This Way Out - HIPFiSHmonthly

and meet other needs, similar to other types offamily leave.Avakian also created the Oregon Council onCivil Rights, a diverse group of individuals toadvise the Commissioner or other governmentofficials on important matters of civil rightsas well as charting a proactive approach toaddressing civil rights issues."Their first task isequal pay for equal work. I want them to endwage disparity in Oregon forever. " Avakian hascharged the Council to develop a plan to endthe practice.Shifting to federal issues, Avakian says weneed to seriously rethink how we're managingresources, not the least of which includesIraq and Afghanistan. "We need to bring mostof those dollars back home and use them toinvest in infrastructure in this country," he said.Avakian says we want to provide a "helpfulhand" to nations who need it, but the US has14 million people out of work and another 14million who are under employed. Avakian sayswe need to address crumbling infrastructureand old, inefficient transportation technologyas well. "And we've got starving people here.And I don't just mean in Appalachia. Go todowntown Beaverton and walk through some ofthe neighborhoods there. I've walked throughneighborhoods there where you have kids withshaved heads and distended stomachs playingin their front yard and parents who are mentallyill or for other reasons can't take care of theirfamilies. And they're sitting right in the middleof Washington County without the kind of supportnetwork they need in order to stay healthy.We must refocus on the needs we have in thiscountry. We've got to take care of our own."On the issues around the debt and unemployment,I asked Avakian how he believes weshould be managing these problems. "Whenyou've got 30 million people that can't earnenough to take care of their families, you'vealso got 30 million people that can't pumprevenue to take care of the country. That is ahuge factor in whether we can decrease thenational debt." Besides getting people back towork, Avakian says that we have to start makingWall Street pay its fair share. This includesnot giving billions to bank bailouts, especiallywithout requirements to loan to business. Wealso need to set up competition--by lifting thecap on lending by credit unions, to allow themto extend business loans that are competitivewith banks. "There's a stimulus package thatwill get money into small business and intopaychecks", he said. Avakian says that thereneeds to be a closing of the many tax loopholesfor corporations.On trade policy, Avakian says that "freetrade" agreements are allowing foreign corporationsto bring goods into the US with very lowtariffs. In the meantime, the US can't ship intoother nations because the tariffs are so high."We've got great corporations like Intel thatdo a lot of work in the US both in terms ofmanufacturing and research/design that alsodo work in foreign countries. You want themto have the ability to get their commerce backand forth. We need trade policies that put uson a level playing field and protect Americancorporations."On health care, Avakian says he'd havevoted for the Affordable Healthcare Act,because it covered so many people and eliminatedpreexisting conditions. But he says its avery small step in an area that needs massivereform. He says we also need a strong publicoption as part of the next discussion, whichshould then lead to a discussion about singlepayer healthcare.As a leader in Oregon, Avakian has workedto bring a shift of focus to progressive values inWashington County. "Its been about going doorto door, meeting my neighbors and engagingthem in a discussion to create a progressiveagenda for this state. In my three legislativesessions, I knocked on 30,000 doors, mostlyin Washington County, doing just that." AvakianCarla AxtmanCarla Axtman is a political animal and blogger who cofoundedthe Oregon-based blogs Preemptive Karma andLoaded Orygun. Most recently, she worked as the NetrootsOutreach Director for Jeff Merkley for Oregon during the2008 primary. Carla is in the process of readjusting tothe real world and is now sleeping and eating on a regularschedule.Continue to Read Carla Axtman’s interviews with BradWitt and Suzanne Bonamici -- of the three most competitivecandidates in the Democratic primary for the First CongressionalDistrict seat -- at blueoregon.com A place fornews and original commentary. (And sometimes gossip.)says they had 450 active volunteers in his firstHouse race, also knocking on doors and talkingwith people. He also credits great leadershipover the last 8 years by the Washington CountyDemocrats, who've worked to reinvigorate progressives."After I was elected into the House,I moved into leadership right after the first session.We began building a plan to recruit progressivecandidates that could gain a majorityin the Legislature so we could put our progressivevalues into law. That first team was JeffMerkley, Dave Hunt, Diane Rosenbaum andme." Avakian says that while knocking on doorsin his community, he was also knocking ondoors around the state to recruit good progressivepeople to run for office. Avakian says theypushed hard to get candidates in WashingtonCounty to win back the majority. Avakian is afounding board member for Emerge Oregon,he says he's been honored to be a part of theorganization's presence in the state.As the Congressman for Oregon's FirstDistrict, Avakian has two main agenda items.First, he says he wants to take his shop classbill from this past session from the state levelto the federal level. "We should be second tonone in providing employers the best trainedworkforce they can find." Avakian also wants a21st Century WPA Program that will put peopleto work rebuilding the national infrastructure:roads, seaports, airports, national rail and anew national smart grid that would support newand emerging energy sources.Spirit of the River A HUGE Success!a benefit to protect the Columbia Estuary from proposed LNGSeptember 24, 2011A BEST in a season of shows in the Columbia Pacific Region, Spiritof the River is well-produced – guest artists, all from the regionnever fail to give a shining performance.Robert Michael Pyle’s stirring and epic water poem, Willapa Hills folkensemble performing a Finnish waltz and a rousing original gospelstyle piece, pianist Jennifer Goodenberger’s deeply moving Celticreverie, the potent and political fisher poetry of Pat Dixon, the eloquentsolo acoustic voice of environmentalist/singersongwriter AlexaWiley, and a heart busting finale performed by the incredibly musicalKnappa Youth Marimba Band.A perfectly lit stage providing the backdrop of water color artist, NoelThomas’ marine paintings, uncannily related to each performer. Adirect delivery from Riverkeeper Director Brett Vandenheuvel aboutthe work that needs to continue, and a gift of a painting to local NOLNG Activist and Spirit of the River producer Cheryl Johnson, and themany artists whose donated work helped exceed a fundraising goal,contributed to a brilliant evening.A co-creation of pure magic, spirit, heart and absolute commitmentto keep our land and waters protected.- HIPFiSHmonthly“We laughed, we cried, we celebrated! And we committed toprotect our river. Our fifth annual Spirit of the River raisedpublic awareness and $16,500 to fight Liquefied Natural Gas(LNG) terminals and pipelines.”- Columbia RiverkeeperDistrict 1Candidates ForumFriday, October 14th Astoria Branch of AAUWwill host a Candidates Forum for District 1Congressional Seat. The Forum will begin at7:00pm in Columbia Hall of Clatsop CommunityCollege. The public is invited to hearpositions and learn about the hopes ofthese primary candidates.Enjoy the serenity of ourgardens, wooded paths,sauna, yurt and bhuddas . . .. . . in Nahcotta, Washingtonon Sandridge Road,just south of Bay Avenueoverlooking willapa bayBut man is a part ofnature, and hiswar against nature isinevitablya waragainst himself.– Rachel Carsonwww.mobydickhotel.com360-665-4543 or 1-800-673-614511 oct11 hipfishmonthly.com