Oregon's DMV isn't open this Friday along with many state offices, because the state is running out of money and this is the first of six furlough days this year to save money. It's what right-wingers have been asking for decades: cut the waste, cut the fat, cut the government!
And so, that is what the DMV is doing. The Postal Service will likely have Furlough Saturday. Some colleges in California have Furlough Fridays, too. California's DMV started this more than a year ago. There isn't enough money to go around and cuts have to be made, and they're being made, whether we like them or not. That's the way it is during this Great Recession.
It makes sense for the DMV and USPS to close on certain days. Vehicle registration can be done online on any day of the week, saving a wait in line at the DMV. With the USPS, e-mail and online bill paying are reducing the need for 6-day-a-week service.
And yet, we have the numbskulls at the local daily paper calling this unnecessary, unwarranted and unfair, because the paper publishes seven days a week with more furlough days. Boo-hoo. Call out the violins. How sad.
The editorialists at the daily have long called for such cutbacks and now that they have them are whining about them. It must be difficult for the reporters at the paper to have to answer for such idiots, much like it used to be at the Wall Street Journal. Rupert Murdoch solved that problem by chasing away the best and brightest at the Journal and having greater control of the front page news. The current regime at the daily in Bend did the same thing years ago and continues to do so, even with the people they hire.
Editors at Bend's daily paper routinely shape stories called for by the publisher and editor. They can do what they want, but it certainly doesn't mean the daily paper represents "the people" in its "watchdog" role on government.
In fact, it's another reason why circulation is sliding at newspapers and why they're less relevant. As Glenn Beck would say, "they just don't get it."
It would certainly help public discourse if the local daily did cut back delivery to five days a week. We would all be better for it.
Also, props go out to Toby Bayard for giving a PowerPoint presentation at the urban growth boundary hearing yesterday. She showed the state Land Conservation and Development Commission what the city officials did not. She showed there is plenty of land within current city limits for all kinds of development. Good for her. She got it right. The city did not.
And, the daily finally has to write about the crazy Tumalo-based Chimps Inc., now that a former intern is suing the place for $828,000 after a chimp attacked her and bit off her thumb.
In light of the woman back East who appeared on "Oprah" to show her face was ripped off by a primate, these chimp compounds should get more scrutiny and hopefully put out of business.
The woman who owns the Central Oregon joint is Lesley Day, wife of Matt Day, owner of Hooker Creek construction materials and pal of the daily's bosses.
There has got to be better hobbies to fund, one that doesn't bite off thumbs and fingers of people who work there for free.
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