OPINION Citizen involvement doesn’t stop at the voting booth As tho fight over Ballot Measure <1 grips the state's attention, action on tho basic problems driving Ore gon's descent into socio-eco nomic oblivion remains pain fully Inadequate. It is not a pretty picture — Oregon's days as a re source-de pendent economy an; limited, the promotion of "high-tech” industry has largely failed, our schools und universities are be ing stripped and shut down, and tiie most basic human ser vices are. or soon will be, on the chopping block Politically, the scene is little better — from the fascist Ore gon Citizens Alliance to tho dramatic rise in hate crimes to the dismal luck of funding for education and human services. This desperate situation (all the more desperate because so many continue to ignore it) is not without hope. Dofenting Measure 9, supporting Measure 7 and helping the Democrats re capture the Oregon House are the best opportunities in the upcoming election. This election at best repre sents only the chance for a few feoblc slops laward some solu tions Democracy is not about spending a fow minutes in a voting booth; it is about debate, action and education Democracy has never lawn a gift what wo have now was won through militant political struggle that, without excep tion. took place outside "the proper channels " This election Is important, but we need to look at the class forces that shajx' our politics Oregon is a largely "middle class" state; the degree of suc cess achieved by the OCA serves as a barometer not just of the power of the Christian right nationally, but of the likelihood that upstanding middle-class folks will turn right and not left — in times of social and economic crisis As jolw get fewer and worse, as the lack of social services further squeezes the poor, as education budgets are hacked and as insecurity grows more pervasive and profound, socie ty will become unglut-d. lead ing to more (XIA-stylo politics Current No on 9 efforts have done little to erode the (X^A’s support among the threatened resource-dependent working class und their communities Because of No on 9’s basically defensive posture, the right is poised to score big by winning over "fear of-falling" suburban ites scared of losing what’s left of the American Dream. For the present. they »iw (hr (X^A us Uk> crude. but just us 1’at Buchanan articulated the fascist agenda lietler than David Duke. It Is likely that a political force will soon emerge to win these pleasant suburbanites over to the ultra right Koss I’erot's campaign clearly marks the appeal of can-do authoritar ianism to the middle class Mention* about victimized small businessmen anil poor, elderly, apartment dwelling grandmothers. Measure 7 will in fact help both small busi nesses and renters The former will benefit front a healthier economy spurred by education and social service ex penditures, and the latter from a renter's rebate program like 11 is critical to prop up the economy to forestall a middle class turn to the right, and the host way we can help out in this elec tion is to sup port the strug gle for rev enue replace ment and tax justice em ir o die d in Measure 7, Just as Pat Buchanan articulated the fascist agenda better than David Duke, it is likely that a similar political force will soon emerge from the OCA. ■ mo one abol ished in the' last legislative session Hv restoring about (Ml por coni of the revenue lost b y 1 » » 0 ' » M o 8 s u r o 5 , M o a s u r tt 7 would allow for thu exer ( iso of soino o I o in o n t a r y oto n o m I i . good SOUS! The Oregon which would spill me properly tox rolls between homes and commercial property, business es would pay their fair share and homeowners would get real tax relief, promised but not delivered bv Measure 5 Since 1 990, as many homeowners saw their property taxes Increase, big commercial Interests like utilities, railroads and (sinks received million -dol lar tax breaks Despite the ' slop the tax" crowd's Incessant fab Legislature inuiii uiiimiiiui ana enhance existing social ser vu ns, which, when combined with fewer tuxes on poor and working people, would effec tively Ixxwl consumer spending at the most important pert of the economy the bottom We know there will be more investment in a state with a rea sonable lax structure that sup ports a quality educational *ys tern and social services, if one doubts the proposition, look at those si.ill's will) I ho lowest lux burdens ami the lowest levels of social spending, like Arkan sas, where the top Industries are chii ken processing and tox ic waste The simple for tax justice, embodied ui Measure 7. goes hand-in-hand with the fight against Measure 0 If we are to defeat the OCA right, we need to provide a degree of social iind economic: security that is impossible without fair taxa tion. Our responsibility does not end on Kleetlon Day The do feat of Measure 0 or the victory of Measure 7. as with any pro gressive electoral victory, rep resents just the lieginning If we vvisli’ to i fiange (iregon, we have to build social move ments that seek empowerment first, not vague notions o! elec I ing more Dome* ruts to offii e Only then can we reassert con trol over our schools, our neighikirhoods and communi ties, and our workplaces that is where we ran find democra cy on Election Day and every day after That is where we will ultimately win or lose the struggle for social justice Inson IV. Moore writes a monthly column for the bmer aid But what if... The answer to all of the measures we are to vote on is, ''Peace means respect for the rights of all." No ifs, amis, or huts. Joy Halllwall Library Rest assured I'm sure that Oregon's homo sexual citizens will breathe a sigh of relief now that Allen James, biologist, has assured them that their jobs, businesses W«4., Oct. 24 SB EXPO 7:00 P.M. MOVIE 8:00 P.M. South Eugene High School Tklnta $4.00 and lives are safu from Ballot Measure 9 (ODE. Oct. 26). Qualified attorneys may duck for cover when asked to predict how the courts will interpret the murkier phrases of the measure, hut now that James has given his opinion, guy peo ple everywhere tain rest assured they won’t bo hurt by Measure 9. Aside from duhutuhlo issues of life, liberty and property, the undeniable core of Measure 9 is the requirement that all public schools (including the Univer sity) teach that homosexuality is "abnormal, wrong, unnatural and perverse." Them is not the slightest sci entific evidence to support tins proposition, which many In hove is bigoted and immoral in itself Regardless of your religious tieliefs or your personal findings about homosexuality, do you really want the schools to bo bold hostage by a curriculum that seems to come straight from the Old Testament book of Leviticus' Or shall academic freedom prevail ' Please vote no on 9 Jerry Russell Psychology CHUCKLES ICE CREAMERY Going to a Halloween party? Order and ice cream cake or pie.. IT HAS A CHILLING EFFECT I $.| 00 I ■ Foot long Sub -1 FREE DELIVERY SUBSHOP* (■(*m %2n**2 1225 ALDER 345-2434 * _I Rare jewel In lulu July of this year. our family took a leisurely evening canoe trip through Alton Baker Perk with a visiting guest from a Palo Alto high tech computer firm We saw heavers, nutria, her ons und u water snake. We wore as excited and awestruck as our friend, who exclaimed, "What a ram jewel a place like this right in the middle of town ” We are an avid soccer family with two kills playing year round soccer However, we (relieve %