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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (Nov. 8, 1994)
EDITORIAL Here’s what we think; now you choose: Vote Tho following is a summary of recommendations the Emerald has made to voters throughout October and November for today's general election. While not all bal lot measures and races are covered those issues with tho greatest potential for harm to tho state and higher edu cation received In-depth appraisals. Measure 5: Would amend the constitution to require voter approval of most new or increased taxes or foes. NO Measure 8: Would amend the constitution to require public employees to pay 6 percent of their gross salary toward pensions This measure is particularly punitive and ignores collective bargaining agreements reached in good faith between public employees and their employ ers, NO. Measure 10. Amends tho constitution to require a two thirds vote of both houses of the Legislature to change voter-approved prison sentences. NO Measure 11: Sets mandatory minimum prison sentences for 16 felonies. This measure also requires that a person between the ages of 15 to 17. when charged with one of the listed crimes, la* triwi as an adult. This measure, while well-meaning, is unfunded and would require a sub stantial shift in state resources to pay for added correc tions costs. It also takes discretion out of the hands of judges who can rule on the merits of each case, especially in the i asc (if juveniles. NO Measure »3: would amend me constitution and pro hibit state or local governments from protecting homo sexual'. against discrimination. This is another particu larly loathsome measure that would allow open discrimination against homosexuals in housing, jobs and basic civil rights. NO Measure 15 Would amend the constitution to require that the Legislature maintain current funding for schools and community colleges. This measure seeks to do the job of a dysfunctional legislature incapable of compro mise when it comes to funding schools. It is the result of the steady erosion in school funding since the passage of the property tax limitation In 1990. Ballot Measure 15 would fund schools at the expense of every other state funded program, most notably higher education Tuition would increase at all state colleges and universities if tho measure passes. NO. Measure IB: Would allow terminally iii adults to obtain a lethal prescription of drugs to commit suicide. This measure does not present enough adequate sab-guards or oversight by tho state to prevent abuse. NO. Measure 19: Amends the constitution to permit state and local governments to pass laws banning obscenity, i bis measure would allow city and county governments to create their own meaning of censorship and is overly narrow. NO. With all tho measures on the November H ballot, peo ple who have not had tho time for in-depth study should not fool obligated to vote yes or no out of a sense of duty. Many ballot measures seek, to amend the constitution and will greatly affect the future of Oregon. For those who feel uninformed, confused or who just don't have an opinion either way. abstaining from individual ballot measures or races would lm thoughtful and prudent. Oregon Daily PO to I IlM ttffUMf 0*£G0*9?«M ?N» (y^pon t .»fc» t% pufcAaNKf dft*y Mondty it*vugh f nd«y dtinna (hi »c#kk£ y»a» and Tu*td«y #n<J 1hu*s4fty OurmQ the »ummr t>y <*• Oogo*> D# ’* ffmofftkj KibfcOhrfW Co . km <*! tft* tkwvorsrfy of (>(91^1, € ug*n«, OoQOn fN> l opwaim ^xMponctar-tty & Or»vt***y ofaao* 211 <h*« )00 of INi f ft> Mernoriif Umw tfcfxJ <4 « «,>* £v& AttOCsalOtS TN» f *Hjra*J <4 pfihritf# property Th# uftfi§*M ?om©vdf O' uttt of tw*p«ws <» ptOMrutatt* by tow» Editor m*ChMH K*#y Soto Managing t<j*tor EHortil Ecmor Graphic • Editor Fr««4anc« Editor trvOapth Editor UavKl Thorn Jo« Fianwood PiilBy Aim*\A B*um Ed Kicptervfttan H+mf% Editor RlOKCjl Mar'4! 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KaiMy WeAe Ctasstfted iW* *, *»4i' • Mlanegev Jo*- SaHon JvXi Aj Distribution t..j.^ Ferenc ‘Ur ftopna Zsupo* Business Kathy ( art&one S<4:**v*Jky JuJy Conno*y Production CV'ij M Ootfc Pro&cuw Ccxvd -iWor Sh«*na Atv*»>. Oag Odamond. t«ra GduUnty. B»at1 Joav J*v»tar Roland, Matt Thangwpt. Oa>*an Ye« Omc« 346-5512 Display Advertising 346 3712 OsasM*d Advertising 346 4343 aJO MATrCR WHAT H£ FEElS ABouT ABofWoAl, M/S ACTION k/AS UNJUST/FIED. YOU CAyi'T PROTECT 5om£ lives bv 7\KISIC> OTHERS SO w£'*£ ft£COMN\£A/0//VG TVe DfATH pewAtry. V/* -Vfcfi I*1 i«0*tv ^ s wTLhiX TO SLUG 4M i&uOUS J ■ OPINION Measure 16 part of frontier spirit Pkimo A. J.Fovum_ Americans supposedly pride themselves on the pioneer spir it, lhut of the rugged individual about whom we hear so much during Republican campaign speeches But. the dirty little sec ret of our country is that underneath the rugged outside, we are wishy-washy sentimen talists at heart This is perhaps most apparent w hen looking at the c ampaign (whic h has been quite success ful) against Ballot Measure u» Those who oppose the mea sure have used every tear-jerk ing argument possible that the weak and elderly will lie fore ed to die, doc tors will he playing t.od l>\ deciding who shall or shall not live, e! cetera To be quite honest, it has all Imhui rather silly The few who have actually read and digested the measure have seen that it is thorough, straightforward ami rigidly structured in order to assure that the nightmare scenarios present ed by Hi's opposition do not occur Presumably (at least hopefully), you readers under stand the system of i hoc ks and double checks which will be implemented, as well as the heavy punishments whic h will be placed upon those who do not strictly follow the measure's guidelines. Hut many will not. since this is politics and Americans are sentimentalists The opposition knows this, and they have already outspent supporters of the measure 10 to 1. according to a column by The Boston Globe's Kllen Goodman. They have pushed their gut-wrench ing arguments to the hilt, and more importantly, they have grossly simplified the issues in order to assure that the measure is struck down What they don't want you to see is that this measure is about something more than death with dignity, it is about self determi nation for the ( itizena of this state, and hopefully, this coun try. Ballot Measure lfi's oppo nents plat e all of us under the moral constraints of a select group of people Aside front this being against what the builders of the nation intended when framing the Constitution, it is simply wrong. If you do not harm another person in the process, you should not l<e subject to the ide ology of another person or party. This seems a very simple idea, and one fundamental to our beliefs as Americans However, the anti-lb forces don't agree. They use simplistic and abstract arguments; saving that life is too precious, or that you can't give up just because you are ill. or some other hogwash along those lines But these are all just ways to say one thing you cannot control your own destiny. Speaking for myself, if a ter minal illness depleted my lift; to the point where it was no longer worth living, 1 would not want to continue. I want to be remem bered as a living, vital human being, not as a shadow of my former self wasted away bv dis ease. It should not matter that 16 would not force me to notify my family. Such a decision should be in the hands of the patient, and if one is truly close to his or her relatives, that person may or may not choose to discuss the decision with family The gov ernment, as conservatives tell us so often, cannot be used to strengthen a family. If people do not believe in physician-assisted suicide, they should have the respect to allow those who do, to live under their own moral and/or spiritual guidelines As with abortion, if you don t believe in it, simply don't have one. It is ironic that Republicans, with all of their empty talk about the rights of the individ ual, have been so quiet. When it comes to gun control or environ mental concerns, they hate gov - ernment, and any attempt at reg ulation is met with virulent opposition But when it comes to enforcing Judeo-Christian ethics, no amount of federal, state, county or city intervention is enough. To be fair, few prominent Democrats have supported, or even mentioned Ballot Measure 1(> Seeing the political tide shifting, most have shied away from it in order to keep moder ates happy. It is sad that the par ty which is supposed to tie pro- 4 gressive could not look past a few votes, and toward the larger issues surrounding this mea sure it could have helped define a currently undefined party, but the opportunity has been wast ed. The state of Oregon and its people have a chance to do something of paramount impor tance This measure could prove to be a crucial juncture in the history of not only our fair state, but the nation as well. We the people should lie guaranteed the freedom to control our own des tinies, to shape our personal beliefs without the interference of the government and to fight the big money in this campaign Even if you know that you will not wish to terminate your own life at any time, or your own personal morals do not allow you to believe that it is proper to do so. you should still vote yes on the measure. Don't he a “Gumped" senti mentalist as the no on 16 forces want you to be. Prove that you truly have that pioneer spirit A yes vote will break new ground in allowing all of us not only the dignity which we deserve, but the right to define ourselves as individuals. Prima A J. Fontana is a colum nist for the Emerald
