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Editorial: Measure 28 falls; pols to center stage Now, it's time for the high-wire act. Oregon's Big Top took a punch in the plexus Tuesday as Measure 28 went down to a stunningly resounding defeat. The final tally, with a whopping turnout for a one-issue election, was 55 percent "No" to 45 percent "Yes," leaving no doubt as to the sentiment of Oregon voters when it comes to taxation. The measure would have added 5 percent per year for three years to the average taxpayer's bill. Many services will soon disappear due to the measure's failure. "Every person who voted against Measure 28 should read the list of programs that will be reduced because of their vote. Read that list and complain no more when a service you believe you are entitled to is unavailable. Sleep well and pray that you are never in need of the services you helped to eliminate." These are not the words of a disgruntled worker, or an opportunistic politician. Van Caris is 86, lives with his wife Catherine, 82, at Skylark Assisted Living and he was speaking to the fact that he may now have to leave the center. "Right now, none of us really knows," he said. There were probably three categories of voters in this election. One group voting "Yes" in favor of accepting the tax to help preserve services, schools, health care and police. Another group voting "No" because any tax is a bad one. A third group certainly existed as well. These wanted to help out, weren't particularly against a tax hike, but felt uncomfortable bailing out a dysfunctional Legislature that took us careening out of budget control in the first place. That third group probably sent the measure down to defeat. And because of that niche of voters, the defeat of Measure 28 was something less than a mandate. If Oregon's lawmakers take anything from this election, it should be that they have been warned. And when the cuts come - the real ones that impact elders and school children - the Legislature better have a plan. Otherwise, we'll have to send in the clowns. LINKS: DAILY TIDINGS: Main | News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Opinion | Columnists | AP News | Subscribe | Archives | Weather | Classifieds | Contact Us | Privacy REVELS: Main | Calendar | Dining | Movies | T.V. OTHER: Road Cams Copyright 2003 Ashland Daily Tidings 541.482.3456. 1661 Siskiyou Blvd., Ashland, OR 97520. Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. - Advertisers -