The 2004 Oregon Voter's Guide

Hello, Oregon Voters. Ballots have arrived in the mail, people are getting out their pens and pencils, and I have been swamped with requests for guidance in the very important 2004 election. So, without further ado, here are my recommendations:

Measures

• Measure 31: No. This measure would allow the election to be postponed in the event that a candidate dies before the election. Before the 2000 election I would've supported a Yes on this measure, but the Missouri senate race where John Ashcroft lost to a corpse makes me realize something. If voters would rather vote for the dead guy than the competition, who am I to stop them?
• Measure 32: Yes. This measure would eliminate vehicle taxes for mobile homes. Since many mobile homes are not in fact mobile, it makes sense to stop treating them like they are.
• Measure 33: Yes. This amendment to the Medical Marijuana Act authorizes the creation of state-regulated medical marijuana dispensaries to supply patients with medicine. It would eliminate the need for those unable to grow their own medicine to procure their medicine on the black market. Right now, if you are physically unable to grow the medicine prescribed by your physician you must buy the medicine from an individual who may also sell methamphetamines, cocaine, and heroin. Why? It's patently absurd. Unfortunately, the mainstream press (and even the Willamette Week? Come on, guys) are supporting the terrorists and hating our freedom by opposing the passage of this measure. It's difficult to determine how passage of this measure would hurt the general public in any way. The worst-case scenario possible is that the dispensaries or patients would sell medical marijuana to people who don't need it. By that line of thinking, we should also be closing all pharmacies in the state for fear that rogue pharmacists will sell amphetamines and narcotics illegally.
• Measure 34: After a gut-wrenching personal struggle, Yes. Giving up half of our state forests to save the other half is like killing one of your children to save another. It hurts, but it's better to do that than to lose one child anyway, and have the other horribly maimed too. That's what credible advocates for the measure agree on. If this measure fails, 85% of state forests could be logged in the next 25 years, according to an arugment in favor sponsored by the representatives of the Sierra Club and the Audubon Society. That's fairly awful. I'm not claiming to be a great conservationist, but I can certainly agree that it's good public policy to preserve as much of our country's remaining unspoiled areas as possible.
• Measure 35: No. I'm not in favor of frivilous lawsuits awarding gross sums of money to the undeserving. However, I'm also not in favor of non-frivilous lawsuits failing to deliver justice to the guilty. This measure, sponsored by the people and organizations who would be affected by the lawsuits, would effectively cripple the legal system, ala manditory minimums. This is bad. There is certainly a problem with the health care industry, but this measure is not the solution.
• Measure 36: No. Instead of using my own words to argue against this measure, let me use the words of founding father Thomas Jefferson:

  I never will, by any word or act, bow to the shrine of intolerance, or admit a right of inquiry into the religious opinions of others.

  -Letter to Edward Dowse (April 19, 1803)
  

  
  Interesting point, Tom. Anything else you would like to add?
  

  I am for freedom of religion, & against all maneuvres to bring about a legal ascendancy of one sect over another.

  -Letter to Elbridge Gerry (1799)

  
  Measure 36 exists to weaken the separation of church and state enshrined in our constitution. The institution of marriage is a religious sacrament which should not be regulated by the government at all. However, if we must include it we shouldn't favor the bigotry endorsed by the ancient texts of certain religions. The arguments presented by the proponents are based on fear, ignorance, and religious dogma. This measure, if passed, will permanently deface our state's constitution and punish innocent people.
  
• Measure 37: No.
  Let's take a look at what exactly this measure is proposing.
  

  GOVERNMENTS MUST PAY OWNERS, OR FORGO ENFORCEMENT, WHEN CERTAIN LAND USE RESTRICTIONS REDUCE PROPERTY VALUE

  
  This measure has some convincing arguments from both sides, but overall it appears that while the current system isn't perfect, passing this measure will be a step in the wrong direction.
  
• Measure 38: No.
  Um, yeah, let's privatize. It will be good for the public because deregulation works awesome. Just ask California. They deregulated their power grid, and Enron saved them a whole grip of money on electricity.
  

Candidates

• United States President: John Kerry This highly coveted endorsement is not as much an approval of Kerry as it is an objection to the election of the incumbent. (See McSweeney's Daily Reasons to Dispatch Bush) George W. Bush started his presidency without a mandate from a majority of the public, and instead of acknowledging this he pursued a shockingly partisan agenda. He started by taking swings at our nation's long history of separation of church and state. His first act in office was to immediately halt funding for programs which distributed condoms to AIDS-stricken and impoverished nations around the world. He continued an agenda which could not be considered conservative, but nevertheless fiercely partisan. He funneled taxpayer dollars to religious institutions, slashed taxes for the wealthy, and generally pursued policies that were loathed by objective, educated, and informed citizens. Unfortunately for our country, these people are in the minority and the remainder of the voters are taking their cues from extremely biased and wealthy organizations such as Fox News and evangelical, politically active religious groups bent on legislating their values. Bush has presided over the first net loss in jobs in our country since the Hoover administration. He commanded a military with plummeting enlistment rates and rumors of a return to the days of the draft. His military was shamed and degraded by the behavior of a few soldiers in Abu Ghraib, but the actions were based on orders from the Defense Secretary that he appointed. He refused to apologize for the murderous atrocities inflicted on innocent men, women, and children. His unprovoked invasion of Iraq was the most protested event in human history, but he failed to acknowledge that there was any validity whatsoever to the opposing viewpoint. In hindsight, after his reasons for invasion were refuted, he still failed to acknowledge any error on the part of his administration. This myopic hubris is just one of the reasons that he must be denied a second term, where free from the need to pursue re-election he would wreak havok upon our country and the world. If the terrorists truly hate our freedom and desire a bloody Jihad to encircle the globe, it's a safe bet they have Bush/Cheney signs planted firmly in their yards.

  Senator Kerry is a polar opposite: under his leadership we can expect a return to a rational, objective, and intelligent United States. Kerry will be a leader who won't attempt to impose his irrational beliefs on those who can't accept them as truth. In addition, with Kerry as President I'm quite confident that I'll be able to travel the world and safely admit that I'm a U.S. citizen, without fear or shame.
  

• United States Senator: Ron Wyden
  I can wholeheartedly endorse Senator Wyden's re-election based on his actions. He has taken steps to regain some of our freedoms that congress surrendered to the John Ashcroft and the terrorists in the aftermath of 9/11. The Libertarian candidate makes a compelling argument against re-electing Wyden, but in the aftermath of November 2000, dreams of a viable third party in this country are dead for decades to come. Let's hope some of the criticisms made of Wyden, namely his initial support for the Patriot Act, will be taken to heart.
  

Ok, I'm not getting into the House of Representatives just yet. Happy voting!

Posted by Barry at October 20, 2004 11:23 AM | Trackback