Op Ed:
Next Legislature
Shaping 21st Century
For All of Oregon

Demo-Dialog Consensus Must Conquer Cult-Confrontation

Photo: State of Oregon

(SALEM) - The voter-voice has now been heard, in overwhelming volume and with no possible retreat, in Oregon, to national-debacle excuses. Full ballot-boxes here have reflected strong preference for a vulnerable incumbent over “disingenuous” lack-of-detail as non-supplied by “the other candidate”. External impacts from cult-component political consequences across the whole nation can no longer cloak or hide distinctly-local choice made by canny Oregon voters. The Fact-of-the-Matter is that voters, by large numbers in key areas, expressed dismay, disgust, and deep distrust for the Saxton-type vote-seeking system of “smear-and-run” notorious negative-shouting TV and radio ads. Signing away essential Oath of Office responsibilities for key actions demanded of any Governor for protection of the common wealth, via PLEDGE to also-notorious Norquist/Abramson national cabal and ATR, was significant further trust-destroyer seen by many. For solid significance, check out vote-counts in Marion and Multnomah Counties --where the myth of massive union-vote impact is seen by many as past-tense in current circumstances-- with current dialog-decision on far more responsible; and thus surely more heartening--foundation for further 21st Century action. (Detailed documentation on request) Meanwhile in our still-shuddering Legislative-leader circles --with some gone, others hanging via bare-minimum vote-margins-- a particularly potent pile-of-plans demanding essential actions is the unavoidable feature. Public Commission On Legislature-details we displayed here are only part of that pile. (Full review now planned soon as documentation is completed.) Don’t forget those CHALKBOARD and STAND solidly-documented and fully-representative depth studies, setting forth many essential educational directions for our system from K-12 on up --and surely shaping action-producing changes in this Legislature. Both studies are long-range, professionally-guided, action-demanding, detail-providing planning-and-action resources; resounding in their continuing and concurrent statement of OREGON situations and essentials, and thus impossible to ignore. Given voter-mandates now motivating any but the most malign of misrepresentors to massive action for modern-age needs --and the effective funding now clearly demanded-- there must now follow that rational, reasonable, sensible, sane and solid development of consensus for which democratic process was first developed by our Founders and early legislators. We did well in this nation with that approach, during our first 230 years of on-the-record governance achievements; so clearly successful we became world-leading for the dreams of many other nations. Then dollar-induced voter-apathy lulled us into both leisure and arrogance --and we suffered the historical fate for disdaining our inescapable democratic responsibilities. Why would we now abandon tried-tested-and-true democratic principles for anything less ?? Recent years have taught so many of us the painful lesson we should have learned long ago --and will not now allow to be repeated in our beloved Oregon. To do otherwise will set up such stronger steps as it may take for the people to take back their State governance from the purveyors of lobby-level transactions, traducing democratic principles and governance protocols. Rational,reasonable and essential action is sure to come soon --still further motivating this next Legislature-- with completion of the year-long, $224,000-cost study of realistic ethics reforms, set into motion by legislative action in 2005. First major overhaul of Oregon’s Code of Ethics since establishment in 1973, the recommendations of the Government Ethics Work Group now go to the Oregon Law Commission, where action to move approved reforms to the Legislature is expected Dec. 4th. Key recommendation of GEWG is an increase from $1,000 to $5,000 as maximum penalty for ethics violations -- seen by many as fundamentally symptomatic for full-heat-and-light on coming Legislative action. Crucial Legislative consideration will demand a new funding mechanism for the state ethics commission, whose operating budget --in very obvious “conflict of interest” contrivance-- still remains in full control of those otherwise-”regulated”. That surely must be the first action undertaken by this Legislature, if any remotely credible image is to be retained. Formerly known as the Government Standards and Practices Commission, met Friday November 17th in Salem. Their primary consideration is action on distressing developments recently reported for unreported Hawaiian-resort travel. Such actions are now seen by many as reflecting still further serious degradation by “transactional lobbying” -- a seemingly too-common practice-now in our representative assembly. Surely this Legislature –willy-nilly, rapidly or very reluctantly, must act on these essential matters too long delayed. To do less or to avoid-the-issues, at all costs, will clearly kill off any remaining credibilities and leave these legislators, newly-elected or veteran, with no further refuge from the coming storm of consequential citizen action.