It is imperative that all Oregonians be informed regarding the next election ballot initiatives. Much is at stake for Oregon's future. Forgive an old political scientist-historian some observations. The initiative process was never intended to be the basic instrument of governance and it does not produce good laws.
Measure 15. Measure 15 is not "Education First" but "some kids and some public employees first." Oregon won't be competitive with an education system where opportunity withers away after a year or two of community college. If passed, Measure 15 will "lock up" 60 percent of the state's general fund budget and insure one employee group annual raises ahead of all other programs and employees, regardless of performance - talk about terrible "accountability."
PERS Measure 8. Simply unfair to current employees and a major morale blow - it's a 6 percent salary cut following on two years (and two to come) of no salary increase.
Measure 5. It's not good public policy to have local fee and tax decisions made statewide by voters who either won't care or be informed.
Measure 20. An idea wonderfully simple in the abstract design that will be a nightmare to make operational. The result could be a European style underground economy "off the books," as the English say, that generates no taxes.