action and negligence of Congress” can change the Constitutional freedoms you now enjoy?