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FRIDAY January 30, 2004 - Subscribe - Contact Us - Rate Card Valley&State Backpage O&E Sports Archives Classifieds Faith&Beliefs Obituaries Revels January 13, 2004 This is no way Somehow it doesn't seem like this is what the constitutional framers had in mind when they developed a framework for a representative democracy in America. For most of the summer the world laughed at the turmoil created in California by its recall laws being put to use. It was funny to see a Gary Coleman and a porn queen run for governor with an action movie star. But the laugh was on us when the action star actually won. The laugh's on us again - this time Oregon specifically - as Measure 30 makes it way to mailboxes across the state. Once again, the Legislature's effort to produce a budget is being referred to the voters. Once again, a well-financed antitax lobby is hard at work to undue the work done by our representatives in the longest session in state history. Why would anyone want to serve in the Legislature under the current climate of referendum and recall? Spending long, exhausting days to formulate a budget is hard enough. How much energy can any elected leader have, knowing that powerful lobbyists are sure to use the referendum to crush the result? For a relatively small number of signatures on a petition, months of legislative negotiations can be sent to the voters for a blanket rejection. Any basic high school civics teacher can point out that sadly, many voters are unprepared to make an informed decision when they fill out a ballot. We've already stated our reasons for supporting Measure 30. Should voters spike the measure, the cuts to basic services, especially the schools is devastating. Ashland's schools specifically cannot afford further cuts, which are eroding one of the finest systems in the state. One elementary school closed last year, and another is on the chopping block. While passing Measure 30 may not directly save Lincoln Elementary School, it is likely a forgone conclusion that the school will be shuttered if the measure fails. Consider that the board's vote on the school is scheduled for just a few short days after the election. But regardless of whether the tax surcharge is needed or not, the precedent of undoing what we elect our leaders to do each session simply cannot be tolerated. Imagine the morale and interest of the legislative body if they are forced back to work in an expensive special session to again come up with a budget after they spent far too many weeks already doing just that. Let the leaders lead. Dissatisfaction is best expressed by electing - or ousting - representatives, not micromanaging a complex, billion-dollar budget that evokes chaos among our state institutions to run a government. DailyTidings.com Home Page Valley&State | Backpage | O&E | Sports | Archives | Weather | Classifieds Columnists | Faith&Beliefs | Obituaries | Revels | Subscribe | Contact Us Copyright 2004 Ashland Daily Tidings and Ottaway Newspapers All Rights Reserved Site Search: .:Advertisements:. RESOURCES - ODOT Road Cams