Oregon Ballot Measures Voter Guide

We realize most Oregonians turn to the Oregonian for instructions on how to vote in each election. As many of you know, the Oregonian is currently plagued with declining circulation, declining ad revenues, and an associated decline in credibility. Thus, here is your voter guide, earlier and better than the Oregonian’s, if they even have one this year. We have done all the thinking for you, so no need to worry or fret. Just keep this handy guide nearby when you complete your ballot.

Input for these recommendations was gathered from independent sources, and, whenever possible, from the Freedom Foundation.

Measure 54
Elections – Standardizes voting eligibility for school board elections with other state and local elections

VOTE YES — How could standardizing be bad?

Measure 55
Legislature – Change operative date of redistricting plans to allow affected legislators to finish term in original district

VOTE YES — We can’t have legislators unable to complete their terms in their original districts. Mayhem would result.

Measure 56
Elections – May and November property tax elections are to be decided by majority of voters voting in the relevant election

VOTE YES — The old, out-of-date, antiquated “double majority” rule makes it much more difficult to raise taxes. Everyone knows that state and local governments need more money to continue the valuable services we depend on so very much. A YES vote on this finely-crafted measure will send a loud, clear, and strong message to those who don’t vote, and that is, “We can do it without you!”

Measure 57
Law enforcement – Increases sentences for drug trafficking, theft against elderly, and specific repeat property and identity-theft crimes

VOTE NO — Criminals have enough problems with the current laws on the books. Crime is going down in Oregon. We sure don’t need to lock more people up in America, where more people are in prison than in any other nation. Rehabilitation, halfway houses, and counseling are the answers — not incarceration.

Measure 58
Education – Requires English immersion for non-English-speaking students

VOTE NO — It is simply wrong to deny someone their heritage, language and customs. To force a change to a “foreign” language is archaic, selfish, and simplistic. Customs should not be changed, either, including human sacrifice, animal sacrifice, and genital mutilation. Who are we to decide what is right and what is wrong?

Measure 59
Tax reform – makes federal income taxes fully deductible on state return

VOTE NO — This measure would actually REDUCE the money going into state coffers. As noted earlier, the state needs this money for the numerous valuable programs it offers to all of us. This is an example of a ballot measure that, if passed, will cause dying in the streets.

Measure 60
Education – Teacher compensation must be based on classroom performance

VOTE NO — How can anyone possibly measure the quality of teaching? We would need countless in-service days, planning sessions, work with consultants, and workshops all over the state just to figure this out. Oregon already ranks 49th in the nation in the Education Week annual survey, so we quite obviously know what we are doing and don’t require any bureaucratic nonsense that would cause hardship for our dedicated teaching force.

Measure 61
Judicial reform – Mandatory sentences for drug dealers, identity thieves, burglars and car thieves

VOTE NO — As noted above, criminals have enough problems with the current laws on the books. Crime is going down in Oregon. We sure don’t need to lock more people up in American, where more people are in prison than in any other nation. Rehabilitation, halfway houses, and counseling are the answers — not incarceration.

Measure 62
State budget – 15% of lottery profits for crime prevention, investigation and prosecution

VOTE NO — We need Oregon Lottery profits to continue to fund economic development. Look how well it has worked so far — we continue to lose businesses and our unemployment rate is one of the highest in the nation.

Measure 63
Property Rights – Allows minor improvements to property without building permit

VOTE NO — This silly measure would open the door to all kinds of malfeasance in the building industry. Contractors without permits would run rampant, making “minor” improvements that were not to code. Homeowners do not know enough to make “minor” improvements. Thus, building permits are essential to orderly and lawful changes made to home and property.

Measure 64
Campaign Finance Reform – Prohibits using taxpayer-funded resources to collect political funds

VOTE NO — How can anyone possibly find fault with taxpayer funding for unions to collect political funds? Unions simply do not have the resources, the capital, or the necessary skills to collect their own political funds. There is nothing wrong with the state doing it for them. In fact, most of the money collected ends up going back to the state politicians in the form of campaign donations, so our current method helps insure that this will continue forever.

Measure 65
Conduct of elections – The “top-two” measure; creates open primaries

VOTE YES — The two-party system in American is DEAD. Who cares if all the people running for one particular office are all Democrats, for example? This is a democracy and no one person or entity should ever force one party or another on anyone. It is a miracle our state has been governed so well for so long using the antiquated closed primary system.