Op Ed: Learning Is Still Essential
For Any Possible
Pursuit of Happiness
In Oregon

Early and Continuing Education Is The Foundation for Democracy

early-education.org.uk

(SALEM) - Every rational person in ANY civilized society today knows full well the essential, demanding necessities of learning from earliest age on to senility.

The multitudinous, heavily-pressing demands of all modern societies --in this, the 21st Century!-- make that fact one of the surely-shaping situations with surely-solid full findings in both research for centuries --and the human experience NOW.

Without that truly “saving grace”-blessing of democratic governance, based on the fundamental foundation of “the common school” for all, what we know as our culture might never have occurred; and surely cannot continue without common access NOW.

So why should there be any doubts-left within our Legislature about the overwhelming and unavoidable NOW-necessity for remedy of Oregon education --at ALL levels, fast and full-- after some prior decades of descent from once-nation/leading progress?

Rightly, the answer seems simple: BUT costs cannot be compromised, either. Effective education at any level demands deep resources, both human and commonplace.

SO we should commend and commiserate with our elected representatives facing forceful demands, reflecting wisdom and wise appreciations of Oregon citizens.

SO far, the effort has clearly provided for the larger-middle of the system at cost to community college/university and “early education”.

For community colleges --pioneered in Oregon by Dr. Amo DeBernardis at Portland Community College and others-- preliminary decision of the joint chairs on crucial budget-choice falls with unintentional damage and dollar-consequences/later: There’s no question of the strong role demanded for college opportunity for students of all kinds-and-levels, in a broadening array of learning-areas --to strengthen the Oregon working force.

Community-college provides opportunity for many otherwise denied preparation for solid futures, and stronger support for Oregon, via higher wages-earned -- in this 21st Century!

That’s fundamental to further progress in Oregon, demonstrated already by business interests rallying for deserving State educational components.

Fiscally-forced denigration of higher education physical facilities, faced head-on by Governor Kulongoski’s bond-paid remediation, offers a wise “spread the payments” plan. It provides essential learning-shaping sites and services we so badly need that neglect-now will invite much-higher, more interest-painful costs later.

There’s little doubt-left, after extensive all-media coverage, that classes are being cut, faculty lost, facilities closed-off or operations hampered by seismic dangers, AND costs-to-students magnified, the inevitable consequences of continuing neglect.

That is --unavoidably, too!-- steadily reducing Oregon appeal for ANY incoming corporate or industry jobs-builders.

To deny rational/reasonable funding-attention for “early education” --in any of several versions-- simply substitutes basic dollar-devotion now for much more costly consequences later; via more harmful, often dangerous and complex Constitution-challenging failures for full service to those whose societal fates may demand intervention.

Totality of impacts generated over several decades sliced away the fine Oregon impression for incoming “productivity-enhancers”, bringing larger tax incomes, and better economic climate for everyone.

Commonsense, rational/responsible consequence for struggling legislative “do-it-now demand-facers” is simple: There must be “more dollars-found, and put to work”, on a truly equitable basis --rapidly and rightly.

Anyone wish to volunteer as elected-Legislator?

Facing furious, forcing demands from determined advocates is only part of the problem. Previous confrontation-consequences are unavoidable, still threatening progress at every level, for every process, program, and probability possible.

Ongoing, hampering, interfering, irrational continuing political-cult confrontation --an “operational principle” still adopted by some-there-- still forces “operation-with-the-brakes/on”: As demonstrated recently at several levels, including the vaudeville-skit sequence preceding, finally, the significant adoption of Oregon’s first Rainy Day Fund, finally stabilizing fiscally-threatening times sure to come.

What must NOW happen is the essential remediation of corporate tax levels --become inescapable and invaluable.

Business, industry and agriculture form the foundations for all possible progress in any 21st Century situation, worldwide. Wisely, those managing these basic components for commonweal progress/prosperity understand by now that costs common to their society MUST be equitably shared.

We saw Oregon understandings of this fundamental principle well-demonstrated with strength of agreement on the Rainy Day Fund. Many now understand the deciding-power for demanded-decision came from mature, modernized attitude within the business communities.

The pattern is thus provided for similar mature, cooperative understandings for demanded remediation of low corporate tax-share carried in Oregon for decades.

Here's OCPP’s Charles Sheketoff in a recent Op Ed statement: “...over the course of the last 30 years Oregon has shifted income taxes away from large multi-state corporations at the expense of Oregon families and small businesses.

“A generation ago, corporations paid about 18 percent of Oregon’s income tax load. Today, they are paying about 6 percent, with individuals and small businesses picking up the tab for the difference.

“As a next step in strengthening our infrastructure, Oregon’s business leaders should be proposing to raise Oregon’s $10 minimum corporate income tax, paid by two-thirds of corporations.” (Emphasis supplied.)

“More than two-thirds of corporations pay the $10 minimum income tax”, OCPP’s Michael Leachman testified for the Legislators, updating the OCPP documentation neatly for any cogitating citizen --OR Legislator.

Deep --and, sometimes, “dirty”-- dispensing of corporate “campaign contributions” surely had shaping impacts on what was done --and-WHY!-- during past decades, resulting in Oregon’s lowest corporate taxes in the nation.

That’s a documented consequence of the Norquist-Abramson GOP-cult cabal.

Its weekly work-sessions were shared with “influentials” in every state over decades --albeit never now openly-acknowleged.

Consequences have been decimating to a much more equitable share-of-fundamental costs for basic commonweal components in Oregon, including much more than common school funding now the prime target for Legislative action.

This session for our elected representatives STILL has its major-work well cut out; with sensible, rational, reasonable deep-and-sure guidance from a crowding host of citizens, groups and agencies; ALL are making essentially the same demand: “Fix this mess NOW!! You know where to get more dollars to do the job.”

It’s intriguing to note a strong coalition of business, corporate and industry associations lead the way to the essential Rainy Day Fund. That demonstrates enlightened interest in very practical steps to remedy a woeful situation.

So TODAY -- if ever Oregon is to: “Fly With Her Own Wings!"

We confidently await Legislative “real action” to set straight the corporate share and standards shaping our Oregon lifestyle.

Anyone can --and undoubtedly will-- question detailed ways-to-get-it-done, but the basic necessity is surely now entirely clear --and also “clean!"-- for all to “see with own eyes”.

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Editor’s Note: Documentation counts some 64 items, including a news-clip file too numerous to list. OCPP studies re corporate taxes are available at: www.ocpp.org/. Other major references include: “The Triple Bottom Line”: ISBN 0-7879-7907-4 “The Fifth Discipline”’ ISBN 0-385-26094-6 “Lean & Meaningful - A New Culture for Corporate America”: ISBN 1-886939-07-1

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