VISION OF JUSTICE

Treat corrupt CEOs like arrested drug dealers. Light, cushy, often-
appealed prison terms are puny punishment when a multi-millionaire CEO
cooks the books, profits from insider trading or buys politicians.
Confiscating drug dealers' assets feeds our ceaseless, ineffectual war on
drugs. Confiscation might work better on the crooked criminals in
boardrooms and vice-presidential suites. Their self-serving, immoral
actions are no less perpetual or damaging.

Why not freeze and eventually confiscate indicted CEO's assets, then return
them to cheated investors, retirees and employees? Those millions and
billions might even help balance disproportionate taxation of middle and
low income individuals and families.

After Enron, WorldCom, Martha Stewart and Dennis Kozlowski, will anyone be
surprised if the stock market "adjusts" from lower investor confidence?
After the Bush appointment (er, election), is anyone surprised by voter
apathy when our "democracy" seems farcical? Voting, even when counted,
merely endorses the fat cats' already purchased representatives of both
parties.

If I had several hundred millions, I might make a few campaign
contributions for income and tax avoidance insurance. Or as a drug dealer,
I might make a few bribes to stay in business... What's the real difference
here? The CEO's bribes are mostly legal. Once indicted for cooking books or
insider trading, the CEO can afford a better lawyer.

One day perhaps poor criminals will get enough money to hire the best
lawyers and CEOs will have to make do with overworked public defenders.
That would be one vision of justice.

Ethen Perkins

Eugene
-------------------------------------------------
Are You Ready?

I was pleased to see that the EW (6/27) finally gave some attention to my
husband (governor candidate Richard Alevizos). They missed a few salient
points, though.

Richard represents the majority of Oregon (more so than any Green
candidate). He's bilingual, representing the Latino population. He is a
working class father-to-be who voted for medical marijuana and is not
affiliated with any party. Combine these groups and you have the majority.

Like many Oregonians, he is sick and tired of living in a "democracy" that
isn't a true democracy. We need change. Hemp could bring our government and
the way we live to a new level. Hemp would solve all of our environmental
concerns. Legalizing hemp would start the revolution we need to bring about
environmental changes in other ways. Legalizing hemp is the first step in
saying ...we, not the government, are in control of our lives.

So many people complain about the way everything is. But when someone comes
along willing and ready to be a representative of the change they so badly
want, they find every excuse in the book for why it can't work. People like
my husband will just have to wait.

He will sit back and listen to the complaints about how we really need
change and know that this year could be it; all these people really need to
do is rally behind him and make it happen. Anything is possible. The voices
of change could have a voice this year. Are they ready to make it happen?

Sara Alevizos

Eugene