At OPB, TV remains free

Confusion reigns regarding the switch to all-digital broadcasting, especially since Congress acted recently to move the conversion deadline from Feb. 17 to June 12. Among people's big concerns is the fear they'll lose free television.

Let me assure you that OPB's signal has been and will continue to be free for all over-the-air viewers. In fact, OPB now offers three free channels - OPB, OPB HD and OPB PLUS - which means viewers have even greater choice when it comes to the best of news and public affairs, lifestyle, environment and entertainment programming.

Add to this the superior picture and sound quality of over-the-air reception and viewers not only save money and the time spent scanning hundreds of channels, but enhance the time they do spend watching television as well.

Until June 12, OPB will continue to operate both its analog and digital signals. Viewers who have already prepared for the digital switch by installing a small, inexpensive digital converter box for their conventional analog TVs, or viewers who have new digital TVs, can start watching OPB's three free channels today.

OPB is here to help all viewers prepare now for the switch. If you have questions about how to receive digital OPB, our digital experts can help. Call us weekdays at (800) 241-8123, e-mail us at membercenter@opb.org or find out more online at opb.org/digital.

Steve Bass, OPB President & CEO, Portland

Food stamps and nutritiom

In reading Ms. Petersen's commentary (on food stamps, Feb. 13), I must confess, I don't see much of a factual basis for her arguments.

First is that she has based much of her argument on second-hand accounts. None of the assertions regarding how people use food stamps appears to have been done with her own eyes. My first-hand observations have shown me far more responsible use than irresponsible.

Second, it doesn't appear that she has taken time to look at some nutritional labels. As a diabetic, I take care in my nutritional needs. When I was first diagnosed, I was told things like sweets, cookies and chips weren't off-limits. These things can indeed be part of a good diet, but only when taken in moderation. As with most things, you just can't overdo it.

Thirdly, who decides what is nutritionally sound? Eggs are high in cholesterol. A single egg contains 215 mg,which is 71 percent of the DV.

High cholesterol foods aren't good for you. So should eggs be off-limits?

Fourth, there is an implication that use of food stamps is a cause of unhealthy eating habits. This is woefully unsubstantiated. I know a number of people who don't receive food stamps, nor ever have, yet have bad eating habits. According to research I have read, television is a much more attributable cause of bad dietary habits.

I will not deny that food stamps and other such government funded programs are abused. But those who do abuse the programs are a handful of recipients.

It's articles and commentaries such as these which inflate the abuse to illusionary proportions. I would challenge Ms. Petersen to take a month or however much time she needs to research this properly and write another commentary on her findings.

Timothy M. Stanton, Albany

Correct food stamp abuses

I work in the grocery industry and have watched the abuse of food stamps since 1976. I grew up in a money-tight household and knowing the value of money I am dismayed at the F/S abuse. I sent a long letter to Clinton the day he took office. That letter was forwarded to the U.S. Agriculture Department. Their response: They allow all items that were meant for consumption except hot food. There was no way to control select items from being allowed. Hogwash! Back then it was harder, but today's POS systems can do it. I install POS systems, it is a fact that almost every store can block items from F/S sales.

Soda is not a basic nutritional need! Want sugar drinks? Make Kool-Aid! Want soda and pre-made microwave dinners, buy them with your own money, not my tax dollars! Learn to cook from scratch! What a concept! Do I buy soda and microwave meals? Yes, but with my own money!

"The state does not play diet police." The state has nothing to do with what can and cannot be sold. Write and complain to the U.S. Department of Agriculture! Maybe if enough of us taxpayers did they would make some changes. The way the program is run is nothing more than the continuing waste in government with your tax dollars!

Ban out-of-season high dollar produce, high-end meats, pre-made microwave foods and all junk foods. Frozen spaghetti dinner for one, $3.49. Package of spaghetti, $1; jar of sauce, $1.99; loaf of store garlic bread, $2. Feeds four for $5.

"Those may not be good nutritional decisions, but they're no different from the decisions made by people who don't receive food stamps." This compares how? Our money to spend as we see fit, not someone else's tax dollars.

Should we drop the program? No! We just need it managed correctly!

Mike Westfall, Jefferson

FDR and the Depression

It's true that the nation did not recover fully from the Great Depression until 1941. The key word here is fully.

Fact 1: Unemployment in 1933 was 25 percent of the workforce. In 1939 it was 13 percent. Still bad, but isn't cutting unemployment in half an improvement?

2. In 1932 GNP fell a record 13.4 percent. In 1934 the U.S. economy grew by more than 8 percent (according to Paul Krugman). In fact, GDP grew every year but one (1937) from 1934 to 1941. The downward tick in 1937 came when the budget hawks in Congress got FDR to take his foot off the accelerator because of the deficit. Over all, GDP by 1941 was up 90 percent over 1933. Is that failure?

For the Northwest, the BPA brought cheap electricity in abundance, which brought aluminum plants, which brought airplane manufacturers (Boeing), and powered saw mills. TVA brought similar progress to the deep South, the most impoverished part of the country. Hoover Dam brought electric power and irrigation water to the dry Southwest.

Good government can do a lot of good. Bad government is the problem. It lets reckless, greedy people ruin things for the rest of us.

John Goodwin, Lebanon