The Sleeping Giant

We preach to other countries about democracy and privileges to vote and we can’t even accomplish that here in Oregon, let alone the United States of America.

Courtesy: scripting.com

(BEND, Ore.) - On December 7, 1941 when the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor, one of their commanders had feared they had woken a sleeping giant.

Throughout history our servicemen and women have made the ultimate sacrifices for our freedoms and to protect our constitutional rights. On a state level, our legislators with no regard for our rights as citizens and the sacrifices made by our servicemen and women have altered our constitution to fit their needs.

The Judicial and Executive branches of our state government are equally to blame for standing by and violating their oaths of office with deaf ears.

There are 5 sections in our “Bill of Rights” Article 1 of our state constitution that begin with, “No Law Shall Be Passed.” 

Section 8:  “Freedom of Speech and Press”

Section 20:  “Equality of Privileges and Immunities of Citizens”

Section 26:  “Assemblages of People; Instruction of

Representatives; Application to Legislature”

Section 29:  “Titles of Nobility; Hereditary Distinctions”

Section 30:  “Emigration”

Throughout my run for Governor there has been one obstacle after another in my way. As a Commoner with no special interests, I have read over our state constitution only to find that Section 20 in our Bill of Rights, Article 1, has been continually violated. Anyone that is not of the Democratic or Republican party is discriminated against. It is an honor and a privilege to serve and no where in our state constitution does it state, Career, Money, Republican or Democrat. The process in our state should be the same for all citizens.

Isn’t it time for us to put our differences aside and to concentrate on what is best for the citizens of Oregon.

When I first decided to exercise my right to run for Governor, I went to the State Elections Division in Salem to research all of my avenues. The easy way out was to run as a Democrat or a Republican with a $100.00 filing fee. Tired of the party differences and believing in the People, I chose the hardest way to run for Governor in our State with an alternative motive in mind. When registered as Individual – Non Affiliated, you have two options to get on the General Election Ballot. You can collect 18,279 signatures by petition, which is 1% of the last presidential vote or hold a convention of 1000 registered voters to be nominated. To add insult to injury, state wide initiatives are required to be on one petition form, whereas, candidate petition forms have to be done by county. There is a 7 to 10 day verification time limit for the election division to verify signatures. On the other hand, on a candidate’s petition there is no time line for verification. These processes have never been accomplished in our State. Prior to 2005, an Individual–Non Affiliated was known as an Independent until legislature made that change. The title “Non Affiliated” gives the notion that you do not believe in anything.

Voters of the State of Oregon are also discriminated against every time we have gubernatorial or Presidential election. If you are not a Republican or a Democrat you lose the right to vote in the primary elections at your financial expense.

We preach to other countries about democracy and privileges to vote and we can’t even accomplish that here in Oregon, let alone the United States of America.

We as Citizen’s of Oregon have to come together. Enough is enough. We have to remember why we have our constitutions and remember those who made the ultimate sacrifices for our freedoms. Government was not meant to be a career and the rich were not meant to rule.

“In order to govern the people, you need to be one of the people”

Throughout the existence of time it has been proven that we never learn from our mistakes and history has to repeat itself. It is time for the sleeping giant to awake once again.