Op Ed:
Oregon Loses Voter Credibility
As Legislative Session Stalls Out
Cooperation-Promised Never Developed

Where’s that solid list of supremely needed changes and accomplishments we were promised early-on? With due satisfaction for ALL Oregonians?

Image courtesy: daniyel.com

(SALEM, Ore.) - Faced with sure surrender to full-depth corporate contribution sources --and despite desperate dual-party promises of “cooperation instead of confrontation”-- this gang-up operation of an ostensible Oregon “representative assembly” is stalled and stagnant; instead of confident and comforting for all Oregonians.

At the very point where prominent members --one can hardly and truthfully call them “leaders”-- should be celebrating solid accomplishment on policies and programs and pertinent funding, from equally-solid sources, we see something far less satisfying and far more ominous: Return of the irrational and irresponsible party-based “political-assassination”-attempts; obviously paid for by those ubiquitous corporate campaign contributions.

“2008 is close,” the perpetrators state, ”and sure to be tough and contentious”; making inter-party competition a compelling reason for killing off cooperation-promised to end thirty years of commonweal-killing “contention”; clearly disemboweling much of what Oregonians once were proud to call “the Oregon pattern.”

Where’s that solid list of supremely needed changes and accomplishments we were promised early-on? With due satisfaction for ALL Oregonians ?

More than one member of this promised “fully cooperative” session has found reprehensible and surely infuriating political “smear-and-smell” materials sent to their constituents.

That symptom of continuing salacious political-party operational irresponsibility sets the tone and reflects the tenor of what sharp examination of reality now reflects.

It has happened sometimes at the very moment when with a crocodile-bright smile these same opponents offered “discussion” and “dialog” under the Capitol dome; but not goodwill and good governance and solid cooperation for the commonweal we really need now.

One published pertinent-bit even discloses that one member, leaving the floor briefly for body-reasons, was prevented from voting on return; having technically “missed the vote” by the momentary run to the bathroom!

It’s not even pertinent which party did what to the other party at this point; similar and ongoing barriers to common sense and promised cooperative effort exist and can be cited for each.

Both “sides” are guilty and should be roundly and substantially chastised, in any and all ways possible, for their performance --or, rather, reportorially speaking, lack of same-- on each and every occasion now open to voters.

The Oregon press-and-media have gone a far piece to make this session seem reasonable, balanced and productive --reflecting a far more rational and surely relatively sensible situation than reality reveals.

One reason, for sure, is to promote and encourage precisely what Editorials around the State have declared is absolute necessity “for this session, now.”

A long list of pertinent and especially important portions of the known-demanded work for these ostensibly-cooperating “representatives” in this session could easily be inserted here; for your edification, if not true satisfaction.

Instead, simply see the wide and intense subject-matter included in all those “Guest Opinions” and political-interest ads appearing across the State; in nearly every daily, nearly every day; to “make the case” on a continuing basis for the many matters left hanging so far into this clearly most UN-productive session.

From whence-and-why does any such cry of desperation and destroyed-promise come, if not from reality of responsible accomplishment?

Surely that’s to be expected given those promises for “cooperation uber alles”, “this time”, “for sure ..!”

SO we now have a “rainy day fund”, garnered from precisely the high-piled corporate-take for outside-of-Oregon receivers.

That may be political accomplishment, but surely still rates only as overdue commonsense with voters; and is so long overdue as to wipe away any blush of real accomplishment.

SO we still have the same “minimum tax” of $10; now more than SEVENTY YEARS old, remaining from the ‘29/’31 real-Depression days; with multitudinous millions of monies managed into massive depredation vs real Oregon needs, for all those decades.

We are told that “23,000 Oregon corporations and businesses paid that minimum.”

Can it truly be true that every one of them made NO PROFIT at all from Oregon-based business-work?

SO it may be “legal” to work the ways of such corporate contrivance and “business law”; to make such matters “operate well and efficiently” vs the real needs of this State: IF SO, then we need to change whatever laws there may be allowing such rapacious reluctance to shoulder as honest cost-of-doing-business the fair share of the true burdens we all know exist; and can be fairly shared only by our State tax system, reformed for the 21st Century needs we now know.

Do you see anything to bring this about, rapidly-and-fairly, in this Legislature, after all these years?

At the conclusion of the period in which corporate share of overall tax burden has been decimated and driven to new lows?

SO we still have “heavily under-funded” community college, university and even K-12 education: With the 21st Century need desperately now to build and expand and strengthen and improve and provide for Oregonian entry as a workforce into worldwide competition.

We remain essentially “in the same leaky-boat, with water-rising rapidly”; despite all the now-despoiled decisive-promise of both political parties.

SO we still fight and feud over such simple, commonsense actions as additional tax on cigarettes; with the solid and sensible joint intention of cutting down air pollution and comprehensive impact on health; while supplying sensible funding for healthcare necessities for children, literally dying for dollars.

SO we substitute partial-planning and potential even-more-deadly demands for healthcare for all; while questioning and querulously delaying what common sense tells us must be done by due-process leading to a true plan; worthy of adoption by the entire nation.

It is not for us to speak of “Oregon - She Flies With Her Own Wings !”, while we allow such subterfuge for solid, substantial, democratic-dialog/driven decision for real action to be undertaken in our name; in this, OUR STATE.

We know what is needed, and why: After those thirty years of competition for party prominence rather than commonweal progress.

We chose --AND voted-for !-- those who can plan and provide and proceed with what is demanded --in this, our 21st Century Oregon. Then THEY promised US what they could-and-would do, too.

What ARE we waiting for NOW?

More “campaign contributions” --OR inevitable voter retaliation for “the truly guilty” in both parties?

---------------------------------------------------------- Reader’s Note:
Published press-and-media statements and other documentation for this Op Ed count more than fifty items. Quotes are verbatim or condensed to summarize sense from longer statement. The complete list of items, collected over past months, is available on request. Even the most important items are NOT listed here since far too many reflect the same realities. You are invited to “see with your own eyes” --and then decide for yourselves -- the ongoing coverage available in all Oregon dailies, weeklies, and other media --and then make your own judgment on this Legislature.