I know a lot of you don’t live in the Portland-Metro area (or even Oregon) but even if you’re not an Oregon voter or care about politics, we have a lot of sexy stuff going on here (and some stuff that’ll put cha to sleep).
We get to choose from a man who’s company apparently hires illegal aliens and a one who supports big tax increases and ridiculously nice furniture at the public’s expense to be our next US Senator. Our congressional delegation will probably all return to Washington, D.C. in spite of all they’ve done. The woman who will probably become Oregon’s next Secretary of State single handedly blocked the passage of Jessica’s Law until it was obvious that if they didn’t pass it, the people would. And on. And on. It’s good times.
Here are my quick thoughts on the measures.
Measure 54 – Standardizes voting eligibility for school board elections with other state and local elections. If you’re confused about why anyone would have a problem with this, you’re in good company.
Measure 55 – Changes operative date of redistricting plans; allows affected legislators to finish term in original district. You bet. If a district elects someone to represent them, they should finish the job they were hired to do.
Measure 56 – Provides that May and November property tax elections are decided by majority of voters voting. Eliminates voter turnout requirement. In spite of generally agreeing with the Arguments in Opposition, yes. Every vote counts every time. SO VOTE! It’s more patriotic than paying taxes.
Measure 57 – Increases sentences for drug trafficking, theft against elderly and specified repeat property and identity theft crimes; requires addiction treatment for certain offenders. I want to, but it just doesn’t go far enough and there’s a better option on this ballot.
Measure 58 – Prohibits teaching public school student in language other than English for more than two years. Full immersion? Absolutely! It’s worked for everyone I know who speaks English.
Measure 59 – Creates an unlimited deduction for federal income taxes on individual taxpayers’ Oregon income-tax returns. Yes!!! I hate to vote my pocket book, but right now, I can use every dime I can keep. More than that though, Oregon stewards need to exercise better control of the assets we entrust them with.
Measure 60 – Teacher “classroom performance,” not seniority, determines pay raises; “most qualified” teachers retained, regardless of seniority. I grew up in a union family and held a union job. Unions have their place and have added a great deal to the quality of our working environments, however, the most qualified person for the job should do the job. Yes.
Measure 61 – Creates mandatory minimum prison sentences for certain theft, identity theft, forgery, drug, and burglary crimes. Yes. It’s time we people remembered that if they violated a cultural virtue (ya know, breaks the law), there would be a consequence. M61 is a good step in that direction. In the immortal words of Jim Carey, “STOP BREAKIN’ THE LAW, ASSHOLE!”
Measure 62 – Allocates 15% of lottery proceeds to public safety for crime prevention, investigation, prosecution. I support crime prevention, investigation, and prosecution, but this is not the way to get it done. Oregon’s all-funds budget is upwards of $40bn. These programs should be fully funded by the general fund, not lottery.
Measure 63 – Exempts specified property owners from building permit requirements for improvements valued at/under 35,000 dollars. No.
Measure 64 – Penalized person, entity for using funds collected with “public resources” (defined) for “political purpose” (defined). Yes. Don’t use my money to collect yours!
Measure 65 – Changes general election nomination processes for major/minor party, independent candidates for most partisan offices. No. Our primary system is an important part of our election process. And so is our general election. Put the winners of the primary’s on the ballot next to any other-party candidates who qualify.
Now you know what I think. What do you think? For those who live outside Oregon, what’s going on in your area? Most of all though, remember, whether we agree or not, get your ballot turned in by November 4th!
Burn Out
15 years ago
Posts
6 comments:
The only one of these I have any real thoughts on, is measure 60. Now, as a prospective teacher, you would think I would value something that gives me more of an edge in advancing, right?
But no. There's too many problems with payign teachers on a merrit based system. It penalizes teachers for taking jobs in 'troubled areas' (I can assure you that teaching a child who doesn't know where his next meal is coming from, is much harder than those who dont, and that's one of the 'nicer' poverty related problems), which means our best and brightest teachers will be drawn furthur away from where they are needed most.
Next, it puts more of a focus on quantitiative assesment, which means more testing. Tests have their place. This is not it. Anyone who can't see that, hasn't looked at our school system recently (or, has shares in #2 pencils).
There are problems with the way teachers are paid (Not to mention how little), what is expected of them, and what our children get out of it. This measure, however, is not the answer.
Measure 56: I don't believe in the whole voter turnout requirement. If you don't vote you don't get to complain so those who take the time to vote get to decide.
Measure 57: I'd love to see them all spend more time in jail - do we have enough jails to hold them all and, if we don't, are we willing to pay for them?
Measure 58: I'm positive that anyone put in a class where they have to learn the language being spoken will do so quite quickly - children are sponges for languages.
Measure 59: Yes, I need all the deductions I can get and the State needs to learn how to handle the money they are already receiving from us.
Measure 60: This one is tough folks. How do you quantify performance levels? For some students the learning curve may not show much improvement but it they busted their butts to get their.... I don't like the measure to be a case of simply having our students take more tests. Until they come up with a better way to prove teacher qualifications - No
Measure 61 - again, do we have the jail space and/or are we willing to pay for it? I'll be voting yes nevertheless
Measure 62 - the only reason I voted for the lottery to begin with was because the money was all suppose to go into the school system. I don't want it to go anywhere else - No
Measure 63 - If this means I can't put up a $2000 fence without a permit on my property....I'll have to read more
Measure 64 - You may not have more of my money for your agenda, I have my own
ahhh...i feel a little nostalgic...oregon will always just be screwed up...thank you for helping me remember! good luck with the majority!
It must be nice to be protected by the almighty union from on high.
In the real world, employees and service providers have to compete for business and the more effective providers are recognized for their efforts.
A one-size-fits-all eduction system flat doesn't work! Clearly a teacher at Jesuit should not be judged the same as a teacher at Jefferson, but that's why we pay superintendents six-figures and principals high five figures (not counting benefits) and provide assistants.
All students are required to meet basic standards to receive their diploma or GED. There is no value in paying a 20-year ineffective veteran of the education system more than the new guys who's students are more better prepared.
The mandate is to produce a group of people who have similar understandings of the world and can go on to higher education or the work force and compete in a global marketplace. M60 does not restrict a school or teachers methods of getting there.
Patty, do we have the jail space? Hmmm. Multnomah County opened a $60m top-of-the-line jail a few years back. Any idea how many MultCo inmates have spent time at Wapato in the last two years? None.
The issue here is not whether or not we have the jail space. Public safety has to override. If we need space, build more beds or ship them out to other facilities. Better yet, deport the 25%+ of illegal aliens in our prison system. Let's set up 50 old fashioned stalks down at Pioneer Square and sentence convicts to a certain number of hours if that's what it takes.
Of course, we want to help the poor criminal to understand it's not their fault and we have a social program to help them get over whatever social ill they're suffering from, but the issue is not bed space. The issue is that we as a people don't have the stomach to incarcerate people and punish them for doing bad things.
David, truly - I want them locked up. Multnomah Co is notorious for building and not openning - report on the news this morning said they, Mult Co, are cutting across the board and will not, likely, be able to open the jail next year either. I'd really like to just throw them all in a room - both those who offend and those resposible for them in the system - slap the crap out of them and...well, you get the idea.
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