Dr Mark, Author at The I Spy Radio Show

13-20 Oregon’s Habitat Conservation Plan = Goodbye Timber – Part 2

By Dr Mark | May 20, 2023 | Comments 1 comment

Show 13-20 Summary: This week, we welcome back Jennifer Hamaker from ONRI to continue our discussion about Oregon’s latest plan to lose money. Because Oregon’s Habitat Conservation Plan will do both. Over 640K acres will be impacted. A loss of millions and millions to schools, emergency services, and so many other agencies that depend on those timber sales. And how are they going to replace those lost funds? Some schools have already said they will have to shut down. And of course, unmanaged forest lead to forest fires, so there goes all that potential revenue. Literally up in smoke.

Coverage Map of I Spy Radio Show broadcast areas, as of June 2021 — Current I Spy Radio broadcast areas. Click for full-size map.

Original Air Dates: May 20th & 21st, 2023 | Guest: Jennifer Hamaker

This Week – Oregon’s Habitat Conservation Plan, Pt 2

We welcome back Jennifer Hamaker, the president of Oregon Natural Resources Industries (ONRI), to continue our discussion about Oregon’s Habitat Conservation Plan. Or HCP.

Last week, we learned the basics about Oregon’s Habitat Conservation Plan. Or should we say, Oregon’s Disastrous Habitat Conservation Plan. because it’s not going to do what they think it will. Probably because most environmentalists are angrily typing away about the forests. From downtown Portland’s coffee shops. What do they know about Oregon’s state forests? Well. They’re read a lot, one supposes. But have they worked there? Have they worked at mills? And we don’t mean the coffee kind.

It Grows Back, Stupid

Oregon’s School Trust Fund was set up when Oregon became a state. It would provide an ongoing source of funds for schools when the state sold timber harvested from state lands. But now, elected and non-elected democrats and environmentalists and activists want to end that. They’d love to wean the state off this fully renewable, fully sustainable perpetual income. Yes, democrats. The trees grow back. But why earn money when you can just tax them for it?

Jennifer walks us through what Oregon’s Habitat Conservation Plan will do to the forests. And the state’s School Trust Fund. There are over 200 public beneficiaries who get millions from this fund. Schools and police and fire and other services. All of that money is about to disappear. If this HCP goes through.

So, how do they plan on replacing those funds? Just where are they planning to get new funds from?

One guess: taxes.

Plan of Action to Stop ODF’s HCP

So how do the sane people of Oregon stop Oregon’s Habitat Conservation Plan? By speaking up. By letting the Oregon Department of Forestry know what you think of their plan.

And that’s easy! Head to www.OregonStrongerTogether.com and sign the petition. It literally takes 30 seconds to do. At the top of the page, you’ll see “HCP Petition” go there. Fill out the simple form with your name and address. That’s it. Done.

ONRI is looking for more people to head to Sisters, Oregon, on June 7th to be there, in person, at ODF’s public meeting about their HCP. Pack the room. For more details, head to ONRI.us. Please note that at this time, the ODF is keeping the exact time and meeting place a secret. That’s why you should head to ONRI’s webpage and sign up for alerts. Just scroll down the page and look for the big “subscribe” button.

Finally, and definitely not least, please donate to ONRI to help alert people to what is happening. ONRI is trying hard to get the word out but needs donations to buy ads on radio, tv, and digital spaces. Whether $25, $50, or more will help them buy an ad or two. Some websites looking for support say, “buy me a coffee.” Think of this as buying them an ad.

And what’s really cool is the ad you help them buy can be heard by 1,000s of people. So help them out! Head to ONRI’s website. The donate button is under the store tab. Or you can click here and jump to it.

The I Spy Radio Show Podcast Version

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Research, Links Mentioned & Additional Info

Mentioned During the Show

Jennifer is the president of ONRI. And please help them spread the word with a donation (look for the link under the “shop” tab).
ONRI’s Facebook post on the current beneficiaries that will lose funding if the HCP is adopted.
Woman choked and raped by ex-boyfriend after dispatcher informs her there are no cops to help – and instead tells her to ask attacker to leave (UK Daily Mail May 23, 2013)
Cash-strapped law enforcement agencies in Oregon stop answering calls, sending officers: ‘If he … assaults you, can you ask him to go away?’ (NY Daily News, May 23, 2013)
Portland Tribune – Oregon farmers blame endangered species for water woes (Deschutes River Conservancy, Sept 14, 2021)
The Potential and the Pitfalls of Habitat Conservation Planning Under the Endangered Species Act Under the Endangered Species Act (Florida State University College of Law, Scholarship Repository, 1999)

What’s Coming

New BLM Rules On ‘Conservation Leases’ Will Fundamentally Transform Public Land Management (The Federalist, May 19, 2023)
Small Farmers Now ‘Front and Center’ in John Kerry’s Plan to Save the Earth (Western Journal, May 19, 2023)

Not Mentioned but Related

Standing Up for Rural Constituents (Karen Budd-Falen, Feb 18, 2021)
- This. “The Trump Administration’s position on State and local government approval prior to federal land acquisition … has now been eliminated by Biden [through an executive order]. That Order claims that allowing local governments to have a voice in land acquisition directly impacting their counties “undermined” the program.” Wow.
Will “Fly-Over Country” Have a Voice to Protect Private Property Rights under Endangered Species Act (Karen Budd-Falen, Apr 5, 2021)
- “This agreement is likely the first step at trying to eliminate regulations that give State governments, local governments, and Indian Tribes a greater voice in designation of critical habitat under the Endangered Species Act… These 2020 regulations require[d] the Fish and Wildlife Service to substantively consider ‘economic, national security and other relevant impacts’ of the designation of critical habitat on private property and federal lands.”

13-19 The Left Ruins Everything | How DEI and HCP kill what they claim to help

By Dr Mark | May 13, 2023 | Comments 1 comment

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Show 13-19 Summary: This week, it’s two examples of woke ideologies destroying what their proponents claim to be trying to help. The Left’s destructive helpful policies. But do they really care about results? And is there a perverse incentive to fail? We talk DEI (diversity, equity, and inclusion) and its impact on corporations and organizations. Especially the military and how DEI is sabotaging things there — and on more levels than just military readiness. Then we talk about the Oregon Department of Forestry’s HCP (habitat conservation plan) that it schemed up. It’s a disastrous plan for Oregon’s forests that definitely will not save them and will lead to huge economic losses. Not to mention catastrophic forest fires. This must be the Left’s George Bush-ism. “We must kill the forests to save the forests…”

Original Air Dates: May 13th & 14th, 2023 | Guests: Christian Watson & Jennifer Hamaker

This Week – The Left’s destructive helpful policies

King Midas had the “golden touch.” The Left has “the death touch.” Killing everything it touches. Especially things it claims it is trying to help. Look what they’ve done with race relations. Look what they’ve done with women’s equality. Or any number of programs that do far more actual harm than actual good.

To talk about the Left’s destructive helpful policies, we welcome first-time guest, Christian Watson. He is the national spokesman for Color Us United, a non-profit whose mission is a color-blind America. One of the more recent attempts to “help” minorities and other woke demographics is DEI. Diversity, equity, and inclusion. Christian walks us through what it’s supposed to do. But also what it really does. And it’s not pretty.

One of the worst impacts of DEI is the impact it’s having on the military. And military readiness. Not to mention the impact it’s having on racial minorities. You know. The people DEI is supposed to help. Tune in to hear why this is boomeranging on Left. They’re like Wile E. Coyote that way.

ONRI Fights HCP

There’s no end of acronyms this week. DEI. ESG. ODF. HCP. And ONRI. Oregon Natural Resource Industries, an organization dedicated to activate and support the grassroots within the natural resource industries. We welcome another first-time guest, Jennifer Hamaker, the president of ONRI, to talk about this scheme from leftists within the ODF. And nowhere is the Left’s destructive helpful policies more on display than their environmental policies.

Like, “let’s lock up the forests and stop harvesting trees!” And then the forests burn down because there’s been no management. Oh, but it’s Global Warming! Really? If Global Warming is making everything drier, then you should be doing more forest management not less. And the latest of the Left’s destructive helpful policies is a HCP that Oregon’s Department of Forestry schemed up. An HCP. A “habitat conservation plan” that will do far, far more damage than good.

Oregon’s Habitat Conservation Plan

Make no mistake. This is a disastrous plan. On every level. Economically, environmentally, and logically. The Oregon Department of Forestry’s HCP (habitat conservation plan) will take Oregon’s state forests offline for 70 years. It will impact 634,000 acres. And by not logging, it will strip millions and millions of dollars from entities that currently receive shares from Oregon’s timber harvests.

Check out this list of 222 schools, counties, ports, emergency services, and more who will all lose funding if the HCP goes through. Beneficiaries of timber harvest revenue that will be DEFUNDED if the HCP is accepted.

Be sure to join us next week as we continue our discussion about this disastrous HCP. Next week, we’ll dig into the details. Especially the personal impacts this will have across Oregon.

The I Spy Radio Show Podcast Version

Research, Links Mentioned & Additional Info

Christian Watson Segments

Christian is the spokesman for Color Us United, an organization dedicated to a color-blind America. We are all for that.
Christian’s article mentioned: DEI’s new battleground: the U.S. military (Washington Examiner, Apr 30, 2023)
IN THE NAVY: U.S. Navy Hires Active Duty ‘Non-Binary’ Drag Queen to Boost Recruitment (The First TV, May 3, 2023)
Gallup Poll: Worsening Race Relations (No date but after 2021)

Jennifer Hamaker Segments

Jennifer is the president of ONRI. Visit ONRI.us to learn more about what they do. And please help them spread the word with a donation (look for the link under the “shop” tab).
ONRI’s Facebook post on the current beneficiaries that will lose funding if the HCP is adopted.

Related Info on the Left’s destructive helpful policies

Christian Watson from “Color Us United,” a group whose mission is a color-blind America (Michelle Tafoya via YouTube, Nov 8, 2022)
2021 Total System Electric Generation (California Energy Commission, 2022)
Satellite Data Shows No Global Warming For Eight Years, Nine Months (Principia Scientific International, Apr 13, 2023)
Excellent article: “The wind and solar power myth has finally been exposed: The necessary miracle doesn’t exist” (UK Telegraph, May 10, 2023)
- Solar and wind “plans have a single, fatal flaw. They are reliant on the pipe-dream that there is some affordable way to store surplus electricity at scale.”
- “Wind farms cost about $1.5 million per MW. So the cost of battery storage would be astronomical: 80 times greater than the cost of the wind farm! A major additional constraint would be that such quantities of batteries are simply not available. Not enough lithium and cobalt and other rare minerals are being mined at the moment.”

13-18 An Unforced Error Opens Oregon to Change | Shemia Fagan Scandal

By Dr Mark | May 6, 2023 | Comments 0 Comment

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Show 13-18 Summary: The Shemia Fagan scandal broke this week and could have some far-reaching impacts — even the effort to get school choice in Oregon. Remember, the secretary of state oversees elections. And that means ballot initiatives like school choice. We ask Donna Kreitzberg about school choice’s ground game, some of the obstacles they have to overcome, and some of the reaction they’re already getting from signature gatherers out in the field. And, perhaps the biggest challenge ahead: countering the misinformation the other side has already been and will be putting out there in the months ahead. And then, a big political scandal rocked Oregon this week. Secretary of State Shemia Fagan was forced to resign. But is there more to Shemia Fagan scandal than what we’ve seen in the mainstream media?

Original Air Dates: May 6th & 7th, 2023 | Guests: Donna Kreitzberg & Marc Thielman

This Week – Shemia Fagan Scandal

For those who knew Shemia Fagan, the scandal that rocked Oregon politics this past week is probably no surprise.

In case you missed it, Secretary of State Shemia Fagan got caught in a highly inappropriate side hustle. She was accused of taking $10,000 per month from a company her office is supposed to be overseeing. And she even did an audit of them. She did recuse herself from the audit. Except she lied about when she recused herself, not doing so until after the audit was completed. Oh, and did we mention she was also getting $30,000 per contract she secured for them?

That’s quite a bit of money for someone only making $77,000 per year. More than her entire salary. What could possibly be wrong with that? Well, pretty much everything from an ethics standpoint. You don’t take money from a company you’re supposed to be overseeing. Because that looks like a bribe. And you should not lie about your interactions with them. Because for someone who has (had) her law license, she definitely should have known better.

And isn’t that weird too. She suddenly re-applied for her law license back in February, a month before news of this broke into the public. Did she know the proverbial writing was on the wall then? Again, she should have known better—and, one assumes, did know—the moment she took the money.

Democrats and their Long Knives

A one-time rising star in the democrat party, democrats suddenly turned on Fagan. After initially denying any wrongdoing, democrats pushed Fagan to resign. Which she reluctantly did, Because even on the way out the door she still didn’t see anything wrong with what she did.

What was going on? And is there more to this story? And what now? As Secretary of State, Fagan had her fingers in a lot of pots. Including the Tim Sippel case, whom Washington County had sued to block the release of a voter database. Fagan swooped in out of the blue to join the lawsuit to block the release. Because nothing screams open, honest, and trustworthy like blocking the public from seeing what’s inside a public database. No. Nothing to see there. Peasants.

We talk with Marc Thielman, the former superintendent for the Alsea School District and candidate for Oregon governor, about the Shemia Fagan scandal. Was Governor Kotek using the scandal to eliminate a political rival? Don’t forget, the news about the Shemia Fagan scandal just happened to break in the Willamette Week. A paper Oregon’s attorney general’s husband just happens to own.

Gee. Weird coincidences.

We also talk with Marc about the school choice ballot initiatives, of which he is the chief petitioner.

School Choice: Boots on the Ground

Before we talk with Marc, we talk with Donna Kreitzberg, who is spearheading the effort to get real school choice on the November 2024 ballot.

To get school choice in Oregon, it will be an uphill battle. Not least of which will be the financial hurdles. They will need at least $15 million to combat the misinformation, lies, and distortions the education lobby will put out there to desperately keep the status quo. Meaning they don’t want parents to decide where to send their children. Why is that, exactly? Shouldn’t everyone want parents to make the best choices for their children? Including the best education that best suites their children’s needs?

Donna talks to us about the operational and practical side of the fight. Like, what are her signature gatherers hearing from people about school choice? Yes, this will be a battle. Like, at a recent presentation in Portland, some liberal moms were initially opposed to the effort. But after the meeting, they came up and asked Donna how they could help. Tune in to find out what brought them around.

The I Spy Radio Show Podcast Version

Research, Links Mentioned & Additional Info

Head to EducationFreedomforOregon.com to download petition signature sheets and help them with a donation. And why not volunteer?
Education Freedom Report Card: Oregon (The Heritage Foundation, 2023)
- Heritage Foundation’s education scorecard ranks Oregon #40 overall. But wait there’s more. Take a look.
Parental Rights Bills Sweeping the United States (The Epoch Times, Apr 22, 2023)
Charter schools are now the last best hope to save US public education – (NY Post, Nov, 21, 2022)

The Shemia Fagan Scandal

Shemia Fagan Resignation: What happens next? (OregonLive, May 2, 2023)
Republican Leader Calls for Kotek & Fagan to Return Contributions (Willamette Week, Mar 31 2023)
Republican Leaders Demand Kotek Include La Mota (Willamette Week, Apr 17, 2023)
Kotek demands ethics investigation (KLCC, Apr 28, 2023)
Everything We’ve Learned About Shemia Fagan’s Moonlighting (WWeek, Apr 28, 2023)
Fagan took on the work even as her auditors were examining OLCC (WWeek, Apr 27, 2023)
Cannabis Audit Was Substantially Finished (WWeek, Apr 28, 2023)
Fagan Spoke to Connecticut Lieutenant Governor About Cannabis (WWeek, May 1, 2023)*One of those $30,000 contracts…?
Election SQL Database is Target of Trial (Northwest Observer, Sept 20, 2023)

13-17 What are Oregon Democrats Up to Now? | Legislative Lowlights

By Dr Mark | April 29, 2023 | Comments 0 Comment

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Show 13-17 Summary: Oregon democrats continue to find new ways to emulate Nazis. You, your children, and certainly your money belong to the state. Democracy dies when democrats are in charge. It’s our monthly legislative update with Sen. Dennis Linthicum — hitting all the highlights and lowlights. Okay. There really aren’t any highlights. And the democrats STILL want to rob Oregon families of an average $5,200 kicker refund because they’ve discovered new ways to spend.

Original Air Dates: April 29, 2023 | Guest: Sen. Dennis Linthicum

This Week – Oregon Democrats: Killing Democracy

Have you noticed that when democrats get in charge of something, the first thing they do is want to kill democracy?

But it didn’t always used to be this way. Democrats used to be about individual rights, civil rights, free speech, and so much more. Even Robert F. Kennedy recently pointed this out. Modern-day democrats have destroyed what the party used to be for.

Now, put them in charge, and their inner Nazi suddenly comes out. Democracy is about all voices. But democrats want to eliminate opposition. (Like the FBI going after Trump before, during, and after his presidency.) And not just politicians. Even every day citizens who don’t fall in line. (Like all those parents targeted by the FBI for daring to stand up to woke.)

The democrats hate being called Nazis. That’s their term for everyone else. But they hate it because it’s so blazingly true. That’s what they hate.

Monthly Legislative Update with Sen. Dennis Linthicum

This week, we talk with Senator Dennis Linthicum about the latest from the legislature. It’s not pretty. Not least of which because Oregon democrats, like Senator Dembrow, are steamed that things like democracy are happening. He’s ticked that republicans are slowing down the 1000s of bills democrats want to ram through. Dembrow hates that republicans have any say at all, apparently.

We talk parents rights. (Oregon democrats want to take them away.) And taxes—democrats can’t get enough of them. The business climate in Oregon. (Oregon democrats are trying to drive businesses out, apparently.) And we talk about that kicker refund. (Democrats want to spend it.)

There’s a business poll that came out recently and we get Sen. Linthicum’s take on it. It is not pretty. The thing is, Oregon democrats seem to not understand even basic economics. But why do you need economics if the government can just take everything, control the means of production, ensure only party loyalists are in business, and then tell people what they can and can’t buy.

You know. Just like the Nazis.

Oregon Democrats: Stealing your Kicker Refund

Oh, and that kicker? It’s not chump change. It kicks in whenever the state rakes in more than 2% above what they had budgeted. This year, it was 4% more. And the way it works is that it’s not based on what you paid. Instead, the giant pie (some $2 billion this year) is divided evenly among Oregon taxpayers. And this year, that’s about $5,200 per family.

But Oregon democrats have come up with new things they just have to buy. With your money. So watch for them to delay handing it back right up until the budget needs to pass. By law, the budget must be balanced. (Thank God Oregon democrats can’t just print money!) And legislators must balance it before the legislature can adjourn. So watch for Oregon democrats to try to strong arm republicans to spend all or some of the kicker to make up the difference or they can’t adjourn and go home.

Don’t miss this week’s show. Lots to discuss. Including Oregon democrats gleefully opening the door to Oregon becoming a “deathstination.” Happily willing to provide abortions and euthanasia for people from other states where killing isn’t allowed.

The I Spy Radio Show Podcast Version

Research, Links Mentioned & Additional Info

Critics shred Biden for claiming ‘our nation’s children are all our children’: ‘Absolutely wrong’: Biden’s claim echoed Hillary Clinton’s ‘It Takes a Village’ (Fox News, Apr 24, 2023)
But what about Oregon? Parental Rights Bills Sweeping the United States (The Epoch Times, Apr 22, 2023)
Former Trump appointee: ‘Bureaucratic administrative state must be brought under control’ (Legal Newsline, Apr 5, 2023)
Actions to Protect Our Kids: Combating the Woke in our schools and institutions (Cody Benson, March, 2023)
How does Oregon’s ‘kicker’ tax rebate work? (KGW, Apr 7, 2023)
The Death of a Proposed Beer and Wine Tax Highlights Vast Differences in Oregon’s Taxes on Intoxicants (Willamette Week, Mar 29, 2023)
But, wait! It’s not dead yet! “Oregon Liquor and Cannabis Commission considers doubling tax on hard alcohol” (Oregon Capital Chronicle, Apr 17, 2023)
Legislature logjam as guns, abortion, rent control bills percolating (Bulletin, Apr 24, 2023)
Amid uncertainty in leadership, some PCC faculty are worried the nursing program could close (OPB, Apr 23, 2023)
HB 2002B – seeks to codify government-sanctioned secrecy between parent and child by providing abortions and “gender affirming” interference for children. Without a parent’s knowledge. Compliments of the Oregon democrats. (Note: Senators like Kim Thatcher, writing in her newsletter, aren’t quite correct on this. That level of secrecy already exists in Oregon statutes thanks to HB3650, which ushered in the grand, “Oregon Healthcare Transformation.” Which she and a bunch of other republicans voted for.)

That Oregon Business Climate Survey

Survey: Small Businesses Feel Overtaxed and Overwhelmed (OBI & Oregon Chamber of Commerce, Mar 2023). Some of the lowlights:
- 41% of respondents say they’re considering closing, selling or moving their businesses because of taxes, Oregon’s regulatory environment or a combination of the two.
- Only 18% of respondents believe that state lawmakers care about the success of their businesses.
- Only 7% (wow!!) of respondents believe the state’s business climate will improve in the coming year.

Not discussed but you might find interesting…

Oregon Tolling (ODOT webpage, ND). Weigh in on tolls!
Capitol Rumor: They may delay tolling (Oregon Watchdog, Apr 25, 2023)

13-16 Advancing Freedom | Taking Sides in the War on the American Republic

By Dr Mark | April 22, 2023 | Comments 0 Comment

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Show 13-16 Summary: This week, it’s all about advancing freedom. We have two guests. One is Kevin Stark from Hillsdale College, talking about his book, War on the American Republic, and how the political Left has managed to seize power while convincing the Right to give up power. Plus, an inside look at prosecutors and DAs and attorneys general with Indiana’s former AG, Curtis Hill. But what brakes are there for rogue prosecutors like the Manhattan DA who indicted President Trump? If any. And a weird case of Nazism meets adoption. Right here in Oregon.

Original Air Dates: Date, 2023 | Guests: Dr. Kevin Stark & Curtis Hill

This Week – It’s a War on the American Republic

It’s not just a title for Dr. Kevin Stark’s new book, War on the American Republic: How Liberalism Became Despotism. There really is a war on the American Republic. As we say so often here on I Spy Radio, the fight for freedom is an everyday fight.

Dr. Kevin Stark from Hillsdale College joins us this week to discuss the origins of this fight. And how the Left has gone from a political movement that embraced essential freedoms like individual rights and freedom of speech to one where they will lock you up if you speak up.

Weaponization of the Justice System

Speaking of war, there’s a war within our justice system. It’s been weaponized. We welcome Curtis Hill, the former attorney general for the state of Indiana. While there, he prioritized fighting corruption. If only rooting out corruption within the justice system was a priority of the justice system.

We ask about the structure and controls within the justice system. How it operates. What kinds of controls there are. Who oversees whom, and so forth. And what kind of brakes are there in the system to deal with prosecutors like Alvin Bragg? Who make political enemies their highest priority rather than actual criminals on the streets.

Are republicans and democrats treated differently? And is the way to fix the system is for republicans to treat democrats the way they treat republicans?

And we ask his opinion on a strange case in Oregon of a woman being denied an adoption because she was Christian. Yes. It’s Nazism in Far Left Oregon.

The I Spy Radio Show Podcast Version

Research, Links Mentioned & Additional Info

Guest 1: Kevin Stark, Segments 1–3

Kevin Stark’s book is War on the American Republic: How Liberalism Became Despotism. Order from Amazon or direct from the publisher
- And don’t miss: Dr. Stark also teaches a free online course based on his book, which is available through Hillsdale College.
HIGHLY recommended: Kevin Slack’s “The Constitution and a Free People – Ben Franklin, USA Founder” (The King’s Academy, O’Keefe Pre-Law Studies, via YouTube, Sept 2022)
Kevin Slack article: What The New Right Can Learn From The New Left (The Federalist, April 6, 2023)
Kevin Slack, Author of “War on the American Republic” (NewsTalk 1540 via Soundcloud, Apr. 11, 2023)
Dr Kevin Slack The American Left: From Liberalism to Despotism (Ross Kaminsky show, Feb 7th, 2023)
Hillsdale Dialogues : War on the American Republic with Dr. Kevin Slack (Hillsdale Dialogues via Apple Podcasts, March 24, 2023)

Guest 2: Curtis Hill, Segments 4–6

Abusing prosecutorial power is nothing to Bragg about, (Curtis Hill, Washington Times, Apr 18, 2023)
Project 21 Blasts Chicago Mayor-Elect for Sympathizing With Violent Mob (The National Center for Public Policy Research, April 19, 2023)
Nazism in Oregon: “State of Oregon Denies Woman’s Adoption Application” (Gateway Pundit, Apr 5, 2023)
Find links to a full list of Curtis Hills’ other articles on CurtisHill.com

13-13 Fixing What Ails Oregon | Education, School Choice & Election Integrity

By Dr Mark | April 1, 2023 | Comments 0 Comment

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Show 13-13 Summary: It’s about education, school choice, and voter integrity and how all of that is being undermined — but what we can do to fix it. Our guest is Marc Thielman, who has his hands in all of those pots and doing the stirring. So much of what ails Oregon right now can be fixed by better schools that teach real civics and history. To get there, the path is Real School Choice. And to get there, we need election integrity. What it really boils down to is we need education freedom in Oregon.

Original Air Dates: April 1st & 2nd, 2023 | Guest: Marc Thielman

This Week – The Wrong Kind of Power

Oregon does not have an independent, superintendent of state schools. Thanks to John Kitzhaber and easily duped Oregon voters, that elected position was removed and absorbed under the dictator’s office. Oops. The governor’s office.

But that’s what really happened, isn’t it? More and more power consolidated under wannabe kings and queens. What is it with the Left and democrats — who claim they want democracy — grab all the power under a single person’s rule.

But can you believe that even with all that power in one person’s hands, now they want even more power. And it truly is just about control.

What’s Needed: Education Freedom in Oregon

So much of what ails Oregon right now can be fixed by better schools that teach real civics and history. (Two of the things socialists hate most.) To get there, the path is Real School Choice, which would allow parents to use the money already assigned to their child and send them to a school that works best for their child. And to get there, we need election integrity.

This week we talk to Marc Thielman who is actively involved with all three of those issues. If you remember, Marc is the former superintendent of the Alsea School District. Which, we might add, was the one and only school district standing up to the governor’s and state’s overreach during covid. Marc defied the state and gave teachers and students options. (How dare he!) He did not enforce mask mandates (what?!). And kept kids in school (the outrage!). Oh. And they had a 500% enrollment increase. And not one covid case traced back to the school.

Marc Thielman on Education, School Choice, and Election Integrity

Perhaps its because Marc Thielman and the Alsea school board defied the state — successfully — that Tina Kotek think she needs even more power over schools. This, a recommendation from Melissa Goff. Who, if you didn’t know, was the superintendent of the Greater Albany Schools District. “Former” because she was such a little tyrant and bully that she was run out of her position. But now she is Kotek’s “education adviser.”

That’s like Stalin advising Chairman Mao.

Tune in to hear Marc talk about this power grab, the school shooting at The Covenant School, the damage transgenderism is doing to people, and, of course, election integrity. We saw blatant cheating in Arizona in 2022. Just in your face cheating. But the Arizona supreme court upheld one of Kari Lake’s complaints and sent back to lower court for review.

How much cheating has to happen before the courts take notice and uphold the law? Could this finally be the foot in the door?

The I Spy Radio Show Podcast Version

Research, Links Mentioned & Additional Info

Lawmakers weigh Kotek plan for more state authority over school districts; skeptics call it ‘seismic shift’ (OPB, March 26, 2023)
- Text of SB1045 (via Olis.Oregonlegislature.gov)
- Head to the Oregon Legislature webpage for SB1045, leave comments/testimony (once it’s available)
Oregon House GOP forces vote on safe school bills (Oregon Catalyst, Mar 29, 2023)
- “The Safe Schools Package includes seven pieces of legislation to prioritize the safety of our students and faculty, including funding for School Resource Officers, studies to analyze school building safety, electronic communication to parents, and panic alarms for school buildings.”
Kari Lake’s Attorney: This Is Not A Few Bad Signatures, But a ‘Systemic Failure’ In Voter Verification (The Western Journal, March 25, 2023)
Video: Kari Lake Gives Just The News More BOMBSHELL Whistleblower Details About Her Lawsuit (via Rumble, The Liberty Daily, March 24, 2023)

Democrats' socialist plans for Oregon - All your money are belong to us

13-12 The Democrats’ Socialist Plans for Oregon – Legislative Update

By Dr Mark | March 25, 2023 | Comments 0 Comment

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Show 13-12 Summary: When it comes to the democrats’ socialist plans for Oregon, they can be summed up by borrowing (pun intended) from an old video game: “All your money are belong to us.” We check in with Senator Dennis Linthicum about their plans for socialized medicine, the tools Republicans have to stop bad bills, and whatever happened to that $5,200 kicker for Oregon families?

Original Air Dates: March 25th & 26th, 2023 | Guest: Senator Dennis Linthicum

This Week – The Democrats’ Socialist Plans for Oregon

This week, it’s our monthly check in with Senator Dennis Linthicum to talk about what’s happening in the capital. The democrats’ socialist plans for Oregon are legion.

To sum up the democrats’ socialist plans, your money doesn’t belong to you. And we’re not taxing you enough to give away all this free stuff. And Oregon continues its lurch toward socialized medicine with SB704 which would create single-payer health care. Because it’s worked so well in other countries. Like Canada. Where it’s worked so well that people are dying to escape it. Literally. Canada is now actively encouraging the elderly and people with long-term health problems to kill themselves. Not kidding. And they’re not even hiding it. They want people to kill themselves because their care is expensive. And killing themselves will save the system money.

Please, democrats. By all means. You go first.

And that’s just one among other disasters.

Fighting Back against the Democrats’ Socialist Plans

We welcome back Senator Dennis Linthicum (Klamath-28) to give insights into the democrats’ socialist plans. In case you missed it, last year’s democrats spawned a ballot initiative, Measure 111, to make health care a “fundamental right.” It’s not. Anymore than if they had pushed out a ballot measure that made owning unicorns a fundamental right. But now Oregon has it in its state constitution.

Catch Sen. Dennis Linthicum’s previous legislative updates: 13-04 (Have Democrats Learned the Lesson?) and 13-08 (The Mad, Mad Spending)

Now, democrats are using that ballot initiative to make socialized, single-payer, universal healthcare the law of the land. Except while the legislative initiative that created Measure 111 may have urged socialized medicine, that’s not what the ballot measure actually said. It just required “universal access” and cost-effective. We already have “universal access.” Sick and show up in the emergency room with no money? Guess what, you get treated. As for cost-effective, how is $54 billion for “free” healthcare cost effective? So why are democrats determined to lurch down the road to socialized medicine?

Because, as usual, it is about bringing more money and more control under the government’s sway. Now, not only will your money not belong to you. But neither will your own health.

Oh, and what’s the deal with the kicker? All that and more but there may be some solutions to at least some of it.

Get Involved! Don’t be Silent.

We are in this mess because too many sane people stay silent. While the insane shriek their weird opinions at the capitol. Did you know that it is now easier than ever to submit testimony against bad bills and for good bills. Don’t let “testimony” scare you. It just means your opinion.

All you really need is the bill’s number. And if you don’t know the bill number, you can still find it on the site (see steps below). Or use your favorite search engine.

Here’s what you do:

Head to olis.oregonlegislature.gov.
Select the bills icon at the top right of the page
Type the bill number in the popup. Select it the correct one. (If you don’t know the bill’s number try a word search in the “bill text” tab.)
At the top of the bill’s page you’ll see a “submit testimony” tab. That brings up a form.
Enter your name, your city, your comments in the text window, select whether you oppose or support and – boom you’re done.

See how easy that is? You don’t need to be elegant (although do be polite) or have a thousand unassailable facts. (Hey. The democrats just have feelings.) Just be heard. It’s your opinion. No excuse to be silent.

Remember: silence has never changed anything. Don’t be silent.

The I Spy Radio Show Podcast Version

Research, Links Mentioned & Additional Info

Get involved. Head to olis.oregonlegislature.gov. to submit your testimony — you opinion — about bills. Good or bad. See the steps above for a walk-through.
Measure 111, passed in 2022, via Ballotpedia
$200M homeless package heads to governor’s desk (Statesman, Mar 21, 2023)
- 7 Republican Senators voted against the pkg, Linthicum was one of them
Where did the $400M Oregon allocated last year for homelessness go? (Statesman, Mar 19, 2023)
- “At least 14,600 people are experiencing homelessness across Oregon”
- Julie Fahey (D): “That $400M was a ‘catalyst” for the larger set of goals we have.”
Cascade Policy Institute Research Finds School Choice programs Can Boost Public School Performance (Cascade Policy Institute, 2023)

Just a few dangerous bills

SB 85 – Dennis Linthicum mentioned this dangerous bill during the show.
- Senator David Brock-Smith says, “This bill deals with CAFO’s and has democrats attacking our dairies, chicken and cattle farms and ranches. As they do, the bill itself is just a “study” but the amendment goes far beyond that and will shut down current farming operations.” Under this bill, the State Department of Agriculture would not issue or renew a license or permit to allow the construction or operation of: “(a) A new industrial confined animal feeding operation; “(b) An addition to, or expansion of, an existing industrial confined animal feeding operation; or “(c) An addition to, or expansion of, an existing livestock farm if the addition or expansion would cause the livestock farm to become an industrial confined animal feeding operation.”
HB 2004 – Establishes ranked choice voting as voting method for selecting offices of statewide races: the President, U.S. Senators and Representatives, Governor, Secretary of State, State Treasurer and Attorney General and Commissioner of Bureau of Labor and Industries.
HB 3509 – Establishes ranked choice voting for selecting winner of nomination for and election to nonpartisan state offices and county and city offices except where home rule charter applies.
Oregon lawmakers consider new gun legislation (Oregon Insider, Mar 21, 2023). The three bills are:
- House Bill 2005 bans the sale, manufacture and importation of so-called ghost guns with homemade parts that are untraceable;
- HB 2006 raises the age of legal purchase and possession of firearms from 18 to 21, but allows exceptions for hunting and shooting; and
- HB 2007 extends to cities, counties and special districts the authority that the 2021 Legislature had granted to public schools, community colleges, and universities regulating or barring firearms from their buildings and grounds, including people with concealed-carry licenses.

Mark Anderson speech to CCRW luncheon - How Republicans can win in 2024 by facing the brutal facts

13-10 Major Victories from Major Defeats | How Republicans can Win in 2024

By Dr Mark | March 11, 2023 | Comments 0 Comment

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Show 13-10 Summary: This week, for once, the host of the I Spy Radio is doing all the talking. Normally, I Spy is all about researching our guest’s topics, asking questions, and letting them do the talking. But recently, the Salem’s Capitol City Republican Women group invited Mark Anderson to be their speaker at a luncheon. His spoke on how Republicans can recover from major defeats, like they saw in 2020 and 2022. Using lessons from history, combined with some pivotal I Spy Radio Shows to illustrate what’s happening, he describes how Republicans can win in 2024. So on today’s show, he gives it again to our radio audience.

Original Air Dates: March 11th & 12th, 2023 | Mark Anderson

This Week – Mark’s Speech to the CCRW Luncheon

Salem’s Capitol City Republican Women invited I Spy’s host, Mark Anderson, to give a speech on Thursday, March 9th. This week’s show, he gives it again to his entire radio audience. Note that we cut about 7-10 minutes from the speech to fit into a a broadcast radio “hour.”

After the show airs on our network of stations, we will post the full-length speech as the podcast version.

How Republicans can Win in 2024

Mark begins the speech with what the Hungarians faced in 1241 when they were invaded by the Mongols. In the wake of a devastating defeat that saw 1/4 of his countrymen killed and virtually all of Hungary’s towns and cities destroyed, King Bela IV had to face the brutal truth: that his country and its army were completely unprepared to deal with invaders like the Mongols.

But, as Mark highlights, major victories can come from major defeats. By facing the brutal facts. Using King Bela’s reforms, combined with pivotal past I Spy Radio shows to illustrate what is happening now, Mark examines how Republicans can win in 2024. And beat the Mongol Marxists destroying America.

Disinformation and Cognitive Warfare: The New Battlefield

Disinformation by Ron Rychlak book cover — Order the book!

One of the pivotal series of shows discussed in his speech was I Spy’s series of shows on disinformation. If you have not yet read Disinformation by Lt. General Ion Pacepa and Ron Rychlak, you need to. It explains so much about what we are experiencing in America today. As our own government uses tools of manipulation, cognitive warfare, launching disinformation campaigns against unsuspecting Americans. Mark explains how we know for sure that the “Russia collusion” hoax was in fact a disinformation campaign.

One last thing. When it comes to fighting disinformation, it requires influencers and the weight of reality and truth. For example, the truth and reality of the January 6th footage. Not the edited versions the January 6th tribunal was releasing The day after his speech, there was an incredible letter from democrat Dr. Naomi Wolf, apologizing for being taken in by the Left’s and the government’s propaganda. It is a long letter, but well worth the read. Because it shows that the spell of disinformation can be broken.

The I Spy Radio Show Podcast Version

Research, Links Mentioned & Additional Info

Dr. Naomi Wolf: Dear Conservatives, I Apologize (Outspoken with Dr Naomi Wolf, March 10, 2023)
My “Team” was Taken in By Full-Spectrum Propaganda
See our shows on disinformation with the co-author of the book, Ron Rychlak
Battle of Mohi (Encyclopedia Britannica)
Battle of Agincourt (Britannica, no date)
PBS still spreading the disinformation about “Hitler’s Pope”: “Vatican documents show secret back channel between Pope Pius XII and Hitler” (PBS, June 7, 2022)
Former Public Health Officials Undermine Public Trust with Conduct Unbecoming Scientists (Epoch Times, March 10, 2023)*”Fauci and Collins owe the country an apology… [Two] of the nation’s top public health officials obstructed the proper deliberative process essential to fashioning proper policy responses to the emergency.”

13-09 Insane Government Spending – 2023 Essential Policy Solutions

By Dr Mark | March 4, 2023 | Comments 0 Comment

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Show 13-09 Summary: This week, it’s all about insanity. Meaning, our governments’ insane spending that shows no signs of letting up. And that there’s just always more money on the national credit card. So when the inmates are running the asylum, what can we do about government spending? We talk with Jonathan Williams of the American Legislative Exchange Council. ALEC has just released its 2023 Essential Policy Solutions, which should be required reading for every legislator out there. Listen in for policies, economic and otherwise, that make sense in an insane world.

Original Air Dates: March 4th & 5th, 2023 | Guest: Jonathan Williams

This Week – Government Spending. It’s Insane.

The American Legislative Exchange Council (or ALEC), is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. If you don’t know, they work with state legislatures — the 50 test tubes of democracy — to pass legislation that upholds principles of limited government, free markets and federalism You don’t last 50 years if you’re not having successes. And ALEC has had tremendous success stories. Including encouraging states to lower taxes. Even adopting a flat tax.

This week, we talk with Jonathan Williams, ALEC’s Executive VP of Policy and their chief economist, about the insane government spending. After blowing through $1.9 trillion in the “American Rescue Plan” and another $2 trillion with Build Back Better, and still trillions more — in just 2 years — we’re facing a looming showdown over the federal debt ceiling. Addicted to government spending, Biden and the democrats don’t want any spending cuts. Of course not.

Maybe it’s because they just spent $360 billion on “global warming” and climate change in the most recent $1 trillion “inflation reduction act.” None of that money is going to conservatives or conservative organizations. So of course the democrats don’t want any cuts to government spending. That would be cutting off cash to their political cronies.

Government Spending: 2023 Essential Policy Solutions

Fortunately, to tackle this insane government spending ALEC has just released its 2023 Essential Policy Solutions. This essential guide is definitely essential for every state legislator.

Jonathan Williams walks us through some of the more exciting solutions. Not just for government spending but also price transparency for hospitals and health care but also some model legislation for school choice.

The I Spy Radio Show Podcast Version

Research, Links Mentioned & Additional Info

Essential Policy Solutions for 2023 – (American Legislative Exchange Council, March, 2023). Free PDF! Download it and email it to your legislators!
RSVP for The Capital City Republican Women’s Luncheon, March 9th, 2023, starting at 11:30am (Mark will start his presentation at noon). To RSVP, send an email to CCRWSalem@Reagan.com. Lunch is $14. Coffee is $2. No cost to just come listen. Location will be sent to you after you RSVP.
US stocks enter ‘death zone’ (Daily Mail, Feb 2023)
- Morgan Stanley issues dire warning to investors who ‘followed prices to dizzying heights’ amid fears S&P 500 could plummet 26% within months.
American Rescue Plan (Biden’s $1.9 Trillion Stimulus Package (Investopedia, updated Sept 21, 2022)

Additional Related Research, Not Specifically Mentioned

Oregon property tax breaks go largely to Big Tech (OregonLive, Jan 26, 2023)
Business: Jobs attracting Oregon’s nonresident workers (Lincoln City News Guard, Feb 25, 2023)
Report: Oregon losing its competitiveness (Oregon Business Report, Feb 28, 2023)
White House Waters Down Plan to Restrict U.S. Investment in China (New American, March 1, 2023)
Holiday sales edged higher in 2022 — but there’s more to the numbers (Modern Retail, Jan 5, 2023)
Biden Hasn’t Helped the Economy. He’s Made it Worse. (Washington Post, Oct 24, 2022)
CBO Confirms Biden’s Agenda Will Worsen Economic Crisis Caused by Democrats’ Failed Policies (Budget House Republicans, Sept 13, 2022)
Manchin joins Republican efforts to thwart federal ESG investing (Just the News, Feb 28, 2023)
Vanguard’s break with ESG investing (Just the News, Feb 28, 2023)
Worst-ever economic crash coming – Nouriel Roubini, the great stagflationary debt crisis will hit markets this year, the famed economist warns (RT, Mar 3, 2023)

13-08 The Mad, Mad Spending – Real School Choice Needed in Oregon

By Dr Mark | February 25, 2023 | Comments 1 comment

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Show 13-08 Summary: Two guests this week and both talking about government spending. Donna Kreitzberg talks about redirecting portions of education spending to parents so they can make their own best school choice for their children. Then Senator Dennis Linthicum who says there is no end in sight for the amount of spending Oregon is looking to do in this legislative session. And be sure to stay through the closing where you’ll hear what he told us off air about the real reasons why democrats want to spend the kicker. Un. Believable.

Original Air Dates: February 25th & 26th, 2023 | Guests: Donna Kreitzberg & Dennis Linthicum

This Week – Oregon‘s Insane Spending

It’s not just the amount of spending. It’s what they are spending it on. And it’s insane. Especially given that most economists and major financial institutions are predicting a recession this year. Not to mention continuing inflation and mounting job losses. So why is Oregon inflating its budgets like there are no limits of money?

And for goodness sake. Don’t miss the final closing when we reveal the real reasons democrats don’t want Oregonians to get their kicker refund.

Getting Real School Choice in Oregon

Since it’s not looking positive for school choice legislation in Oregon, Oregonians can still use ballot measures to do what the Oregon education lobby doesn’t want. Give parents the choice to pick the right school for their child.

Why does the education lobby want to keep kids in failing schools? Probably because they know government loves to throw even more money at problems. A failing school? Clearly, what they need is even more money. But, given that our schools already soak up a whopping 40% of our entire state budget, that clearly isn’t working. Especially since Oregon routinely ranks need the bottom but spends more than the national average per student.

So what’s the answer?

As usual, it’s less government. And more free market.

We talk with Donna Kreitzberg who is leading the effort to get school choice in Oregon. Not a pat-on-the-head choice. A real school choice. Where parents decide how to spend the money assigned to their child and will have the option to send their child to the school that best fits their educational needs.

But what about that money? Can parents just buy anything with it? And, if the state gives them the money, doesn’t that mean the state gets to say how it’s spent — not to mention all the woke regulations they’re pushing now in schools?

Nope.

Tune in to find out why.

The Spending. Oregon’s Endless Spending.

And next we welcome Senator Dennis Linthicum back to discuss what’s happening in Oregon’s legislature. We’ll be having him on on a monthly basis to give us his inside the capitol view and the truth. Like the real reason why the democrats don’t want you to have your kicker refund.

When last we spoke, the 2023 legislative session had just started. And he wasn’t sure if the democrats, who had lost some of their stranglehold on power, would react. Or how they’d treat their republican colleagues.

So this week, we wanted to know more. And to hear about the budget. Oh yes. And what about that kicker refund. You know. The one that, by law, the state is supposed to return to the taxpayers. Why? Because it means they over collected taxes. They charged too much. So they are — again, by law — supposed to return that to the people they overcharged. And this year, that kicker would be, on average, $5,200 per working family. So why are the democrats so eager to spend it before taxpayers can get their grubby hands on what the democrats see as the democrats’ money?

Yeah. Sorry. You’ll have to tune in to hear why. Stay through to the very end.

Previous Parental Rights and School Choice Shows

Did you miss our previous shows on parents rights in education?

Show 13-03: overview of parents rights in education with Suzanne Gallagher, CEO of Parents Rights in Education
Show 13-04: the legal side of parents rights, especially if push comes to lawsuit with Ernie Trakas, senior litigation counsel for the Child & Parental Rights Campaign
Show 13-05: the way out; real school choice with Ed Ludlow of the national school choice organization, EdChoice
Show 13-06: you’ve made the choice, now how to choose a new school with Marc Thielman, former Alsea school superintendent
And Show 13-08 (today’s show): getting school choice in Oregon with Donna Kreitzberg, head of Oregon’s school choice 2024 ballot initiative

The I Spy Radio Show Podcast Version

Research, Links Mentioned & Additional Info

Links mentioned during the show

Education Freedom for Oregon – This is Donna’s real school choice website. You can:
- download and sign petitions (single-signature petition sheets for yourself or 10-line ones to gather signatures from your friends, families, fellow parents at school, or neighbors)
- Volunteer
- And please donate to help get school choice on the ballot in Oregon!
Freedom Watch Alert: Second dangerous School Choice constitutional amendment petition (OCEAN Network, July 15, 2022)
Kotek proposes $13.5 billion for education (Oregon Capital Insider, Feb 6, 2023)
- “Education accounts for $13.5 billion, more than 40% of her proposed $32.1 billion in spending of the state’s general and lottery funds.”
- “But most of the money – an historic $9.9 billion – is devoted to the State School Fund, which pays for educating Oregon’s 550,000 K-12 students and for district operating expenses, transportation costs and other needs.”
- The $9.9 billion marks an overall $600 million increase in K-12 spending for the biennium and would average out to about $9,682 per student in 2023-24 and roughly $10,000 per student in 2024-25, according to preliminary estimates from the Oregon Department of Education. The state is paying $9,468 per student in the current 2022-23 school year.
- BUT: “Accounting for all education funding, Oregon spends about $12,855 per K-12 student, according to 2020 census data. The national average that year was $13,187, with some states spending more than $20,000.”

Additional School Choice Info and Related

School Choice and Oregon Homeschoolers (OCEANetwork, Oct 7 2021)
Cascade Policy Institute Research Finds School Choice programs Can Boost Public School Performance (Cascade Policy Institute, 2023)
The Past, Present, and Future of School Choice in Oregon (Cascade Policy Institute, Jan 26, 2017)
Support grows for school choice, parents’ rights – even in progressive Oregon (Fox News Aug 1, 2022)